How to Dress in India: Information Jumbo Pack

How to Dress in India: Information Jumbo Pack General Information for Sari Blouse Measurements :
Name :
Blouse Measurements :
Inches
All measurements in :
A. Blouse Length
B. Chest / Bust (All Around)
C. Waist / Midrift / Below Bust (All
Around)
D. Shoulder
E. Armhole (All Around)
F. Sleeve Length
G. Sleeve Circumference(All Around)
Front Side of Blouse :
H. Front Neck Depth
I. Shoulder To Apex Point
Back Side of Blouse :
J. Back Neck Depth
Neck Design
Blouse Opening: FRONT hooks
ROUND
FRONT and BACK Views For traditional, modest sari blouse: Order the front hook closure so you can put it on yourself. Don’t be tempted to make the blouse come all the way to your waist; you won’t be able to properly wrap the sari. Don’t worry; you can still cover yourself by wrapping it modestly. The sari blouse fabric piece is usually attached to the sari and will be cut off and made into a matching blouse with identical borders at the sleeves and bottom of blouse. You can have it made in India for a FRACTION of the cost in the U.S. Make it a snug fit when you order. They leave extra fabric in the seam allowances if you ever need it let out. Also, ask to have a “fall,” a long cotton strip of fabric, hand sewn into the lower front hem of your sari to protect the fabric from catching and fraying. Order a sari petticoat as well; they’re usually one size fits all. Costs only a few of 2 dollars if you buy it in India. I pay about $8 apiece here in the States if it’s cotton, $9. if its silky polyester. Here are our dear friends Chandra** and Duli wearing their beautiful saris at the Pathway Agro Farm in India. How to Drape a Sari 1 Start wearing the sari by tucking its plain/upper end into the tight, drawstring petticoat (or a tight leather belt), at a position which is a little bit to the right of the navel. Make sure that the lower end of the sari should is touching the floor, and that the whole length of the sari comes on the left-­‐hand side. Now wrap the sari around yourself once, with the sari now coming back in the front, on your right side. The “fall” , the strip of cotton sewn in to protect the inner hem of the front of your sari, should be at the inside bottom edge as you begin to wrap the sari. 2. Make about 5 to 7 pleats of equal width of 5 inches, starting at the tucked-­‐in end. Gather the pleats together, neatly, ensuring that the lower edge of the pleats are even and just off the ground and that the pleats fall straight and evenly. A safety pin may be used to stop the pleats from scattering. 3 Neatly tuck the pleats into the petticoat, at the waist, slightly to the left of the navel, in such a manner that they open to your left. Tip: the pallu, or decorated end of the sari should also go over your left shoulder. 3. Drape the remaining fabric around yourself once more left to right, and bring it round your hips to the front, holding the top edge of the sari. 4. Slightly raise the remaining portion of the Sari on your back, bringing it up under the right arm and over the left shoulder so that the end of the Sari falls to about the level of your knees. The end portion thus draped, from the left shoulder onwards, is called the Pallav or the Pallu, and can be prevented from slipping off the shoulder, by fastening it at the shoulder to the blouse with a small safety pin. 4 General Advice on What to Wear in India Tips for Women
Men, wear anything you want. Just no shorts even though it will be hot. Microfiber “safari” pants are good as they are cool and dry
quickly. Look neat but don’t overdo it.
When wearing a sari, one thing to remember is, "pretend there is no shirt under the sari." That should guide you
on making sure your bosoms aren't “exposed.” They don’t care so much about seeing your bare belly, but it’s
bad form to show your ankles or an outline of your chest. To keep your undergarments from showing, as you're
making the final spiral wrap, bring it up high in the back to overlap the edge of your sari blouse hem. Put a
safety pin back there to keep it from slipping down. When you're through wrapping the sari according to the
chart you’re ready to throw the end of it over your left shoulder. But first pull it snugly across with the border
crossing the top of your chest. Pin securely to your bra on the outside, by the strap about where the strap meets
the bra. THEN throw it over your shoulder and (you may need help with this) put another pin behind your back
to keep it from sliding off your shoulder. You can then just let it hang (about to your knees or longer, unless you
feel like you want a bit more “sari security.” Then you can tuck the corner of the pallu (the decorated end of the
sari that hangs behind your back) into your waistband. Grab the outside corner, bring it around your front and
tuck it into your waistband, where it will stay nice and snug and you won't have to worry about it shifting
around as you go through your day.
