Deepavali 2026 fashion trends: From jewel tones to modern saris, designers decode festive dressing

The NRIs are already ahead of the curve. Designer Sabyasachi hosted the first-ever Deepavali event at The Met in New York earlier this week, while entrepreneur Anjula Acharia rang in the season with her All That Glitters ball, themed ‘Diamonds and Light’ last weekend in New York. 

Nothing takes the centre stage quite like festive finery this time of the year, when you do not have to overthink being a overdressed. But how do you invest in pieces that can also tide you through the upcoming wedding season. 

The versatility of craft and design across the country means there are plenty of options. And here is the good news: this season designers have only one thing in mind, which is to ensure you have fun with your wardrobe, whether you are reaching for nostalgic favourites, a little more bling, or experimenting with silhouettes and prints. 

Fresh off a showcase of his easy-to-wear festive edit at the Mercedes Benz Sri Lanka Fashion Week 2026, Chennai-based Ashwin Thiyagarajan says he is all for bringing back colours at a time when the minimalist branding of fashion favours beiges and whites.

“We have pleated and cropped saris, pre-draped dhotis, cropped jackets and bandhgalas, a new take on the pavadai skirt which is scrunched up in front and longer at the back, slip dresses that can be worn with wide-legged pants, all custom embroidered and block printed. Given that Chennai is hot through the year, it was important for me to have these modern silhouettes all in cotton,” he says.

There is more than a splash of colour; in teal, green, yellow, orange, gold, green and black, Ashwin also plays around with motifs. There are big gold buttas, cheery stripes and more, keeping with Ashwin wanting to put his spin on some beloved Indian silhouettes, and motifs. 

Textured traditions

Meanwhile, Sundari Silks in Chennai is looking to the past with its Mathappu collection, which revisits the vintage Kanjeevaram wardrobe.“This was something we were very keen on doing; bringing back a colour palette and designs that have always been loved,” says Manmohan Ram, managing partner. 

Nostalgic checks and animal motifs are paired with classy gold zari borders that do not feel excessive, unlike many newer designs these days. The colour palette here versatile, ranging from jewel-tones to an elegant pistachio green, as well as dual-toned pink saris.

T Nagar is also not the only place where the shoppers are at, with Chennai’s multi-designer boutiques too hosting showcases through the season. 

At Collage, founder Lata Madhu says the boutique now has a curated Mandalay edit, which spotlights clothing in the colour of the festive season; tones of red from rouge to vermillion, with clothes from designers Divya Mehta, Suket Dhir and Lovebirds including others.

A big change in festive dressing, notes Chinar Farooqui, founder of designer label Injiri, is how people have warmed up to not having to express themselves only through heavy embroidery and embellishments, but through beautiful colours and textiles. 

Her festive collection, The Sky Wore Gold, has jackets, saris, coordinated sets and scarves in deep blues, chartreuse, fuschia and greens, spotlighting fluid and asymmetric silhouettes. The collection showcases at Evoluzione in Chennai on October 30 and 31.

“This is the first time we have introduced sheen and zari woven into our clothes. Everything is handmade, and the brand has always engaged with Indian textile traditions including mashru, bandhani, ikat and Jamdani,” Chinar says. 

Get your glam on

Slinky, however, is still in and continues to thrive in many different forms; corsets, pre-draped sari gowns, mini-dresses, and more. 

For celebrations that include what young, Mumbai-based designer Saachi Pasari calls ‘high-energy gatherings’, as well as cocktail dinners and late-night card tables, the glam is on, and needs to extend after-hours as well, she says. 

Her label Hangover By Saachi has bralettes, mini-dresses and gowns; easy to navigate silhouettes embellished with gemstones and crystals, in hues of red, crimson, champagne gold and white; something the GenZs are bound to lap up. 

“Rigid lehengas, heavy dupattas, and sarees looked magnificent, but often restrict movement. Do not be afraid to break the mould. Instead of heavy layers, more people are gravitating toward jewel-toned minimalism in the garments instead of piling on the jewellery, corsetry, and sculpted,  silhouettes that do not weigh you down; think liquid-satin drapes, corseted gowns, and micro-sequins paired with wispy feather accents,” she explains. 

Making a case for the pre-draped sari that her brand 431-88 has always championed, New Delhi-based Shweta Kapur says that she has definitely begun to see more people having fun with their clothes. “They are picking pieces from their own wardrobes and coming to designers to find something that complements them. This puts a refreshing twist on our designs, too. They might want a sari to go with an old blouse, an intricately worked blouse, or jewellery to jazz up a black blazer.”

Shweta’s Demi Couture collection has several pieces that lend themselves to this approach: the heavily embroidered Keshi blouse in champagne silk; the intricately detailed Shea skirt, which can be paired with shirts, corsets or even a blazer; and the versatile, fluid Erina skirt, which Shweta loves styling with the label’s Sable jacket.

Drama, your way

“Building a festive wardrobe with strong separates is something I always encourage; it is great to mix and match different labels, and nudges us towards being a bit more responsible with buying,” says Mumbai-based designer Saim Ghani. 

His label, Saim India, puts a spin on festive glam this year; with its relaxed, anti-fit and modest silhouettes which he says, champions a brand of mystery and sexiness. Indian influences, he says, has always been central to the label’s design language with saris and shararas inspiring skirts with asymmetrical panels, separates and more. 

“My long floor length dresses, which I have made in an array of sizes throughout the year, have been a game changer. I see more clients loving some drama as well; if a dress has 100 tassels, they aren’t shying away from requests for a 100 more,” he laughs. 

Lopamudra, founder of the multi-designer platform and store AltaRasa says that while customers over 30 prefer heavier pieces, younger buyers are gravitating towards contemporary designs. 

“It is however hard to zero in on a specific trend this festive season, and is rather refreshing to see people simply pick up what they like; there is an individuality to shopping. re-ceremonial’s skirts, short jackets and straight pants are popular, as are Urvashi Kaur’s brocade benarasi designs on capes, wide pants, kurtas and crop tops,” she says. 

The quintessential embellished kurta, a festive-season favourite for men, has been the subject of many a satirical Instagram reel. Bengaluru-based Son Of A Noble Snob, however, might just have a few alternatives. ”We have embroidered kurtas in silks and Chanderi, and since I like to play around with the DNA of the brand, our festive collection Lost and Found also has kurtas with zippers, shirts with kantha embroidery, Kimono-inspired kurtas, and shackets, since the festive season coincides with winter here,” says designer Mani Shanker Singh. 

Add fun to your wardrobe

Aseem Kapoor, who will showcase his latest collection Wari at Collage on October 31, says the collection emulates the festive spirit in a myriad ways. “We have worked with layering, and adding silhouettes; there are fun jackets, dramatic sleeves, asymmetric skirts, and even a one-shouldered halter top,” he says. 

The collection draws from the powerful visual language of ancient Peru’s first empire, a civilization known for its mastery of geometry, textiles, and architectural precision. Festive silhouettes in fuschia, deep blues, yellows and reds meet graphic motifs, earthy mineral tones, and richly textured surfaces.

“You dress up during the festive season to resonate, and share in happiness,” he says, adding “I do not want to bracket anything as festive specifically; from bright colours or a chic black jacket, anything can give you joy this season.”