Elsewhere, ladies must don elegant evening gowns. For the Lawyers' Ball, which dates back to 1814, the stunning women donned ivory frocks in a mixture of styles, accessorised with sparkling tiaras.

Kerala lawyers seek relaxation of dress code due to sweltering heat, humidity, and lack of ventilation in court halls.

"I just told him I wanted something in the chocolates, in the deep browns," she said of the gown. "I just felt really beautiful in it." That evening, Saldaña won best performance by a female actor in ...