Saree blouse styling ideas

One of my favourite things in the spring/summer is to wear all my cropped saree blouses and cholis in fun ways…

Photos: Vincent Boyer (Say hi on instagram @shape.photos)

These photos feature a Sambhalpuri ikat fabric blouse worn with Kalamkari hand block print palazzo pants plus handcrafted wedge heeled sandals as well as with sneakers and a handloom cotton saree woven in a village called Yeditha in the Mandapeta mandal in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.

I posted a photo on my instagram last week when I wore the blouse with the Kalamkari flared pants and got a whole bunch of DMs asking me questions on the hows and whys of wearing saree blouses with anything other than sarees.

I have spoken about mixing fabrics and patterns being great fun when styling saree blouses in eclectic ways with basics other than the six or nine yards, along with some pairing ideas in a previous post here.

I totally believe that traditional saree blouses make the best crop tops and have said as much in an old blog post from four years ago here. In this post I want to talk about the little tips and tricks up my sleeve that make it easy to wear saree blouses in multiple ways:

1. Going one (or more) size/s up: Oversize saree blouses are my jam, eschewing the norm when it comes to fits is something I love and I feel that non-tight tops are more fun to style with myriad separates.
2. Adding fun details: I love adding tiny extras to my blouses, interesting details like buttons, ties, ruffles etcetera, which give me a reason to wear them with a bunch of other items in my wardrobe and get more bang for my buck.
3. Keeping the back high: I detest deep backs on saree blouses because I like to be able to keep my fits a little looser than most and also because I like using my blouses as little shrugs or tie up tops.
4. Traditional patterned fabrics: I believe traditional fabrics like khadis, brocades or handblock prints or ikats or bandhanis or hand embroidered cholis lend themselves wonderfully to outfits that can take one from a brunch or a work day to the night out in town.
5. Eschewing ideas of the perfect body: I think one of the more important reasons I am able to wear saree blouses in fun ways is that I don’t care about how fit or unfit I look. The same goes for swimwear, I don’t have the flattest stomach or toned arms or a super cute butt and that doesn’t stop me from wearing whatever I feel like in ways that makes me happy.
6. Playing with flair and proportions: Playing with fit, flair, proportions and patterns keep things interesting when styling one’s outfits and the same applies to saree blouses.
7. Relaxed denims: I find flared and relaxed pants/ shorts lend themselves easier to styling with cropped blouses than skinnier fit bottoms and in general I find my drop-crotch jeans the most fun to wear. Case in point, bandhani choli with boyfriend jeans here.
8. Ignoring other people’s opinions: There are way too many of us who think it’s okay to have an opinion on what someone else is wearing and how they have styled it. I ignore other people’s ideas and pair whatever I like together. If I am totally feeling myself, I don’t let anyone else take that away from me.
9. Steering clear of trends: I prefer classic cuts, old world crafts, ethical producers and comfy fits, no trend can make me waver from things that work for my personality, needs and a sustainable lifestyle.

I hope if there is one thing you take away from this post it is that, when it comes to personal style, do whatever makes you happy. I know I do.

DIY: Saree into lehenga

An example of yardage that was worn as a saree for ages before moonlighting as a lehenga (or gaghra or chaniyo, depends what you prefer to call it) …

Photos: Vincent Boyer (Say hi on instagram @vincetravelbook)

Reusing, recycling or up cycling is a one way to breathe new life into sarees that have ceased to be used.

This is one of my favourite prints but I have a whole lot of kalamkari sarees in similar colours and had my tailor in India upcycle them into various things last month. This one in the photos is a DIY, made at home following the pattern from another India made one.

One can make the most of one’s six-yard beauties by repurposing them into timeless pieces. It just takes a little bit of inspiration and a can-do attitude with generous helpings of not caring if the piece is not absolutely perfect!

This lehenga is a little uneven at the bottom, there is a lot that we could do better next time but I am ecstatic wearing it knowing that it was made at home and that’s what makes it perfect to me!

I wore it for an afternoon at the beach with a striped croptop, beat up sneakers and one of my many Wayuu Mochilla bags. I genuinely feel like there’s no such thing as having too many lehengas because they are versatile pieces that can be dressed up or down.

This particular piece for example can be worn casually with a tee to the beach, can be dressed up with a cute crop-top for brunch, I will be wearing it with bandhani during Navratri garba/ dandiya dance-athons, it can totally be wedding-appropriate with the right top, worn with a long kurta or anarkali with a bunch of jewellery would make it fancy-do friendly, or just wear the lehenga as a dress by tying it way high up and and so much more.

Cotton lehengas, even embroidered gaghras can be styled in myriad ways and it is a great way to repurpose sarees that one doesn’t reach for anymore.

Some of the ways I plan to wear this lehenga are listed below and I am always looking to add to this list:

1. With a white shirt and wedge heels
2. With a backless choli, heaps of beaded jewellery and mojris/juttis
3. With wedge heels, a fun bandhani blouse and saree
4. With a Kutchi embroidered choli, a tonne of chunky silver jewellery and Kolhapuri chappals
5. With a silk full sleeved blouse and sky-high heels
6. With another block print blouse, plain khadi saree and sneakers
7. With a bandhani dupatta worn as a cross body blouse
8. With a plain cotton long kurta and an oversize tote
9. With an anarkali and tonnes of fresh flowers
10. With a swimsuit top/ sports bra and fun jewellery

What are your favourite ways to upcycle sarees and what is your preferred way to style a lehenga?

Winter saree with a cardigan

Layering the winter saree with cardigans, sweaters and coats without adding bulk is all about playing with length and proportions …

 

Photos: Vincent Boyer (Say hi on instagram @vincetravelbook)

A handblock printed saree worn with a merino base layer, sweater and long waterfall cardigan, along with sheepskin insoles for my slip-ons all combined to ensure that my winter saree style was not only fun but comfortable.

