It is no secret that sarees are associated with Indian culture, so as an Indian woman you will need to keep up with them as much as you can – it is what is expected. Just as the saree has been in existence for thousands of years, there are numerous variations it comes in, and a satin saree is among the easiest ways you can opt out of wearing a cotton saree while still staying in style.
There are many types of satin saree variants as well. There are also numerous draping styles, although the common view is that the south Indian women have the best styles. The aim of these draping styles is to showcase the beauty of the woman, so the better it is, the more attractive it looks – and it can go a long way to hiding imperfections. Therefore, it is important to acquire this skill as much as possible.
If you are not aware or sure of how to drape correctly and make your satin saree outfit look beautiful and classy, then you should continue to read on.
Things to note before you start draping
Before you begin the draping process, there are some basics you need to get right. These are:
- Always ensuring you have a petticoat, preferably of cotton material.
- Avoid satin or silk petticoats – the reason you choose cotton is because it will keep your saree in its proper place and avoid slipping.
- The petticoat should also be sufficiently tight to allow you to tuck the saree in properly. To check this, insert two fingers through the space that is between the petticoat and your navel. If it is too tight to let the fingers pass through, loosen it slightly, or tighten it slightly if you notice it is too easy to slide the fingers in.
- If you are planning on wearing your shoes, make sure to pleat the saree when you already have them on, since it will be easier to make more accurate adjustments when you do so.
Once you take care of these, put on the blouse.
Procedure on correct draping
Tucking of the pleats
Always start with the plain end of the garment. Tuck it inside from the centre of your body, and continue tucking it in until you make a circle and completely cover the petticoat with the saree.
You can then start making some pleats – just stick with a few – even as you hold the ones you have already made (make sure you hold them firmly). Tuck all the pleats towards the right sided direction, just under your navel.
Throughout the tucking in process, you should make sure the bottom of the saree is skimming the ground. In addition, always keep some loose fabric for the pleats as you tuck it in, and you can measure this through a simple way; keep the saree at arm length from your waist, then hold it away from you and tuck the other end. The aim is to create a loose loop, which will then be useful in the pleating process.
Note that this is a very important step, because the end look of the saree will depend on how you made the pleats.
Adjustment of the pleats
Once you are done tucking the beginning of the saree, continue the process until you reach the end of the sari edge. Arrange all of them neatly, and secure them in place using a safety pin. The border of the saree should always show up at the front though.
Since many satin sarees will have a decorative hem, ensure that the hem is facing outwards when you are tucking in the pleats. Additionally, avoid pulling up the saree too much above the ground – the end result will not be appealing.
Getting your pallu correct
The pallu, or ‘aanchal’ as it is also referred to, is the loose part of the saree that hangs out after you finish pleating, and it will go over your shoulder. It is also the decorative part of the saree, so all you need is holding it and hanging it over your left shoulder.
To drape it correctly, ensure you begin by putting it under the right arm and taking it towards your left shoulder.
You can pleat it if you want to, then secure it with some safety pins. However, make sure that the ironing on the saree is not in ruins by the end, since this will add to the charm of the saree. At most, just make two or three pleats, then fix them individually on your left shoulder as you make them. This will also prevent imperfections in your final look.
The finishing touches
The final steps will now involve covering the stomach and chest areas with the pleats, and ensuring they remain neat. You want to avoid showing too much skin at the end, since the saree is sensual enough to do that on its own.
Ensure that the saree border is completely visible when you finish draping it, as it is a decorative design. Therefore, you can give it a beautiful finish by pinning it up in a way that flaunts the design as well as covering your body and make you look graceful.
Mistakes you need to avoid
- Avoid showing to much curve – as we mentioned earlier, the saree is sensual enough on its own, so you want to minimize showing too much skin. Balance is important to maintain.
- Wearing wedges – these look very untidy with sarees, especially satin ones. Make sure you get proper heels.
- Tucking it too low – this will only make the look unbalanced and untidy, and you want to avoid that at all costs.
Final thoughts
Learning how to drape a satin saree is important to look beautiful and graceful, and also avoid the instance of you constantly checking it to ensure it looks okay. It will boost your confidence and get you plenty of praise in minimal time and without much effort. Therefore, do not just wear a top and a pair of pants when you get invited to an occasion – you would rather surprise everyone by showcasing your skills in draping satin sarees.