Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Wedding Sarees , Bridal sarees

The wedding sari or Bridal sari is given a lot of importance in India. Indian Saris come in different fabrics from cotton to silk, from georgettes to crapes. Jewellery obviously highlights the look of the bride but the wedding saree is given a lot of emphasis. In India there is no greater event in a family than a wedding.


This allows you to explore and also create a new idea each time. Weddings are also about pujas and here one could go for the simple but rich cotton saris that have the exquisite work in the border with matching blouses. One should use a comfortable neck length and a mid back which can be conservative or deep again depending on the occasion. If it is mandatory for you to use the pallu over your head then keep the pleats arranged and hairstyle convenient so that the look is maintained.

Apart from the traditional prints and weaves, nowadays designers are creating fresh and innovative designs. They also are altering the way the Indian saree is draped over the shoulder. It all depends on the kind of work done on what is known as the ‘palav’ – this is that part of the saree, which is thrown over the shoulder.

Today saris have a lot of work done on them. Zari, embroidery, organza, zardosy, sequence, cut work, mirror work, patchwork, pearl work, kasab, kundan, are all different kinds of work, which beautify the sari.

Shaina.N.C. is a well known designer today, there is so much demand for her attractive and redefined saris.

In India some professionals offer Bridal Trousseau Packing services for Indian bridal sarees. Here, wedding sarees & other items of the wedding trousseau are neatly packed into suitcases & decorated.

Salwar Kameez

Indian dresses

always have a demand in the international fashion market because of its unique and outstanding styles and types of garments. While the saree is considered sensuous attire, the other commonly worn Indian garment is the salwar kameez.

This garment is essentially a three-piece attire consisting of:

-Salwar (bottom, or the pajama)

-Kameez (top, also known as kurta)

-Duppata (scarf

)

Generally the salwar kameez is long, going below the knees. It is straight and has two slits on either side. The salwar is flared with a horizontal band at the end. The duppata or scarf is rectangle in shape and worn in front with the sides falling at the back from over the shoulders. This is the basic description of what a salwar kameez usually is. However, there are modifications of this garment in terms of the length of the kameez.


Salwar kameez retains its feminine charm with newer appeal with designs each season. Corset pattern would be the ultimate design.

During a large earlier part of the 1900s, say between the 1920s to the 1960s the women usually wore a short kameez that was somewhere between the hip and the knee. They were generally made from cotton or khadi (jute). Actually the fit resembled that of a long shirt. The difference being that it would be straight with a slit on either side. The salwar then was widely flared with a narrow horizontal band at the end.

Post 1970s the salwar kameez styles seemed to have expanded to uncountable numbers. In fact very rarely would one come across people wearing common designs and patterns. The variations were in the fabrics being used, the kind of work being done, as well as the cuts. Apart from the straight-cut kameez, there the frock styles of varying lengths – short, knee length, as well as those that flow down to the ankle.


Tradition always had an impact on Indian fashion. First came the Indian sari, which will always be a fashion statement, then came the ‘Indian salwaar kameez’ or Indian salwar khameez.

The salwar is preferred and is a favorite among the younger generation, as it is easier to carry out. Indian salwaar kameez is comfortable & fashion clothing for women and so it is worn at home & even outdoors. In other words, it is used for formal and casual occasions

Indian Fashion

Indian fashion varies from one village to another village, from one city to another city. India's fashion heritage is rich in tradition, vibrant in colors and prepossessing. Bold colors created by the inventive drapes of these textiles catches the imagination like no other contemporary clothing.

Indian Fashion - ancient fashion in India

Ancient Indian fashion garments generally used no stitching although Indians knew about sewing. Most clothes were ready to wear as soon as they left the loom. The traditional Indian Dhoti, the Scarf or Uttariya, and the popular Turban are still visible India and continue to be part of Indian fashion. Likewise, for women, the Dhoti or the Sari as the lower garments, combined with a Stanapatta forms the basic ensemble, and once again consists of garments that do not have to be stitched, the stanapatta being simply fastened in a knot at the back. And the Dhoti or the Sari worn covering both legs at the same time or, in the alternative, with one end of it passed between the legs and tucked at the back in the fashion that is still prevalent in large area of India. Indian men and women for these garments in the usually hot Indian climate. - dhoti when he speaks of 'turbans used for trousers', and a kaupina when he is speaking of 'a rag of two fingers' breadth bound over the loins.

Indian sari remains the traditional clothing of Indian women. Worn in varied styles, it is a long piece of flat cotton, silk or other fabric woven in different textures with different patterns. The sari has a lasting charm since it is not cut or tailored for a particular size.

This graceful feminine attire can also be worn in several ways and its manner of wearing as well as its color and texture are indicative of the status, age, occupation, region and religion of a woman.

The tightly fitted, short blouse worn under a sari is called a choli. The choli evolved as a form of Indian clothing around the tenth century AD and the first cholis were only front covering; the back was always bare.

Another popular attire of women in Indian clothing is the Indian salwar-kameez. This popular Indian dress evolved as a comfortable and respectable garment for women in Kashmir and Punjab region, but is now immensely popular in all regions of India. Salwars are pyjama-like trousers drawn tightly in at the waist and the ankles. Over the salwars, women wear a long and loose tunic known as a kameez. One might occasionally come across women wearing a churidar instead of a salwar. A churidar is similar to the salwar but is tighter fitting at the hips, thighs and ankles. Over this, one might wear a collarless or mandarin-collar tunic called a kurta.

Though the majority of Indian women wear traditional Indian dresses, the men in India can be found in more conventional western clothing like shirts and trousers.

However, men in Indian villages are still more comfortable in traditional attire like kurtas, lungis, dhotis and pyjamas. Indian dresses & styles are marked by many variations, both religious and regional and one is likely to witness a plethora of colors, textures and styles in garments worn by the Indians.

Use of Gold in Indian Fashion: For this reason, some gold ornament is usually worn against the skin at all times. Indian Gold ornaments are popular because the metal is believed to have the power purify anything it touches.

Ornaments of gold and other metals, often combined with precious and semi-precious gems and beads, are popular with both men and women in India.

Traditionally, Indian ornaments had economic significance for women too. The ornaments given to her at her wedding constituted a daughter's inheritance from her father ( Dowry).

Customarily land and other property was divided among the sons, though this no longer holds true. In addition, a bride's ornaments were financial security throughout her life.

Ornaments of Indian Fashion :

Nose pin: More common than a nose ring, both are symbols of purity & marriage, though today many unmarried Indian girls wear this adornment.

Necklace: These are very popular fashion accessories across India amongst girls and women of all ages. Necklaces are made of a variety of materials, ranging from glass beads to gold and diamonds. One special necklace is the mangalasutra, worn only by married Indian women. It is the Indian equivalent of the western wedding ring. Traditionally a woman wore it during her wedding ceremony and took it off only if her husband died.

Bangles: Worn on the wrist, bangles are believed to be protective bands and women always wore them as symbolic guards over their husbands. As with other ornaments, bangles today are worn by women of all ages all over India and are made of silver, gold, wood, glass, and plastic, among other materials.

Ear rings: Rings, studs and other ornaments worn in the ears are popular all over the country. In fact, a girl's ears are usually pierced before her first birthday.

Other important ornaments are finger rings, toe rings and anklets. Rings for the fingers are again, of various materials and designs and worn by unmarried and married women. Since the ring has become a common adornment, it is no longer considered a symbol in Indian marriages.

However, toe rings and anklets are still worn mostly by married women. Ornaments for the feet are usually made of silver because gold, being a 'pure' metal, was not supposed to be worn on the feet. This privilege was given only to women of royal Indian families.

In addition to these ornaments is the 'mangatika' or 'tikli'. This ornament, worn at the top of the forehead in the parting of the hair, is usually a small pendant on the end of a chain that is clasped to the hair. Although traditionally this ornament was also worn as a symbol of marriage, today it is not so commonly worn even by married women.

Kajal or Eyeliner : From the time a child is six days old, its mother applies kajal to its eyes and also a small black dot on the forehead to mar the child's beauty. This 'imperfection' is said to protect from evil.

Sindoor : dot on forehead of woman indicating married status of Indian Women, power, protection for her husband. It is applied by the husband as part of wedding ceremony.