Visiting Delhi fashion week and seeing Sabyasachi’s show got us thinking about the saree. What is the state of one of the most traditional and elegant dresses in India? Does the younger generation wear sarees? And how have they made them their own?
There are some landmark saree fashion moments which seem to have given the green light to messing with such a traditional piece of clothing. What started off with innovative prints and blouse cuts has now spun off into different ways of draping, new materials like jersey and lycra, sarees with jackets, belts, leggings or jeans, sarikini’s, poncho sarees, trouser sarees, readily draped zip-up styles, drapy saree-inspired dresses and so much more. The saree 2.0 is ideal for stylish women on the go or for women like me who aren’t that good at tying them.
The verdict:
Traditional doesn’t have to be old-fashioned.
It’s a time of innovation and experimentation.
Sarees are very much alive and kicking!
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Landmark saree moments:
1 +2 Satya Paul, pop art sari’s, 2007 / 3 Nida Mahmood, saris over jeans / 4 Wendell Rodricks, saree-gown, 2009 / 5 Anamika Khanna, pyama saree, 2009 / 6 Sabyasachi, chotu saree (shortened skirt) |
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Sarees with jackets and belts and cool new ways of draping:
1 Abraham and Thakore AW11 / 2 Satya Paul / 3 + 4 Tarun Tahiliani AW 11 / 5 Shantanu Nikhil SS11 / 6 Anupama Dayal / 7 Anupama Dayal AW 11 / 9 Masaba SS11 |
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Innovation in blouses and skirts and sarees worn over jeans:
1 Dev R Nil SS11 / 2 Anand Kabra SS11 / 3 Sabyasachi AW11 / 4 Tarun Tahiliani SS10 / 5 Nida Mahmood SS11 |
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Office sarees with trousers or skirts and beachy resortwear sarees:
1 Abraham and Thakore AW11 / 2 Shrivan Narresh 10 / 3 ? / 4 Masaba SS11 |
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Awesome saree-inspired dresses, long and short:
1 Rabani & Rakha AW11 / 2+3 Shantanu & Nikhil AW11 / 4 Wendell Rodricks 2010 / 5 Gaurav Gupta AW11 / Rimzim Dadu AW11 / 7 Gaurav Gupta AW11 / 8 Anand Kabra AW11 / 9 Masaba SS11 |
