How to Buy an Indian Sari

These instructions are intended for someone who is interested in buying a sari for the first time, who isn't familiar with the garment, and what to look for.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Choose the type of cloth.
   If you don't need to impress anyone from India and just want to try a sari out for fun or a theatrical costume, go with synthetic. It will be easier to wash and handle. For an every day sari go with cotton. It will be more comfortable in heat and look less cheap. Remember you'll have to starch and iron it. For a formal event like a wedding definitely get a silk sari. Silk saris come in different weights. Heavy silk saris can look more grand, but make you look bigger. Light weight silk saris are more revealing of your shape. Which one you get is a matter of preference, or the latest fashion.

2. Pay attention to fancy work.
   Since the sari has been the same basic cut for centuries, most of the fashion is in the quality and complexity of the embroidery, or patterns woven and dyed into the cloth. Keep in mind that elaborate 3 dimensional embroidery while impressive can scratch your arms. It also makes it difficult to pick up small children. If you want something simple, at least get one with a nice border, or something special on the pallu that hangs down the back. When posing for pictures of saris for sale, the model often wears them in an odd way so you can see the whole pallu.

3. 
    
   Sari petticoat

   Buy a sari petticoat.
   To wear a sari, you're going to need a sari petticoat in a similar color. A sari petticoat is a floor length draw string skirt with an A-line cut. The petticoat isn't meant to be seen, but it's important to get a similar color, especially for a formal sari, because a thin sari won't cover it completely, and it's likely to show when you go up and down stairs. Sari petticoats are generally made from shirt weight woven cotton or cotton polyester blend.

4. 
    
   Sari Blouse - Note the hook closure, and the bra strap holder.

   Have your sari blouse made.
   The sari blouse should be custom made to your measurements. Some stores outside India may try to sell you one ready made, but you should think twice about it if the one offered doesn't fit perfectly, and tightly like a bra. If you are not used to wearing a sari, and even if you are, you're going to want to pin the pallu to the blouse shoulder, and the weight of the sari can pull a loose blouse off. If you have a loose one, you can attach ties between the shoulders and tie them at the nape of the neck. You may want to ask if this sort of tie has gone out of style before you do it though.
   
   If you look at fashion photos, you'll see halter tops and sleeveless blouses, but outside certain urban circles a blouse without sleeves is not respectable. You can be respectable and show a little skin though. Younger women wear blouses cut very low in the back. As they get older, the back starts to move higher. Depending on where you're getting your sari blouse made you should be able to specify how low the back will be and if you want it curved, or square, or something else. Don't worry too much about the front. It will be covered by the sari.
   
   When you buy a sari some stores will include matching cloth to make the blouse. Some internet stores offer to make up the blouse to your measurements. If you're in India, ask for recommendations to a ladies tailor. Getting a blouse made in India is comparable to buying ready made, and can take 2-5 days. For a formal sari, the blouse should include some kind of decorative edging and match the sari. It's a good idea to get silk blouses lined with cotton.

5. 
    

   Add lower border reinforcement.
   Saris should have a band of cloth sewn along the back side of the lower border on the portion that hangs near the floor. This helps the sari hang properly, and protect the cloth from dirt on your feet. They are often sold without this. If the sari doesn't have this, you should get it added when you have the blouse made.

6. Wear under arm pads.
   If you're wearing a silk sari in hot weather, seriously consider these. They're an oval of quilted fabric with a loop of elastic to hold them onto your shoulder under the blouse. Because the sleeves are so tight, you'll sweat through them faster than some other garments, and silk shows dampness quickly.

Tips & Warnings

• Sari is spelled saree or sari
• A formal sari doesn't look right without at least a little jewelry. Gold is worn above the waist, and silver below.
• There are regional variations in sari fashion within India. In part this is because many saris are locally woven. Films also influence fashion, but because different regions speak different languages, films may be more popular in one region than another.
• Indians won't be offended by a non Indian wearing a Sari, but they will have opinions about how you wear it. Got help putting it on the first few times.
• The front of the sari should cover the breasts. Letting the front sag showing the breasts will get a negative reaction. To the average Indian this looks not only revealing, but also sloppy.

Resources

• Traditional Silver Anklets
• Imitation gold bangle set

[sunshineandrose]

on 1/31/2010 Interesting information on the sari that I didn't know.

[aichausa]

on 1/30/2010 Very nice! Thank you for the helpful bits!

[blingaling]

on 6/6/2009 Fascinating and well written article on a subject I knew nothing about. Thank you!