One of the most seasoned front-runners of the fashion world, Ritu Kumar, is the perfect blend of classic and contemporary. Her clothes are largely inspired by Indian tradition and culture, and the intricate embroidery, bold prints, and rich material of her clothes characterize her signature designs. In fact, Ritu Kumar lehengas and saris are made for magnificence and festivity, and a perfect wedding ensemble by this designer may just be the key to completing your wedding day fairytale. So, let's have a look at the brilliant new innovations by this messiah of wedding fashion in 2013-2014.

The year that was: 2013

2013 was quite a fruitful and satisfying year for Ritu Kumar and her fans. She was bestowed with the highest civilian honour, the Padma Shri award, for her contribution to the Indian fashion industry over the last 40 years. Yet another notch in the belt for the fashion godmother.

Another highlight of the year was the Rajasthan Fashion Week, where the "queen" of high fashion enchanted, yet again, with her bridal designs. Ritu Kumar's bridal designs, as we know, are largely inspired from Rajasthan's heritage, so it was only fitting that the princess of Jodhpur walked the ramp for her. The display of anarkalis, lehengas and saris at the show was a tribute well paid. Every single outfit was a masterpiece that showcased an array of fabrics, such as raw silk, georgette, brocade, chiffon, crepe and velvet, coupled with intricate weaving techniques, such as gota, zardozi, zari and such. However, apart from traditional designs, Ritu also showcased some new-world, edgy ideas, such as short, embroidered jackets that can be worn with lehengas. In short, there was a little something for everyone to rejoice about.

Looking ahead: 2014

With the start of 2014, Mrs. Kumar has continued to move from milestone to milestone. As if to reiterate the fact that she truly is the first lady of Indian fashion, Everton-a private equity firm-has announced that they will invest 100 crore in the Ritu Kumar enterprise to increase the reach of her designs and showcase Indian craft and heritage to the world. We can't wait to see what other excitement is in store for wedding lovers this year! (PS: Mrs. Kumar has already begun work on her bridal collection for 2014.)

Dazzling among the stars: The Bollywood connection

Ritu Kumar has not only been designing the wardrobes for Femina Miss India and other international beauty pageants for over two decades now, but she's also a household name in the Indian film industry. Her list of eminent clients include Aishwarya Rai, Priyanka Chopra, Lara Dutta, and Dia Mirza, to name a few, and international celebrities, such as the late Princess Diana, Mischa Barton, and Anoushka Shankar. She pioneered the concept of the "boutique" culture in India and cemented her name among the who's who of the fashion and film industries.

Every bride deserves that her wedding day feel like a fantasy, and the way she is dressed directly reflects the way she feels. So to make this experience unforgettable for the bride, several individuals with intricate skills work very hard to turn a design or concept into a masterpiece. In Ritu Kumar's words,

"Fashion is just one story-turning fabric into garments that are then shown on the ramp. But there are many smaller human stories that lead up to it. We have nearly 16 million people working in this industry right from the grassroots level, and they are the ones we should be proud of."

Well, all we can say to this, Mrs. Kumar, is that Indian brides can rest assured that their wedding happiness is in great hands. Have an excellent week, ladies!