There are endless varieties of Indian sarees and so are the styles of draping. Regardless of what region or state we belong to, we have always seen draping a saree as a childhood fantasy. Standing in front of the mirror and playing with the pallu in myriad ways is so fascinating and a deeply treasured feel. Let’s relive the moment by experiencing the diverse and vibrant nature of the sarees as there are different styles of saree draping. From Bollywood’s Mumtaz to popular Bengali drape- we have covered it all.
1. Mumtaz Saree Draping
Do you remember the iconic orange saree of Mumtaz from the silver screen? Now along with ‘Tere Mere Pyar Ke Charche’, let’s do some charcha on the draping that millennial brides are really looking forward to embracing and experimenting with. The draping remains one of the most stylish and admired beauty for its glamorous and funky avatar. All Bollywood lovers at heart must have wished to try the draping atleast once in their lifetime. So, what’s the wait? Discover the drape right away!
- Step 1: Tuck the inner edge of your saree towards the right of your navel, but only slightly. Tuck the rest of the saree into your petticoat but at the left side this time.
- Step 2: Make sure the pallu is long enough, measure it roughly with your arm first. Then, take the saree behind your back from the left side, bringing it to the front from the right.
- Step 3: Now, fling the pallu over your shoulder to allow more space to work on the draping.
- Step 4: Once this is done, begin pleating the rest of the saree into 5 or a maximum of 6-inch pleats. Do this as precisely as you can!
- Step 5: In one swift movement, tuck the entire bunch of pleats into your petticoat and don’t forget to secure it firmly using a pin or a strong waistband.
- Step 6: Now, take your pallu from the left to the right once, eventually wrapping it over your left shoulder!
2. Nivi Style Saree Draping
The style is no longer considered regional and is worn by women across different states and not just Andhra Pradesh. The style has carved a niche for itself for its aesthetic appeal and adaptability and is a common style for silk sarees. The Nivi style of draping is pure goals and creative inspiration for women and brides who are willing to experiment and have fun. The culturally rich tradition piques every woman’s interest as it is quite easy to pull off! Here is how!
- Step 1: Slip into a petticoat. Then, go from left to right, tucking the saree into the waistband while also ensuring that it falls around your feet perfectly. You shouldn’t tuck away too much or too little fabric; just the right amount.
- Step 2: Wrap it once around your lower body completely.
- Step 3: Make even pleats out of the short length of the pallu, gather them and fling them over your left shoulder. Secure the pallu on the shoulder with a safety pin or a saree pin. If you don’t wish to fasten it at the shoulder, you can just let it fall over your arm.
- Step 4: Now, just gather the rest of the saree and again form even pleats. Expect to get around 7 to 8 pleats but that is highly subjective to the fabric length. Secure these pleats with a couple of safety pins
3. Gol Saree Draping
Gol saree draping style depicts the style of a Parsi culture. They use georgette or light chiffon saree for festive occasions. The veil comes from behind, draped over the blouse and the hem of the pallu is tucked at the side waist. The pallu of Parsi sarees holds beautiful patterns and designs as the entire look is visible on the front. The beautiful folds cascading around torso makes a fashion statement for Parsi women and Parsi style of draping the sarees.
- Step 1: Wrap the inner end of the saree around your waist over the petticoat.
- Step 2: Tuck it at the right side of your navel, into the waistband of your petticoat.
- Step 3: Work anticlockwise, and bring the outer edge of the fabric around your waist. Then, hold firmly with your right hand.
- Step 4: Throw the inner edge over your right shoulder but from the back. This should form a V below the knee. Proceed to make pleats of the remaining saree.
- Step 5: Tuck the saree at the centre of your waist, leaving some portions untucked at the left. Hold the outer end in place with a brooch pinned on the right shoulder.
