Thrifted trials for Haldi ceremony

Hi all, as I do I have been thinking about outfits for next May in Canada at the cross-cultural wedding I am attending. These are attempts for the turmeric paste Haldi ceremony. Websites and my Indian patient say wear yellow. All clothing is thrifted, pants need pressing.
Please excuse overly short and wet hair- it will grow and it will dry!
I feel the dress is maybe too short and my knees/lower legs not great so I tried the thrifted cobalt leggings I had already owned underneath.
Thoughts on preference for clothing or which shoes? I read that there is a risk of yellow staining to clothing and of the 2 pairs of shoes the gold thread sandals have had more wears and are getting tired. But I am wearing the yellow loafers more lately and they are at 29 wears now so by next May they might not be too precious either.

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1 year ago

CarolS

Veteran

The dress is really pretty, Jenni, but I understand why you would like it a wee bit longer. I know I am not comfortable sitting in a dress that short...

Have you tried pulling the legging up a bit so it's a bit shorter? I'd like to see some ankle to lighten things up a bit.

The other outfit is cute too. but much more casual. What's the level of dressiness for the Haldi ceremony?

Jenni NZ

I don’t actually know Carol. I have contacted my Canadian SIL in Saskatoon but more about the dress for the actual wedding day ( I have outfit choices to put on the forum later for that too.) I didn’t want to bother her too much before Christmas. The pants outfit cost the princely sum of $13 altogether and adding the yellow dress yesterday from a different store was only another $9 so if I end up donating it all I am not too worried. Pics on the internet mostly showed saris but I was encouraged in my other post by notsaf saying Western guests did not necessarily need to wear Indian clothing unless immediate family.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I like #1 and #6 best! Those gold sandals are very pretty on your feet

I think the dress works well with leggings, but in a much lighter colour. How about pearl grey, white, or a mid-blue?

Thanks Angie, seeing the photos did make me think the leggings looked rather dark. More thrift shopping I suppose… or even new for just the right colour and length of leggings. Pearl grey sounds pretty! Wonder if those exist?

Suz

I think the dress is pretty on you! You will probably want the leggings anyway for warmth unless it is late May (and even then....) --- it doesn't usually get hot enough for bare legs on the prairie until June, I would guess.

Irina

Really like the dress with shoes in #1. Jenni, maybe you can add a solid yellow or light grey fabric to the bottom of the dress to make it the length you’d like?

Jaime

I really like the dress on you but agree with Angie that you need lighter leggings with it. I like the length on you!

Thank you Suz, Irina and Jaime! I am only slightly worried my daughter might try to steal it! Only one of my 3 children can go, DD2, who already has a yellow dress but doesn’t want to risk wrecking it!
Your idea made me wonder about putting a vintage slip under it Irina as an alternative to leggings. I have also searched online for leggings just now and there is one white pair and one grey pair that don’t cost much… 2 different stores of course…

Zaeobi

I like the dress with both pairs of shoes! Whilst you wait for the right leggings, have you considered trying the dress on with the light capris/ cropped trousers (in your last outfit) in the meanwhile?

Otherwise a slip is a good idea (or another skirt layered under the dress - I imagine you'll need warmth!)

Anonymous

I like the dress and both pairs of sandals! If you are interested in wearing a sari for any of the events, you can buy them on Etsy for under $50 often! There are also these reversible silk wrap skirts made of 2 sari layers- which are often sold in multiples on Etsy.

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Bijou

I love the look of the dress in #1 with both shoe options. I hope you can find some pearl grey leggings, that would be a fun outfit. You may find some in Uniqlo, they have great leggings in their exercise range.

rachylou

I love the 60s vibe of #1. I don’t know about the mores of the crowd you’ll be with, but that’s a perfect execution of above the knee(!)

Thanks Zaeobi Suntiger Bijou and Rachylou. I do quite like the $9 dress!
Have found possible 3/4 white leggings, grey is more difficult. I might stop looking too much for a bit as it is getting close to the end of the year with other things to think about like hosting extended family.
At least I have a start, I prefer to think about certain events months before, but many events I just have good stuff in my wardrobe already. Thanks everyone for the help and I will post again in 2023!

No worries, this is why it's good to get a headstart on these sorts of things - so you're not stressing about them closer to the time!

Roxanna

I think the pants look is too casual but the dress is pretty! I would err on the side of dressing up a bit more and don't worry too much about wearing yellow. Yes, turmeric can stain, but it's not like they are throwing it around or anything. You just put some paste on the bride and groom's foreheads. I think Western clothes are fine, but perhaps a longer summer dress in bright colours that is a bit dressier might work well.

Jenava

I LOVE that yellow dress and shoes outfit! the leggings are too heavy, IMO even in a light color. I'd go with sheer hose and maybe a blazer on top for warmth. I like the pants outfit as well, but I'd prefer to see the waistband or at least the tops of the legs/crotch point on that outfit, so I vote to either tuck, semi-tuck, or find a shorter top.

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