Review: Alaya by Stage3

As modern women, we are constantly on our toes, running errands and juggling roles at work, at home, in other social circles; and let’s be honest, somewhere in between all these, we still want to look and feel like our best selves, always! If you ask me, I feel dressing up is not just about trends and fashion; these factors are ever-changing; what stays with us is the story we tell through what we wear; the reflection of our mood, our memories in that outfit, how it made us feel; it is about comfort, confidence, and convenience.

And this is exactly where Alaya by Stage3 steps in. One of India’s most talked-about homegrown fashion labels, Alaya by Stage 3 redefines festive and occasion wear while keeping in mind the choice and needs of the modern woman. The brand feels like it truly understands today’s woman…someone who wants to move with ease, express her individuality, and still turn heads without spending hours draping, pinning, or over-accessorizing! Their pieces blend style with simplicity, taking away the stress of “what to wear” for those countless events where you want to look polished yet comfortable.

A little about the brand: Alaya by Stage3
Alaya by Stage3 is a woman-led Indian wear label that blends traditional charm with modern silhouettes. From ready-to-wear saree sets that take the stress out of pleating and pinning to breezy kurtas for daily wear, from contemporary co-ord sets for that chic look to festive lehengas for those special events, their collection encompasses a broad range of items to suit your varied needs.

Design:-
Alaya’s biggest stretch lies in its modern Indian aesthetic, the fusion of comfort and glam. The designs are contemporary but still carry that traditional charm, which I was apprehensive of missing. From pre-draped sarees that you can slip into in seconds to chic kurtas and trendy co-ords that can rock both morning and night events, they have covered everything. The designs are contemporary, yet traditional; the color palettes scream “India”, so vibrant and playful; the prints are so trendy, yet keeping the ethnic touch intact; overall, an incredible fresh twist to our traditional attire.

Range & Accessibility
We all want to look our best without giving our bank account the best shocks. Argh!! Okay!! It seems my sense of humor is on strike today. Never mind, what I meant was that the price point of Alaya attires sits comfortably in the mid-range section of the price spectrum (if that makes any sense). Yes, they don’t come with an incredibly low price tag, but they are neither unreasonably priced, making festive dressing far more accessible for all, especially for the younger generations.

Website Navigation and Ease of Shopping
The website is clean, looks regal, and the color palette is vibrant, just how a website selling stunning Indian wear is supposed to be. The website boasts intuitive navigation, making its users effortlessly surf and find their desired things. The pictures of the models are mostly taken with festive and wedding venues as the backdrop, giving a beautiful aesthetic appeal and visual richness, and also an idea of how the dresses are going to look in similar events. The online shopping experience is smooth as well.

What’s On My Review Table Today…

Mastaani Amber Flame Drape Saree Set from the house of Alaya, which is a stunning amber color ready-to-wear saree set.

Before I start on the detailed review, let me confess something…I am an oldie at heart and have always been a lover of traditional sarees and the usual traditional way of draping them. I really don’t know what stops me from experimenting with this draping style, is it my round, petite appearance, or just simply because of my mental block? I never felt comfortable, never felt like “me” in all those pre-stitched drapes. Moreover, growing up, I have seen my mother and the other lovely women of my family carrying traditional drapes the traditional way with such poise and grace; and now I look at my mother-in-law and feel awe at the way she rocks them. So all these factors naturally influenced my own choices and preferences. There is this certain charm of traditional drapes that attracts me, a nostalgic elegance that the traditional saree and the traditional way of wearing exude; though others might think that I am stuck to my familiar zone and is just too boring to experiment, it feels therapeutic and something that comes very naturally to me.

When Alaya approached me for this collaboration, I planned to stick to my usual style and just pick a kurta set. However, on giving a second thought, I decided to step out of my comfort zone this time and choose something that I have never worn before, a draped saree. Woah! This is going to be my first-ever ready-to-wear saree, and that very thought itself made me equal parts excited and apprehensive; like going on a blind date, which can be magic or mayhem, or both.

