ABOUT THE SAREE

India has been known to have wonderful dresses and costumes. The most common and accepted attire is the saree.

For a single length of material, the Indian saree must be the most versatile garment in existence. A saree is a rectangular piece of cloth that is five to six yards in length and sometimes nine yards. Yet, this dress is worn by millions of Indian women and is, by far, the most elegant. It is not merely an outfit but an ornament, lending both grace and glamour to the wearer. saree is for all purpose - party wear, daily wear, bridal wear and so on.

The age old saree has kept its popularity throughout the centuries because of its total simplicity and practical comfort combined with the sense of luxury and sense of sexuality a woman experiences.

saree is an Indian women’s statement to the world. What is a typical Indian saree like??? The saree can be a shimmering silk, or fine cotton or an elegant chiffon material. It can have the most intricate embroidery with silk threads or even silver and gold threads. The colors can be vibrantly bright or subdued pastels. There are sarees to match every mood and every occasion to suit every budget. The saree has an ageless charm since it is not cut or tailored for a particular size. This garment can fit any size and if worn properly can accentuate or conceal. This supremely graceful attire can also be worn in several ways and its manner of wearing as well as its color and texture are indicative of the status, age, occupation, region and religion of a woman.

The Indian saree has retained its beauty over centuries. This attire has retained its innocence through its original form but it has evolved in tremendous variety. A more feminine dress has never been seen anywhere. This attire can cover the body from head to toe, making a woman look modest and coy. But just shift the pallu, wear it with a stylish blouse and it could give any Western dress a complex.

saree is one piece of clothing which fits all….. fat or thin short or tall!!! The traditional 6 yard saree allows for generous pleating, and draping around the body and over the shoulders almost Grecian in style. The loose end of the fabric, which is thrown over the left shoulder, is known as ‘Pallu’. Pallu usually has extensive design or embroidery woven into it. saree is very flattering to all shapes and sizes and forgiving of the various flaws. It can ingeniously conceal the extra flab of fat, or it can accentuate the well-proportioned curve -- It is just a matter of how you drape the saree. This garment is in style for over 5000 years for the simple reason of its simplicity and practical usage.

This demure garment is a very versatile garment too. The pallu has a very multi-purpose use to it. In case of slight chill in the air, put it around the shoulder like a shawl, if it gets very cold wrap it around the head like a scarf. The saree is so practical to wear that you can even run a marathon in it with out any problem.

Different parts of India have different styles of draping the saree.

In the state of Maharashtra the traditional saree is nine yard long. This saree does not require a petticoat or slip, and is more like a pant with the saree accentuating the derriere. Different parts of the country also prefer certain texture of saree . This preference is mainly due to the weather and availability of the fabric in that region.

The Southern style of wearing the saree is, however with pleats in the front and the pallu falling over the left shoulder. In the South, silk sarees reign supreme. Cotton sarees on the other hand are very popular in Bengal and Maharastra. For weddings and special occasions silk sarees are the norm. Typically the wedding sareeshave gold (gold is pounded very thin and made into threads) woven into them.

The Bengali women have a style of their own with the pallu falling over their shoulders to the front.

The Coorgi style is daringly worn without a choli and with the pleats in front.
It is the faithful comfortable Gujarati style of wearing the ulta-pallu that finally finds wide acceptance among women all over India. The style of draping a saree keeps changing with the pallu over the left shoulder for the conventional version or over the right one for the Gujarati look. Designers always try to project the saree in a new light. For formal wear it is still the first choice among the majority of women.
In the state of Maharashtra the traditional saree is nine yard long. . This preference is mainly due to the weather and availability of the fabric in that region, it is more like a pant
The Southern style of wearing the saree is, however with pleats in the front and the pallu falling over the left shoulder. In the South, silk sarees reign supreme. Cotton sarees on the other hand are very popular in Bengal and Maharastra. For weddings and special occasions silk sarees are the norm. Typically the wedding sareeshave gold (gold is pounded very thin and made into threads) woven into them.

The Bengali women have a style of their own with the pallu falling over their shoulders to the front.

The Coorgi style is daringly worn without a choli and with the pleats in front.
It is the faithful comfortable Gujarati style of wearing the ulta-pallu that finally finds wide acceptance among women all over India. The style of draping a saree keeps changing with the pallu over the left shoulder for the conventional version or over the right one for the Gujarati look. Designers always try to project the saree in a new light. For formal wear it is still the first choice among the majority of women.















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