Saree Draping : How to wear Saree???

by Vitthal Phalke seo executive

The art of draping the sari is in itself an expression of a woman's creativity. In urban India, saris tend to be draped in four or five styles requiring approximately six yards of material. It is, however, enormously versatile, and there are an amazing number of regional variations of draping too.

Following is an explanation of the different ways of draping a saree: -
1. Traditional style: This is the most common way of wearing the saree. The saree is draped once around the waist and pleats are formed and tucked in the middle facing left. The remaining cloth is slung over the left shoulder to cover the lady’s torso. Often the pallu, as the top part is called could be pleated and pinned neatly to the wearer’s shoulder or could be left open for the lady to manage. The slightly off-center fan of pleats in the front, the floating pallu with the intricate border thrown over the shoulder and the relatively smooth drape of the material at the back; the wound, pleated, tucked and coiled material give the proportions an appealing and sensuous look.

2. Half saree style: This style makes one look slimmer around the waist and this looks very young too. To get this look, wear the bottom pleat and draping as normal. Then pleat the pallu and bring it over the left shoulder from back, pin it there. Take one corner of the pallu, wrap tightly around your waist and pin the corner under the pallu on front side. While doing this keep the pallu long so that you make a nice V in front, the bottom pleats should come in centre of the front V.

3. Bengali style: Like last two drapes here also the bottom portion remains same. Pleat pallu and let it go over the left shoulder from front side. Don’t let it very loose or tight in front and then fix it with a pin. Take one corner of the pallu falling back, bring it front from under your arm. Then instead of going back with a key ring as in traditional Bengali saree, here we will secure the corner of pallu on the centre of the blouse. You can use a nice brooch to make it look fancier. Draped without pleats, it is wrapped around the waist and drawn back to the right side and the pallu is slung over the left shoulder. Once again pulled up from under the right arm, it is slung over the left shoulder. Often an ornate key bunch is added to the edge to complete this very feminine and elegant drape.

4. Oriya style: This look is inspired from the traditional Oriya draping style. Looks good for saree with nice work on pallu. To get this look do the bottom draping as usual. Make pleats for pallu and put it on your left shoulder as you do for reverse pallu and pin it. Then take one corner of the pallu hanging behind, bring it to front, under your right arm and then pin it 5-6 inch below your left shoulder, use a brooch to add a punch. So like traditional Oriya saree we are not keeping pallu flowing here which makes it easy to maintain and accentuates the body shape.

5. Gujarati style: This way of draping the saree is not only adopted in Gujarat but many northern states like UP, MP, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Bihar also adopt this style. In this way of wearing the saree, the pleats face right instead of left. The pallu also comes from the back to the front from the right side. The edge of the pallu is tucked at the back securing it properly.

6. Maharashtrian style: Using nine yards, this style is adopted by the older and more conservative women. The saree apes a dhoti style, with some of the fabric tucked between the legs to divide them. Worn without a petticoat underneath, this saree is rarely seen nowadays except on festive occasions. In this version of the saree the pallu drapes the shoulder or is used to cover the head.

7. Tamilian style: This version too uses a saree that is 9 yards as opposed to the simple 6 yards. Without a petticoat inside, this saree uses multiple tuck and complicated pleats to form a saree that can be as comfortable as a pair of jeans if draped right. The pallu is folded in half and tucked into the waist allowing the lady to go about her chores.

8. Lehenga style: Popularized by the charming yester year film star Mumtaz, this way of wearing your saree involves draping it tightly around your lower body several times, to give it a narrow look and dramatically fling the remaining fabric over your shoulder. This style bares your midriff and makes for a very slow walk. This look is apt for wedding and traditional functions where you want to wear a lehenga but don’t want to buy a new one. After doing 1 round saree wrap on your petticoat start making small-small pleats throughout your waist. Smaller the pleats, more kalli your lehenga saree will have. Start under right hand and go back till you’re back making small pleats and tuck then inside the petticoat. Take the remaining material i.e. the pallu and bring it over your right shoulder and pin it like you do for straight pallu. Your saree will look gorgeous like a lehenga and this is the most famous designer saree online!

9. Tribal style: Draped slightly above the ankles, this way of draping the saree is quite popular among the tribal people of Tamil nadu. This method of draping the saree is simple and is designed for easy walking. Often no blouse is worn in this style or a simple piece of cloth bound over the bust line serves as a blouse.

10. Kodagu style: Worn mainly by women from Kodagu district of Karnataka, this style is notable by the pleats being in the back. The pallu is flung on to the right shoulder and held in place by a pin.

11. Kerala Mundu style: A version of saree with two pieces, there is the bottom piece which is worn separately and the top portion to be used as pallu.

For an unstitched length of material, the wearing of a sari entails a lot of preparation. When you have done online saree shopping and are wondering what to do next? Just buy a fall made of cotton if your saree is thin at the bottom and attach it to the inside lower border, and the choli or bodice that teams up with the sari should match the ground color of the sari, or at least echo one of the tints in the borders or motifs. With a blouse and a saree ready to drape you are good to go!

The sari follows the shape of the body, yet conceals, it is often said, a hundred imperfections. It is true that not only is it one of the most graceful of garments, but also one of the kindest. This perhaps explains its perennial appeal.