Once you get your sari, PRACTICE putting it on. Watch videos online. Use safety pins to hold the pleats in
place. I just put one pin through all the layers of pleats in the “pleat bundle,” then tuck it snugly into a tightly
cinched waist on the sari petticoat. Or you can put on a snub leather belt , which works GREAT as a good way
to keep things properly tucked in.
DRESS LIKE THE LOCALS
Trust me, dress like the locals. Don’t try to wear what you wear at home. It will be very WARM in south India,
so check the weather ahead of time. Bring an umbrella as it may DUMP rain on certain days. Check the
weather forecast before you leave. If it never gets very cold where you will be, a pashmina (soft scarf) is all you
will need to keep warm if it cools off. Just wrap it around your shoulders on top of whatever you’re wearing.
COLORS
Choose warm colors when in doubt. For more info, start looking things up on the internet or look at the photos
I’ve attached in the Flickr album. http://www.flickr.com/photos/16312500@N00/sets/72157627645310279/ Do NOT stuff your suitcase with your Western clothes to bring to India. Leave plenty of room in your suitcases,
for having some custom made clothing you can have made after your arrival. You can fitted, get them made on
the spot, and often pick them up the next day.
5 SUGGESTED CLOTHING
What will you need? A few Salwar Kameez sets consisting of a below-the-knees tunic, a dupatta (scarf) and
long baggy pants* that cover the ankle. The pants come in two general styles: churidars, which are skin tight on
the lower leg, with “bracelet” type folds around the ankle, or Salwar style, which are baggy all the way down,
then cuffed and nipped in at the ankle. I like to order mine with an elastic waistband rather than a drawstring,
but it’s up to you. The top (Kameez) should come as far below the knees as a modest dress would. The dupatta
is a coordinating scarf that is worn “backwards” over your neck with the ends hanging down your back. The
original purpose for the dupatta was to cover the profile of your bosom to preserve modesty, so keep that in
mind when draping it. Chandra, my Indian friend, taught me to put a couple of safety pins under the dupatta
where it falls behind your back so it won’t slide off your shoulders. Salwar Kameez come in 3-piece sets with
fabrics pre-measured and coordinated for the top, pants and dupatta –scarf, and can be bought all over the place.
I bought mine in Delhi from a little shop in the fabric district.
BUYING A SALWAR KAMEEZ*
Get advice from the locals on where to find textile shops, which will have tons of premeasured 3-piece Salwar
sets to choose from. Once you’ve made your selections. Bring the fabrics to a tailor. He may be on the sidewalk
nearby, ready to take your measurements, or you may find a 4-story mega-store with dizzying amounts of
fabrics of all kinds. By the next day, you may be able to pick up your clothing, all sewn and ready to go! In
Delhi where I bought mine, the tailor had his sewing machine right there on the sidewalk.
For church and special occasions, plan on wearing your nice sari, with its matching blouse and petticoat and
plenty of safety pins if it makes you feel better.
DON”TS:
Do NOT wear tight clothing, jeans, short skirts or show your lower leg or bust. Many in India take it as a sign of
looseness. Think Modest.
ENJOY DRESSING LIKE THE LOCALS:
It is very FUN to dress this way. The Salwar sets are so comfortable. Buy sets made from fabrics that you can
wash out in the sink and hang to dry in your room. Some might look too fancy but “bling is in” when it comes
to Salwars, so have fun with the glitzy fabrics as long as they’re washable.
6 Here are photos of us visiting my
daughter’s mother in law in
Secunderabad. We are wearing our
Salwar sets. Ram’s mom is wearing her
sari, which she wears every day.
The woman in orange was our guide,
and is wearing a Salwar set for her job
as our guide. Notice how she wears her
dupatta.
Salwar Kameez are worn by Hindus,
Christians and Muslims alike. It’s a
fashion that appeals to all and can
safely be worn anywhere you go in
India.
For a big photo album of how WE
dressed in India, go to this link on
Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/16312500@N00/sets/72157627645310279/
Questions? Email me at benacster@g mail . com. Unscramble that. You can do it.
*I haven’t said anything about the amazing experience of buying a sari. Just be prepared for that fact that it will
be a glorious experience with tons of beautiful fabrics unfolded before your eyes as you sit on the floor and sip
tea. Get some help from a local or you’ll be overwhelmed with an embarrassment of riches in terms of textiles
and wealth of choices.
7