There are many problems and solutions associated with sari pleating for some folks. Personally, I find that it’s a very easy task if you just put your mind to it. It’s hard to understand how a woman can have fancy degrees and be highly “intelligent” but can’t make simple pleats. Where there is a will there is a way and all it takes is some effort.

However, there are many non-pleating required options such as lengha/ghagra saris, pre-pleated saris, automatic saris, and sari pleating tools! Lengha saris don’t have pleats and just require tucking. Pre-pleated saris have pleats sewn together and sometimes you can tell that they’re fake but sometimes you can’t.

Automatic saris are regular saris that you give to a tailor to pleat for you and add some clips and such so you don’t have to make the pleats every time. There are also sari pleating tools. They’re devices that you use to pleat saris. Will give more details on that another time!

Rashi, Gopi’s cousin and sister-in-law, in the new Star Plus serial Saathiya was always seen wearing Western clothes and never knew how to wear a sari. Now that she’s married her western wear is far from appropriate! So she was bound to wear a sari but the question is how? Since she’s not traditional enough to pleat a sari the lengha sari came to her rescue! This sari combines both the grace of a traditional sari with the elegance of a lengha. Since they’ve become to popular, they are now easy to find as well as affordable. Here’s a sari very similar to one being worn by Rashi:

Lenghas began to replace saris as wedding wear. Some people choose to believe that saris are not elegant when in fact this is not true. Saris are very elegant and perfect for casual as well as formal and bridal wear. (more…)

These lengha saris are so unique! I’ve never seen anything like this before…

I love how one layer overlays the other. The top layer is shorter so to reveal the bottom layer and it consists of sheer fabric. Available in two popular shades.

The pleats are pre-made on the top layer.

Lengha saris were introduced last year but did not make it to popularity as much as expected. This is a strange thing since more and more girls have resorted to “automatic” and pre-pleated saris. (more…)

Rair is a truly rare collection that can be found online at Rair.in, HomeIndia.com, or CBazaar.com. Rair saris and lenghas are different and unique. They are unlike anything you’ve ever seen. (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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I really think the lengha-sari has come to the rescue for all of you out there who still tend to think that saris are impractical or difficult. Personally, I strongly believe that the beauty of a sari is in its pleats. The perfect pleats lend to a perfect sari. I know there are many people out there who act like they “pleat” their saris themselves but in fact, they wear pre-pleated “automatic saris.” If there is one thing every single Indian woman SHOULD know how to do is wear a sari. Now by that I don’t mean put on an automatic or lengha sari! I mean pleat it. It’s really not that hard. Takes just a few minutes. Nonetheless, the lengha sari is a perfect alternative. It will be gone out of style in a few years. Enjoy it while you can. It’s really come to the rescue for those who can’t seem to get on a real sari and it’s a much better alternative to an automatic sari! At least you’re not fooling anyone. With the automatic sari…you’re really just fooling yourself. Doesn’t mean I discourage it. People have their reasons but if there’s nothing wrong with you then why wouldn’t you want to learn an art that has been around for ages. If non-Indians can do it, surely Indians can!

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Wedding season is almost a month away but the invitations have already started pouring in. I’ve already set dates for two weddings in May, (more…)

Brides! The wait is over! There’s been a long debate; brides have been debating and still do between wearing a lengha or a sari on their wedding day. Both are traditional and elegant. Lenghas tend to be the winner among most brides. Perhaps because they’re flowing and the wide ghagra is perfect for pictures but saris are elegant in themselves. With the popularity of the lengha sari it is the perfect choice for brides. The beauty and grace of a sari combined with the elegance and popularity of the lengha come together for an ideal bridal wear. What more could you want. Personally, it wouldn’t be my wedding day choice because it’s too trendy but it’s not overly trendy and is perfect for many of those confused brides out there. Would you wear one on your wedding day?

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If you’ve been following my blog you’ll know that I was debating as to what to wear last night. What would be most appropriate for the occasion…my new, stylish, and trendy lengha-sari with eye-catching colors and sparkling designs or my eggplant, traditional party-wear in pure crepe silk embellished with kundan embroidery. Now, though I love both, I wanted to wear the lengha-sari. It’s so new and “in” right now plus for many it’s something they’ve never seen or heard of before. Now the dilemma was that I felt I would be a bit overdressed for the occasion. At least some would think so. Finally, I decided why should I care. It’s important to be confident in oneself. It’s important to do what makes YOU happy and who cares what the world thinks. The world is full of jealous and ignorant people who know nothing except hatred and criticizing. Sometimes we tend to fall into their traps and not appear in public the way we really want to. I must say, though, I’m quite proud of myself for overcoming this. I’ve done it once so now I can do it again and much more confidently!

