How to Wear Gold Like the CFDA Red Carpet at an Indian Wedding

Three women, one designer, one colour. At the 2026 CFDA Awards in New York on November 2, Hailey Bieber, Zoë Kravitz and Rosé all turned up in gold Saint Laurent, a collective nod to Anthony Vaccarello’s final collection for the house. It was a moment, and it arrives right as Indian wedding season starts. So let us answer the practical question: how to wear gold like the CFDA red carpet at an Indian wedding, without looking like a trophy.

What the three gold Saint Laurent looks were

Harper’s Bazaar UK, in its November best-dressed round-up, described each look:

• Hailey Bieber wore an embellished gold Saint Laurent look with furry cuffs.
• Zoë Kravitz chose a metallic gold Saint Laurent look from Vaccarello’s final collection.
• Rosé went for a gold brocade Saint Laurent two-piece.

Same shade family, three moods: textured glamour, sleek metal and woven richness. That range is exactly why gold works for weddings. You can pick the version that suits the function.

How to wear gold like the CFDA red carpet at an Indian wedding

For the sangeet: go Zoë

Sleek metallic reads modern and photographs beautifully under stage lights. A liquid-gold saree in satin or tissue, or a fitted co-ord, keeps the line clean. Skip heavy jewellery; one statement earring is plenty. Let the fabric do the shining.

For the wedding: go Rosé

Brocade is our home turf. Rosé’s two-piece is basically a high-fashion cousin of a Banarasi blouse and skirt. Try a gold brocade lehenga or a brocade jacket over a plain silk saree. If you are investing, our guide on how much a real Banarasi saree costs will help you avoid paying silk prices for polyester.

For the reception: go Hailey

Embellishment plus a touch of texture, the furry cuffs, is the boldest of the three. In Indian terms, think a sequinned gold gown or a heavily worked dupatta, with one unexpected texture like a feather or faux-fur stole for December evenings in the north. One dramatic element only.

The rules that keep gold chic, not costume

• Match the gold to your undertone. Warmer, yellow golds flatter many Indian skin tones; cooler skin can try champagne or antique gold.
• Keep makeup warm and soft. Bronzed skin, a brown or nude lip. A red lip with full gold can tip into too much.
• Do not match jewellery to the outfit exactly. Contrast helps: polki, pearls or even silver against gold looks deliberate.
• Mind the lighting. Wedding photographers love metallics, but cheap lamé glares under flash. Matte brocade and tissue behave better on camera.

Our take

The CFDA trio proved gold is not one look. It is a family. For Indian weddings that is great news, because gold already belongs here. The trick is choosing a single story, sleek, woven or embellished, and not trying to tell all three at once.

Not into full gold? A gold blouse with a black saree is still the most elegant shortcut in the book, and our piece on the luxury of black explains why that pairing never dates.

FAQ

Who wore gold at the 2026 CFDA Awards?

Hailey Bieber, Zoë Kravitz and Rosé all wore gold Saint Laurent, honouring Anthony Vaccarello, per Harper’s Bazaar UK.

Is gold a good colour for a wedding guest?

Yes, in most Indian weddings. Just avoid out-shining the bride; sleek or muted gold is safer than full embellishment for close-family functions.

What makeup goes with a gold outfit?

Warm, glowing skin, soft bronze eyes and a nude, rose or brown lip balance gold without competing with it.

Featured image: After James Lehman (England, circa 1688-1745) via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain).