Salute to the saree
The new fashionable way of wearing sarees seems to be with the right breast (er, under a blouse of course) showing.
In the days when sarees were worn without blouses, this versatile attire evolved to have pleats at both chest and waist level, to cover some parts of a woman's body considered inappropriate to expose.
Interesting to see minor changes. The "pallu" is no longer used to cover up one's upper body and shoulders. Indeed, with expensive silks, pallus with so much fancy zari and thread work are often... sadly ...pleated and pinned.
I personally prefer the pallu of a saree unpinned so that it forms a flowing, graceful line. With a V-shaped part, pulled around the body at the back, it shows off the wonderful gold/ thread/ bead embroidery.
However, in spite of minor changes, this wonderful, unstitched garment (well, before falls and tassels are added) remains the same. Designers (eg Zandra Rhodes) have tried changes...but the saree remains eternal.
Perhaps the flowing material of the 6-yard version is more impractical than the workwoman-like 9-yard version. But as a graceful, alluring garment (which can also successfully hide many body imperfections) it's hard to beat.
My salute to this enduring item of apparel, which comes in so many weaves, originating from so many places!
Saree for the long post, but I had to say it!
Here's my daughter (extreme left) who pioneered the Saree Run in Bangalore, to prove that what one wears should not hinder what one wants to do. She designed this unique kind of drape herself.
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