Well that’s not really a choice. Unless, you have some kind of disability you really should be pleating your sari and not looking for some kind of easier alternatives. In fact, there are various pleating tools out there (to be discussed later) that can help you pleat a sari the same way pins can help you hold a sari in place. Now that’s pretty cool. So, therefore, there is not excuse for not being able to pleat your own sari.

I am always offended when someone asks me if I have wrapped the sari myself or if it’s wrapped or “belted.” Why would you even bother wearing a sari if you’re not wrapping it. What is the point of wearing a sari then. That obviously says you are not comfortable in it and if that’s the case then perhaps you should wear something that you feel better about wearing.

The beauty and greatness about wearing a sari is being able to transform all those yards of fabric into an elegant and sophisticated dress suitable for any occasion. It’s an art that is represented through clothing. If you can’t wrap a sari then consider a lengha which is just as elegant and you can even buy a lengha that has pleats in it to make it look like a sari!

It’s so hard to find long sleeved lenghas! That says everything there is to say on the topic. If you get lucky you’ll come across one every now and then but then you may not even like it. Long sleeved sari blouses are in style right now but lenghas are leaning to the traditional. Perhaps if there were more of a demand for them they would be more widely available. I remember buying a lengha few years back and it came with a blouse piece so I could have my choli customized to my taste. However, the piece still wasn’t large enough for long sleeves so that was limiting. How often do you really wear a lengha anyway? There aren’t really simple ones out there. They are mostly for bridal or wedding wear. Perhaps if the lengha was popular as an every day dress then it would be available in more sleeve lengths and styles. What do you think?

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Good news for some people is that the fish-cut lengha is back in style! While the rest of us will pass on this trend some of us will take advantage (more…)

There are many different types of lenghas and their variations. Although lengha is the general term used there are many other uses referring (more…)

…that depends how you define a sari. A sari, as most of us know, is pleated with a pallu usually thrown over on of the shoulders. Now with the lengha sari and two-piece sari it makes one wonder what a sari really is. After much thought and consideration I’ve come to my own conclusion of what makes up a sari. Six to nine yards of free flowing fabric. Pleats. An attached pallu. This means that the “two-piece” sari is out of the question. I’m not sure I have yet understood its concept anyway. You mind as well say chaniya choli, lengha, ghagra choli. However, the lengha sari is a different story. It does have an attached pallu, several yards of free flowing fabric, yet no pleats. So I supposed it’s a halfway cross between a lengha and sari, hence the name. A real sari consists of pleats. So now comes a question, to be answered another day, how do we define the automatic sari?

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The choli, whether paired with your favorite sari or on its own, can be as simple or elaborate as you please. When traditional cholis come to mind we think of short length cholis with short sleeves and its variations. (more…)

With Diwali just a few weeks away now is the right time to get that perfect outfit if you haven’t already done so! This year, Diwali falls on October 28. If you can’t decide what to wear or just don’t know what’s in style at the moment, rest assured because we are here to help! Our ultimate what to wear on Diwali guide is here and we’re sure that you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for! (more…)

Lengha, ghagra, chaniya choli…or whatever you want to call it, is rarely worn around the house or to a dinner party or other small function. Right? When was that last time you cooked a meal in a chaniya choli? Try to recall the most recent time time you pranced around your house in a lengha? Never! This is the answer that brings us to the point being that the lengha has been reserved only for more lavish occasions such as weddings and festivals. But why? Ghararas, native to Lucknow, have close to disappeared from the planet or only reserved for brides. Sure, no one is saying to walk around everywhere you go in that lengha choli you received in your trosseau! Of course not! Then? All over Gujarat and Rajasthan women adorn themselves in vibrant chaniya cholis every day as they work in the fields or do housework. Then why don’t we? Perhaps there is an ongoing wait for someone to start this new trend by wearing lenghas on casual occasions as well. This brings us to the problem, which is probably the root of it all, that it is difficult to impossible to find a casual wear lengha! They just don’t make them anymore. Sad but true…the lengha will forever remain formal from now on.

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Choosing the right lengha style and color should not only depend on one’s personal taste but also on the type of figure and complexion you have. It is very important that (more…)