So how did this orange beauty fare? Let us get into the details…

There were two things that were bothering me since the day I confirmed the order: firstly, choosing a color I am not much fond of; secondly, choosing embellishments I am not much fond of. I kept thinking how it would look on me, if I would be able to carry the saree or if I would be able to show even a tiny bit of justice to it. It was kind of a raging war inside my head!
Now jumping to the day I received it, I wished for love at first sight, but the universe had her own plans…the saree didn’t quite sweep me off my feet instantly. Tactfully dodging the hands of my sister, who was all gaga over it, I took the saree to my room and carefully placed it inside my cupboard. I was not happy, I wasn’t unhappy, I was worried; how on Earth am I going to do justice to this piece! It is not the brand’s fault that I am not fond of such colors or embellishments. A day just went by, and I couldn’t sit down to write or click pictures for the review.

The next day in the evening, while I was getting ready for a neighbor’s wedding, I opened my almirah to take out a saree, my eyes getting fixed on the Mastani set, and without thinking any further, I just went for it. And oh boy! I am so glad I did! All my inhibitions and hesitations just vanished in thin air! Poof! Gone! What an incredibly stunning piece of attire, and how easy to wear. It didn’t even take me a minute to slip into it. The brand was so right when they said “to bring you clothes that look great and feel great”, and that’s how I felt! I didn’t feel the need to accessorize much, I didn’t feel the need to do a full-blown makeup, and just a small earring and subtle makeup was enough to round off the look.

Other than the look, the quality of materials used can make a big difference in comfort and wearability, and Alaya by Stage3 makes sure you have the best of them. The fabric feels incredibly soft, breathable, lightweight, and easy to carry throughout long events, something I personally like. There is no feeling of being weighed down or restricted, which makes you move freely throughout the event; great for full-day functions or celebrations. The zari and sequins are not at all gaudy-looking and scream showstopper vibes. They are of good quality and don’t poke you now and then. The outfit is also true to size, though I would recommend carefully checking the size chart before placing the order.

My only complaint?

I wouldn’t call it a complaint, but just a small suggestion. While the design and silhouettes are undeniably stunning, fun, time and effort-saving, and they make you look stunning, I do think that the embellishment finishing could be improved slightly. The sequin and stone work looks lovely, no doubt about that, but they felt a little delicate. This might not be a major flaw or even a matter of concern, and it doesn't even hamper the overall beauty of the outfit yet; still, a bit of extra care in the embellishment work, especially the stitching and gluing part, would elevate the beauty of the outfit more while also adding to its life. Given the fact how soft the fabric is, how striking the design is and how amazing it looks when you wear it, a little touch of refinement would make it truly exceptional and flawless.

FINAL THOUGHTS:-
They say an outfit can make or break a look. As you already know by this time, I was equally excited and apprehensive about this outfit (saying this for the hundredth time now). Excited, because who doesn’t want an outfit that promises beauty and elegance without the time and effort? And apprehensive, because I wasn’t sure if I would be able to carry it, or if it would look and feel as graceful, as flattering, or as “me” as a traditionally worn saree! Well, the first mistake I made was comparing this contemporary design with the traditional one. I had already made up my mind that as I am always a lover of everything traditional, this won’t look good on me, and I won’t be able to carry it. That itself blocked me from wholeheartedly accepting this gorgeous new silhouette. But once I put all my inhibitions aside, there was no more holding me back from flaunting this gorgeous piece. “Alaya" has several meanings, depending on its origin, and one of the Sanskrit meanings is “beautiful”, it truly made me look and feel beautiful. With Alaya’s Mastani, it wasn’t love at first sight, it was more like “Pehle din inkaar kiya ... duje din iqraar ki ... teeje din pyar kiya". I am quite filmy today! What to do? The outfit gave me a total Bollywood “main character” syndrome. I just couldn’t stop myself from appreciating how stunning it looked.

I am already creating an Alaya wish list and will be placing my order soon. And what exactly are you waiting for? It's time to revamp your wardrobe and your style. Let Alaya do that magic for you.