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Contents

Saree 3

The BaSic requiremenT To Drape SareeS 4

TipS To keep in minD Before Draping a Saree 4

BaSic STepS To Drape a Saree 6

here are The BaSic STepS of Draping a Saree: 6

hoW To Drape a Saree: DifferenT STYLeS 8

TraDiTionaL STYLe Drape 8

WeDDing STYLe DrapeS 9

The DifferenT WeDDing 10

STYLeS of Draping a Saree 10

STepS for BengaLi STYLe Draping: 10

BengaLi STYLe Drape 10

gujraTi STYLe Drape 11

STepS for gujraTi STYLe Draping: 12

STepS for maraThi STYLe Draping 13

maraThi STYLe Drape 13

parTY STYLe DrapeS 14

mumTaz STYLe Drape 15

STepS for mumTaz STYLe Drape 16

Deepika STYLe Drape 17

STepS for Deepika STYLe Drape 18

STepS for mermaiD STYLe Drape 19

mermaiD STYLe Drape 19

open paLLu STYLe Drape 20

STepS for open paLLu STYLe Drape 21

panT STYLe Saree Drape 21

STepS for panT STYLe Drape 22

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Saree

One of the oldest forms of clothing that evolved from the word “Sati” in Sanskrit, which means “strip of cloth”

it is perhaps the only form of un-stitched stitched clothing that survived over the time. Through the mesopotamian age, the indus Valley civilization, the age of the aryans, a loin cloth that was just used to cover from the waist downwards, emerged as the elegant saree as we see it today.

as described in the great indian epics, women of the indus Valley civilization, had begun to wear a three piece ensemble, that comprised of a “neevi” or a loin cloth that covered from the waist, a “kanchuli” or a piece of cloth used to cover the breasts tightly and an “uttariya” or a shawl to cover the upper torso. This three piece attire may be considered the predecessor of the saree and choli.

The greeks and the persians introduced the art of stitching, thus ”uttariya” stitched to “neevi” gave us

the long flowing graceful piece of garment that we call “saree”. usually 9 yards in length, this attire is synonymous with art and is still acclaimed to be one the most graceful garments of the ages. at present there are various styles of draping a saree, that varies regionally, however, the unanimous conclusion is that, it is a tradition that has never lost its value and importance in the lives of indian women.

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The Basic Requirement to Drape Sarees

Tips to keep in mind before draping a saree

Saree- in general a saree is 9 yards in length, but the range starts from 4 yards. This difference is due to the draping style which varies from one part of the nation to the other. You will get sarees in a varied texture and material, cotton, silk, velvet to name a few. it has a body or the “zameen” that is 4-9 yards in length, a pallu or the throw at one end of the saree. The pallu is generally designed specially and is the highlight of the garment. it also has decorative borders or the “kinaras”, running along the two edges.

Blouse or choli- it is tight-fitting, shirt type clothing, along with saree, worn to cover the upper torso that usually leaves the midriff bare. Like sarees, the style of choli or blouse is varied. The choice of style is often regional, but in general, personal preference is the main deciding factor. a blouse can be with sleeve or sleeveless. a blouse is not an undergarment; it is visible along with the saree and thus style, fittings and design matter.

Petticoat- a simple form of lehenga, or a flaired, long length underskirt worn under a saree. it serves as a lining of the saree. usually a petticoat is not visible directly, and is made of an opaque material. petticoats are tightly fitted to the waist with the help of a drawstring, to hold on to the saree. usually petticoats are paired with the body color of the saree they are to be worn with, to make them less visible.

•Choosetherightsareeforyou.Ifyouarepetiteandslim,avoidsareesofflimsymateriallikechiffon, georgette, which tends to stick to the body and makes you look further slim. instead, choose materials like cotton, tussar, organza that will make you look fuller.

•Thosewhoareontheheavierside,shouldavoidmaterialsthatarefluffy,likecotton,tissueandvelvet. Lightweight sarees like, chiffon, chignon and silk would suit you better.

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•Heightmatterstoo,thosewhoareshortinheight,shouldavoidsareeswithwideborders.They should also try and avoid sarees with very bold prints.

