Post by vimala on Jun 17, 2008 14:13:39 GMT 5.5
Traditional Wear
Fashion is an important aspect in every person`s life. Woman fashion is not just about wearing woman fashion clothing. It is something that you can associate yourself with. Your urban woman fashion style should go in consistency with fashion trend and your personality. Your body frame, skin tone, comfort level and personal attitude are some factors that determine your fashion statement. There are basically two types of styles, which you can flaunt, viz. traditional and western. The traditional look is comprised of Saris, Lehenga Choli and Salwaar Kameez. Whereas, the western look comprises of kurtis, jeans, formal gowns, jackets, zippers and a lot more. Let us go into the intricacies of each style and study them in detail.
Traditional Dresses
Traditional WearSalwar Kameez
Salwar kameez is the traditional dress worn by various peoples of south Asia. Salwar are loose trousers and the kameez is a long shirt. When women wear the salwar kameez, they usually wear a long scarf or shawl called a dupatta around the head or neck. It traditionally is worn across both shoulders. However, the dupatta can also be worn like a cape around the entire torso. The material for the dupatta varies according to the suit: cotton, georgette, silk, chiffon, and more. The other names for dupatta are chunri and chunni. In current fashions, the dupatta is frequently draped over one shoulder, and even over just the arms. Another recent trend is the short dupatta often seen with kurtas and Indo-Western clothing. Essentially, the dupatta is often treated as an accessory in current urban fashion.
Salwar kameez is one of the most comfortable of all the weather outfits any female would have. Salwar Kameez helps keep cool in the hot season, as it doesn`t cling to the body. There`s no denying the fact that the salwar kameez is very graceful and lends the wearer an aura of feminine charm. You can have variety available in countless designs, materials, and sizes and to suit all pockets, the salwar kameez is certainly an exciting outfit. All it needs is a little imagination. It is something simple to wear to college or a dressy one for a wedding or a night does. You can never go wrong with it since salwar kameez suits all occasions. The best part is that even your friendly neighbourhood tailor will do a great job of stitching a salwar kameez.
The salwar kameez is one outfit, which brings out the best in a woman no matter what her vital statistics. A loose kameez is the perfect camouflage for those extra layers and vertical prints produce a slimming effect. A small bust can be enhanced by embroidery at the neck or other embellishments such as wooden buttons, beads or bright yokes.
Chanderi SariSaree
Saree is an Indian wear that makes a woman look graceful, stylish, elegant and sensuous. The sari is long strip of unstitched cloth, ranging from five to nine yards in length, which can be draped in various styles. The most common style is for the sari to be wrapped around the waist, with one end then draped over the shoulder. The sari is usually worn over a petticoat and a low-cut, short-sleeved, midriff-baring blouse known in north India as a choli. But it`s important to drape a Saree properly as a clumsily draped Saree (sari) brings down the look of the Saree and spoils the whole appearance. Some basic steps on how to buy and drape a Saree are given below.
Types of Sarees
Though each region in the Indian subcontinent has developed over the centuries its own unique sari style, the following are the well-known varieties, distinct on the basis of fabric, weaving style or motifs. The reservoir of sari is simply superb encompassing embroidered sari, classy silk sarees and special bridal wedding sari. The exclusive range of Indian Sari includes:
Banarasi SariBanarasi sarees came into popularity during the Mughal times. Since then this Indian fashion sari has witnessed a continuous growth in demand. Not only did it make business in India but gained momentum worldwide. Its classic, ethnic and sleek look sets it apart from others. Banarsi silk saree is popular among women and is widely appreciated. Its designs exhibit Mughal patterns. They are considered one of the finest saris in India. Banarasi sari in itself contains diverse styles like pure silk (katan), organza with zari work, georgette and shattir. Its major attraction lies in colorful dying of silk fabric. These saris are made of finely woven silk and are decorated with elaborate engravings. Its designs have the essence of traditional folk. Benarsi sarees often depict scenes of villages, fairs, flowers, dancing monkeys and clouds. Also you can find temple and mosque designs. Because of these engravings, these saris are relatively heavy. Indian women mostly wear Banarasi saris on important occasions such as when attending a wedding and they are complemented by the woman`s best jewelry.
