The Lehenga is one of the most famous dresses to come out of the Indian subcontinent. Lehenga is a three-piece ensemble consists of the actual lehenga, a long ankle-length skirt, a well-fitted blouse top known as the choli, and a scarf to drape around the outfit, known as the dupatta.
Women and girls of all classes and ages love to adorn their beautiful bodies in beautiful lehenga dresses. The dress usually features several patterns and styles and designs that may often be indicative of the outing or event for which it is worn. This post details everything we know about the lehenga from the history to the making, styles, trends, as well as how/when to wear a lehenga, among other things.
The Lehenga Choli is believed to have been introduced into India during the legendary Mughal Empire era rule. While the exact timing is not sure, this is believed to have occurred sometime during the 10th century.
Not long after the introduction of the lehenga into Indian fashion culture, the attire soon became a hit among royals as the unofficial royal attire. However, members of the public also soon began wearing the lehenga with the dress eventually gaining mainstream acceptance beyond the palace.
Today, across India, Pakistan, and a host of other South Asian countries, the lehenga has become a key fashion item that women can’t do without.
From being a dress mainly worn by royals, the lehenga has become a standard dress for many women across the Indian subcontinent worn on several occasions from weddings to birthdays, graduations, and more. However, it’s important to point out that today’s lehenga has come a long way from what was worn in the early days. While the basic elements that make a lehenga a lehenga remain the same, the stitching style, embroidery, and even the variety of fabrics used, have evolved.