Handloom Saree Tips: How to Wear and Style: a blog about the best and famous ways to wear a saree

Congratulations on your decision to wear a handloom saree! Handloom sarees have been worn for centuries and are still a popular fashion choice today. To make sure you look your best in a saree, here are some helpful tips on how to wear and style it.

First, start with the blouse. Choose a blouse that complements the saree. If the saree is heavily embroidered or has bright colors, opt for a simpler, more muted blouse. If the saree is plain and simple, go for a more ornate or embellished blouse. Make sure the blouse fits well and is comfortable.

Next, drape the saree. Depending on the type of saree, there are different draping techniques. If you’re unsure how to drape it, look up tutorials online or ask a friend or family member who knows how to drape a saree.

Once you’ve draped the saree, you can style it with accessories. Some of the most popular accessories to wear with a saree include a belt, a necklace, earrings, bangles, and a clutch. Choose accessories that complement the saree and that make you feel confident.

1. Nauvari, Maharashtra: The word nauvari means nine yards, so this unique saree draping style’s name came from its length. Back in the day, Maharashtrian women wore this saree only in a few colours like green and blue, but it is now available in different colours with varied embroidery. This saree is draped like a dhoti, a lower garment worn by men, where one end is brought between the legs and inserted around the waistband to allow easy movement. It is also believed that this saree draping style came up during Maratha rule where women assisted the men in war. Therefore, this type of saree allows women to move freely and engage in physical activity. Maharashtrian women wear the Nauvari style saree along with accessories like thick gold jewellery and a bunch of flowers. It is worn by the bride in Maharashtrian weddings, during festivals like Gudi Padwa and while performing the regional folk dance lavani.

2. Gochi Kattu, Telangana: This saree draping style has a rural and rustic look. Originating from Telangana, Gochi Kattu is a saree draping style that belongs to working-class women. This style of saree draping is similar to the Nauvari as it is draped like a dhoti and allows women to work freely in the fields. Today women above 40, in rural areas in Siricilla region, Karimnagar district, Nizamabad and Adilabad districts are seen wearing this attire. The Gochi Kattu draping style of sarees requires a special type of saree called the navvar. They are made of cotton and come in various bright colours. This saree is worn by different women across castes and social strata and thereby has a sense of equality attached to it..

3. Atpoure Saree, West Bengal: Unlike usual Indian saree draping styles, the Atpoure style has the pallu on both shoulders instead of just one. This style uses a traditional Bengali saree that is traditionally white in colour with a thick red border. The pallu is on the left shoulder and taken from behind and draped on the right shoulder. Until only a few decades ago, and possibly even today in a few households, Bengali women, who are the head of the household, tied a bunch of keys on the end of the pallu on the right shoulder. These keys meant that she was a powerful woman. This style of draping a saree is accompanied by a bright, big, and round bindi.

4. Pavadai Dhavani: A traditional draping style belonging to Tamil households, the Pattu Pavadai is a half saree. It’s mostly worn by south Indian girls. Tamil Nadu is famous for its silk sarees sold in Kancheepuram, Thirubhuvanam, and Arani. Traditionally young girls wore the Pavadai Sattai which is a skirt and blouse, respectively. Older girls wore the Pavadai Dhavani, where along with the pavadai and sattai, another cloth, the dhavani, was draped around the upper body. Pattu is a special silk used in south India, and sarees made of this material are worn on special occasions like weddings and festivals. Pattu Pavadai Dhavani is a half saree made of this silk. The pavadai and dhavani have thick and bright borders and are woven with colours that contrast each other

5. Mekhela Chadar, Assam: The conventional Assamese saree draping style is worn only with Assamese handwoven sarees. These handloom sarees are a part of a tradition in Assamese families that is passed from mothers to daughters. There are two parts of this draping style, the mekhela, the bottom half that has pleats in a criss cross manner. The second part is the chadar that covers the torso, and is draped on the shoulder.

6. Madisaru, Tamil Nadu: Most commonly worn by women in Iyer and Iyengar communities, conventionally after marriage, during festivals and special occasions. In this style of saree draping women don’t wear a petticoat, because the saree is draped like a dhoti around the lower body and the upper half has pleats like a regular saree. The saree is knotted to keep it in position.

7. Nivi And Kappalu, Andhra Pradesh: Nivi is the most common style of wearing a saree today and has its roots in Andhra Pradesh. A more interesting saree draping style is the Kappulu. This draping style is unique in the sense that unlike most of the Indian traditional draping styles of sarees that drape the sarees from right to left, this is draped from left to right. The draping style is very stylish with the pallu on the right shoulder that you can let hang or wrap around your shoulder. Women in Kappulu caste still wear the saree in this style. The saree is pleated behind, and is draped around the body twice.

8. Seedha Pallu, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, And Odisha: Seedha Pallu is famous and liked by women across all ages. The pallu comes from behind over the right shoulder and is pinned on the waist near the left arm. This pattern is similar to the lehenga choli as the dupatta is also pinned in the same manner as the pallu. The Seedha Pallu draping style can also accommodate a veil in the drape. This saree allows free movements of the upper body and hands.

9. Coorgi Style, Karnataka: The Coorgi style drape is worn with a full-sleeved blouse. The saree has narrow pleats at the back. The Coorgi style saree also features in Hindu mythology in the tale of the sage Agastya and his wife Kaveri (the river). According to legend, Kaveri wanted to sacrifice herself and turn herself into a river to quench the thirst of her people. To prevent her from doing so, Agastya tried to stop her and in the ensuing tussle, pushed the pleats of her saree from the front to the back. Since then, Coorgi women followed this tradition and incorporated it in their saree draping style. Coorgi brides wear red and gold silk sarees in this style. The style also emerged to accommodate climbing the steep hills of the region.

10. Gol Saree, Parsi Community: This traditional Parsi drape is worn on festive occasions. The pallu is taken from the back and draped over the blouse such that it falls close to the hem of the saree. The pallu has intricate designs and embroidery that is displayed on the beautiful folds that cascade around the torso

11. Namboothiri, Kerala: This Kerala saree style stands out as it has no concept of pallu. The Namboothiri saree draping style is not seen as much in recent times, except during folk dances at festivals in Kerala. It was traditionally worn during Kerala’s new year, Vishu, and the harvest festival, Onam. The Settu Mundu and Kasuva draping styles are more popular, with a typical white saree with gold borders. But the Namboorthiri style is a two-piece saree, where the larger piece of cloth is inserted into the petticoat so the golden border is visible on the left and the smaller piece is tucked into the blouse.