The art of draping multiple yards

A lot is said about the six yard wonder but when it comes to flaunting it, one feels constrained for the fear of draping it incorrectly. Off late, though the interest of flaunting the saree has been on the rise and so more and more designers and celebs are experimenting with different draping styles.

The saree in its latest avatar, can be belted up at the waist with a broad belt, with its stitched pallu just flicked and draped over the shoulder for that ultra glam yet comfortable look! “One can also replace the petticoat with jeans to drape the saree and walk with the ease. When doubtful about a blouse, wear the saree with a t-shirt or ganji and knot it up at the waist to make heads turn at your style-statement. For a corporate look, team the saree with a single button jacket and add fusion to the look,” suggests Parinita Saluja, production director at KBSH.

But if you don’t like to experiment and carry it the traditional way, don’t let monotony enter your daily life. You could drape your sari in the ways of different regions. For instance, a Sri Lankan way of draping a saree is ethnic yet modern. With the pallu tied up at the shoulder, the saree looks like a skirt in the absence of pleats and close to the Assamese-style saree.

The saree draped in UP and Gujarat is called the seedha-palla saree and can often be spotted on TV actresses in soap operas. But when it comes to celebs and P3Ps, looking nothing short of ‘the best’ is the ultimate agenda. Here comes in the role of professional saree draper like the renowned Kalpana Shah whose creative draping techniques have won her an impressive clientele, ranging from Bollywood celebrities like Kareena Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Katrina and Aishwarya to super models and industrialists’ wives.

But she firmly believes that, “Be it a saree worth Rs 300 or Rs 3 lakh, if draped properly, it becomes a symbol of Indian culture. A well-draped saree looks so good then why flaunt a western dress?” shares Kalpana who has recently come up with a coffee-table book which teaches step-by-step the different styles of saree draping inspired by different regions of India.  

So be it the Maharashtrian nauvaree saree style (which is nine-yard) or the Bengali style, one can try one of them according to the occasion and look simply stunning. The style most favoured at present is the “retro style”. Kalpana informs, “The Mumtaz-style saree used to have 3-4 rounds on body with a stitch and drape but at present only the drape without stich is in and being preferred by a lot of people.” 

She adds that the choice of a particular draping style also depends on the fabric and work done on the saree. So be it khadi silk, cotton, chiffon, crepe or kanjeevaram, all need a different approach. But what must be kept in mind is that you are comfortable in the perfectly draped (read pinned) saree, as you flaunt the right design, pattern or texture of the ensemble just apt for the occasion!