Indian fashion is no stranger to lace, thread embroidery and volume. Shyamal and Bhumika embrace the traditional aspects of Indian fashion in their higher end designs. They like to play with colors and fabrics and create these beautiful pieces wearable for any generation and any silhouette.

Sounds like any of my other posts right?

Well here is where everything will change. I’ll be honest: I’m not a fan. The designs seem to be dated apart from a few here and then those are so intricate, heavy, and sequenced that the price point is outrageous. They play with fabrics and color well. Now I’m not saying they have to be trailblazers, but I do think that there are others in the industry that do what they do better.

Everything is extremely appealing to the eye, but thats it. It’s just that there are many a time when you think: is this even designer? They love the lace, and if done well lace looks extremely classy and elegant. That’s not to say they don’t do lace well, but here’s my qualm – it takes so much effort on part of the individually wearing the piece. Copious amounts of jewelry, effort with make up and hair are required to elevate the piece. Shouldn’t the opposite be happening?

I rarely see Shyamal & Bhumika being statement pieces. They’re a mishmash in between bridal party and actual bridal wear. It’s never enough to be one or the other.

One thing that very much irks me is the border and embroidery on heavier pieces. The designing is from about 20 to 30 years ago. There could be so much more done here. Someone like Diana or Sonam can’t even make me like the pieces, they can carry everything.

On Diana’s lengha the velvet doesn’t work, and the bottom half of the lengha the embroidery in my opinion is ‘tacky’. It’s too big and garish. Sonam’s lengha looks like one piece of lace that has been wrapped around here, there is zero innovation.

The colour contrasting doesn’t work, it’s either Christmas or it’s completely bland.

I wish I could say that it’s just the experimental aspect that doesn’t work, but even the traditional aspect they seem to get wrong. I feel like I’m being extremely harsh, I know I can feel it. But honestly in my search for Indian brands this one is not one that I’m going to be curious to look out for.

Imagine that Sara lengha with a lengha bottom that had embroidery in the color of the blouse. Wouldn’t it just work better? Right now it looks like two pieces from two different outfits that were put together. Juhi’s is the same, the dupatta just doesn’t tie in together. Don’t even get me started on Ileana and Yami’s outfits – EXTREMELY dated.

Shyamal & Bhumika was a brand I was excited to explore when I started this journey. I didn’t realize how popular it was with celebrities. But I was not impressed. They may have extremely intricate and heavy pieces, but in my personal opinion they just don’t scream high end Indian fashion. The only thing I have seen them get close to right is monochromatic looks, but then it’s ruined by the silhouettes and draping of fabrics.

I’ll leave it here to you, is it just me? Do you inclined to appreciate Shyamal & Bhumika designs?