saree

Chanda Bisht shares her traditional and modern takes

everyday style, fashion

I rarely wear a saree but I think it is one of the most graceful garments ever. I love the easy drape of this chiffon Jaipur lehriya, paired with a pink Banarasi brocade blouse. On my wrist the traditional Kumaoni ponchi bracelet.

This dress from M&S is a simple sheath that has a flattering fit, and is easy day wear. I pair it with a bright pop of colour in my handbag.

Another comfort look is denim and black. A denim jacket from Only, with my regular jeans and a black top, worn with sneakers. Perfect for a busy day out and about.

(Chanda Bisht is a former education professional, now settled in Gurgaon.)

Educationist Avnita Bir shares her preferred style statements

everyday style, fashion

Dresses. Long or short; flowing or crisp. I love them all. The little girl in me, fed on fairy tales, surfaces when I don a long flowing gown. A shorter knee-length dress, worn with high heels, feels more professional, efficient and brings a crispness to my day.

Blue jeans, Tee and Polo jacket. My all-time favorite. This look is natural, comfortable and my most sported. The Polo jacket gives it a style statement and the blue jeans keep me fit.

Saree. The quintessential grace that a saree brings to a woman, making her feel soft, sexy and complete. I wear this look occasionally as I feel a saree must be worn with an attitude to do it justice. Special occasions like school events will see me making that extra effort.

Six yards of draping…

fashion

Let me be the first to admit that sarees terrify me. I have a constant fear that I will trip up, smash my nose in, and go through the rest of my life looking like an ex-pugilist. Or that the drape will suddenly unravel in public no matter how many of the dratted safety pins I put into them, risking injury and bleeding if they ever do open up and pierce skin. The few occasions I’ve worn sarees in public, I’ve been most uncomfortable with the tucking, the pleats, the pallu. This, I realise, is so ironic because my mother wore a saree everyday of her working life, and I remember her taking barely five minutes in the morning to perfectly drape and pin her starched cottons, and impeccably pleated at that.

I also don’t have any sarees, never buy any for myself, and most of what I wear are filched off my mother in law and sisters in law. One of my resolutions though, for 2019 is to get into more ethnic wear, and sarees are one of the things I need to master. Can’t be heading into my 50s and not knowing how to drape a saree myself yet!

What is your saree story?