Lifestyle

After 2024’s Biggest Wedding, we Look at the 10 Most Expensive Outfits of the Ambani Ladies

Published

1d ago

Jul 15, 2024 / 5234 Views

When it comes to the Ambanis, the word “lavish” doesn’t even begin to cover it. This family is not just about running a multi-billion dollar empire; they’re the flag bearers of a cultural revolution in India. From the launch of the multifaceted Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) to the hosting of a wedding that has garnered worldwide attention, the Ambanis are redefining the nation’s soft power in style. Their iNFLuence is turning India into a global hub for culture, arts, and fashion, attracting the world’s most celebrated designers, artists, and celebrities.

When it comes to throwing a party, the wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant is already making landmark strides as a historical event. With performances by Rihanna, Katy Perry, Justin Beiber, The Backstreet Boys, Andrea Bocelli, and David Guetta lined up alongside private Mediterranean cruises costing upwards of USD 900 million and a secret masquerade ball at Château de la Croix des Gardes, the wedding is shaping up to be the must-attend event of the century. And if that isn’t enough, the 134-day long celebration also includes every designer worth knowing in the global fashion industry today. The Ambanis aren’t just talking generational wealth — they’re quashing every notion of quiet luxury known to humankind.

Their sartorial choices are no exception. The Ambani women — Isha, Shloka, Nita, and now, Radhika — are known for their jaw-dropping personal styles that have left us shocked, confused, and jealous. Their wardrobes are powerful, filled with custom couture, priceless jewellery, and accessories that could give even Anna Wintour a run for her money. Let’s take a deep dive into the most expensive outfits worn by the Ambani battalion, with each piece more spectacular and awe-inspiring than the last.

The most expensive outfits worn by the Ambani women

Isha Ambani

1. Wedding lehenga

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla (@abujanisandeepkhosla)

Isha Ambani’s wedding to Anand Piramal in December 2018 was nothing short of a royal spectacle, and her bridal lehenga was the crown jewel of the event. Speaking to Vogue India, legendary duo Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla spoke on capturing the sentiment behind the intricate creation, saying, “There is deep emotion and personal history in the ensemble.”

The lehenga featured a stunning 16-panelled ghagra (long skirt) in two shades of off-white, each panel hand-embroidered with alternating Mughal jaalis and floral patterns, showcasing the finest zardozi, vasli, mukaish, and nakshi work (Indian embroidery techniques). Crystals and sequins highlighted every flower and jaali, making the outfit sparkle with every movement. This was paired with a complementary half-sleeved blouse and a breathtaking tulle dupatta (a long scarf-like piece worn with the lehenga). The dupatta, fully embellished in gold vasli jaali with tiny flowers, had a 20-metre trail embroidered with millions of sequins and crystals.

What made Isha’s lehenga truly special was her heartfelt tribute to her mother, Nita Ambani. She incorporated Nita’s red bandhini wedding sari as a second dupatta, reimagined with zardozi borders by the designer duo. To top off her look, she stacked up the diamond jewellery, including a choker, two rani haars (royal neckpieces), earrings, a maang tikka (a decorative piece worn on the forehead), haath phools (an ornament for the hand and wrist), and a stack of bangles. Her makeup, artfully done by celebrity artist Vardan Nayak, stayed true to her Gujarati roots with sindoor dots on her forehead, a dewy base, flushed cheeks, soft smoky eyes, and bold red lips.

Isha’s wedding look has been valued at approximately USD 12 million, making it one of the most expensive outfits ever worn by the Ambani women.

2. Custom Schiaparelli saree

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Anaita Shroff Adajania (@anaitashroffadajania)

If there is one thing that drives the Ambanis, it’s their love for customisation. And who better to do the heavy work than Schiaparelli’s Daniel Roseberry? For the sangeet night (a dance and song ceremony which is a part of Indian weddings) of her brother Anant and Radhika’s ongoing nuptials, Isha selected the atelier to help pack in a slice of History with a sculptural ensemble. Dressed in a cape-like blouse cascading on a canvas of rich cerulean, the 32-year-old became the second-ever woman to present herself in a Schiaparelli saree. A diamond choker, matching maang tika, and earrings with a few rings completed Isha’s look. While the exact cost of the outfit was not revealed to the public, it’s easy to guess that the figure rests somewhere in the millions.

3. Engagement ceremony gown

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Valentino (@maisonvalentino)

Isha and Anand’s wedding was a series of opulent events, each more spectacular than the last. However, her wedding reception look truly stood out, not just for its beauty, but also for its historical origins. The Reliance Industries Director wore a custom-designed lehenga by global powerhouse Valentino, marking the first time the iconic brand has ventured into designing such a piece.