•Thecolorofthesareethatyouchooseisveryimportantforyourentirelook.Darkcolorshave a slimming effect, while light colors make you look plumper. make sure the colors do not clash with your skin tone either. •Thepetticoatthatyouchooseforyoursaree,shouldreachyourankle.Itshouldneitherbetoo long to be seen from under the saree border, neither too small so that your legs are visible. also make sure that it matches with the body color of your saree.

•Choosetheblouse,accordingtoyourbodyshapeandmakesurethatitfitswell.Illfittedblouse spoils the entire look.

•Keepsafetypinshandy.Youwillbeneedingthemtosecurethepalluandthepleatsofthesaree. use smaller pins to pin up the pallu on the shoulder or your back. Bigger pins look clumsy.

•Ifyouarenotaregularsareewearer,pinthepleatsthatyoutuckinatthewaist,fromtheinside, to avoid any unpleasant situation.

•Youcaneitherleavethepallulooseorpleatitupneatlyandpinit,thatsolelydependsuponthe occasion and the how well you can carry it. if you are wearing a saree to work, a pleated pallu would look neat and smart. Whereas at a party, a loosely hanging pallu over your arm would make your appearance more graceful.

•Itisidealtobewearingafootwearwhiledrapingasaree,sothattheheightofthefallofthesaree is correct.

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Basic Steps to Drape a Saree

1. put on your petticoat, blouse and footwear. Tie the petticoat tight enough to hold on to the weight of the saree.

2. Stand with your feet slightly apart, hold the inner end of the saree and tuck the upper corner of it in the petticoat. ensure how low you want it to fall, but make sure that it covers your ankles.

Draping a saree is an art, that needs to be mastered, so as not to look clumsy. You need to feel comfortable, be comfortable and

carry the attire with confidence.

3. Drape the entire material around your waist from the left, but make sure that you leave a comfortable space for free movement of your legs.

4. Bring the saree to your front from the right.

5. keeping the pallu end free, make 5-7 pleats of equal size and width in the center of the saree. make sure the pleats are even and straight. pin the pleats from the inside so that they do not fall off.

HERE ARE THE BASIC STEPS OF DRAPING A SAREE:

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6. hold the pleats together and tuck them into the petticoat, slightly left of your navel, leaving them open from your left side.

7. Drape the rest of the free length of the saree once more, around yourself from the left. Bring it to the front, around your right, holding the upper edge of the saree.

8. Lift the edge, and bring the entire remaining length of the saree up onto your shoulder.

9. Let the pallu end fall beyond your shoulder, until it reaches your knees. You can leave it loose, or pleat the width in folds and pin it onto your blouse on your shoulder with a small safety pin.

10. arrange the material neatly over your chest and behind your back, and you are ready!

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HOW TO DRAPE A SAREE: DIFFERENT STYLES

Traditional Style Drape

Saree is an outfit that is worn by indian women of any class, religion, and status. it not only lends grace, but is extremely fashionable and always trendy. fashion experts have always been experimenting with patterns, materials as well as various styles of wearing a saree, to make indian woman stand out elegant and sophisticated on all platforms across the world.

apart from the traditional way of draping saree, with the pallu over the left shoulder, there are several ways of draping a saree. initially the styles of draping a saree varied regionally. But as this ethnic wear has now reached beyond the indian boundaries, several contemporary ways of draping a saree have been introduced and made globally popular by our Bollywood divas and models.

This is the most familiar way of draping a saree. Worn neatly it can make you look extremely

graceful and elegant. it usually has the pallu draped over the left shoulder, which can be left loose or pinned at the shoulder according to preference. The front part of the saree has pleats at the center, open on the left.

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Wedding Style Drapes

When it comes to an indian wedding, the first choice of bridal wear, even to this day in most of the part of the nation, is a Saree. The weavers of

our country, no matter which region they belong to, create the most exquisite pieces of craft that are chosen as bridal wear. Thanks again to the indian film industry and its fraternity, wedding style way of draping a saree is not just restricted to the bride anymore. You can now see women gracing any traditional and formal occasion in a saree draped in the style usually a bride do.

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The Different Wedding Styles of Draping a WSaree

Bengali Style Drape

previously this style was only restricted to the brides of eastern india and Bangladesh,

but in recent times, it has become a popular style of draping a saree and is sported by women everywhere. in this style of draping, the borders and the motifs on the body of the saree are highlighted. Very feminine and elegant drape.