4. Bengali Saree Draping
It is not very easy to wear a Bengali saree. However, the famous red and white saree of the West Bengal state is considered very auspicious, especially during the Durga Puja and other Bengali festivals. The white and red border sarees are often called laal-par sarees in that region. Well, there are various designs and patterns including florals, plaids, leaves and abstract that showcases Bengali saree draping style. Here is your guide to becoming a Bengali beauty.
- Step 1: Start by tucking the saree slightly above your navel. Then, around your waist in a complete circle, tucking it firmly in the process. From the right, come back to the starting point.
- Step 2: Now, simply bring the remaining fabric of the saree towards your left side but this time, you don’t have to come back full circle. Just make one fold and tuck the saree near your lower back, towards the left.
- Step 3: Make use of both of your hands to hold the box pleats in place, and then go ahead and stiffen the front of your saree ensuring it is flat.
- Step 4: The remaining saree can be taken to your right side. Aim at crossing the folds on your front and take the fabric towards your back through the right, finishing by tucking it in near your waist.
5. Nauvari Saree Draping
The beautiful, vibrant nauvari sarees seen on Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone in Bajirao mastani still have our hearts. This saree is the staple drape of Maharashtrians, especially for the festivities and here’s how you can give it a try. Speaks volume about strong and independent women of Maharashtra. Unusual looks like it is worn around the legs like a dhoti and upper half like normal saree. Easy leg movements and the dress accentuates a woman’s curve and every step she takes. If you are impressed, here is how you can imitate the style of the stars.
- Step 1: Start with making pleats on the pallu and pin them with 1.2m length.
- Step 2: With the inner section of the saree wrapped around your waist at the back, bring the other end forward to the right the side and tie a firm knot.
- Step 3: The Pallu needs to be draped from left to back and once again brought to the front. Place it and pin it at the left shoulder roughly.
- Step 4: After having adjusted the front drape border, wrap around and tuck on the left side. This will form a front loop which is for the skirt pleats.
- Step 5: Fold the border so it turns up on the right side, and make pleats here. Then, secure and tuck it in the waistband at the back. Now all you have to do is adjust the front pleats where the outer border will be a cowl around the mid-waist section.
6. Dhoti Style Saree Draping
Dhoti sarees are all the rage among celebrities and the fans are surely taking notes. Be it mehendi, sangeet, haldi or even wedding day events, girls and bridesmaids are flaunting their quirky styles in an experimental dhoti saree. Looking like a Patiala or dhoti, the trend looks uber cool and chic. Traditionally, dhoti was a bottom wear among men but now it has emerged with a modern twist and is widely popular for saree draping style as well. Here is the step by step guide for beginners who think saree draping in dhoti style is an unthinkable wonder.
- Step 1- Fold the saree to your waist like a usual saree. Leave 1,5 metre fabric free from the left side. Pick the longer side and drape it around from left side to the front again.
- Step 2- Pin the saree together, where the right overlaps the left edge. Take pallu pleats width-wise and pull them to the left shoulder and pin it. Pull the inner edge border, pin at the back waist and gather pleats across. Take front pleats across the bodice and wrap around hips bringing it to the front centre.
- Step 3- Spread pleats at the hip and gather again to pin them at the centre leg. Now take the 1,5 metres approx. fabric that was left loose and make pleats on a width-wise section so that the border faces the front. Take out pleats from between the legs and pull up to front from the back. Tuck at centre back.
- Step 4- Pull the loop cowl in-front out and make pleats on the lengthwise side neatly. Now, tuck pleats on centre waist and adjust the cowl and pleats properly where required.
7. Palazzo Saree Draping
If you are fashion forward women, you certainly cannot remain away from the charm of a new and stylish palazzo saree. One can give their saree the most flamboyant look by adding by trying an innovation with their saree. Your existing saree can look like a sharara or a palazzo after the unique draping style. Isn’t it an added wonder to an already mesmerizing and magical nine-yard wonder? We unfold the magic by guiding you for the draping method.
