The Basics- How to drape a saree!

I think this blog would be incomplete if I didn't post any information on how to drape a saree. After all, whats the point of owning a saree if you don't now how to drape it!

Of all the clothes we women wear, I think the saree is the most challenging to us. Owning an exclusive saree boutique in Alwarpet, I often meet women who come in to buy a saree for that special occasion but are still not sure of how to wear one. This is more so true in the case of youngsters who are either in college or on their first jobs. Whenever asked for advice on how to wear one, I often reply asking what style would suit them. Pleasantly surprised, they often ask me for the easiest methods.

There are many styles of draping a saree, around 10 to 15 or so and each one is practiced somewhere or the other in the country. For reasons of simplicity, lets stick to the basics - the common traditional draping style:

Before you start make sure that the petticoat or underskirt is tied tightly at the waist using a drawstring. Elastics, thought easy to wear may not be able the carry the weight of the saree for long and will require constant adjustments. The color of the petticoat should match that of the saree as closely as possible.

Select a blouse that’s fits you well but is still comfortable. Make sure that the blouse goes along with the color of the saree you choose to wear. Again, the blouse you choose can change the look of your saree so do keep in mind the way you’ll look in that specific cut you select. Have a look at my post on blouses for more ideas. Now that we’ve got that sorted out, lets tackle the saree.

Step 1: Around your body. Starting at the navel, tuck the plain end of the saree into the petticoat and continue tucking till you take a complete turn from right to left. Adjust the lower end of the saree to the height required. Ideally wear your footwear so that you drape the saree to the right length.

Step 2: Measuring the pallu. Hold the top edge of the saree where the pallu is and bring it around your hips to the front and over your left shoulder, thus measuring the length of the pallav or pallu. The pallav should hang down the back to the knee. You may pin your pallu to your sari blouse provisionally.

Step 3: Making pleats. Create pleats with the saree. Make about 7 to 10 pleats and hold them up together so that they fall straight and even. Tuck the pleats into the waist petticoat slightly to the left of the navel, taking care to see that the pleats are turned towards the left.

Step 4: The pallu. The remaining portion of the saree must be turned once around the body and then draped over the left shoulder. Arrange the pleats on this part of the saree and then pin them up on the left shoulder to prevent the pallu from falling off.

Once you get accustomed with the basics, start to experiment with different draping styles at home. You can really be innovative with six yards of fabric . Drape it up in different styles and pep up the look with a variety of accessories or select a unique blouse that can be matched with various sarees. The options are many but it all comes down to what you’re comfortable with.

If you live in Chennai, feel free to walk into my store, Aavarnaa Boutique. I'd be more than happy to help you out with the intricacies of draping and anything else related to sarees. Aavaranaa is located at #15, Ashoka Street, Alwarpet. You could also log on to www.aavaranaa.com for more information.

Contributed by Ms. Soorya Krishna, Head Designer - Aavaranaa

Its good to be here! :)

Finally, all of you who love the kind of designs Aavaranaa creates can connect directly with us both on facebook and blogger. As my first post here, I'd like to share a recent contributory article I had written for www.chennaionline.com. Hope you enjoy reading this and do come back for more fun stuff...

- Vijayalakshmi Krishna & Soorya Krishna

Eternally in vogue

If you thought the saree was just another six yards of fabric, then think again! The saree is the only garment in the world to have been perpetually fashionable through the ages. Constantly reinvented and redesigned, the saree has always pushed the boundaries of fashion further and further.

This season, the saree comes in yet another new trend designed to appeal to the women of today. The latest in the world of sarees to look out for is a half and half design. Presented in two rich shades, one color on the top half of the saree and a different one on the bottom half or the pallu. This new design is available in Kancheepuram silks and cottons. With intricate designing on the entire saree or the pallu alone, these sarees come in contrasting colors.

Displayed along side is a silk saree woven in a horizontally divided design. The top half is plain olive green. The bottom half pallav and blouse is woven in zari with the age-old rudraksham design along with a simple border. The intricate rudraksham design is woven in a gold tread on a deep pink background and gives the saree a grand feel. The intricate rudraksham designs are woven in gold tread and give the saree a grand feel. Together the colors and designs become a perfect blend of tradition and culture in a modern trend.

