Betawi

Three bridal artists '€” a fashion designer, makeup artist and hair stylist '€” agree that simplicity is the '€œit'€ style this year and maybe next year.

From head-to-toe, brides will find it comfortable '€” and hassle-free '€” to wear simple but elegant dresses as well as putting on subtle and smooth makeup.

Prominent fashion designer Marga Alam has presented a simple take on the traditional Indonesian kebaya blouse-dress, with less ornamentation for brides.

'€œFor 2014 and 2015, the trend is a simple kebaya with an international approach. Although it may look modern, it still has an Indonesian touch,'€ Marga told The Jakarta Post on the sidelines of the Professional Beauty Festival 2014 at Thamrin City in Central Jakarta on Tuesday.

Marga '€” who designs regular fashion items, bridal as well as kebaya '€” added that he would always keep the basic design of the kebaya on brocade to maintain the Indonesian finesse.

'€œBrocade is the eternal material for kebaya. However, we do have a certain treatment [for the fabric] for bridal purposes. In overall look, the kebaya is simple '€” I don'€™t have the heart to do something extravagant or futuristic with it,'€ he added.

Indonesia is most known for its Javanese, Balinese and Sundanese kebaya styles, which are body-hugging with some semi-transparent parts. With a significant rise in demand for Muslim fashion, the kebaya has now developed into a more Islamic compatible style, which is loose-fitting, knee-length, long-sleeved and without transparent parts.

Marga said that the simplified idea of the kebaya came after many of his style followers overdid the outfit with excessive embellishment and modification.

'€œI'€™ve created kebaya outfits since 1997 and I have a lot of followers who did too much to the blouse-dress. I'€™ve had enough of that, so I think it'€™s time to tone it down,'€ Marga said, adding that in terms of color he loved to use pastels, such as soft pink and green tosca.

Well-known makeup artist Gusnaldi said that the simplicity in makeup is represented by the use of light foundation, which evened out skin tone and gave a flawless skin appearance.

'€œYou cannot use the old thick yellowish foundation, that'€™s outdated '€” the bride will look old caused by smile lines from the thick foundation.

'€œWhat'€™s hot now is the soft and subtle foundation that mainly covers flaws like pimples,'€ Gusnaldi told the Post.

He added that in previous makeup trends, most brides within traditional styles looked stiff and a bit strange because of the use of the thick foundation.

'€œIn today'€™s trend, it'€™s OK to put some colors in the area of the eyes and, among other things, softening the eyeliner and applying flawless blending to make the bride look less fierce,'€ said Gusnaldi, adding that the light and flawless concept would allow the bride to interact more freely with her guests.

Gusnaldi is the kind of makeup artist who doesn'€™t apply stage makeup on a bride at a big wedding party in a spacious ballroom.

'€œDoesn'€™t matter where the party is being held, again, flawless makeup is the key. You don'€™t have to put thick makeup on the bride just to make her shine bright in a spacious area.

'€œWhen the bride shakes hands with guests, it'€™s her moment to be seen. Besides, wedding parties nowadays put up big screens to show off the couple to all the guests '€” so, heavy makeup is a big no-no,'€ explained the makeup artist.

The basis of a flawless face is by polishing the foundation, said Gusnaldi. '€œThe foundation has to be soft and subtle to avoid a clown-like look. The final result of polishing the foundation will give a natural skin-tone color.'€

What was important in putting makeup on a bride was finding the perfect way to make her look fresh, young, attractive, friendly and smart, he added.

Merry Welinda, a makeup artist and hair stylist who has released The Contemporary Wedding Hairstyles book with Ade Aprilia, said that most of her clients would opt for traditional hairstyles with modifications for their big day.

'€œI maintain the traditional ambiance by using several items from traditional styles and mixing them with a modern touch.

'€œIn a simple contemporary wedding with a Minang influence, for example, I put several additional hair buns to replace the usual bouffant style in order to keep suntiang hair accessories steady,'€ she said, adding that her hair creations would still look Minang although not as complicated and weighty as the original style.

Merry, who originates from Padang, said that the traditional hairstyle for Minang brides with the suntiang accessories was really quite heavy, which might cause a headache for some people.

'€œWith the modified style, you can have that beautiful Minang look but minus the headache,'€ said Merry with a smile.

'€” Photos by JP/Niken Prathivi

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