Kota DoriaBandhani is a classic style of Rajasthan and Gujarat. It is a handwork, which involves tying and dying of cloth. The sari is tied and died in such a manner that it produces elaborate patterns and designs on the fabric. Rajasthan is a city of beauty and variety.
Kota Doria is a traditional style of Rajasthan. They are the creations of small villages of Kota City. This style uses a combination of threads to create fine designs where cotton lends firmness and silk gives airy soft feel.
Orissa Ikat silk sarees uses tie and die process to produce exquisite patterns. It has a heavy gauge with a fine metallic touch. It includes wide temple style borders.
Chanderi sarees is a product of Madhya Pradesh. They are the hand woven sarees. The Chanderi sarees have sophistication hard to match. It is an extremely light cloth. Its exclusiveness lies in its simplicity, airy feel, narrow borders and decently designed anchals with buttis. This saree is a common name in middle & rich societies and is in high demand everywhere.
Cotton Printed SariCotton printed sarees includes batik work, bandhni style, block printing and hand made drawings. These are printed in large metropolitan cities like Bombay and Calcutta.
Cotton handlooms provide us with distinctive varieties primarily the Tant, Jamdani and Baluchari Bengal handloom sarees. These styles are known for their lightness, which is a great comfort. Its borders exhibit works of delicate silk threadworks. Designs are simple but artistic and unique. Peacocks, floral designs, architectural drawings are major attractions of these handlooms.
Southern saree styles include Pochampalli, Venkatgiri, Gadwal, Guntur, Mangalpuri sarees of Andhra Pradesh, Coimbatore and Chettinad styles of Tamilnadu, Mysore silk of Karnataka. Mysore silk is one of the most popular and finest and purest forms of silk. It is undergoing a makeover with new kasuti embroidery, bandhini designs and with a palette of exciting vibrant colors.
Shalu, is a special type of saree from Banaras (Varanasi).
KanjeevaramKanjeevaram or Kanchipuram sarees are the distinguished creations of a small town of Kanchi (Kanchipuram) in Southern India. It is one of the finest and most popular forms of silk in Tamilnadu. It uses a combination of colored threads and also has lot of zari work. Kanjeevaram silk wedding saree is very popular. It mainly comes in bold and bright colors. Its major attractions are the beautiful tribal designs. Now focus is also on contemporary patterns. It has a heavy gauge and is a long lasting style. Not only it has attracted Indians but also luring the Western world. It has become the style of ages from mother to daughter.
A Kantha is a type of saree popular in West Bengal, India. Worn by Bengali Kayastha women, it is known for its delicate embroidery. Kantha is really the name for the embroidery itself, rather than the sari per se. Any garment or cloth with kantha embroidery (which forms or outlines decorative motifs with running stitch) is a kantha garment.
PaithaniPaithani is a variety of saree, named after the Paithan region in Maharashtra State where they are woven by hand. Made from very fine silk, it is considered as one of the richest saris in Maharashtra. Borders of an oblique square design, and a pallu with a peacock design characterize Paithani. Plain as well as spotted designs are available. Among other varieties, single colored and kaleidoscope-colored designs are also popular. Using one color for weaving lengthwise and another achieve the kaleidoscopic effect for weaving widthwise.
Buying Sarees
Women on heavier side should buy sarees in Georgette, Chiffon or Chignon. Heavy Mysore Silk sarees look beautiful and one tends to look slimmer.
Shorter women should buy sarees with small borders or no borders. They should definitely avoid big borders as big borders make one look shorter.
Thin women should buy Organza, Cotton, Tissue and Tussar Sarees. These Sarees gives a fuller effect.
In printed Sarees, avoid big prints, as it gives a gaudy and a huge look. Delicate print on a Saree gives a delicate look.
Dark skin color women should generally buy dark colours like maroon, green, dark pink etc.
Draping SariFew Tips on Draping a Saree
In office you should pinup your saree, since this looks smart and is manageable too.
For an outing or a function you can just pinup the tip of the saree and let the rest fall on your hand. This gives a very graceful look. But the saree should have a good fall.
Cotton, Tissue or any starched Sarees should be ironed properly and at the time of draping, the pleats should be done with the hands pressing and shaping it properly.
You should put the pin on the back shoulder as this keeps the saree intact and does not show the pin too.
