Indian Saree
YOU NEED… First the Sari Blouse …
This is a close-fitting, tailored blouse worn underneath the sari. The style depends on individual taste; it may have long or short sleeves and the blouse length can vary from very short to waist length. It should fit tightly at the lower edge. The blouse colour may either match or be in contrast with the colour of the sari.
Then the Petticoat …
The petticoat is full-skirted and ankle length. It is fitted at the waist and flares out gradually into a fan-shape. It is threaded at the top with a cotton string. The petticoat should be tied tightly enough so that the sari does not slip when tucked in the waistband.
Finally the Sari …
The sari is considered by some to be the world’s most graceful dress style for women. It consists of between 5 and 6 metres of untailored cloth with a few characteristic features: the two borders and the pallav, which is located at one end. The pallav is the elaborately patterned outer end of the sari. Therefore the sari must be worn to show both the borders and the pallav.
The fun begins …
Step 1 - Around your body
Put on your sari blouse and tie the petticoat snugly around your waist. Take the inner edge of the sari (the end of the sari that is less elaborately patterned) and tuck it into the petticoat in front, a little more to the right side with the sari going around your back to the left. The sari should hang just at ground level with the remaining width tucked neatly into the petticoat.
Holding the sari close to your waist turn a full circle toward the right in a clockwise direction; thus winding it once around your body and just overlapping the inner edge. Tuck it into the petticoat, carefully maintaining an even level at the bottom in front as well as at the back. The sari should not be pulled too tightly around the hips.
Step 2 - Measuring the Pallav
Hold the top edge of the sari where the pallav is and bring it around your hips to the front and over your left shoulder, thus measuring the length of the pallav. The pallav should hang down the back to the knee. You may pin your pallav to your sari blouse provisionally.
Step 3 - Making the Pleats
Pull the inside border of the sari that lies against your chest, around your back and then back to the front.
Hold the top edge of the sari going toward the left, between the forefinger of the right hand which is stretched out in front while the thumb goes back to join the little finger and the third finger. Fold it over the forefinger and pass it under and around the thumb
Now bring it back to the front and remove the forefinger from its former position to place it over the top edge again, so that the first fold and the beginning on the second one should be between the middle finger and the forefinger.
Repeat 6 to 8 times to make 7 to 10 pleats. Gather the pleats and tuck them into the petticoat slightly towards the right side so that the pleats open to the left and hang centrally. See that the pleats are folded over each other evenly. The lower edge of the pleats should be just off the ground.
Step 4 - The Pallav
Now take the pin out of the pallav and gather it in your right hand. Make 3 to 4 pleats in it. Bring the pallav over your left shoulder letting it fall gracefully behind. The upper border of the sari should slant across the bust from under the right arm to over the left shoulder. Secure the pallav with a safety pin to your sari blouse.
And Now in Full Beauty!
Choose a bindi to match your sari and wear it on your forehead. Wear bangles and other jewellery so you will feel like an Indian lady.
Wear Gujarati Style saree
This is a close-fitting, tailored blouse worn underneath the sari. The style depends on individual taste; it may have long or short sleeves and the blouse length can vary from very short to waist length. It should fit tightly at the lower edge. The blouse colour may either match or be in contrast with the colour of the sari.
Then the Petticoat …
The petticoat is full-skirted and ankle length. It is fitted at the waist and flares out gradually into a fan-shape. It is threaded at the top with a cotton string. The petticoat should be tied tightly enough so that the sari does not slip when tucked in the waistband.
Finally the Sari …
The sari is considered by some to be the world’s most graceful dress style for women. It consists of between 5 and 6 metres of untailored cloth with a few characteristic features: the two borders and the pallav, which is located at one end. The pallav is the elaborately patterned outer end of the sari. Therefore the sari must be worn to show both the borders and the pallav.
The fun begins …
Step 1 - Around your body
Put on your sari blouse and tie the petticoat snugly around your waist. Take the inner edge of the sari (the end of the sari that is less elaborately patterned) and tuck it into the petticoat in front, a little more to the right side with the sari going around your back to the left. The sari should hang just at ground level with the remaining width tucked neatly into the petticoat.
Holding the sari close to your waist turn a full circle toward the right in a clockwise direction; thus winding it once around your body and just overlapping the inner edge. Tuck it into the petticoat, carefully maintaining an even level at the bottom in front as well as at the back. The sari should not be pulled too tightly around the hips.
Step 2 - Measuring the Pallav
Hold the top edge of the sari where the pallav is and bring it around your hips to the front and over your left shoulder, thus measuring the length of the pallav. The pallav should hang down the back to the knee. You may pin your pallav to your sari blouse provisionally.
Step 3 - Making the Pleats
Pull the inside border of the sari that lies against your chest, around your back and then back to the front.
Hold the top edge of the sari going toward the left, between the forefinger of the right hand which is stretched out in front while the thumb goes back to join the little finger and the third finger. Fold it over the forefinger and pass it under and around the thumb
Now bring it back to the front and remove the forefinger from its former position to place it over the top edge again, so that the first fold and the beginning on the second one should be between the middle finger and the forefinger.
Repeat 6 to 8 times to make 7 to 10 pleats. Gather the pleats and tuck them into the petticoat slightly towards the right side so that the pleats open to the left and hang centrally. See that the pleats are folded over each other evenly. The lower edge of the pleats should be just off the ground.
Step 4 - The Pallav
Now take the pin out of the pallav and gather it in your right hand. Make 3 to 4 pleats in it. Bring the pallav over your left shoulder letting it fall gracefully behind. The upper border of the sari should slant across the bust from under the right arm to over the left shoulder. Secure the pallav with a safety pin to your sari blouse.
And Now in Full Beauty!
Choose a bindi to match your sari and wear it on your forehead. Wear bangles and other jewellery so you will feel like an Indian lady.
Wear Gujarati Style saree