How to Style Imitation Jewellery for Weddings and Festive Occasions

There is a version of imitation jewellery styling that works very well and a version that does not. The difference is not the price of the pieces. It is how they are put together.

One heavy piece, not three medium ones

The most common styling mistake with imitation jewellery is overloading. A statement necklace, chunky earrings, a maang tikka, two bracelets, and three rings worn together do not say "full bridal look". Pick one heavy piece and let everything else support it.

If your necklace is the point, the earrings should be smaller. If your maang tikka is dramatic, the necklace can be shorter and simpler. The eye needs somewhere to land.

Match the finish to the occasion

Antique and gold look finishes photograph warmly in daylight and candlelight. They suit daytime functions, mehendi, haldi, and temple ceremonies well.

Swaroski pieces do the opposite — they come alive under bright lighting, making them better for evening receptions and sangeet where the lighting is theatrical.

For sarees

Silk and Banarasi sarees can hold their own against heavy Kundan or Heritage sets. Chiffon and georgette are thinner, so a long chain pendant or lighter longset tends to work better than a wide, heavy necklace.

For lehengas

Look at how embroidered the blouse is before you decide on a necklace. A heavily embellished blouse with a high neckline is already doing a lot. A maang tikka and earrings is often the stronger choice in that situation.

For anarkalis

Anarkalis work incredibly well with longsets. A good Heritage or Rajwadi longset on a plain anarkali is a complete outfit. It does not need much else.

The bangles question

More is more with bangles, within reason. A full set of openable kadas stacked together has a completely different energy than one or two bangles worn alone. Browse our Bangle Collection.

Also see our Bridal Jewellery Checklist for function-by-function guidance.