Having a South Asian heritage, I have worn a sari quite a few times in my life. I’m not necessarily an expert, but as I’ve attended a fair number of weddings and family events recently, I’ve rounded up a few tips on how to wear a sari successfully, especially if it’s your first time!
Tie your Petticoat Tightly
In case you’re unfamiliar with the art of wearing a sari, a petticoat, or plain, solid colored, usually cotton petticoat is worn underneath the actual sari. The petticoat is essential to wearing the sari as it is what the sari is tucked into. That leads me to my first sari-wearing tip: tie your petticoat very tightly. If you want to ensure that your sari doesn’t end up falling off once you start moving around, you absolutely must tie your petticoat extremely tight, even to the point where it is slightly uncomfortable. I know that sounds a bit extreme, but trust me, if you plan on dancing in your sari or just moving around in general, you won’t regret it.
Wear Your Heels While Getting Dressed
This next tip only applies if you plan on wearing heels with your sari. As I only find myself wrapped in yards of fabric at special events, I usually am also wearing heels. If you are like me and plan on wearing heels with your sari, then I recommend you put on your shoes before you start draping your sari, and even before you put on your petticoat. However, if you are also like me, there is a high likelihood that those heels will come off once the dance floor opens, so do keep this in mind while deciding how low/high to wear your sari. You don’t want your sari riding up too high when you’re wearing your heels, but having it drag on the floor when your shoes come off is also no fun. Try to find a happy medium.
Pin Yourself In
When it comes to wearing a sari successfully, safety pins are your best friend. If you don’t already have a stash of safety pins, make sure to go out and buy some, in different sizes and colors (silver and gold) before your sari-wearing event. Even if you plan on sitting calmly while wearing your sari, being pinned in is key. I personally feel that by being having a few strategically placed safety pins, I feel much more comfortable in my sari.
Get a Helping Hand
If you can put a sari on yourself, I praise you. But if you’re not a superhuman, it helps to have someone there to help you with the whole process. If you can get someone to help you, it will make wrapping all that fabric much easier, not to mention all the pleats and pinning involved. I don’t actually know how to put one on myself, but thankfully my mom and/or skilled friends are always nearby to lend a helping hand, without whom I’d be completely lost. However, with everything else today, there are plenty of tutorials on YouTube that will walk you through all the steps, and with most other things, practice makes perfect!
Outfit Details
Sari – Frontier Heritage (LA location)
Heels –Valentino Rockstuds 100mm in Powder
Wearing a sari is no easy task, but hopefully with my tips can can make it a tad bit less difficult for you. While they do take a bit of work and effort, I love wearing saris to special events. It might look complicated and even difficult to wear one, but if you follow my simple tips, I am sure you can wear your sari with comfort and confidence! Let me know if you’ve ever worn a sari before, and if you have any other helpful tips and tricks!
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