The English language will fall short of words to describe the beauty of a “Saree”, and I only just
mentioned the E’s. It has its origins in the Indus Valley Civilization and has stayed in vogue
through the ages. It truly is a versatile and remarkable piece of attire to still be at the height of
fashion 5000 years down the line.
The humble saree, meaning a strip of cloth in Sanskrit is still runway ready owing to its varied
styles and adaptability. The plethora of drapes across the length and breadth of India clubbed
with the abundance of fabric choices and karigaris makes for a garment for every occasion be it
working in the fields or walking down the aisle or making heads turn at international fashion
week.

Our love for sarees develops young when we see our mothers drape the 6 yard wonder and the
pallu is our goto for everything, be it hiding behind it when guests come calling or wiping wet
hands. Sarees are pieces of heritage handloon handed down generations, I know I have suitcases
filled with ones given by my grandmothers.
Being the fashionista that I am I love to wear my sarees with a zingy twist. With the wedding
season in full bloom I thought to share the perfect bridesmaid drapes to make you the talk of the
town this wedding season.

The Looks

Grunge Chic
Get edgy with your saree drapes and experiment by pairing your sarees with ripped shorts, torn
culottes, stone washed denims etc., perfect for a daytime function in the winter sun. Put new life
into that tardy saree you no longer wear. Punk up your look with a beach waves hairdo and a
graphic eyeliner.

Wrap It Up
Adapting your saree into a skirt is the easiest take on this fantabulous garment. You can try a
pleated skirt or one with random gathers or overlapped with pleats or pleats on both ends
meeting in center, abundant choices available. Team this saree skirt with a blingy corset / strappy
blouse for an evening function or a crop top / buttoned down shirt for a day soiree. Style with big
jhumkas, messy ponytail, bling sandals for Indian look or western theme it with formal sling
shoes, studs and a top bun.

Runway Boho
Style your saree as a slit dress and be runway ready. For a full front open slit you can pair it with
cigarette pants in jazzy gold, silver etc with a matching blouse for the evening look or with
jeggings and a crop top for an afternoon function. You can also be adventurous and a have thigh

high slit or a side slits and show off those fabulous legs. Use loads of oxidized jewelry for the
perfect banjaran look.

The Nine Yard Queen
Go for the maharani look by pairing two rich looking sarees together. You can add extra glamour
to this look by using the silk sarees in complementing colours and styles. One saree is draped in
the most common fashion with a front pallu while other is pleated towards the side and the pallu
acting as trailing dupatta tied to your hand. An elaborate hair updo goes well with the rani look.
Page 3 Princess
If you are a fashion forward social butterfly who defines the “in thing” in your group, this is the
look for you. Turn your shrugs into a knotted blouse for the added oomph for this look. Wear
your floral and digital prints sarees with fitted pants or jeggings as a half saree, to give you the
young princess vibes used layers of pearl jewelry. Go for a soft makeup look in pink undertones
and a well defined eye liner and your favorite pair of pumps will complete this page 3 worthy
look.

Boardroom Brod
Button down shirts, smart blouses and blazers define this clean crisp look. You can have a
flowing pallu or twist it into a belt or wrap it around your neck as a scarf, the options are aplenty.
Pair it with straight fitting pants or structured palazzos or cigarette pants or even straight fit
skirts. Minimal jewelry, no makeup look, a smart clutch and matching peep-toes compliment this
look.

Mosaic Mystery
The most popularized take on the saree is draping it like a dhoti and there are many different
styles of doing it. You can wear the saree entirely as a bottomwear dhoti or can have a half dhoti
and rest draped as a pallu or around your neck and topped with a belt, you can try various
combinations. Paired best with juttis, corset blouse, poker straight hair, graphic eyes.

Fusion Station
Get that old lehenga you no longer wear out of your closet and pair it with a saree for a fun
fusion twist this wedding season. Want to be the talk of the town, pair that saree with a half skirt
or a traditional ghagri. Wear offbeat traditional jewelry like hasli to complete the look. You can
also tie up your saree as a lehenga by creating gather pleats around your underskirt and use the
rest as a front pallu.

Experimenting is the key

Author & Model
Ashima Kinnoo

A curvy curly dogmom, who wears her sarees with a zingy twist, moonlights as a marketing
consultant and is a body inclusivity proponent. Instagram Handle @journey_of_everything.