Tips before selecting a saree

Saris origins are obscure, in part because there are so few historical records in India. Yet, we know that Indians were wearing unsewn lengths of cloth draped around their bodies long before tailored cloths arrived.




This elaborate body-hugging style represented in the terracotta may have evolved among India's temple dancers in ancient times to allow their limbs freedom of movement while at the same time maintaining their standards of modesty.

There are many sculptures of Graeco-Indian Gandharan civilization which show a variety of different Sari draping styles. Tailored clothes arrived in India with the arrival of Muslims. Hindus beleived that any cloth pierced by needles was impure. It is commonly beleived in India that today's petticoat or "Ghagra" and the blouse or "Choli" which are worn under the Sari are later additions which started with the coming of British in India. Increasing number of upper class women in the early 20th century did adopt items of European style clothing as the fitted blouse and slim petticoat. This was also adopted due to the fashion of transparent chiffon Saris during that particular period. Some of the wives of Indian Kings draped themselves in Saris that were made by Parisian designers.



The concept of beauty in ancient India was that of small waist and large bust and hips, as is evident in the sculptures of those times. And Sari seemed to be the perfect dress to flaunt those proportions as it exposes the waist of a woman and emphasises the waist and bust with the pleated fabric. Sometimes women wore accesories like girdle (a belt) with elaborate design around their waist to emphasize the hip area.

Tips to know before wearing Sarees

It is an undeniable fact that the sari adds to the elegance and mystery that surrounds a woman and gives her personality a new dimension. However, today more and more young women are shunning the sari for more "comfortable', less cumbersome' and manageable clothes. Even though, most of the people who are of the opinion that the sari is rather difficult to manage have no doubts about its versatility. The versatility of the sari is best brought about by the following lines." The sari's radiance, vigor and variety, produced by single straight length of cloth, should give us in the West pause and make us think twice about the zipper, the dart and the shoulder pad." The possibilities of a sari as a garment are tremendous and here are two concrete facts to support it. Firstly, several books have been written about the different ways in which a sari can be worn. Designer Nita Lulla has been quoted as saying, No mini skirt and no bikini top can portray what a sari can." Nita points out,"No matter which country you belong to, a sari never fails to bring out your inner beauty, a fantastic feminine side that every woman has." Shaina N.C a designer of repute is one of the pioneers in the field of rediscovering the magic and versatility of the sari by using creative and innovative methods of draping it in several different ways.

Well, if you are one of those people who cannot think of wearing a sari with trousers then, its time to think again. Shaina, whose forte is innovative draping of saris manipulates the pallu in several ways to give the sari a new silhouette each time. Since the pallu is one of the most visible part of the sari., on should use every trick in their box to best display an embellished pallu. Another area that can be played around with is the pleats. The double sari, which is in actual fact two different kinds of garments, which are worn as one, is a product of her creative genius.
Avoid wearing a petticoat that is loose or dragging. Ideally, get your petticoats stitched to size.

Make sure that your cotton sari is adequately starched and well ironed. When draping the sari remember to press down the pleats with your hand to keep the sari form flaring out.

Choosing the right accessories is the best way of enhancing your looks. The main reason for this is that your choice of accessory reflects your personality.

Hence, choosing the right accessory is as important as choosing you're the right clothes.

In the case of saris your accessories would include blouses in addition to jewellery, shoes, bags and bindis. Most designers suggest that that it is not a bad idea to experiment with the different kinds of blouses that are in fashion. The good old low back blouse is one thing that never goes out of fashion.

However, the important thing is that the blouse should be well fitted. Coming to shoes. The right shoe with any outfit is one that is comfortable. Matching the colour of your shoes to your outfit is a good idea. Having neutral colour shoes in your wardrobe is an excellent idea as these colours go with almost any kind of sari. Another thing to keep in mind is the occasion. Weddings and other such occasions demand that you wear shoes that are as grand as your outfit. But, a party in the evening would require you to wear something more elegant. Now we come to jewellery. This is an age old passion as far as women are concerned. The thing to remember here is that jewellery is worn to complement your looks and to overshadow your personality. Therefore,choose jewellery that complements not only your looks but also your style. Daytime jewellery needs to be light-thus pearls, stones and light gold and silver jewellery is a good idea. Jewellery worn in the evening can be heavy and bright. Last but not the least bags have come in a big way as not just beautiful but also useful accessories. What makes choosing bags a much easier affair than anything else is their names as they are classified party bags,evening bags, shopping bags etc. All this information will help you turn a million heads wherever you go. So, head for your wardrobe.