You should not wear a very flared petticoat inside.
Fashion is an important aspect in every person`s life. Woman fashion is not just about wearing woman fashion clothing. It is something that you can associate yourself with. Your urban woman fashion style should go in consistency with fashion trend and your personality. Your body frame, skin tone, comfort level and personal attitude are some factors that determine your fashion statement. There are basically two types of styles, which you can flaunt, viz. traditional and western. The traditional look is comprised of Saris, Lehenga Choli and Salwaar Kameez. Whereas, the western look comprises of kurtis, jeans, formal gowns, jackets, zippers and a lot more. Let us go into the intricacies of each style and study them in detail.
Traditional Dresses
Traditional WearSalwar Kameez
Salwar kameez is the traditional dress worn by various peoples of south Asia. Salwar are loose trousers and the kameez is a long shirt. When women wear the salwar kameez, they usually wear a long scarf or shawl called a dupatta around the head or neck. It traditionally is worn across both shoulders. However, the dupatta can also be worn like a cape around the entire torso. The material for the dupatta varies according to the suit: cotton, georgette, silk, chiffon, and more. The other names for dupatta are chunri and chunni. In current fashions, the dupatta is frequently draped over one shoulder, and even over just the arms. Another recent trend is the short dupatta often seen with kurtas and Indo-Western clothing. Essentially, the dupatta is often treated as an accessory in current urban fashion.
Salwar kameez is one of the most comfortable of all the weather outfits any female would have. Salwar Kameez helps keep cool in the hot season, as it doesn`t cling to the body. There`s no denying the fact that the salwar kameez is very graceful and lends the wearer an aura of feminine charm. You can have variety available in countless designs, materials, and sizes and to suit all pockets, the salwar kameez is certainly an exciting outfit. All it needs is a little imagination. It is something simple to wear to college or a dressy one for a wedding or a night does. You can never go wrong with it since salwar kameez suits all occasions. The best part is that even your friendly neighbourhood tailor will do a great job of stitching a salwar kameez.
The salwar kameez is one outfit, which brings out the best in a woman no matter what her vital statistics. A loose kameez is the perfect camouflage for those extra layers and vertical prints produce a slimming effect. A small bust can be enhanced by embroidery at the neck or other embellishments such as wooden buttons, beads or bright yokes.
Chanderi SariSaree
Saree is an Indian wear that makes a woman look graceful, stylish, elegant and sensuous. The sari is long strip of unstitched cloth, ranging from five to nine yards in length, which can be draped in various styles. The most common style is for the sari to be wrapped around the waist, with one end then draped over the shoulder. The sari is usually worn over a petticoat and a low-cut, short-sleeved, midriff-baring blouse known in north India as a choli. But it`s important to drape a Saree properly as a clumsily draped Saree (sari) brings down the look of the Saree and spoils the whole appearance. Some basic steps on how to buy and drape a Saree are given below.
Types of Sarees
Though each region in the Indian subcontinent has developed over the centuries its own unique sari style, the following are the well-known varieties, distinct on the basis of fabric, weaving style or motifs. The reservoir of sari is simply superb encompassing embroidered sari, classy silk sarees and special bridal wedding sari. The exclusive range of Indian Sari includes:
Banarasi SariBanarasi sarees came into popularity during the Mughal times. Since then this Indian fashion sari has witnessed a continuous growth in demand. Not only did it make business in India but gained momentum worldwide. Its classic, ethnic and sleek look sets it apart from others. Banarsi silk saree is popular among women and is widely appreciated. Its designs exhibit Mughal patterns. They are considered one of the finest saris in India. Banarasi sari in itself contains diverse styles like pure silk (katan), organza with zari work, georgette and shattir. Its major attraction lies in colorful dying of silk fabric. These saris are made of finely woven silk and are decorated with elaborate engravings. Its designs have the essence of traditional folk. Benarsi sarees often depict scenes of villages, fairs, flowers, dancing monkeys and clouds. Also you can find temple and mosque designs. Because of these engravings, these saris are relatively heavy. Indian women mostly wear Banarasi saris on important occasions such as when attending a wedding and they are complemented by the woman`s best jewelry.