Known to have an affinity for aurelian metals, Isha’s gold and ivory lehenga featured rich textured floral motifs in gold and silver. The sheer fabric of the skirt glinted with every step, creating an ethereal effect. The lehenga’s intricate detailing and embellishments set it apart, making it a true masterpiece of couture. The skirt, with its delicate floral embroidery, was paired with an equally ornate blouse and a dupatta that echoed the same meticulous design. This ensemble marks a historic collaboration, merging two worlds of haute couture, and raking up a bill upward of USD 2 million.

This reception look was not Isha’s first unconventional choice. During her pre-wedding festivities in Udaipur, she wore a custom-made Giambattista Valli lehenga for the arrival lunch, further putting her global fashion sensibilities on display.

4. Diamond blouse

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla (@abujanisandeepkhosla)

The pre-wedding festivities of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant were nothing short of spectacular, but it was Isha’s blouse that stole the spotlight. At the Jamnagar hastashkar event, the 32-year-old wore a blouse made entirely of diamonds and gold jewellery. This one-of-a-kind creation was designed by the iconic duo of Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla.

A masterpiece in every respect, the blouse featured breakaways from Isha’s personal collection. In a detailed behind-the-scenes video, Khosla explained, “Isha gave all the little bits of jadau jewellery (a style of gold plated Indian jewellery) that she owns. There’s polki, ruby, diamonds, emeralds, you name it, it’s there.” The designers used a red fabric base and covered it with her precious jewels, which included diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and more, to create the gasp-eliciting piece.

The precious ornaments were carefully dismantled and reinvented into couture. Each jewel was first placed on hand-drawn paper patterns, followed by rounds of artistic experimentation. Different stitches of gold and silver zardozi work were then infused with the jewellery pieces, transforming them into a wearable work of art. Apart from the blouse itself, Isha also slipped into the most decadent polki necklaces (an Indian style of jewellery making featuring uncut diamonds), resulting in a look deserving of a spot in the History books. As an ensemble that rightfully holds its place on the list of the most expensive outfits worn by the Ambani ladies, this blouse represents the magical coNFLuence of sartorial genius, iMMAculate execution, and unlimited finances.

Shloka Mehta Ambani

1. Wedding lehenga

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla (@abujanisandeepkhosla)

Being the favourites of the Ambanis can be a sweet spot to occupy, and designer duo Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla are well-versed in the feeling. For Shloka Mehta’s wedding to the outfits of Akash Ambani, all creative inspirations came straight from the couturiers. Chief among the many outfits selected for the multi-function event, her bridal lehenga hijacked world news with its exquisite mirror work, intricate embroidery, and gargantuan cost.

The fabric was a rich, deep red, symbolising love and passion, and was adorned with countless mirrors and sequins that caught the light with every step. The intricate embroidery told a story of craftsmanship and artistry, and featured intricate cut jaali work in zardozi with jadau embroidery. Paired with a stunning blouse with zardozi maal and jadau detailing, Shloka completed the look with two dupattas — one draped on the shoulder and the other over the head, both decorated with floral motifs and stunning bootis.

While her lehenga spoke of her Indian roots, it was her ornaments that boasted beauty that could launch a thousand ships. A contrasting, neck-breaking jadau and emerald number in green and gold was given the public nod of approval. The royal haar had a choker-style start with a longer multilayered piece that covered her blouse. She even wore a matha-patti, matching earrings, and stunning silver-golden bangles.

The entire look has been valued at approximately USD 10 million, making it one of the most expensive outfits worn by the Ambani women.

2. Post-wedding look

most expensive outfits Ambanis — Shloka wearing a custom Sabyasachi lehenga. (Image: Priyanka Borkar/Instagram)

When Shloka married the Reliance scion in March 2019, her bridal looks were a hit across social media. Among her stunning trousseau was a less-seen but breathtaking rani pink lehenga by Sabyasachi Mukherjee, worn for a post-wedding celebration at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai. This lehenga, which was part of Sabyasachi’s summer 2019 collection “Namaste Easy,” focused on luxury with lightness.

The deep pink lehenga featured intricate craftsmanship with detailed threadwork and silver zari, breaking the monotony with unique motifs on each skirt panel. The ensemble included Sabyasachi’s signature blouse design, a voluminous skirt, and a scalloped dupatta. The groom, Akash, complemented Shloka in a red embroidered sherwani.

