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Vimla Patil was associated with Femina, India’s number one women’s magazine, published by the Times of India Group for 29 years. Femina is Vimla Patil's personal success story. Today, FEMINA is one of the strongest international brands with a vast readership in India and abroad. She initiated the Miss India contest in the mid-sixties for the journal and brought it to its present international stature. Vimla Patil promoted Indian textiles and fashion garments – especially handlooms – for decades by presenting over 4000 fashion shows in India and most countries of the world. After finishing her long stint with Femina, she built a brand new career for herself as a freelance multi-mediaperson with writing, events, public relations, shows and many more activities in her portfolio! Vimla Patil will be delighted to answer readers' questions. Please click on the comments page link at the bottom of the article to post your questions for her or to comment on her article.

A bridal ensemble combines pink with an orange top and a turquoise chunni.

Designers are getting busy. Jewellery arcades are displaying their latest designs. Mehndi and sangeet artists are gearing up with rehearsals. Wedding planners are drawing up lists and venue decorators are frantically looking for something more exciting than last year’s best! But the brides and bridegrooms in India are on a different trip altogether just now! This year, says the grapevine, those wanting to get married are looking as if they have a celebration fatigue. Most couples – wherein the man and woman both work at demanding jobs – are happy to leave the arrangements to relatives or wedding managers. Only for choice of clothes and jewellery and personal decisions like honeymoon destinations, they are insisting on their own participation. Also, news says that they are opting for simpler ceremonies and feasts and events, which are held in a minimalist manner. The reason? Most couples are drawing heavy bank loans for financing their new homes, honeymoon travel, household appliances and gizmos – all on EMIs or equated monthly instalments. Hence, they opt to save money on their wedding functions and the ceremony itself.

However, that is not to say that would-be bridal couples are not being innovative. They are using their vibrant imaginations to create new colour combinations in their clothes, co-ordinated wedding ensembles and décor and simpler, but more appealing menus. Leading designers like Tarun Tahiliani say that churidars, kaftan tops and layered skirts with touches of embroidery will be favoured for a bride’s wardrobe. Wedding outfits will be in unusual colours like midnight blue, beige and cream, in addition to the traditional reds and pinks. Sarees will be a preferred option with an emphasis on draping styles. Laces, zardosi, diamante appliqués and Lucknow work done in zari will define the look of the season. Jewellery sets are taking a milder, non-shiny look and can be co-ordinated with the outfit. This year, brides may choose to wear not-real but like-real jewellery, specially made to match the bridal outfit’s embroidery! Whatever the expense of a wedding, the enjoyment and celebration quotient will remain steady and high!

Indians buy the highest amount of gold in the world. According to the figures issued by the World Gold Council, Indians have bought the highest quantity of gold in the past year. The gold-jewellery-hungry nation bought ornaments totaling to 517.5 tonnes and invested in a further 100.2 tonnes. That’s an awesome record for a country, which was described as ‘developing country’ or ‘third world country’ until recently.

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