Also in vogue this season are theme sarees. Available in a variety of shades these sarees are designed with prints or embroidery work that display a certain extract from various epics, legends and folklore. With the approaching monsoon, peacock colors and designs are the theme. These sarees are usually available in cotton and tussar with appliqué work, embroidery work or both on them. They also came in prints of natural dyes. These are either hand printed or block printed and depict popular themes like stories from the Ramayana or seasonal themes like peacocks dancing before the rains.

To add to this magic of the half and half designs are designer blouses. The concept of designer blouses has caught up fast with saree enthusiasts. These blouses are designed with heavy embroidery and print designs and come in a wide range of patterns, from floral prints to embroidered designs of peacocks and abstract patterns. The uniqueness of designer blouses is that they can be combined with a simple or plane saree to achieve a stunning look. Displayed in the picture is a deep pink zari strapless blouse with small hand printed floral designs and intricate embroidery work. This designer blouse is in contrast with the plain olive green of the top half of this saree and compliments the deep pink of the bottom half. Together the designer blouse and the saree create a unique, chic and sensual look. A similar look can be achieved by combining a simple and plain blouse with a half and half saree that has designs on both halves.

Fashion in ethnic wear is all about experimenting with new concepts. In the world of fashion, change is the only constant, but as far as the saree is concerned, the ethnic appeal of these 6 yards of fabric is still the top favorites among many Indian women, and will be so for a long time to come.

- Vijayalakshmi Krishna, Managing Partner - Aavaranaa

Aavaranaa is on facebook!!

Now we have yet another reason to celebrate, Aavaranaa, the ethnic saree boutique has now come to facebook! Having created a presence online, Aavaranaa is now looking forward to a lot of interactions with their patrons and other designers. The facebook page will also serve as a platform for people to interact with the designers of Aavaranaa and share ideas and suggestions. You can connect with Aavaranaa on facebook @ www.facebook.com

Facebook profile: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=1834632985&ref=profile

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/pages/Chennai-India/Aavaranaa-Boutique/87748143681

Summer ethnic wear for the college - goers

Summer this year round is all about vibrant colours, warm shades, floral designs and comfortable attire. Aavaranaa, the exclusive ethnic boutique in Alwarpet educates on how the youth can sport the trendiest of all looks every day to college. Simple clothing with just a dash of ethnicity speaks about Aavaranaa’s latest summer collection this year. So if you’re looking for something different than the common jeans and t-shirts, here’s an option for you. With a wide range of salwar suits to choose from and materials ranging from simple cottons to kota cotton, chiffon, and the elegant silks, Aavaranaa boasts of a collection of unique salwars for all occasions.

The zebra collection is worth mentioning here, an interesting collection inspired by zebra lines, the array of salwars here have a contrasting top and bottom, and come with a dupatta that sports two colors, one for the top and bottom along with the black & white zebra lines. Together, the colors and patterns form a very trendy dupatta which enhances the look of the salwar.

Whites are the ever trendy colour of summer and Aavaranaa introduces them with a twist! Made especially for the summer, these salwar suits come in shades like beige whites and creams with two-tone pants and a similar dupatta. These are good choices for daily wear in summer as the colours are pastel and bright at the same time. Available in lights colours of baby pink and light blue, the collection is hip and sensual.

Also available at the store are kalamkari appliqués and a neckline collection. The kalamkari appliqué salwar sets are for the dressier occasions in summer. These come in slightly earthy shades like maroon, earthy green and orange. These salwars have hand painted kalamkari motifs appliquéd on cotton depicting various designs and extracts from various epics, a truly Indian collection. On the other hand, the neckline collection boasts of exquisitely designed necklines on a plain or simple designed salwar with a block printed bottom and dupatta.

Aavaranaa also houses an Organdy Colors collection. Organdy suits are rich ones and quite apt for festivities. Contrary to what most people think, an Organdy is easy to maintain. They come with inner linings and when washed without starch, the Organdy suits turn as soft as cotton. These suits usually have small sparkles of mirror that provide a soft but rich look. Organdy salwars come in unusual combos like khakhi and majenta, yellow and beige, purple and black and similar shades.

Among all the ethnic attire, salwars are the most comfortable during summer as they are not heavy and can breathe easily keeping you dry all day round. Youngsters often prefer a salwar when it comes to ethnic attire as they are easy to pull on and carry off and can be just as stylish as a sarees. Besides, they often find salwars easier to manage. So shed those jeans and t-shirts and go ethnic today, the Aavaranaa way!

Contributed by Aavaranaa Boutique, No. 15th, Ashoka Street, Alwarpet, Chennai. Ph # +91 44 24988292