Indian Accessories

Indian costume accessories and jewelry are used to highlight fashion wears. They are helpful in concealing the flaw of a garment. If an accessory,

say a belt, is added continuously to various outfits it will set trends. Accessories like handbags, shoes, earrings, bangles, shawls and even 80s leg warmers change their fashion frequently.

Shawls: Elegant looking Kashmir shawls are a winter accessory to keep one warm. These shawls are available in various colors, but the favorite colors are black, white and pink. They also contain beautiful embroidery works and patterns and enhance any outfit.

Caps: Though Indian ladies are seen rarely with a cap fashion hunting teens and young ones love to wear caps matching to their outfits. They are sold in various shapes and colors. Ladies prefer to wear a cap along with beaded jackets and a pair of denims or half or full skirts.

Long big Earrings: Modern fashionable women are crazy about latest large chunky earrings available in various colors and are often studded with bright colored stones. Women choose earrings matching to their dresses and they go very well with any outfit. These earrings are affordable and made up of cheap materials.

Shoes/Boots: Today black shoes or boots are in great demand and add charm to any garment like black trousers, denim jeans or tight skirts. No animal skin is used to make this footwear, only faux leather or some other artificial materials. A pair of polished black boots gives a marvelous look.

Ponchos: Kashmir poncho is a simple loose top wear made out of a large sheet of wool or yarn, knitted or crocheted, to wear during winter. It has an opening for the head and sometimes for the arms too. A hood is attached to some ponchos. Now ponchos are available in different materials having the same shape for fashion purposes. Poncho with embroidery or a hint of sequins is perfect for trousers and skirts.

Leather Handbags: Synthetic leather handbags, in various colors and with multicolor patterns on a single bag, are in high demand, as they are much cheaper than the bags made out of real leather. Some synthetic versions are much similar to crocodile, snake or lizard skin. The latest models are embellished with lovely patterns, beads and artificial pearls.

Salwar kameez, the national dress of Pakistan, is a combination of several styles. You can see a slight western style blended in the latest fashion of Pakistani salwar kameez.

Pakistanis have their own culture, traditions and customs. Salwar kameezis the common attire worn by both Pakistani men and women.

Pakistani salwar kameez includes a trouser-like bottom called salwar and a top similar to a long shirt, kameez. Salwar is a pair of thin cotton trousers, baggy at the top, becoming tapered at the bottom. The waist portion has a drawstring called Nara or Izaar band in Pakistani language, to hold it up like a belt.

Kameezis a long tunic like shirt stretching down to the knees. While men wear only simple white or light colored dress women go for various tasteful colors and intricate designs and look more stylish and fashionable.

Pakistani salwar suits are found in various modern designs and fabulous styles and in bright and pastel shades. These salwar are available in different fabrics such as silk, cotton, khaddar, jeans and Banarsi silk. The popular styles include guddi salwar, lain salwar, Patiala salwar, trouser kameez, pajama kameez, cut sleeve shirt and short shirt in various colors, prints and designs.

Pakistani salwar kameez, very popular in India, was introduced by the ancestors of Pakistanis. The Westerners visiting Pakistan are attracted towards this costume and most of them, especially women, attire this dress while their stay in Pakistan and purchase a good number and gift them to their near and dear on return to their places.

Now the salwar kameezstands as the top most dress code in Pakistan. It also finds the top spot in the ex-patriot community in North America and English Speaking countries all over the world. The popularity of this garment has induced the modern fashion designers to convert a major part of their abilities to provide a new and better look to this ensemble.

Since salwar suit exhibits both ethnic touch as well as cocktail look it has an ideal wear for all occasions. Various exquisite and intricate embroidery and designing works of different countries have lent more flavors to this dignified attire. Taking tips from the ancient traditions of Russia, Turkey and China liberally, Pakistani and Indian designers have given an entirely different look to the Salwar Kameez.

The Sari in Pakistan made an exit when it was declared un-Islamic by Gen Zia as sari reveals certain parts of a woman’s body. But now it has made a resurgence in an outstanding way in the form of formal wear and in the wardrobe of Pakistan girls. Earlier the Sari was worn by many prominent Pakistani women.

oday several ladies in Pakistan have turned to drape sari considering this 6yards cloth as a symbol of independence and individuality. Popular Indian soaps have made major contributions to its revival.Though Pakistan woman parliamentarian refuses to wear sari, fashion conscious Pak women brave to wear the elegant sari creating a splash and a stir. Still salwar suit retains its number 1 spot above sari.

