Think of glamorous gowns and sisters Gauri and Nainika are killing it with their numbers. What’s even better is that these clothes are available at pocket-friendly prices. t2 caught up with Gauri Karan to know the why and how...

Every girl can now own a Gauri and Nainika dress after your collaboration with Koovs...

It’s exciting to reach a market we’ve not reached yet. Our designs will now be available to so many more people, especially a younger audience. And affordability was the whole idea of the collaboration with Koovs.com. (The dresses are priced between Rs 2,500 and Rs 6,500.) They have the infrastructure where they can produce at such price points. We, of course, had to adapt ourselves a little in terms of things like the fabric. It’s all evening wear. The collaboration has our signature Gauri and Nainika looks and sensibilities with that of Koovs, which is younger.

What about a Gauri and Nainika gown would make a girl fall in love?

The first thing that we like to do is make form-flattering clothes. Something that’s extremely feminine and should make you feel like a million dollars!

A lot of curvaceous girls shy away from wearing gowns or dresses...

Different silhouettes work on different body types. One could be on the chubbier side but still be smaller on the top and bigger on the bottom. Wear a trapeze dress then. Some curvaceous girls can carry off a pencil dress because of the curves!

So it’s all about being confident enough to step out of your comfort zone...

Yes. You’ll be surprised at what can suit you. I know people who have inhibitions about wearing a gown. But once they wear it, they want to wear it all the time. However don’t try too hard. It shows.

More brides have taken to wearing gowns...

When Nainika and I first started doing gowns, people weren’t wearing them to weddings but we wanted them to. If not for the wedding then the cocktail party or reception. I think it’s great that girls have now started wearing gowns because you get to feel like a glam movie star on the red carpet. And it’s your wedding. Don’t stop, go all out.

What silhouettes work for the bride?

Some brides like to keep it very simple and chic, wearing a mermaid or a straight cut. Other girls want to look like a princess in big gowns. But it all boils down to your personality type and what you like wearing.

The Anarkali has morphed into a gown!

I like it and a lot myself. A lot of Indian designers do gowns with embellishments perhaps because the Indian bride doesn’t want to let go of tradition completely. I have these Rohit Bal outfits that look good and feel amazing as gowns. One can also do purely western with western jewellery for a cocktail party. Both work.

With a gown, what’s the accessory story?

Nainika and I like to keep accessorising minimal and clean. Wear something that makes a statement but is not screaming-out-loud come-look-at-me types.  It’s always nice to keep things a little subtle.

Riddhima Khanna