Kota DoriaBandhani is a classic style of Rajasthan and Gujarat. It is a handwork, which involves tying and dying of cloth. The sari is tied and died in such a manner that it produces elaborate patterns and designs on the fabric. Rajasthan is a city of beauty and variety.
Kota Doria is a traditional style of Rajasthan. They are the creations of small villages of Kota City. This style uses a combination of threads to create fine designs where cotton lends firmness and silk gives airy soft feel.
Orissa Ikat silk sarees uses tie and die process to produce exquisite patterns. It has a heavy gauge with a fine metallic touch. It includes wide temple style borders.
Chanderi sarees is a product of Madhya Pradesh. They are the hand woven sarees. The Chanderi sarees have sophistication hard to match. It is an extremely light cloth. Its exclusiveness lies in its simplicity, airy feel, narrow borders and decently designed anchals with buttis. This saree is a common name in middle & rich societies and is in high demand everywhere.
Cotton Printed SariCotton printed sarees includes batik work, bandhni style, block printing and hand made drawings. These are printed in large metropolitan cities like Bombay and Calcutta.
Cotton handlooms provide us with distinctive varieties primarily the Tant, Jamdani and Baluchari Bengal handloom sarees. These styles are known for their lightness, which is a great comfort. Its borders exhibit works of delicate silk threadworks. Designs are simple but artistic and unique. Peacocks, floral designs, architectural drawings are major attractions of these handlooms.
Southern saree styles include Pochampalli, Venkatgiri, Gadwal, Guntur, Mangalpuri sarees of Andhra Pradesh, Coimbatore and Chettinad styles of Tamilnadu, Mysore silk of Karnataka. Mysore silk is one of the most popular and finest and purest forms of silk. It is undergoing a makeover with new kasuti embroidery, bandhini designs and with a palette of exciting vibrant colors.
Shalu, is a special type of saree from Banaras (Varanasi).
KanjeevaramKanjeevaram or Kanchipuram sarees are the distinguished creations of a small town of Kanchi (Kanchipuram) in Southern India. It is one of the finest and most popular forms of silk in Tamilnadu. It uses a combination of colored threads and also has lot of zari work. Kanjeevaram silk wedding saree is very popular. It mainly comes in bold and bright colors. Its major attractions are the beautiful tribal designs. Now focus is also on contemporary patterns. It has a heavy gauge and is a long lasting style. Not only it has attracted Indians but also luring the Western world. It has become the style of ages from mother to daughter.
A Kantha is a type of saree popular in West Bengal, India. Worn by Bengali Kayastha women, it is known for its delicate embroidery. Kantha is really the name for the embroidery itself, rather than the sari per se. Any garment or cloth with kantha embroidery (which forms or outlines decorative motifs with running stitch) is a kantha garment.
PaithaniPaithani is a variety of saree, named after the Paithan region in Maharashtra State where they are woven by hand. Made from very fine silk, it is considered as one of the richest saris in Maharashtra. Borders of an oblique square design, and a pallu with a peacock design characterize Paithani. Plain as well as spotted designs are available. Among other varieties, single colored and kaleidoscope-colored designs are also popular. Using one color for weaving lengthwise and another achieve the kaleidoscopic effect for weaving widthwise.
Buying Sarees
Women on heavier side should buy sarees in Georgette, Chiffon or Chignon. Heavy Mysore Silk sarees look beautiful and one tends to look slimmer.
Shorter women should buy sarees with small borders or no borders. They should definitely avoid big borders as big borders make one look shorter.
Thin women should buy Organza, Cotton, Tissue and Tussar Sarees. These Sarees gives a fuller effect.
In printed Sarees, avoid big prints, as it gives a gaudy and a huge look. Delicate print on a Saree gives a delicate look.
Dark skin color women should generally buy dark colours like maroon, green, dark pink etc.
Draping SariFew Tips on Draping a Saree
In office you should pinup your saree, since this looks smart and is manageable too.
For an outing or a function you can just pinup the tip of the saree and let the rest fall on your hand. This gives a very graceful look. But the saree should have a good fall.
Cotton, Tissue or any starched Sarees should be ironed properly and at the time of draping, the pleats should be done with the hands pressing and shaping it properly.
You should put the pin on the back shoulder as this keeps the saree intact and does not show the pin too.
You should not wear a very flared petticoat inside.