Some wardrobes deserve compliments. Isha Ambani’s deserves a museum, a security detail and possibly its own coffee-table book. From a Met Gala gown that took over 10,000 hours to create to Schiaparelli’s
robot babies that had the internet scratching its head, the birthday girl has never been one to play it safe with fashion.
And honestly, we’re here for every bit of the drama. So as Isha Ambani rings in 35, we’re revisiting five fashion moments that gave us couture magic, heirloom jewels and a few delightful surprises along the way.
1. Met Gala 2025: Isha Ambani Makes Tailored Opulence Look Seriously Cool
At the 2025 Met Gala, Isha made a strong case for mixing things up in a custom Anamika Khanna ensemble that brought Indian craftsmanship and Western tailoring together beautifully. She wore a structured white corset with geometric embroidery, sleek black trousers and a dramatic floor-length cape. The look was sharp, sculptural and packed with details that rewarded a closer look.
And then came the jewellery. Because when you’re Isha Ambani, a spectacular outfit calls for an equally spectacular finishing touch. A vintage solitaire necklace from her personal collection added a serious dose of history and grandeur to the look, paying homage to the Maharaja of Nawanagar. The ensemble also featured handwoven Benarasi textiles by Swadesh artisans, three-dimensional Zardozi embroidery and hand-cut bow motifs. The craftsmanship reportedly took around 20,000 hours to complete. Yes, you read that right. That’s a lot of time, but one look at the result and you’ll understand why every detail matters.
2. The Sabyasachi Ivory Lehenga That Was A Whole Garden Of Dreams
When it came to the grand finale of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding celebrations in July 2024, Isha pulled out an ivory Sabyasachi lehenga that deserved its own moment in the spotlight. Inspired by JG Ballard’s The Garden of Time, the rare couture creation was a dreamy mix of floral embroidery, pearls, sequins and intricate detailing. The cropped blouse featured delicate threadwork, while the voluminous skirt came alive with embroidered roses, Resham work, leaf-shaped embellishments and beadwork resembling fruit. A soft georgette dupatta with tassels tied everything together.
But, of course, the outfit wasn’t going to have all the fun on its own. Isha accessorised it with layers of diamond-and-pearl jewellery, a maang tikka, statement kadhas and oversized diamond rings. And if you’ve ever wondered how to make a classic colour palette feel anything but predictable, consider this your answer.
3. The Schiaparelli Robot Babies That Had Everyone Asking Questions
Just when we thought we’d seen it all, Isha showed up with two robot babies. Yes, actual robot-inspired doll accessories. During the pre-wedding celebrations in Italy in June 2024, she carried two bionic doll designs from Schiaparelli’s Spring 2024 couture collection. Her outfit featured a strapless dress with a metallic bustier, tassel embellishments and a velvet skirt, but let’s be honest: those little robots stole the show.
And here’s the sweet part. The accessories represented Isha’s twins, Krishna and Aadiya Piramal, giving the surrealist designs a personal twist. Schiaparelli’s original creations played with nostalgia for old-school technology, incorporating elements inspired by electronic components. Isha’s interpretation turned an avant-garde fashion accessory into a sentimental nod to motherhood.
4. Met Gala 2024: The Sari Gown That Took More Than 10,000 Hours To Make
Isha’s 2024 Met Gala appearance was another reminder that Indian craftsmanship can hold its own on the world’s biggest fashion stages. She wore a spectacular sari-inspired couture gown by Rahul Mishra, created around the evening’s theme, The Garden of Time. Titled River of Life, the ensemble featured a dramatic floral train covered in flowers, butterflies and dragonflies. The creation reportedly took more than 10,000 hours to complete, and honestly, one look at the intricate detailing makes that figure easier to appreciate.
The artistry went far beyond pretty florals. Craftspeople used traditional techniques such as Zardozi, Nakshi, Dabka and French knots, while archival elements gave the creation a thoughtful, sustainability-minded edge. Isha finished the look with a nature-inspired flower choker, parrot earrings, lotus haathpochas and a clutch featuring Nakashi work and miniature painting.
5. The Jadau Jewellery Blouse That Took Heirloom Dressing To Another Level
We’ve seen statement blouses, heavily embroidered blouses and blouses that practically deserve their own spotlight. But one handcrafted entirely with real Jadau jewellery? That’s a different league altogether. For Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s pre-wedding festivities, Isha wore a custom creation by Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla, conceptualised by stylist Anaita Shroff Adajania. Some of the jewellery came from her personal collection, while additional pieces were sourced from Gujarat and Rajasthan specifically for the ensemble. Talk about wearing your treasures!
The process was just as fascinating as the finished look. Artisans carefully dismantled the precious ornaments and reimagined them as part of the garment, first arranging each jewel on hand-drawn paper patterns before securing the pieces with gold and silver Zardozi stitches. Paired with a lavishly embroidered lehenga, the blouse blurred the line between jewellery and couture. The creation also recalled Abu Sandeep’s celebrated bejewelled blouses featured in their 2012 book, India Fantastique.
From a dramatic Met Gala cape to robot babies to a floral sari gown and a blouse made with real Jadau jewellery, Isha’s fashion choices have covered plenty of ground and we are seated for more to come!
