Those versatile veils

The right dupatta can make you stand out in a crowd, finds out Meera Seshadri.

Just watch the video track, “Tujh mein rab dikhta hain…from the film Rab Ne Banaa Di Jodi.  You will find the female protagonist draped in a white salwar set. The staid dress is translated into a stunning outfit because of the splendiferous veil that goes with it. 
Gone are the days when a veil was worn only to complement the churidar or salwar suit. Today the veil is flaunted in umpteen impressive styles.

Ankita, a young fashion fiend, says, “I have filled up my wardrobe with many beautiful dupattas. Whenever I have an evening bash I pick a slim-fit jeans or low-slung skirt. I team it up with a sensuous tank-top or single-shouldered tee. The moment I step out of my house, I cover my shoulders with a matching dupatta, as I don’t feel comfortable showing off my bare shoulders on the streets. Of course, I whip off the veil the instant I step into the party hall!”

Cool and chic

Preeti, another teen with an impish wink, reveals, “When I’m zipping away on long bike-rides with my beau, I find these veils really handy. Except for my eyes, I cover my entire head and face with a stylish dupatta. This helps in concealing my identity, besides protecting my hair from dust and rain. For these occasions, I choose tasseled duppatas, which look cool and chic on skin-clinging tops. In fact, if you wrap the dupatta in one particular way, it gives lovely cowls on your tee”, she informs.

In what ways do dupattas score over stoles? Kiran, another fashion junkie explains, “Veils are brighter and more colourful. Also, since veils are wider, you can wrap your upper torso on nippy evenings. In fact, the veil can be worn in many ways. You can pleat and pin it with an ornamental brooch, or sling it on a shoulder, or just make it run diagonally in front, and knot it under the arm.

If your veils are heavily embellished with work of spangles, zardozi, gold and silver-hued threads, etc, then see that you sport them on single-hued salwars. You can work out contrasts too by donning say, a copper-sulphate coloured veil on a white cotton chikan salwar, or cherry-red veil on a jet-black chiffon salwar. In fact, if you have a penchant for fabric painting, then you can buy sheer cotton veils, and try out some cool designs on them too.

Sudha Satish Chandra gives an amazing tweak to this dupatta story. She says, “When we visit schools of less-privileged children, we teach them to use these veils in unique ways during the cultural fest. For instance, to a peppy track, we make kids do a swift dance, holding widely stretched different-hued veils. The dance is such that you see the veils criss-crossing each other, forming fabulous floral patterns. During Independence Day celebrations, we use veils to display the image of the tri-colour by making children hold the spread ends of green, white and saffron veils.”

Well, as the Hindi track goes, “Teri chunariya dil le gayi…of the film Hello Brother, no wonder these versatile veils have captivated the hearts of millions of women across the nation.