- Step 1- You can take a very long dupatta or saree to turn into a sharara or palazzo saree style. Flared petticoat, skirt or palazzo has to be taken. Take the end of the saree or long dupatta, tuck it at a corner, take the other end from back and get it to the front.
- Step 2- Even the fabric into pleats which are not too broad and not too thin and just drape on the left shoulder, the way we drape a usual saree palla.
- Step 3- Leave the palla hanging and you can add a belt to complete the whole look. This would keep the saree in place and don’t tuck in the back of the pallu and this completes your palazzo or flared saree look.
8. Scarf Style Saree Draping
Styling a saree like a scarf would create an offbeat ethnic look. The scarf style would offer a stunning, suave or classic look for your casual and office events. If you are in a mood to experiment, you can follow these easy steps to give a trendy twist to your regular saree. The style makes you look different and also adds a western touch to your ethnic wear. The style is said to be perfect for the winter season.
- Step 1- Just wear your saree like you usually do. Now hold the loose end of the saree- basically the pallu around your neck.
- Step 2– Hold and wrap the pallu like a stole and scarf round your neck to give it a fashion twist. In this case you can keep the pallu slightly longer to achieve the perfect look.
- Step 3- You can adjust the pallu in various forms. You can either spread it, keep it neat or arrange it in pleats again; the choice is yours. As it falls on your neck and comes to the front, it would give a vision of a stole or scarf tied around the neck.
- Step 4- You can pin it up, use a belt if the pallu is very long or add a jacket to keep the pallu fixed at one place.
9. Contemporary Saree Draping
Off-late, many innovative saree draping styles are coming into focus. That’s because the need to reinvent the saree has always been on the mind of fashionistas. For saree styling for office, farewell, the Indo-western saree can be a pretty choice. Check out the steps to learn how to wear saree in modern style.
- Step-1– Wear a shirt blouse. A peplum top with a smart collar or crop top could keep you picture perfect on a great day in the office.
- Step 2- A halter neck blouse or a crop top could be a hip choice to go with your choice of saree fabric.
- Step 3- Your pallu could be placed to the side when you’re doing up your saree. The pallu could also be draped around the neck. In another move, you pallu could be draped from the back and can fall vertically on the blouse. A belt can add to the detailing.
10. Back Pleat Saree Draping
Yes, you are reading it correctly and this is exactly an opposite way of draping the saree. The back-side pleat is a method that takes the pleats at the back. Isn’t it like breaking the norms? Let’s experiment and check how the drape is inspiring and impressing modern women. The fashion which is uncommon has always inspired women for ages. It’s time to break the regular genre and take you saree draping game a notch higher. Here is how you can do it perfectly by following the simple steps.
- Step 1- Begin from the plain end, cover up the belly button and tuck in from that side. Now, complete the round from behind until you reach the first spot where you started. Usually we tuck it at the front. But for back pleats tuck it at the centre back.
- Step 2- Pull the saree to the back and make pleats of the size (calculating distance from forefinger to your thumb).
- Step-3- Depending on the material of your saree, make 5-7 pleats. Now, put the pleats into a petticoat and add a safety pin on the back side of your waist to secure it. This way, your saree will stay intact when you move or jump around.
- Step-4- When all this is done, it’s time to divert your attention towards ‘Pallu’. You have two options to style it- pleat it together or let it flow. For a floating look, put the pallu on the left side of your shoulder and attach a pin to secure it. To complete the look, leave the pallu until the end or hold it at your forearm.
- Step 5- To rock a pleated look, you have to design vertical pleats (5-6 inches for back) with the border being the first. To make this happen, put the pallu from under your right arm. After this, continue down the breadth of the saree. Connect a pin to the left side of your shoulder, with at least one meter left. A drift from the usual front pleats will look interesting.
Experiment all you want with these timeless and classic styles of draping and there is no wrong or right way to do it. Just make sure your drapes are firm and polished – and you can celebrate without hassle and worries. Comfort is always the foremost keyword for ‘fashion’.