Quite often Pakistani girls, at the age of 18, are given permission to wear a sari to attend their graduation party, Pakistan’s fashion party similar to prom night. For them sari provides certain feel of womanhood, independence and elegance. But a lady in a sari becomes a source of a lot of unwanted attraction. The sari has attained a very important place on occasions such as weddings and festivals.

Pakistan’s leading fashion designers agree that saris are extremely elegant wears and salvar suits can never be a substitute for that style and elegance. But only the old women of Pakistan prefer to wear sari while for the modern lady it is not practical. The demand for intricate and ornate bridal saris are in the rise .There is a modern version of sari called “half-sari”, a combination of two pieces that tucks a dupatta into a folded petticoat.

elicate chiffon fabric is used to make Pakistani designer saris with lavishly decorated, costing 50,000 Pak rupees, around $1250. Youngsters prefer to wear simple chiffon or light silk saris along with a sleeveless blouse. Designer saris are the choice for formal wear.
The presence of sari could be felt in the south emphatically while it is preferred as a bridal wear in the north. In the North Western Frontier there is absolutely no trace of the Sari.

Pakistani jewelry is very popular in western countries like its fashion costumes. Pakistani gold jewelry has set a unique soft and marvelous sort of trend using a delicate eastern kind of designing. Following the Pakistani saying, “Jewelry make women mare beautiful” Pakistani brides wear a lot of jewelry on their wedding day. A bride is adorned with various forms of ornaments during the wedding. They are usually very heavy ones. The bride wears a crown, known as ‘Taj’ made up of heavy 24 karat gold on her head. This Taj is embellished with diamonds.

The next item is ‘Bindiya’, a piece falling on the bride’s forehead the back of which is attached to her hair or to her Chaador scarf. The third jewelry ‘Jhumkay’ is a larger variety of the earrings. These earrings are also made up of pure gold of 24 carat with ruby in most of them. Another piece of jewelry is a necklace worn around her neck. This is definitely is the biggest ornament worn by a Pakistani bride. This necklace is usually very long, at times long like her dress. This 24 karat long necklace is studded with diamonds and ruby. The smallest jewel on the bride is a ring, made up of white gold or the usual 24 karat decorated with a large diamond. Finally the bride wears anklets around her ankles, the most fragile ornament.

Excavations conducted in the towns of Ancient Indus Valley Civilization disclose that the goldsmiths of such a primitive age knew the art of making moulds for metal and terra-cotta ornaments and made various jewels like necklaces, bangles, earrings, rings, brooches, head ornaments, bracelets, girdles etc…etc. Today by applying latest techniques and styles and also using various modern materials that ancient art form has been given a marvelous perfection. Even out of stones, conch shells, wood and plant seeds jewels are made in intricate designs apart from other metal jewelry. Thus the delicate and soft jewelry made in Pakistan has found a formidable place in the global market.

Indian ladies used to grow thick long black hair. They had a tough time in giving proper care to the hair. Today’s fashion-conscious young Indian women prefer to have bob or short hair touching their shoulders or only 3-4inches below the shoulders. Instead of curly hair they go for short straight hair. They even change the natural black color to various other colors. Or they will attach color hair among the original hair. Mushrooming of beauty parlors has made their job easy by applying modern techniques. Even an Indian bride will approach a parlor for bridal make up comprising hair decoration, wearing sari elegantly, facial make up etc… Ancient Indian ladies used to plait their long hair or put up different hair styles. But now they just comb their hair and leave it spread over their shoulders without clipping either.

But still there are a lot of young Indian women who follow the traditional hair styles mixed with modern trends, especially in South India. Here the young girls leave their hair in long single or double plaits/ braids. One or two hair clips matching to the outfit enhance the beauty of the hair. A natural flower like a pink/yellow rose or a short garland of white jasmine kept at the top of one plait makes the hair more attractive. In certain parts of India women decorate their plaited hair with long garlands of jasmine, yellow marigold or multi-colored December flowers. To attend important receptions, ladies go there with the long or short hair put up in various hair styles decorated with colorful clips, beads or flowers. In contrast, present North Indian ladies prefer to have short hair with very light or no decorations on it, brides are exception.

Today bridal hairstyles are done in beauty clinics. There the beautician selects a hair style suitable to the Indian bride’s face and embellishes it with beaded clips, flowers etc. Cheap, tiny, sparkling ornaments are fitted on the head to give an enchanting appearance to the hair.

