Draping saris, the sassy way

Give your sari a stylish spin and wear it with a modern spin, suggest Puneet-Yatin Jain

How a six-yard sari turns an ordinary girl into a muse has remained a mystery unsolved. Even the glamorous influence of Westernisation on Indian clothing could not eliminate women’s love for saris. No doubt, shorts, jeans and dresses are stylish and super comfortable, but every woman does have a soft spot for saris. Many times, Hollywood celebs such as Lady Gaga, Paris Hilton and Selena Gomez have donned Indian saris with pride and grace. So, the sari club is joined by fashionistas all over the globe to come on runways and red carpets for unique and jaw-dropping avatars every time.

Versatile sari draping styles, from retro to contemporary, and a huge variety in terms of fabrics, prints, colours and lengths drive the real craze in today’s fashion-forward women. Whether you wear a black or grey chiffon sari to work, or a heavy brocade one to dressy occasions, a showstopper draping style is what appeals to the eyes.

But, which drape style to ditch and which to flaunt is a brain-teaser! So, we have shortlisted some of the voguish draping styles that make all wannabe divas ready to set off the smoke alarms:

Vivacious double pallu

Take a cue from Sonam Kapoor’s double pallu saris and slay with a stroke of grace. Perfect for weddings and engagements, double pallu saris create a whimsical and multi-layered effect that makes one stand out remarkably from the crowd. You can choose a floral, flowy dupatta for a second pallu on a plain chiffon sari. You can also go in for a rich contrast pallu in ruby red or emerald green colour to get that edgy look.

Trendsetting gown-sari

If getting that perfectly pleated sari draping is not your forte, then wearing that stunning staple as a vintage gown can become your thing. Buy a pre-stitched sari, forget the pleats, and combine western silhouettes with traditional saris to become a trendsetter like Shilpa Shetty.

Sassy corset-dhoti

Corset blouses and dhoti styles are trending hot as these are modish and quirky that instantly add a dash of glamour! Pair a sleeveless corset blouse with a metallic sari and wear the pallu like a scarf. And, you’re done — a sassy and classy look for cocktail parties.

Jackets over saris

The recent fad of jackets over saris has gained much appreciation from fashion-mongers. A must-have formal wear — toss a denim jacket over your sari and stun everyone. For a more regal yet fashionable look for weddings, wear a long velvet embroidered jacket over a Kanjeevaram sari.

Bejewelled belts

For all those who don’t want to experiment much with the traditional sari look, teaming an ethnic sari with furry or shimmery belts is a big yes for that coveted elegant look! Nowadays, even brides are choosing belts studded with kundans and pearls for their lehengas and saris to glam up on special occasions.

(The authors are directors, ODHNI)