Our days after her wedding, research analyst Sanmita Shah, 26, had to attend a nephew’s birthday party. “To my horror, I opened my cupboard with its collection of brand new clothes and realised that I had nothing for a casual afternoon occasion!” Sanmita laughs in mock horror.

Have you been through that experience as well? Put together a trousseau that’s big on glitter but low on practicality? Can’t blame you! Trousseau shopping is both a fun and harrowing experience. It’s that one time in life when you can shop guilt free without any reason for an excuse. The trouble is in looking for the best deal in a short time.

It could lead to a lot of confusion in your mind about what to buy and what not to. Here’s how to take the plunge:

Make A List
Don’t go by numbers like 21 saris and 11 salwar kameezes. List clothes that are wearable and divide them into formal and casual wear.

Plan A Good Start
If your wedding has been planned months ahead, you can start shopping for your trousseau in bits and parts, say experts. “E.g., for a winter wedding you could look for good bargains on shawls and sweaters during end of season sales in summer,” suggests Anusha Mohan, consultant with a wedding website. However, if you are getting married in a different city and have ample time there to shop, it would make sense to buy the heavy stuff there, to avoid lugging it around.

Be A Bargain Hunter
Keep an eye out for sales and good deals. Scour the newspaper for exchange offers and deals if you are setting up a house and need to buy essentials like electronic appliances.

Mix Formal And Casual Wear
“A trousseau should include both formal and casual wear,” says wedding planner Harkirat Chaudhry. “Don’t follow fashion trends blindly. They change so fast that you’ll land up with outfits that don’t look good.” The key is to choose colours and styles that suit you (and not what your aunt thinks suits you). Wedding consultant Reena Singh, suggests ethnic and traditional styles that are always in. Do a good mix of Indian and Western wear, as you’ll need both later.

Makeover Mania
Don’t go overboard buying make-up, says Reena, as it expires fast. “Buy as much as you would need over the next year.” Go low on quanity but high on quality!

The Wedding Dress
Wedding outfits are getting costlier every day. “Take a round of shops before you buy it,” says Reena. It’ll give you an idea of the prices, styles and colours. “See the overall effect of the outfit rather than small embroidery details that make it expensive,” she says. Harkirat suggests choosing a style in such a way that you could remove some parts and mix and match it with other outfits later.

Going For The Glitter
Have your say in selecting jewellery even it means the tough job of convincing your mother (or mother-in-law) that you don’t need a monstrous seven-strand necklace. “Also go in for simple jewellery you could wear everyday,” says Reena.

Accessorise Yourself
A good neutral collection of bags, footwear and even artificial jewellery is a must for a well-groomed look. Shop smart. If heavy bags are not your scene, go in for trendy brocade or tissue pouches instead. These look good and could be paired later with jeans and kurtis. Buy shoes in at least three basic colours and some embellished ones.

Pack Your Bags
Buying good luggage is of utmost importance especially when you will be travelling immediately after the wedding. Again, buy fewer pieces but smart ones. E.g. two suitcases with a strolley and a tote bag in one style would look good and serve the basic purpose, says Harkirat.

Line Up The Linen
Buying linen depends on many things — whether it’s a joint family you are moving into or setting up your own place. All wedding experts tell you to avoid heavily embellished expensive linen that turns out to be impractical and uncomfortable. A safe bet is to go in for at least three sets in different styles — embroidered, plain, printed or patchworked.

Gift Registry
Big stores in most cities offer you the option of registering for gifts on request and letting people know. While that may not still be a much followed option, it makes sense to honestly talk to close family and friends about what you need. Make a list. It’ll save you money when you go shopping and save them the bother of working out what you really need. Harkirat also suggests talking to your mother-in-law (or any relevant member from the groom’s family) to avoid duplicating clothes and gifts.