Cousins Parno Mittra and Tanisha De are neither each other’s mirror nor opposites! Rather they complement each other seamlessly. One gentle and the other chirpy, but two in a frame is entrancing. As The Telegraph decodes the latest wedding jewellery trend of incorporating the motley of precious and semi-precious stones in various wedding occasions, Parno and Tanisha models the looks for us:
In what ways are you similar to each other?
Parno: We are not similar at all! (laughs)
Tanisha: But we share some common interests like food, clothes, and we love to binge-watch shows and movies. We can do that for hours without taking a shower or eating.
Parno: No, I take a shower. You don’t!
Do you talk about your jewellery loves with each other?
Tanisha: Neither of us are huge jewellery people as such and don’t own a lot of jewellery too (laughs).
Parno: I love really old, traditional jewellery if I have to dress up. But I don’t think we really end up wearing any of that stuff often and we don’t wear a lot of jewellery also. Suppose I am going for an event, then it occurs to me that I don’t have enough. But I never end up buying. I think, we are both into minimalistic styling and my sister is more into active wear and athleisure.
Tanisha: Even if we buy jewellery, it would be from the idea of owning it but not like wearing and going everywhere. But we do buy silver contemporary jewellery at times.
In a subtle-glam D-day look, Parno channelled a gorgeous vibe in this polki set from B.C.Sen Jewellers accentuated with emerald cabochon, natural pearls and green meenakari work. The emerald is contrasted with a pink-red bridal lehnga from Estri, completed with trendy middle-parted hair. “Value of precious stones is something which is forever and has been there since time immemorial. The pleasure of owning something rare and natural like precious stones gives a self-satisfaction to the wearer. They are trending since celebrities have been wearing them on weddings and so it generates an aspirational value to common people as well. Mostly worn at weddings and other bridal events, precious stones in different hues are very much in trend for the modern-day bride,” said Sukanya Sen and Shalini Sen, marketing and branding division heads, B.C. Sen Jewellers.
Pabitra DasDo you steal or borrow from each other’s casket?
Parno: Yes, all the time! Generally, for jewellery, I borrow from Tanisha. She has more than I do because when I go out, generally, my stylist gives options and that is one reason why I never end up buying. My stylist always gives me enough options that I can choose from. Apart from real jewellery... but those are always kept in the locker so we hardly get to wear them. At least Tanisha has a few pieces and I keep borrowing them from her.
Tanisha: I buy at times because I have to wear for some events but other than that I am not into jewellery... gold, polki... even normal costume jewellery. Only if a garment requires accessorising, I wear it. Or I prefer to go without it.
Parno: Only if I am wearing a sari and all then I have to wear it. For those times I have a few stuff but some people have matching pieces and all but we generally don’t do that.
Tanisha: Yeah, some people are really obsessed with silver jewellery. So, they go collecting it from popular stores and buy really expensive pieces but we are not into that.
Tanisha posed for a dreamy engagement look in this pastel palette. The neckpiece made of emerald beads and gold is studded with diamonds, pearls, uncut emeralds paired with a matching ring, from MP Jewellers. The hair tied back with a vintage appeal and the make-up classy with contrasting shades complete the beige-and-pastel green sari from Estri. “The earliest Indian wedding jewellery traditions had necklace sets made solely out of gold but now, the designs have extended to modern ones with diamonds, gemstones, pearls and even coloured semi-precious stones. When selecting jewellery, most brides choose to wear one or more of the four precious gemstones — diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds. They’re not only gorgeous and durable but also incredibly meaningful. Each precious gemstone carries a meaning that’s as unique as its beauty and history. Precious gemstones are timeless. Bridal jewellery can be a bit of an investment,” said Soumik Roychoudhury, director, MP Jewellers.
Pabitra DasWho gives suggestions on styling accessories to whom?
Parno: We both ask each other.
Tanisha: Yeah.
Parno: We take advice from each other all the time. Clothes, jewellery or shoes we discuss.
Tanisha: We always update each other. Also because we both need to fit into those things...
Parno: (Laughs) We need to discuss with each other before buying.
Who is the critic out of the two of you?
Parno: My sister!
Tanisha: I am.
Parno cut a comfy pose in this printed two-piece from Estri, adding a dash of glam with this gold and diamond neckpiece paired with complementing finger rings from MP Jewellers for a simple cocktail night look. Perfect for letting your hair down and enjoying with your squad!
Pabitra DasWhat kind of jewellery do you usually like to wear for wedding occasions?
Tanisha: One statement piece. Not covering up myself with everything.One statement piece is enough. If I am wearing one piece then I don’t mind wearing something heavy. I really like gold or silver jewellery. I am not into stones, polki, kundan etc.
Parno: I like all of that.
Tanisha: Depends on what I am wearing actually.
Parno: It depends on the outfit. If I am wearing a traditional sari, obviously I wear gold. If I wear chiffon, then I might go for polki.
A glamorous reception day look, Tanisha wore a polki set from B.C. Sen Jewellers crafted in gold with meenakari detailing, studded with rubies. The plaited bun and make-up with pink hues complete this gold lehnga look from Estri
Pabitra DasWho coaxes whom to get married so that you can have super fun?
Tanisha: Nobody! Neither of us try to coax each other to get married.
Parno: Neither of us want to get married. (Laughs)
Tanisha: We do that for other friends. We also tell our already married friends to redo their wedding so that we can have fun.
Parno: In 2021, I think giving marriage so much importance is very silly. There is so much more to do in life than get married. Life doesn’t end with marriage. I am not against it. But it is just not my thing. If it has to happen, it will happen. But to plan that I must get married by this age. We don’t come from that kind of a family. I don’t believe that a girl has to get married at some point. We were never asked to get married in our family. There is no family pressure or peer pressure. I don’t give it so much importance. Tanisha doesn’t want to get married ever.
Tanisha: I don’t believe in the whole marriage thing. I need to believe in it on some level to think about getting hitched.
Though none of you believes in marriage but have you ever imagined yourself as a bride?
Tanisha: Because of my shoots, I get to dress up as a bride almost every second day.
Parno: Everywhere in Kolkata she is lying on the bathtub wearing a lehnga (laughs).
Tanisha: I would like to dress up like the traditional, Bengali bride
Parno: Bullshit! You will never dress up as the traditional Bengali bride. She is so far away from the idea of getting married that she doesn’t even remember what she wants. She told me once that she wanted to wear a gown if she ever gets married and diamond jewellery... (imitates Tanisha)
Tanisha: Not in a gown ever! (both laugh) Actually, now I can’t even think about it because I am not into the whole thing.
Parno: She will get married in a jeans and t-shirt. If I get married, I have too many looks to decide from (laughs) but I definitely want something very traditional and minimalistic.
STYLIST SPEAK
“The idea behind these looks is to create a fair idea for the brides as to how they can dress up for their wedding. The vibrant jewellery is complemented with the outfits. They can plan every day differently with looks and jewellery. I style a lot of brides, they are buying gold jewellery but are also spending on precious stones like ruby, emerald, diamond, sapphire. They are buying jewellery now that they can wear later on and not only for the wedding. From traditional to Indo-western and western, every look can be created. These precious stone jewellery can be worn for various occasions post-wedding too,” — Anupam Chatterjee
Styling: Anupam Chatterjee
Hair and make-up: Mainak Das
Location courtesy: The Astor Hotel
