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.

Saree with a sweatshirt

A Jagatsinghpur saree worn with a sweatshirt to walk through a forest of ferns that led to an amazing isolated beach …

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

This particular type of saree is named after the tiny village in Odisha where they are woven. These single count cotton beauties are extremely budget friendly and easy to wear for extended periods of time.

Weaving in Jagatsingpur was introduced by crafts people from the neighbouring Bengal and therefore these sarees are a beautiful union of textile weaving techniques from both states.

I wore this saree in a drape with a criss-cross front and pleated back with an oft used comfy sweatshirt for a day out walking in the jungle by the coast and ended the afternoon with beers by the water.

I find being outdoors, away from people and in the midst of nature incredibly relaxing. It is my firm belief that getting away from city life even for a day is rejuvenating and I live for the moments spent soaking in the wonders of Mother Earth.

Its not like I always wear sarees for these mini getaways but when I do drape my six yards on adventures we try and snap a few photos.

We don’t plan shoots, pretty much all the photos on this and my other blog as well as both my instagram handles are candid shots of me going about my monkeying activities without a smidgen of makeup or conscious styling.

The images that you see are a result of a half decent camera, a partner in fun with a great eye and my inherent need to play with fabric. With work deadlines, my side hustles, family responsibilities and other activities, I have no time to plan professional shoots.

That’s also why I don’t have time to take pictures of myself cooking and lounging around at home or share saree of the day pictures. I want to share photos where handcrafted fabrics are worn to do things like hiking and mountain biking rather than house-hold chores because that is already being done by millions of women all over the world.

I am nocturnal and in the mornings getting to work on time is a priority over putting on a full face of makeup or taking photos of what I am wearing. I’ve been wearing sarees to work for ages, long before it became a hashtag and I’ve never seen the need to make a big deal about it.

I admire those who have the energy in the morning to layer on the foundation, contouring et all and take outfit photos. Although I do love those who share their work sarees online and one day I might be organised enough to take some pictures of my business outfits incorporating my six and nine yards. But until then I am going to share photos of my monkeying.

I have a certain aesthetic I prefer to look at and that’s the one I choose to share. My posts are more than just about sarees and creative drapes. I don’t share content that I think will attract engagement or followers. I don’t follow other saree aficiondoes unless they are doing something out of the box with the un-stitched fabric.

I am not looking for validation from people I don’t know. Both my blogs along with their social media presence are visual diaries primarily for myself and then for those who choose to derive something positive from them.

A lot of people assume I am on a permanent vacation based on the visuals I share online but I am actually hustling as hard as the next person. I just choose to spend my free time in stunning natural locales because I need that to recharge my batteries. It was a conscious preference live in a coastal city with slightly tropical weather that fulfills my need to be in close proximity to nature.

My requirement for the outdoors and jungles is so great that my home is full of plants, shells, driftwood and crystals. I prefer foliage to humans and my balconies are little tropical oases because I have devoted hours planting, caring and enjoying their existence.

It is not about luck, I have worked my butt off to give myself the life that I have and the life that I am building for myself. I acknowledge that I come from privilege but I also slog damn hard to realise my dreams.