Would you dare to dress like a model? Pull off sari drape never seen before? Out do the bride at her own wedding!? Or even be “overdressed.” There are not many daring women out there but there are a few. Thanks to these trendsetters who give us new styles and set highly fashionable trends. Being daring creates a huge impact on society. Would you rather be a leader or a follower? We want to know, how daring are you? Are you a trendsetter? A fashionista? Or, do you prefer to stay in the background? Share your thoughts.

WOULD YOU WEAR THIS??

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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Bollywood, the Indian film industry, means more to Indians than Hollywood does to the Americans. It has always been an integral part of our lives, country, and culture. (more…)

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…)

Gujarat is situated on the western part of the Indian sub-continent. It derives its name from Gujaratta, which means the land of the Gurjars. (more…)

Look around your home and whether you are Indian or not it’s highly likely that your home has some or something Indian in it! Whether it’s basmati rice, a made in India tunic, or even a pillow; India is everywhere (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…)

With the coming of the new year comes the need for elegant, glamorous, and trendy evening wear. (more…)

The New Year is just days away. With 2009, it’s time for some changes. New beginnings, new articles, new fashion trends, and a NEW Arzoo Mag. Watch for the new and improved Arzoo Mag starting January 1st, which will feature more BLOGS!, better articles, new writers, tons of new fashion, and guides to get you going for the whole year. Our biggest section, WEDDING, will be equipped with great advice and planning for the wedding season. Here’s a sneak peak…

Fashion Forward for Spring and Summer. Featuring our Desert Safari Collection…right in time for the warmer months. Sophisticated cotton saris. Trendier churidars. Loads of new recipes. January’s Food Section: Endless Biryanis. Beauty Secrets of the Stars! Bollywood’s all new releases. Will Bollywood improve in 2009 to make up for it’s 2008 loss? Or, will it stay the same? What new stars will be joining the industry next year? Complete Guides on Travelling to Gujarat and Rajasthan. More galleries and pictures. A look at our culture: traditions and customs and the history of it all. Plus…don’t miss our newest additions to the LIFESTYLE section featuring an Author of the Month for every month to come plus Book Reviews. Keep reading Arzoo Mag to answer all your questions and learn more!

Want to be a part of the Arzoo Team? Just contact us to join!

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…)

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…)

It may be widely justified that some decades ago women stopped wearing saris and opted in for the more “comfortable” salwar kameez. Who ever gave them the idea that a sari is not comfortable? Thousands of women, in India, have always worn saris and continue to do so quite comfortably. However, this urge to wear salwars was perhaps associated with the women working outside of the home movement. Yes, this brought huge change and with it the loss of traditional values and fundamentals. Salwar kameez, originally only worn by the people of Punjab and surrounding Northern areas, has now become the most common part of any woman’s wardrobe. The question yet to be answered is has it replaced the sari? Ofcourse not! It has not replaced the sari so much as empowered it or become more common. Perhaps for casual wear it is justifiable to say that it has, in fact, replaced the sari but only in certain age groups. Lifestyles have changed and with it fashion has always evolved. The true charm and gracefullness of a sari can never be replaced by the dull and boring salwar kameez!

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Over the years styles my have changed and designs may have come and gone but the everlasting sari has brought forth many new styles, drapes, and cholis. Ofcourse, the sari has evolved from what it once was to what it is now. The question, however, is what sari are you? A sari represents the woman wearing it. It should reflect oneself and personality. It is widely known that no sari is the same. Just a change in drape or fabric goes a long way. So, if you’re Gujarati and you drape your sari with the pallu in front then perhaps that indicates that you’re traditional. Same goes for the Bengali sari or any other drape; most of which have disappeared either completely or become unique to certain rural areas. The modern and most common style of wearing the sari has become a classic. Even though most women choose this style it does not make them all the same. In fact, if you cover your head with your pallu then chances are you are more conservative and religous. On the other hand if you dare to bare with backless cholis and sheer fabrics then perhaps you are too revealing or maybe seductive? Is the sari itself sexy or the way it’s worn? Remember, the sari says it all. Six yards of fabric wrapped around a woman reflect who she is. That’s what makes the sari so amazing and a style that will never go out. So, what sari are you?? Share your thoughts…

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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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Your culture and background plays an important role in deciding what you will wear on your wedding. It is also important that you feel comfortable in what you wear and it reflects your personality. Either way, it is (more…)

There are many different types of saris throughout India and over a hundred ways to drape them! Certain types of saris are very distinct to the region where they’re from. Others are more popular. Here are all the (more…)

Online shopping has become a popular trend over the past several years. However, when it comes to sari shopping we prefer to shop in person most of the time. (more…)