Janhvi Kapoor’s latest Manish Malhotra look goes straight for impact. In Indian couture, some of the most prized possessions, once reserved for royalty and heirloom-worthy bridal trousseau, were garments embroidered with real gold and silver threads or encrusted with gemstones. Kapoor’s ensemble follows squarely in that lineage, toeing the line between couture and ornamentation.

The actor’s cream lehenga consisted of a voluminous skirt, dupatta and blouse. The neutral base comes alive with floral thread embroidery in leaf motifs, further elevated with clusters of pearls and tonal stones. “Janhvi Kapoor in a cream lehenga with stone and thread leaf embroidery, finished with a nude blouse embellished with pearls and stones—celebrating the soft radiance of pearls,” the designer shares, and the thought process is realised in her blouse. Layers upon layers of pearl strings drape across the yoke in elaborate swags, creating the illusion of a sculptural neckpiece that sits directly on the skin. The sleeves, too, are composed entirely of pearl strands, delicate ropes that frame the arms. Even the dupatta abandons traditional drape conventions, instead presenting itself as a bunch of pearl strings.