The right pair

Apart from being a traditional wear, saris have been an integral part of the Indian fashion scene. What makes them contemporary though is the design, print or the cut of the blouse they are paired with.

The best part is that these blouses can be paired with multi-type saris and made to look stylish every time.

“Blouses are, in fact, more important than the sari. Gone are the days when women would just buy a fabric and get a simple blouse stitched. Many today pair an old sari with a contemporary blouse and look edgy,” says designer Sashikant Naidu. Adding further, “The designers, too, are coming up with a nice, ethnic sari and combining it with a quirky blouse. It gives the whole outfit a modern touch.”

Varsha Mahendra, who runs the store Jus’ Blouses thinks a simple sari with less detailing, paired with a fashionable blouse can make one look glamorous. “The limelight now is on the blouse and designers are constantly bringing in new patterns and designs, which will make a simple sari stand out,” she says adding further, “Mismatched blouses are in these days. Wearing a sari and a blouse of the same colour is very predictable.”

Many celebrities, too, are seen in contrast blouses with quirky prints and unique cuts. Fancy back neck blouses are in trend too. “Khadi saris with a smart blouse is now making a statement. However, the pairing must be aesthetic — it can’t be two random pieces of garments put together,” says designer Anju Modi.

Mix and Match
“One can play around with colours while matching, however, if you are not too sure, play safe. Pair a pink sari with a golden, green or red blouse. For an orange sari, one can choose a yellow or red blouse. Don’t venture into colours like black and blue as they are a bit difficult to pair. A golden or rose-golden blouse is a match for most colours. If you have a blouse which has quirky print on it or a multi-colour blouse, pair it smartly as they don’t go with everything. For example, don’t pair a traditional sari with a quirky-print blouse, it won’t look nice. Also, if you have a printed sari, don’t go for a printed blouse. Floral-print blouses look really nice with a monotone sari. Pastel-coloured water floral blouses are in. Try to keep the look minimalist and classy,” suggests designer Anushree Reddy.