Therefore be in touch with style and fashion; so that you won’t lag behind the fast-changing fashion world.

A saree could be draped in many ways according to the custom of each state. Following is the most popular way of wearing a 5meter sari.

Start by putting on the long petticoat and tying the drawstring around the waist tightly. Wear the matching close fitting blouse/ choli. Beginning at the navel, the inner top edge of the sari is tucked into the petticoat in front a little more to the right side, with the sari going towards the left and wrap the sari once completely around the body, ending again at the left side.

See that the hem of the saree touches the feet. Holding the tucked waist tightly, begin pleating the sari material 5 inches deep with your fingers, evenly and neatly, and tuck them into the petticoat, slightly towards the left side.

Gather about 1 yard of the saree into approximately 7 to 10 pleats and see that the pleats are piled on top of each other evenly.

Hold them together so that they fall evenly. The lower edge of the pleats should also be even just above the ground. Wrap material fully around the waist one more time from left to right. Bring the remainder of the sari up under right arm and drape over the left shoulder such that the edge or pallav/pallu falls to about knee level.

Using a small safety pin, fasten the left shoulder portions of the pallav and blouse together to prevent pallav from falling from the shoulder. Small safety pins might be placed for extra safety wherever needed.

ifferent parts of India follow different styles of wearing the sari. In the state of Maharashtra the nine yard traditional sari does not require a petticoat and when draped, it will be more like a pant. In the Southern regions, sari is worn, however, with pleats in the front and the pallu or pallav falling over the left shoulder. The Bengali women wear it with the pallu falling over their shoulders to the front. The Coorgis wear the sari without a blouse and with the pleats in front. Gujarati style is different with the pallu falling over the right shoulder to the front of the body.

Earlier an Indian Hindu bride used to wear her wedding sari in the traditional way. But now in wedding functions women prefer to wear saris in modern styles. Fashion designers have made it easier with new ways to drape wedding saris which are very popular among present generation. Indian saris, having a sensuous and elegant look, are available in different fabrics such as cotton, silk, georgettes and crape.

election of wedding sari itself is a difficult task when a wedding is fixed in a Hindu family. The cost of a wedding sari is very high, ranging from few thousands to few lacks ($150 to $5000) depending on the texture and golden thread used to weave the sari.

These saris, in enchanting colors, have embroidered borders and pallu woven in golden threads. Very precious saris have golden designs all over the material. Latest saris, coming in different varieties and designs have a lot of work done on them, such as zari, embroidery, organza, zardosi, sequence, cut works, mirror works, patch work, pearl work, kasab, kundan etc.

An Indian bride used to wear only a very heavy rich Banarasi or Kancheevaram sari on wedding day. But now even though today’s bride prefers to wear a sari for the wedding she opts for a very sleek and light in fabric.

An Anglo Indian Christian bride’s wedding costume is a white full skirted gown usually made of around five to seven meters of material, but might vary according to design. The other sects of Indian Christian brides usually wear a costly white or cream sari. She often covers her head with a white veil and a crown- a tiara or a bunch of white flowers, holding a flower bouquet in her hand.

A sharara, a long following skirt and blouse, or a lehanga suit or salwar kameez is the bridal dress of an Indian Muslim bride and a dupatta covers her head. Indian Sikh brides usually wear salwar and kameez with a dupatta.

Bridal costumes are usually made of expensive materials like silk and velvet, often trimmed and embroidered in gold thread. All brides with their bridal costumes and beautiful hair styles and accessories want to look the best on their wedding day. Any bridal outfit should make moments cherishable. Like the saying, you don’t get married everyday.

Set mundu is the traditional attire worn by the women of Kerala, a southern Indian state. It is two pieces of cloth in the form of a sari with white or cream color. The lower piece, usually hand woven, is known as ‘Mundu and the upper piece, lighter than the mundu, as ‘Neriyathu. The style of wearing them involves much care and complication.

Set mundu also requires a blouse similar to a sari blouse. Both men and women wear mundu. The mundu is worn below the navel and around the hips and tied firmly. The neriyathu is worn in the same way as the upper portion of the sari. One end of the neriyathu is tucked in the left side of the mundu. Then wrap material fully around the waist from left to right. Bring the remainder of the neriyathui up under right arm and drape over the left shoulder such that the edge falls to about knee level just like sari pallu. Using a small safety pin, fasten the left shoulder portions of the neriyathu and blouse together to prevent it from falling from the shoulder.

