How to Wear or Drape a Saree in its Most Common and Traditional Way

Posted by Rajni in General on 28. Jun 2010 | 241442010-06-27+19%3A11%3A07Rajni Comments

Before you start get the two essential parts of the attire ready that go along with the Saree, i.e matching petticoat (A waist-to-floor ‘a-line’ skirt like garment, tied tightly at the waist by a drawstring) and matching blouse (a close fitting short top with front or back opening that ends just below the bust. It can be short sleeved or sleeveless, with a variety of necklines). And some safety pins to ensure the saree well on its place.

Below is discussed a most common and traditional way of searing a saree.

Be ready to wear the saree by putting on matching petticoat and blouse. The petticoat should be tied tight enough to hold the saree well.

Step 1
Usually saree drapes right to left. Begin with the inner plain edge by tucking it into the petticoat about 2-3 inches right of the belly button. Make sure the bottom of the sari touches the floor. Now wrap the sari around once while tucking it continually, so it comes back in the front on the right hand side. While tucking it around make it leveled to the floor equally. This is the way you cover the whole petticoat once. You should not see the petticoat at this point.

Tip: Better to wear the saree with the heels (the footwear you gonna carry with it) on. Specially when they gonna be high heeled. This will indicate exactly how much material to tuck into the petticoat so the sari hits the top of your feet and levels the floor. It should not be too long or too short and should touch the floor slightly.

Step 2
Now from the tucked-in end, make pleats of equal width – about 7 to 10 pleats with the help of fingers of your right hand as shown in the video below and hold them together neatly so they fall straight and even. See that the pleats are piled on top of each other evenly. The lower edge of the pleats should also be even, just off the ground.

Tip: The gracefulness of the sari depends mainly on these pleats. To get more finished and even pleats especially in cotton sarees you can even iron the pleats area before wearing the saree and then tuck these ready pleats on.

Step 3
Turn the pleats towards the waist to the left of the navel and then tuck the bundle into the petticoat.

Tip: Tuck pleats about 2 inches towards the belly button from your first tuck (#1).

Step 4
Wrap the remaining sari around once more and bring it up under your right arm and over your left shoulder. Fold and arrange your shoulder pleats neatly before you place them over your shoulder. This portion should fall about knee level.

Tip: If you think the portion that is over your left shoulder is too long, let go of some of the material and add more pleats. (#2)

Here we are done. With matching accessories look like a complete diva wrapped around the saree.

Note: With gradual practice you can take the pallu on shoulder prior to making pleats so that you could alter the number of pleats with the rest of the saree.

For more help see the following video of How to Wear an Indian Saree.