Scottish poet Robert Burns, in true Romantic fashion, wrote, “My love’s a red, red rose” and while his poetry is beautiful, perhaps we can blame the poet for promoting the common misconception: that red roses are the only ones worth paying attention to! Crimson, alas, is not the only shade that this velvety, fragrant flower comes in, so here we are to introduce you to a rosy colour palette that will redefine your traditional attire.

ROSES430X550

Imagine a garden of roses... do you, like most of us, see only crimson? Well, it’s time to take off the blinders and smell the flowers (pun intended, of course!). Roses actually come in a multitude of colours and shades from yellow and lilac to light, dark and deep pink. All of these make for lovely colours that can perfectly showcase zardozi work, dori work, sequin embroidery and other heavy embellishments that traditional Indian wear usually contains.

Tarun Tahliani430X550

This shaded pink Tarun Tahliani creation makes Jaqueline Fernandez look like the quintessential Eastern Princess—delicate, ethereal and elegant. Choose a lehenga or churidaar in a light pink colour like this and add texture by going for netted sleeves, a velvet waist band or satin tassels.

Image courtesy: LFW 2014

Biba by Rohit Bal 430X550

We heart this strong orange colour that perfectly shows off our dusky Indian skin. Created by Rohit Bal for Biba, it pairs orange with blocky gold print that we think is perfect for ethnic functions.

Lisa Hayden for Jade 430X550

Pairing this icy pink colour with silver, this Jade ensemble on Lisa Hayden looks stunning. We especially love the brown tone of the choli that lets pink do the talking, while keeping it elegant and simple.

Image courtesy: LFW 2014

Sva by Sonam and Paras Modi 430X550

Pale yet somehow warm, this full-skirted yellow creation by SVA (Sonam and Paras Modi) is one of our favourites, perfectly epitomising not only the rose, but also what it symbolises: happiness, friendship and love!

Image courtesy: LFW 2014

Kresha Bajaj at LFW 430X550

This unusual lilac churidaar-kurta by Kresha Bajaj gets a big nod from us fashion hounds. Meant for a woman who walks to the beat of her own drum it is feminine and powerful, all rolled into one!

Image courtesy: LFW 2014

Maharaja of Madrid SS 14 by JJ Valaya430X550

If subtlety is an art, then JJ Valaya is the master artist. This dark pink creation features just a hint of gold and same colour embroidery that we adore! Rather than picking the traditional red, we’d love to see more of this deep pink on both brides and maidens.