And yes, if you’re wondering I may have been overdressed in the eyes of some people but in my eyes they were the ones under-dressed! After all, these types of things are merely just nothing but opinions. However, the best part of the evening was being the best dressed and to me that feels great. Sometimes getting too much “attention” can be annoying or uncomfortable but in the end it can also be pleasant and rewarding. You see, suddenly everyone wanted to talk to me and be my friend. Random people who never noticed me before in the same crowd started walking up to me and introducing themselves. They all wanted to know who I am and comment on my sari. Now I hate to brag but I didn’t mind that bit of extra attention. So the moral of my story isn’t really anything to do with the lengha-sari but more so about being confident in who you are and appearing in front of others as yourself. You may think it will have a negative affect but you never know…you could make new friends and it really doesn’t hurt to get notice. If you respect yourself and your culture then others will also respect you!

If you have any interesting or similar story, please feel free to share!

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As wedding season comes closer, I begin to wonder. What will I wear? It’s not a matter of not having enough clothes but more so of what to wear when and matching jewelry and accessories. The usual dilemma of course. The biggest problem I encounter is whether I will be overdressed. In my opinion, of course not! There is no such thing to as being overdressed for a wedding. I will obviously be appropriately dressed. Then what’s the bigger problem? Well, even though I will be appropriately dressed for the occasion, everyone else will be underdressed! That poses a huge problem and threat because if everyone else is underdressed then that does make me overdressed. Doesn’t it? Ok, so I’m obviously feeling a bit threatened here. Now is it my fault that people are cheap and don’t want to go buy nice things for themselves? Or, is it my fault that they don’t own anything decent? Or that they have bad taste! What’s wrong with people I say. Is it just not “in” anymore to deck out. Or maybe people are too overoccupied with matching jewelry and shoes and makeup that they no longer actually pay attention to the fabric they are wrapping themselves in. Only time will tell what will become of our culture.

Give it a thought! In the meantime, I must go decide what to wear to tonight’s big event I’m thinking of my new lengha sari. The colors are bright and the embroidery sparkles. I may even settle for a classic partywear in eggplant with kundan work and a pricetag worth even more. What do you suggest?

Spring into fashion this year with bright colors, new looks, and regal outfits. Don’t just stick to pastels. Brighter hues will carry you into the summer and ready for wedding season which is right around the corner! This year there’s a craze for lenghas; lengha saris; and stylish, regal outfits. (more…)

A bride’s trosseau is her collection of clothes and jewelry that she takes with her from her parent’s home to her husband’s. (more…)

The Indian wardrobe is longer just Indian. Let’s face it, we all have a wide collection of Western clothes, accessories, and shoes. (more…)

A couple of months ago we introduced you to the Lengha Sari. Our fashion section has featured some of the latest styles and trendy lengha saris recently. The designs are overpouring and flooding the fashion scene. I was first introduced to the lengha sari at the end of September. At that time it was a mere newcomer. In fact, the most famous sari shop in my city only had a few designs. It was practically unseen online but in the last couple of months this has drastically changed. Lengha saris are pouring off the shelves and easily available on the web. Sure, they come with a price tag. I recommend, checking Little India before shopping online if you’re looking for a decent price. If you wish to splurge, feel free to take a look online. The designs are more intricate, the saris more fashionable, the colors more ravishing, and the choices endless. Either way you choose to shop be sure to get one and expect to pay no less than $200 if you’re lucky. It’s a perfect party wear piece. Trendy but not overly trendy. Remember, saris will never go out of style. Two of India’s most famous outfits fuse together to make this wonderful, long awaited masterpiece. Whether you’re an avid sari wearer or a newcomer; daring or traditional; you will love the lengha sari.

The year is almost over! What better way to end the year then in style. Now is the perfect time to stock up on the latest trends that will not only (more…)

Dressing up for a wedding is always a fun and memorable experience even if the wedding is not your own. People tend to remember what you wore (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…)

The time has come to say goodbye to the butterfly pallu sari. Anyone who watches Saat Phere knows that Tara, Saloni’s sister-in-law, was always famous for her butterfly pallu saris and especially the way she draped the pallu towards the front. She practically made it famous. I was wrong to not buy one two years ago when the local sari shop owner insisted I do so! Instead, I settled for a much more classic design in eggplant with kundan work. A true classic, this style would never go out. It was supposed to last me ages. Anyone who is familiar with Indian television, however, knows its influence on the mind. Therefore, I sought to get one myself! To my dismay, this overly trendy sari was no longer in style. Will they ever come back? Who knows! Instead, I was introduced to the lengha sari. It is worn just like a sari but does not require any pleating. Perfect for those who want the look of a sari and easiness of a lengha. This two in one deal is sure to last at least a couple of years so if you follow trends then it’s really the way to go!

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