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Fashionistas would
love to do it. Those who’ve tried it say it’s wonderful. Everyone
wants to know how. The experts seem to be clueless. “They make the
wearer look so slim and sexy,” says Kolkata-based designer Preeti
Jhawar who retails from designer stores like Ensemble in Mumbai, Bee,
Origins.
Delhi-based designer Anju Modi says , “I once demonstrated it on stage. It looks
good on the ramp. But...”
These designers are
discussing the latest style of draping the sari. Move over petticoats,
the quintessential feminine wear now has a new, masculine partner —
trousers. The ying and yang of dressing.
Yes, the hep crowd
no longer prefers draping the six yards over bulky petticoats. The
demure saree is now all set for a transformation, in keeping with the
busy lifestyle of the modern woman, for whom comfort matters as much
as classic chic.
So, the bulky
petticoat which for generations served the dual purpose of keeping the
saree tucked in and modesty, is being given the heave-ho. The place is
now being reserved for the trendy trousers. “It’s a trend and a major
one as socialites, models and just about everybody is now preferring
to wear trousers underneath the saree. Even chudidars are popular with
many,” says Shaina N C who showed the same at the Saree Drape in
Hyderabad last year. After experimenting with double length saree for
select clientele, the Mumbai-based designer seems to have voted for
this trend.
A comfortable
style, they all say, but then is it really? How would you deal with
the practical problem of taking it off if you have to visit the
restroom? Preeti is clueless about how. “God knows,” she says, “maybe
they could put a zipper or something...” Even Chintan, a Mumbai based
designer seems stumped. He guesses that a pre-stitched saree would be
the answer.
Besides extolling
the comfort value, Shaina too is unaware of the practical
difficulties. “Since you tuck the pleats into the trouser, you don’t
have to fear it falling off.” Right, but it still poses that practical
problem — can you strut around in a saree tucked into a trouser the
whole day long? Or is it just a glamour wear that you primp up in for
a few hours of exotica? Can you comfortably wear a saree over trousers
or chudidars and still perform all your activities?
When in doubt,
consult the experts. In this case, the original diva of fashion,
Shobhaa De, who long dispensed with the petticoat but didn’t replace
the bulky wear with the slimmer trousers. Shobhaa shimmered around at
high society dos, slim figure silhouetted in a saree and nothing else.
Just a plain old nada around the waist and lo, the saree stays in
place. Practicality meets glamour, 21st century style.
The ’90s woman
pushed the saree to the back of her cupboard as being too traditional
and impractical for the bustle of the work place, but the 21st century
woman is willing to give this symbol of traditional Indian beauty its
due place in the wardrobe. With modifications, to suit her needs. So
the petticoat, which is seen as too bulky, too restricting and just
too unglamorous is consigned to the back of the wardrobe. Just think
how it hides all the curves (of course, lard too). But if you take the
trouble to work out and have a well-toned figure, why hide it behind
yards of material? A trouser or chudidar beneath gives a far more
sexier and slimmer silhouette and makes you feel a part of the
glamorous set.
The six yards of
saree hasn’t had so much attention focussed on it since Zandra Rhodes
tried to westernise this quintessential Indian garment in the ’80s.
But now the saree is all set for another revival. In today’s world of
flux where the east blends seamlessly with the west, it is but natural
that the sari’s new partner is the trouser. Just think how much more
comfortable Vijayshanthi will now be executing all her stunts. Just
leap up and kick, secure in the knowledge that the trousers won’t trip
you. (Deccan Chronicle)
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