Every year, when August rolls in, around the time of Raksha Bandhan, I start digging through my ethnic wear and festive wear collection. And every year, I feel like I need something new and fresh to look my best in the festive season. For Diwali, I always seek out the most blinged-out outfit I can find, and for Durga Puja, well, each day is a different vibe, and I like to wear something different for each of the Navratri days to reflect and symbolise the festival's values.
Since Diwali dressing is a 3-4 day affair, considering the need to dress up for all the Diwali parties and the Day of Diwali Puja, I keep the theme for all my outfits as "Festive wear" or "Indian ethnic party wear". This year, Like every year, I didn't like what I had in my closet, and girl math-ed my way to needing a new outfit for Diwali 2025! It pays for itself, believe me! But staying within a budget was also a must for me!
Hence began my search for the perfect budget-friendly yet stunning Diwali outfit, which I can slip on and feel extremely gorgeous in! In all my online searches this year, I decided on Alaya by Stage3 as the brand for my Diwali ethnic wear outfit! Their recent collections won me over! And how can I not share my review with you, so here we are with a review of the brand Alaya by Stage3 in my signature format of a brand review!
Let's get started with the Alaya by Stage3 review and Experience!
A little about Alaya by Stage3
Alaya by Stage3 is a women-led fashion brand that celebrates modern Indianwear with a playful yet elegant approach. They focus on creating stylish and versatile outfits that balance the traditional charm with contemporary cuts. Loved for affordability and ease, Alaya by Stage3 offers collections that fit seamlessly into everyday wardrobes as well as festive occasions. The name Alaya comes from Arabic origins, meaning “extremely beautiful” – and that’s the feeling they hope to bring to every woman who wears Alaya!
Website and Shopping experience with Alaya by Stage3
Three things I look for when shopping online - How easy it is for me to find what I am looking for, the sizing details and its availability and the details and description of what I am contemplating to purchase.
Here is how I felt with the Alaya by Stage3 shopping: I could find what I was looking for, there is clear categorisation of various types of clothes, by occasion, but silhouettes and by type of clothing. There is a suggestion, based on what you are looking at, for similar products. Which is great and helpful while searching for just the right outfit.
.png) |
| Details of all outfits and Shop based on what product you are looking for |
.png) |
| Clear Categories to choose from |
.png) |
| Mastaani Collection |
The size chart is available with the clothes details on each page, but it is a standard size chart across most types of clothes, with no extra notes on whether one should size up or down based on the type of clothes. They have details on some of the pieces, such as whether there is a zipper or not, whether there is a hook closure or not, but this is not for every piece. This is something I wish they would add, even though they do customisation in size, this would be really great for someone like me.
In terms of details, there are enough details about the fabric used, care instructions and what the pack contains when it is a set you are ordering. I wish they had a zoom-in option for the images to better understand the details of the embroidery and other designs. This helps understand the product better.
I placed the order and it reached me within two days! Which is amazing, if you are looking for an outfit last minute! Alaya by stage3 offers international shipping as well, so if you need trendy indian outfits, anywhere in the world, you are in luck!
Alaya by Stage3 Collections
Their latest collection - Mastaani, is so in trend! With Farsi salwaars, Classic anarkalis and Mermaid Lehengas, they have cracked just the vibe I was looking for in this year's festive collection. Apart from festive wear, you can scroll through their collections and you’ll see how wide the range is, co-ords that double as “meeting to mocktail” outfits, sharara and kurta sets that can step up for any wedding occasion, and anarkalis that let you live your Bollywood moment without the costume drama. Price tags mostly sit under ₹5,000, which is a small miracle in today’s festive-wear market if you ask me!
Product
I got the Alaya Jugni Emerald Glow velvet Anarkali set. It is a stunning piece of clothing! I cannot hold my excitement to flaunt it at my Diwali parties! It's a flared anarkali in dark green lush velvet fabric, feels great on the skin and looks stunning too.
Even though it's velvet, it is very lightweight and very easy to carry, perfect for a night of bursting crackers and having a great time with friends. The products came packed in butter paper to keep it secure.
The best part is that the anakali has two pockets !!! and a side zipper to make sure the fit is great! I love these little details that make the outfit sit just right on the body.
Overall, Alaya by Stage3 review
Some outfits are like mood-lifters in fabric form. You slip them on, glance at the mirror, and there’s that little nod of approval you give yourself; it just works! That’s the kind of ease Alaya by Stage3 brings to modern Indianwear. The designs don’t scream for attention; they just feel right, whether it’s a breezy kurta set for coffee runs or a twirly lightweight lehenga you can actually dance in without plotting your escape after 20 minutes on the dance floor!
So if you are like me, and were plagued with the question of where to find festive indian wear in a budget, then you have your answer! Go ahead to their website. If you are looking for Indianwear that’s chic, affordable, and actually enjoyable to wear, it’s worth checking out Alaya by Stage3. You just might find your next go-to outfit waiting for a festive day, wedding occasion or for a coffee run (Hint: Check out the stunning dresses!).