Shloka’s jewellery was equally extravagant, and included a diamond choker with matching earrings, a maang tikka, a stack of bangles, and a striking diamond kamarbandh (an ornament worn around the waist) that highlighted her waist and added extra sparkle to her look. Her open hair and pink-hued makeup perfectly complemented the ensemble.

Nita Ambani

1. Mughal jewellery set

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Swadesh Online (@swadesh_online)

Nita Ambani is renowned for her impeccable taste in jewellery, often bringing out archival pieces and styling them with contemporary ethnic wear. One of her most talked-about accessories is a Mughal-era set that she wore as a casual baajubandh. This set, valued at a staggering USD 27 million, came as a pair of inscribed spinels highlighting the sarpech (turban ornament). It was last seen publicly at the Al Thani Collection before being divested at auction in 2019. The sleek sarpech, which features two highlighted inscribed spinels read – ’12 / Shah Jahan ibn Jahangir Shah / 1049’. In the Islamic calendar, the date corresponds to a 17th-century time. These two separate spinels, which are most likely dynastic jewels, were brought together into onto one piece in the 19th century, resulting in the sarpech.

Made of gold and set with diamonds, rubies, and spinels using the Pachhikakaam technique, the historical accessory was paired with a Benarasi jangla saree specially created by Swadesh and Manish Malhotra. Handcrafted from lustrous gold zari and Indian silk, it featured intricate floral jaal, delicately woven with meenakari detailing. The complete look rightly finds its place in the handbook of the most expensive outfits spotted on the Ambani ladies.

2. Emerald and diamond necklace

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Manish Malhotra (@manishmalhotra05)

At another one of Anant Ambani’s pre-wedding bashes, Nita Ambani’s choice of jewellery did not just stop Jamnagar, it brought the world to a standstill. Dressed in an immaculate handloom Kanchipuram silk sari designed and crafted by Manish Malhotra, the matriarch took on her wedding-related duties adorned in an anchor-equivalent emerald and diamond necklace. The piece featured large, radiant emeralds set amidst a bed of sparkling diamonds, creating a stunning contrast that was widely discussed, both online and off. It was paired with matching earrings and stacks of bangles, each piece crafted to perfection. This stunning set has been valued at approximately USD 67 million, solidifying her status as a true fashion savant and placing her look solidly in the list of the most expensive outfits ever spotted on the Ambani women.

Radhika Merchant

1. At the NMACC opening

Radhika Merchant, who is the newest style icon in the Ambani block, made a riveting fashion statement at the NMACC launch event in Mumbai. She impressed in a black Indo-western lace saree by Indian couturier Shahab Durazi, but it was her accessory that truly stole the show. Radhika paired her outfit with the tiniest, most impractical, yet incredibly stylish Hermès Kelly mini bag.

This petite bag featured the signature Kelly design with a micro front flap, chainmail body, short strap, and long shoulder chain. Evoking its sleek trapezoid shape through premium leather and the brand’s iconic padlock hardware, the bag perfect complemented her elegant black saree, adding a touch of glamour and cheekiness to her look.

A timeless piece coveted by fashion icons and celebrities like Beyoncé, Victoria Beckham, and Kareena Kapoor, the Hermès Kelly bag has been a staple of classic French styles for decades. Radhika’s choice of the mini bag not only highlighted her impeccable taste; it also showcased her ability to make a statement with unconventional pieces. An ardent fan of the brand, the 29-year-old has been spotted carrying several coveted pieces, with the Kelly alone costing north of USD 225,000!

2. In Jamnagar

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by DietSabya® (@dietsabya)

At her pre-wedding event in Jamnagar, Gujarat, Merchant stopped everyone in their tracks with her rose-pink Atelier Versace gown. Previously worn by Blake Lively at the 2022 Met Gala, the gown showcased the bride-to-be’s impeccable taste and love affair with “it” pieces.

Unlike Lively’s dual-toned gown, Merchant’s version was a soft rose-pink hue with satin bows and intricate lace detailing. The gown also featured understated draping and a slightly higher neckline, giving it a unique twist. Radhika paired her ensemble with stunning diamond jewellery, including a necklace adorned with yellow stones. She opted for a soft-glam makeup look and lightly curled hair, choosing to forego gloves and a trailing gown for a more modern, chic appearance. While little is known about the price tag on the gown, it is its sartorial significance that cannot be underemphasised. With Radhika now joining the Reliance battalion, it will be interesting to see which of her future public appearances will fall into the list of the most expensive outfits spotted on the Ambani ladies.

(Main Image: Viral Bhayani; Featured Image: Manish Malhotra World/Instagram)