STEPS FOR BENGAlI STylE DRAPING:

1. Start with the basic initial step of draping, by bringing saree wrapped around from left to right, to the point where it started and tuck it in the petticoat.

2. Then take hold of the open edge, pull it towards your left. Do not take it around your waist like you did in the first step. just make a fold and tuck it in at your left back.

3. now pull the free end of the saree towards your right, and fold and tuck it in at right back, like you did in the second step.

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4. now holding the saree in its width of the free edge, make pleats of 5-6 inches, keeping one border at the topmost pleat. Secure the pleats with a pin.

5. place the pleats across your chest over your left shoulder in all its length. 6. hold the edge of the first pleat, spread the fold across your back and bring it to the front from below your right armpit.

7. now lift the edge over your right shoulder and secure it there with a pin. You can also tie something heavy like an ornate key ring or a heavy metal tassel so that it hangs prettily over your shoulder.

8. Set the pleat of the pallu neatly across your chest and you are ready!

Gujrati Style Drape

in this style of draping a saree, the pallu of the saree is highlighted. The gujrati style or the

“seedhi palla style” as it is also known as, is a popular way of saree drape, that is easy to carry. it is common not only in the western parts of the country part also in u.p. Bihar and m.p., as well. The unique feature of this style is that the front pleats are open on the right instead of left.

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STEPS FOR GujRATI STylE DRAPING:

1. Start with the basic step of tucking in the saree at your navel, bring it round from the left to the right, to the center where it started and tuck it in.

2. make 5-6 pleats in equal widths and tuck them in neatly a little right of your navel, keeping them open on the right.

3. hold the free edge of the saree along its width, and make pleats of equal size. make sure the border falls on the top most pleat. Secure the pleats with a pin.

4. hold the pleats together, bring them around your waist from the left to the right, from your back.

5. Lift the pleats from the back over your right shoulder, and left them fall in front.

6. Let them fall at the length, so that the last fold of the pleats can be pulled over to your left to cover your chest.

7. Secure the pleats on your right shoulder with a pin.

8. pull the first border edge over your chest, below your left armpit and tuck it in at your left back.

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Marathi Style Drape

The maharashtrian style of saree draping has more of a sporty look along with elegance.

nauvari sarees as they are known are worn in this typical way. The marathi women, known for their skill in horse riding and sword fighting in history, chose a style that fits these activities. This style gives a look of a dhoti with a drape. it is an interesting style that is still seen on occasions and traditional functions in this part of the country.

STEPS FOR MARATHI STylE DRAPING

1. You do not need a petticoat to drape a saree in marathi style. Wear shorts instead.

2. Start by taking the corner end of the saree and wrap the open edge from left to right, tying a knot in the center of your midriff, leave a length of about 1 meter on the left.

3. fold the smaller end of the saree in neat pleats and pass them, from between your legs to the back.

4. Tuck them in tightly at your waist at the back.

5. now, gather, the longer length of the saree make 5-6 pleats of equal width and tuck in at the center.

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if you want to stand out in the crowd at party or any other occasion that does not require a

traditional look, wear a saree in a contemporary style. The graceful look of this attire, along with a smart drape is bound to attract all the right attention. There are a few tried and tested creative draping that women have mastered over the years. Bollywood beauties of the yesteryears as well as the current generation have started their own trends in saree draping which the mass started following. here are examples of a few.

6. hold the remaining length of the saree in the width section, at the back and make neat pleats.

7. Bring the pleated length entirely around your back, from left to right.

8. now lift the edge of the saree, from under your right armpit and let it fall across your chest over your right shoulder. Secure the pleats with a pin.

Party Style Drapes

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There is no movie connoisseur who has not heard of the beautiful mumtaz. She was a diva, who started her own fashion trend by her unique dressing style. The mumtaz

style of draping sarees, continues to this day. in this style of drape, the saree is tightly wrapped around from below the waist. although it does not allow very free movement, it imparts a stylish and beautiful look.

Mumtaz Style Drape

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STEPS FOR MuMTAz STylE DRAPE

1. Start with the basic step of tucking in one end of the saree a little left to your navel and wrapping the entire length around your waist from the left to right.

2. Leaving the pallu end free, make 3-4 pleats of equal width, at the center and tuck them in, keeping them open on the left.

3. Wrap the rest of the length, once again from your left to right and bring it to your front.

4. once in front, lift the saree by the top edge and tuck it in 4-5 inch above the saree length. 5. repeat Steps 3 and 4 again.