Set mundu has many varieties. One such variety of set mundu has brocade along the edges known as ‘kasavu’, Sometimes this golden brocade is laced with ordinary cotton thread of contrasting bright colors known as ‘kasavu kara’(border). Usually, set mundu with ‘kasavu’ is worn on special occasions. Otherwise, people prefer to wear ‘mundu’ without ‘kasavu’ since they are cheaper.

Today set mundu is worn by old women of Kerala and it is replaced by set sari consisting only of a single piece of material. Kerala women wear set sari only on festive occasion and religious functions. The accompanying accessories are jasmine garland on the hair and gold jewels on the neck and wrists.

The Christian women wear the mundu differently with the pleats hanging out at the back and a long white blouse (chatta) and a Neriyadhu over their upper body.

Brahmin ladies of southern states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala in India wear nine yards sari in an entirely different style. This style, known as Madisar style, does not require a petticoat, but a blouse similar to a sari blouse.

The Madisar style needs some expertise to wear and the young generation drapes this sari with the help of old experienced women. There are two sects of Tamil Brahmins, Iyer and Iyengar. Iyer will put the pallu over the right shoulder whereas Iyengar wears over the left. While old women still continue to wear the 9 yards sari, young ladies prefer to wear it only on religious festivals and ceremonies, especially on wedding days.

Half Sari: This costume is very popular among teen age girls in all South Indian states, irrespective of caste and religion. This consists of a long skirt, a blouse (same as a sari blouse) and a half sari, measuring 2-2.5 meters long. The skirt is a cone- shaped, waist to feet garment covering the legs and it is made out of a single piece of material.

Most skirts are fitted round the waist with the help of a string and have very small pleats on the waist portion. Modern skirts are usually made of light to mid-weight fabrics like denim, jersey, worsted or poplin. Skirts of thin or clingy fabrics need slips to help the material of the skirt wear in a better way.

The half sari is made out of thin fabrics such as crape, georgette, nylon, chiffon, very thin cotton etc. After wearing the skirt and the blouse the half sari is worn over the blouse with its one end tucked inside the left side of the skirt and the rest is the same as draping the top portion of the sari.

The color of the half sari and blouse should match either that of the skirt or the border of the skirt. A matching ribbon tied to the hair will make this costume more attractive.
Still young girls in the age group 4-13 wear only the skirt and the blouse, the blouse a bit bigger and longer than the sari blouse.

Now the wearing of such traditional dresses is limited to certain occasions only. Interestingly modern ladies prefer to wear casual wears like ‘churidar’ and jeans on most of the occasions, which allows easy and free movement of the limbs.

Indian sari fabrics are different and distinctive. Important fabrics used for Indian saris are cotton, crepe, georgette, silk, and chiffon. Cotton sari is light in weight and very cool to wear in summer. Cotton sari is easy to wash and iron. Different colors make cotton saris exciting and preferable to all. It could be worn on festival days as well as a daily wear. .

Georgette sari is a traditional wear, usually made up of nylon and polyester yarn and is the most graceful fabric. It will add the charm and beauty of the lady if properly draped. As the texture is very soft and delicate it is comfortable to wear. It is a party as well as festive wear which has the most intricate designs. Zardozi or embroidery work will enhance the look of georgette fabric.

Saris, made out of Chiffon fabric, are a symbol of elegance and firmness making it an ideal choice for daily as well as evening wear. Chiffon is a very fine fabric found in nylon and silk. Various prints and embroideries such as block prints, bandhni style, resham work and gold embroidery give these saris a unique fabulous and enchanting look. It is a bit difficult to carry as it is bumpy.

.Crepe fabric’s attraction lies in its simplicity and sobriety and crepe is a fine light fabric originally woven in silk, but now woven in other fabrics also. Crepe saris are suitable for many occasions like wedding, any get together, parties etc. Various colors and designs make crepe saris exciting. . The printed crepe saris, and crepe saris with resham and gold metallic embroidery works increase the beauty of a lady.

Silk, a precious gift of nature and an evergreen fashion fabric is used to make exquisite and gorgeous silk saris, ranging from Kanjeevaram to Banarasi, Patola and Mysore silk. Since silk requires extra care steam press is recommended. Silk saris having zari work on them are very high in demand. Silk saris are the most exotic, sensual, glamorous and smart fabric saris.
Other categories of fabric include Tissue, Net, Faux, Linen, Velvet, Viscose, Art silk, Satin, Organza, Lizi-Bizi, Soft Crush, Laser and many other cool fabrics.