Types of Lehenga Every Woman Should Know

The lehenga you see today is far from the lehenga nobles in ancient times used to wear. Their version was much closer to everyday attire. You can see traces of them in sculptures and paintings of the period, where a stitched skirt is paired with a dupatta or blouse.

Both men and women wore this version of the lehenga in those days. In fact, the lehenga had two variations—one paired with a blouse and the other with a dupatta. The skirt itself featured multiple drapes.

During the Mughal era, the lehenga skirt was modified to add more volume by incorporating a white piece of cloth. This style continued well into the 19th century.

Modern versions of the lehenga have gone through multiple iterations. 

The different types of lehengas you see now range from traditional and modern to classic and contemporary. Some sport heavy embroidery to maintain the classic look, while others have asymmetrical cuts to reflect modern sophistication.

With an uncountable number of festivals and occasions, you have plenty of opportunities to wear a lehenga. This necessitates the need for you to have a lehenga of every type. In this blog, we will go through all types of lehenga to help you complete your wardrobe. 

Traditional vs. Modern Lehengas

The traditional lehenga that we’re all familiar with, originated in the Mughal era. The influence of Persian and Central styles bled into the varieties of lehenga designs. 

• A voluminous skirt is paired with a fitted, cropped blouse (choli) and a dupatta. The arms of the choli would vary in length, but for the Mughal royals, it was often full-sleeved. 
• Luxurious fabrics such as silk and brocade acted as the base for intricate embroidery of gold and silver threads (zari work).
• Beads, stones, pearls, mirrors, and kundas adorned the lehenga skirt and choli, usually getting more elaborate for wedding attire. 
• Colors associated with the royals were used, such as deep red, fancy blue, Lapis lazuli blue, imperial purple, and green. 

The modern lehenga doesn’t differ dramatically from the traditional lehenga. But the subtle change in design, fabric, and colors gives it away.

• The voluminous skirt is switched with bold cuts and a subdued flare and embroidery work. 
• You can find options to fit your body type with A-line lehenga, mermaid, trail, and high-low hems. 
• The color palette has expanded to include baby blue, pink lehenga, mustard, orange, grey – or any color you can think of. Designers even experiment with unusual color blends such as pink and mint green.  
• The royal silk fabric is replaced with lightweight fabric like chiffon, georgette, satin, and lace. 

Popular Varieties of Lehenga Every Woman Should Know

Lehengas are timeless pieces. Even lehengas designed in the style of the Mughal era look modern today. But lehenga designs now offer more variety than ever.

Classic Styles

The classic lehenga pays tribute to the traditional lehenga. You can’t go wrong with this type of lehenga. For one, the glamorous embroidery, the zari work, and the voluminous skirt are common in every version. But there’s more room to work with in terms of fabric and colors. Besides brocade and silk, you will also find options in cotton, georgette, taffeta, and organza.

The lehenga typically cinches at the waist and spreads out into a beautiful flare down to the ankle. Most of the pattern work is done from down the knee, around the waistline, and the dupatta. 

The space between the knee and the waist can be plain or have a small amount of patterns. The blouse is more simple, typically v-neck or round, with different sleeve lengths. 

Contemporary Lehengas

The contemporary lehenga is a rule breaker. It showcases unusual cuts, asymmetrical designs, and minimal embroidery. It’s the party lehenga.

No matter the style, what’s common is the hint of elegance and sophistication. The color palette almost always leans pastel, contributing to the sleek design. 

For the skirt, there are four regular cuts: 

• Mermaid cut: The skirt flows in a straight line from the waist to the knee, before bursting into a graceful flare. 
• Trail cut: The flare starts from the upper thigh, with more fabric at the back, so there’s a trail when you walk. 
• A-line cut: This is close to the classic lehenga skirt, but with more controlled flare. 
• Double-flare cut: A layer of chiffon, nylon, or crepe is added as an extra layer over the skirt to add to the flare. Contemporary lehengas have also expanded beyond the choli.  This type of lehenga swaps out the choli for crop tops, ethnic jackets, and long kurtas.

Lightweight & Functional Lehengas

Lightweight and functional lehengas intentionally strip away the glitter, but not the glamor. 

The embellishments get extremely subtle or dip into metallic accents, digital prints, and light sequins territory. You skip the heavy weight of the embroidery without compromising on the aesthetics.

Similar to contemporary lehengas, the cuts are layered and asymmetrical on lightweight lehengas. The entire goal is to let you enjoy freedom of movement. 

For the same reason, crepe, georgette, satin, and organza are the most popular fabrics among the varieties of lehenga styles. 

As for the choli, your options range from sleeveless to the ones with thin straps. You can even skip the dupatta since it can hinder movement.

How to Choose the Right Lehenga for Your Body Type?

With lehengas, your body shape has more effect on the design you should go for than your height.

Hourglass: If you have an hourglass figure, your upper and lower body have the same length, except for the narrow waist. Almost any kind of lehenga style looks good with this body shape. But, a fitted crop top with a mermaid-cut lehenga will suit you even more.

Pear-shaped: If you’re a pear-shaped woman, go for a circular lehenga with an A-line cut or maximum flare. The flare drowns out your hips. Pair it with an off-the-shoulder choli to draw attention to your upper body. 

Apple-shaped: Apple-shaped women have the exact opposite body type of pear-shaped women. Your upper body is more prominent, while your lower body is slim. Replace the choli with a long kurta and go for a high-waisted lehenga. Rectangle: You have a rectangle body type if your shoulder, waist, and hips are pretty much the same length. This type of body type is the hardest to style. What you want is to bring curves to your structure. A lehenga with heavy embellishment on the waist is your best option. To add to this illusion of curves, you should use a peplum blouse with ruffles that add volume around your waist.

Conclusion: Types of Lehenga Every Woman Should Buy

Not only should you have different kinds of lehengas according to your body type, but you should also have a lehenga of every type. No matter how many occasions you think you have a lehenga for, it’s never enough.

You can find the most gorgeous, lightweight lehengas with flattering designs on Cbazaar: a stop for every fashionista seeking the most contemporary lehengas. You’ll find your sophisticated, minimalistic dream here as easily as the royal, embroidered wedding collection. 

Cbazaar offers you all types of lehenga, with designs that will make all eyes turn. It’s time you start with your lehenga hunt, and Cbazaar is there to make it successful at every step.