6. The front of the saree will now have the look of three layers, each higher than the one below it.

7. hold the pallu end by the width and make very narrow pleats.

8. Lift the pleats above your left shoulder and secure them with a pin. alternately, you can leave the pallu loose.

9. The pallu length hanging beyond your left shoulder should ideally reach your hips.

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This style is simple yet extremely elegant. it highlights the borders of a saree and also the choli. Deepika won hearts of millions within a very short span of time, with her looks,

acting as well as a brilliant style of dressing. So if you are thinking about following our glam girl, Deepika padukone’s style of saree draping at the next cocktail party you attend, make sure the blouse that you are wearing is interesting. keep the saree, lightweight and in a single or a dual tone, with a glamorous border.

Deepika Style Drape

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STEPS FOR DEEPIkA STylE DRAPE

1. follow the initial basic steps of draping a saree until you have your pleats tucked in neatly at your navel.

2. hold the top border of the saree, immediately after the pleats and twist it and push it downwards. Thus the borders of the saree are now inverted.

3. holding the width portion of the pallu end, tack it neatly.

4. Wrap the pleats around your back, from left to right.

5. Bring the pleats to the front from underneath your right armpit and fling them over your left shoulder loosely.

6. arrange the border of the saree that you had pushed downwards to set on your left hip and stretch it across your back.

7. arrange the pleats across your chest in thin folds ( they should be in parallel lines) so that it matches the drape of your border at the back.

8. Secure the pleats on your shoulder with a pin.

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Mermaid Style Drape

This draping style, gives a narrow look along the thigh section and flares at the hem, like that of

a mermaid’s tail. The mermaid style is perfect for gorgeous sarees with embellishments as the body and the borders of the saree remain in focus. ideal for party wear and easy to carry.

STEPS FOR MERMAID STylE DRAPE

1. Start with the basic step of tucking the saree into your petticoat, wrapping the entire length from your left, around your back, to the right and then in front.

2. Do not make pleats, bring the length to your left and tuck in in.

3. hold the saree from the open end, in the width section and make pleats of 5-6 inches in width. make sure the border of the saree falls on the top most pleat.

4. Bring the pleated drape from your left, round your back to your right.

5. Throw the draped pleats from over your right shoulder, to the front. They will now be hanging over your right shoulder.

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This is a simple style of wearing a saree keeping the pallu loosely hanging from the shoulder,

instead of pleating it up. The open pallu Style is preferred by women at any occasions if she is comfortable to carry the weight of the pallu on her arms . it gives an extremely elegant and graceful look.

6. keep the length of the pallu long enough to reach 5-6 inches above your toes. Secure the pleats over your right shoulder with a pin.

7. Take the edge of the first pleat and spread it across your chest, from under your left armpit.

8. now take the edge further round your back, from left to right in front again, stretched tightly.

9. pin up the edge from underneath the front drape, to your left along your left thigh.

Open Pallu Style Drape

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This is the most contemporary style of draping a saree and has a distinct western touch to it. if

you want to sport this look, you will need an ankle length leggings or an ankle length pant instead of a petticoat and of course a tight fitted blouse that compliments your saree. Light weight sarees are best suited for pant Style Drape, instead of traditional silk or cotton sarees.

STEPS FOR OPEN PAllu STylE DRAPE

1. follow all the basic steps of draping a saree.

2. Do not make pleats of the pallu width, lift it on your left shoulder and pin the top border on your blouse.

3. Let the edge of the saree hang loosely from your shoulder and drape it on your left arm.

Pant Style Saree Drape

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Selecting the right saree for an occasion is important and of course, draping it right is essential to maintain a look that is elegant as well as fascinating. hope the mentioned

styles of draping makes it easier for you and help to be presentable for every moment and event.

STEPS FOR PANT STylE DRAPE

•Holdthesareeatthepalluend,andmakeneat,samewidthpleats.

•Pullthesepleatsoveryourleftshoulder.

•Bringtheotherendofthesareefromyourright,roundyourbacktoyourleftsideandtuckthe edge in.

•Makepleatswiththerestofthelengthandtuckthemintoyourpantatthecenter.Youcanuse a pin to secure the pleats.

•Adjustthepalluoveryourchestandpinthemonyourshoulder.

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