Baraat squad uniform? Shararas, obviously

For most of us, the wedding calendar starts with one thing: group chat panic over what to wear. And for Gen Z, there’s a non-negotiable: whatever it is, it needs to move, which is how the sharara slid back into the spotlight. Not quite a lehenga, not quite a salwar set, the sharara lands squarely in the middle. There’s drama, there’s comfort, and there’s serious potential to flex your style.

Culturally, the sharara’s been in the style bloodstream for decades. Y2K icons wore them best; Kareena Kapoor Khan’s peach Bole Chudiyan sharara by Manish Malhotra is practically etched into our memory. Now, it’s comeback time. With baarat season creeping up plus those inevitable "What are you wearing?" group chats, it’s worth locking your look now. Whether you lean toward sparkle, statement prints, or forever classics, here’s what to wear when everyone’s watching (and filming).

It’s also deeply familiar. We wore them as kids to shaadis, twirling through baraats in mini versions of what our older cousins had on. And now, with wedding season revving up again, the sharara feels like the one thing we can agree on across age brackets. So if you’re looking for something easy to wear, fun to style, and surprisingly mom-approved, this is your sign.

If print is your love language

Prints at a wedding aren’t always an easy sell, but the new-age sharara makes a strong case. The silhouettes are relaxed, the styling’s intentional, and there’s just enough shimmer to hold up in a group photo. Monisha Jaising’s sunset-toned chevron sharara gets the formula right. A relaxed-fit kurta with mirror and gota work sits over matching palazzos for a head-to-toe impact play. The deep neckline adds polish, while the tribal-inspired print makes it feel like something you'd wear again. Over at Gopi Vaid, the chartreuse mirrorwork set leans bold, with a structured blouse, sleek trousers, and a barely-there organza cape that moves beautifully when you do. Then there’s Payal Singhal, who’s built a cult around printed shararas with a twist. Her latest version pairs a peplum kurti with flared pants, embroidered in soft zari florals and dotted with butis. It's light, playful, and ideal for bridesmaid duty.

If you're team classic but not predictable

Classic doesn’t have to mean predictable. This crop leans into heritage craft—zardozi, dori, resham—but keeps things sharp with tailoring and unexpected colour palettes. Ideal if your mum’s watching, but your Pinterest board is quietly curated. Rimple & Harpreet’s lapis blue set is a study in structured nostalgia. The front-open kurta features Mughal-style embroidery in rust and gold, with a matching dupatta that finishes strong. Ritu Kumar reworks old-school Kashmiri threadwork into a black-on-black moment that’s quietly commanding and chic. The longline jacket with multicolour embroidery pairs perfectly with fluid palazzos, a good option for night weddings or anything vaguely “black tie Indian”. And if you’re veering contemporary but still want a nod to tradition, Surily G makes the case for matcha greens. Her crepe sharara is cut like a wide-leg suit, layered with a cropped organza jacket edged in scalloping and mirror work. It still counts as classic, just not in the textbook sense.

If sparkle’s a non-negotiable

The high-shine sharara isn’t new, but the way it’s being styled? Very now. Think less bling-for-the-sake-of-bling and more textural detail, movement, and just enough light play to make sense under sangeet lighting. Rahul Mishra’s blush pink set ticks all the boxes; a sheer jacket embroidered with 3D florals, botanical sequins, and resham threads sits over sheer embellished trousers. It’s romantic, detailed, and surprisingly lightweight. Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna take it a notch sharper with a structured metallic corset and matching trousers, covered in fine linear sequins. The draped panel adds drama without restricting movement, a strong choice for the afterparty crossover look. And if you’re leaning romantic but still want sparkle, Kresha Bajaj’s soft mauve net set delivers. Her corset-style kurti and flared shararas are layered with tonal sequins and jaali embroidery. The sheer dupatta? Barely there, but just enough.

So yes, we’re still talking about shararas and inspo from the 2000s. Because somehow, they keep showing up on moodboards, in memories, and now, in group chats titled Baarat fits only. They’re familiar without feeling tired. They work across venues, age brackets, and bridal parties with distinct Pinterest aesthetics. And maybe that’s the point. A good outfit doesn’t have to reinvent the wheel. It just has to move well, look great, and feel like you. The sharara does all three; no lehenga negotiations are required.