Bundling up for the colder months and adding layers doesn’t have to add bulk! Cropped sweaters, chunky cable-knits, duster coats, waterfall cardigans, v-necks and striped crews to turtlenecks, oversized cardigans and merino base layers have all helped me continue wearing sarees as the temperatures drop. Examples here, here and here.

I have written posts about wearing sarees in the winter and staying warm here, draping the six yards in the snow here, I have worn it with jeans for winter here and about the unstitched cloth being the ultimate all weather garment here.

When it comes to dressing for the chillier months, it’s all about combinations. Knowing which silhouettes compliment each other and layering my favorite pieces means so many more outfit possibilities than most people can imagine.

A chic knit or the right jacket is the perfect way to upgrade an outfit for the chilly weather as one braves the elements. From bright turtlenecks to patterned pullovers to leather and denim jackets, I’ve rounded up my favourite winter wear that work as wonderful stand-ins for saree blouses while battling a nip in the air.

Sweatshirts: Fleece lined sweatshirts by themselves or over merino base layers work wonderfully with sarees in autumn/winter. Case in point here.

Cropped sweaters: I love wearing my stash of cropped wool sweaters with interesting sleeve details with my six yards and remain forever on the lookout for a perfect vintage piece with fun buttons. A previous example here.

Long cardigans: Wool cardigans of varied lengths make for interesting layers during the colder months. Streamlined or bulky, I love these on their own or under jackets to add dimention to my outfits while staying toasty.

I have a fun collection of duster cardigans in brights as well as neutrals to have fun styling stuff in the winters.

Waterfall cardigans: I love flowy silhouettes, fluid lines and slouchy styling that truly convey the laid back, touseled vibe I like. Knits with interesting details in the front combined with a scarf fashioned out of my pallu is all kinds of fun.

Turtle neck sweaters: Oversize able knit turtle necks are my favourite for work or play and pair beautifully with the unsticthed fabric to create unique looks every single time!

Leather jackets: I believe that a worn-in leather jacket is a versatile piece that can be worn at all times of the day, for any occasion and in nearly every season.

It is a great piece for transitional dressing and layering saree blouses or sweaters in the fall with a leather jacket is the perfect way to tie my outfit together in a fun way.

Denim jacket: I have a thing for oversize, distressed denim. They are fantastic to grab and go plus work wonders with sarees for an understated, casual look.

Striped knits: Nautical or vibrant colour block lines, stripes go with a plethora of patterns and are a great way to elevate one’s cold weather saree style.

Merino, cashmere, mohair, lambswool and angora fabrics on their own or combined with silk keep me incredibly cosy when the temperatures drop.

Those of you who don’t think you could wear winter wear with sarees, think again. Not only is the seasonal combination a practical solution to the frost’s harsh bite, but it’s also all kinds of fun — and super easy to pull off.

Dirty sneakers, happy spirit

Exploring the wilderness, chasing waterfalls, connecting with Mother Nature wearing handcrafted sarees draped with wild abandon in dirty sneakers but with a happy spirit …

Photos: Vincent Boyer (Say hi on instagram @vincetravelbook)

On a quest to find an unspeakable treasure in the majestic splendour of the tropical rainforest…The vast canopy of green, the mist covered carpet of ferns and the jaw-dropping waterfalls adding to the mystique…The search for a magical, fantastical place where tranquility and peace reign.

I could go on and on about my love for natural water bodies and wilderness but suffice to say that they calm my frenzied mind and battered soul.

When I’m feeling anxious, stressed, lethargic, uninspired or just a bit low I get outdoors  to soak up fresh air and sunshine that work wonders for increasing my energy levels. Another thing that truly helps me feel centred and comfortable are hand crafted clothes using natural fabrics and dyes.

The saree in these photos is a Kalamkari from Andhra Pradesh worn with a handcrafted top from Jaipur. Both the fabrics have been hand blocked but the motifs used are typical of the region they were made in.

Hand block printing is a centuries old Indian art form that utilizes a hand carved teak wood block that is dipped in dye and stamped by hand onto cotton or silk. Like most crafts in the subcontinent this art form is also passed down through generations of skilled artisans who then carry the art forward.

In 2013, Pedana town and its neighbouring villages of Machilipatnam, Polavaram and Kappaladoddi in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh won the geographical indication (GI) tag for the production of Machilipatnam Kalamkari, which involves carving out intricate designs on wooden blocks, and using these to print patterns on fabric.

The process of hand blocked kalamkari fabrics involves a range of very exacting and time-consuming steps, one of which is to wash the fabric in the Krishna River to ensure that the colour lasts longer. According to local artisans the water in the river has the correct mineral composition required to help the colours develop and set.

The traditional Kalamkari dyeing process includes mordant dyeing, colour dyeing, and repeated washing, rinsing, bleaching and soaking. The ancient recipes for preparing dyes from a variety of roots, seeds, barks, crushed flowers and fruits are also complex.

Each color requires its own block, which is dipped into dye and pressed onto the fabric, as in other hand-block techniques. In tradtional Kalamkari fabrics even the background is produced by block printing instead of immersion dyeing.

Typically, one block prints a motif shape; a second block outlines this design; and a third block is stamped in between motifs to provide a background colour. Precise placement of all the blocks is crucial to present a seamless impression.

Every bit of hand block printed fabric tells a story of where it has originated. Its final colours are influenced by many factors like the minerals in the water and the weather conditions when it was made.

I cannot have enough of various kinds of of block print  fabric from different regions of India, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here are some previous posts featuring them.