SUMMER 2013 COVER
We went through untold numbers of cover looks for this launch issue, finally settling on a look that embodied elegance, femininity and a sheen of poised elegance that every bride wants to achieve on her wedding day.
Here, we take you behind the scenes of Khush’s cover look and explain the reasoning behind our outfit selection, the makeup inspiration and talk you through seasonal jewellery shifts and trends.
OUTFIT
BY GUL’S STYLE
Summer brings with it a riot of colour - from the delicate full bloom of an English Rose to shimmering waterways and lakes, the season is packed with inspiration for brides in terms of colour and textures. Colour has the ability to transform and affords flashes of insight into an individual’s personality and style. For an event as momentous as a wedding, it is of the utmost importance that the colour palette you choose reflects a sense of joy and occasion. For summer 2013, the Khush team chose this intricately embellished lengha from Gul’s Style collection.
Invoking a sense of tradition with ivory, rust and coral red, it nods to the spectacular creations worn by our grandmothers and their grandmothers before them. The contrasting velvet border, an unconventional navy, updates the look for the 21st Century, adding structure to an otherwise intensely ornate piece. Accents of lime and orange sets the jacket off while handcrafted techniques and precise beadwork make a glamorous statement without overpowering our model, and will work well on brides who want to portray elegance while still keeping to their traditional and cultural roots.
MAKEUP
BY SUMMAYA
To ensure our model’s face wasn’t competing against the embellishments in the outfit, we asked MUA Summaya to create the fresh, clean look synonymous with summer.
‘I took some of my cues from the outfit, which had flashes of oranges and reds as well as quirky hints of navy,’ Summaya says. This is a trick many brides enlist when visiting a makeup artist while testing out trial looks. In fact, it’s a good idea to take your outfit, or an image of your outfit, along to your bridal makeup trial so your makeup professional can formulate a look that will work in partnership with your overall theme.
Summaya began by prepping our model’s skin by cleansing and toning with Simple’s range of skincare, before applying a light base of mattifying primer to ward off unsightly shine and give cosmetics additional staying power. Using a blend of concealers and a thin layer of foundation to correct imperfections, Summaya gently built up coverage until she had achieved the dewy look we wanted for Khush’s first cover. To add drama, Summaya once again turned to the lengha, deciding on a deep blue for the outer eye to form a smokey eye popular for weddings year-round. ‘I love blue in the summertime,’ Summaya explains ‘Most people see it as a winter colour, but it works fantastically when the sun’s out and makes things pop’. Although the eyes are dark, a sheen of gold shimmer added to the inner corner will open them up.
When eyes are the focus, it’s vital that the rest of the face is pared back. We kept the lips soft, underlaying with coral lip colour and sealing with a gleam of polish.
JEWELLERY
BY RED DOT JEWELS
The jewellery for Khush’s front cover was provided by Shalini, the bespoke head designer at Red Dot Jewels. She selected the pieces based on the heavily embroidered garment – again highlighting the importance of a bride’s clothes to the creation of the final look. Heritage kundan pieces, such as the necklaces and earring we’ve used for the cover, are an important look this summer as they reflect the majesty of the ancient Mughal Kingdom and are an integral element to complete the look of a traditional bride. The pearl dorps act as a reference point to the intricate beadwork on the neckline and cuffs of the lengha, while also portraying innocence and purity. Repeating certain highlights - the colours of the gemstones, in this instance - helps pull the outfit together and convey a sense of majesty. The Red Dot Jewels in the Khush cover emphasise the summer colours in the lengha and dupatta while also complimenting the bridal makeup.
Kundan Meena Choker with Rust Coloured Stones and single pearl drop £170
Rose Cut Necklace with Red Stones and Pearl Drops £200
Kundan Meena Peacock Earrings with Pearl Drops £100
Round Chand Tikka with Pearl Drops £40
BY ANEES MALIK
We wanted to include an additional selection of ornate accessories, for which we turned to Anees Malik. His range of single tikas, borla, damini tika or a combinations of jummer and tika harmonises with the traditional look we wanted to convey in the cover. Anees’ complex kundan pieces are made in Rajisthan, an area known for its master craftsmen. The tika, panja and head pieces are used as a cultural, rather than religious, focal point. Gold signifies status and was once offered to a bride as a part of her wedding gifts.?
While that tradition has wound down somewhat, gold is still popular for South Asian brides who want a vintage mood.
Jummer £85, Pearl hair piece £70
Ponchi kundan baju band £55
Large Jaipuri kada/bangle £65
Set of two Large kundan kadas £80
Mirror kundan ring £35
Pair of red and white kundan bangles £35
Pearl and kundan hand piece £40