Everyday Fashion

Earlier I had written about the ubiquitous saree. But it is not as common as may be imagined. Women and young girls have discovered far more innovative and comfortable attire. Yes, discovered not invented or designed... Because Indian culture and its resplendent couture is vast enough to take your pick from.

The most common pice of readywear you can see on Indian streets and in Indian homes is the Churidhar . This is a two-piece dress that consists of a top and a pyjama bottom. The top is loose and reaches upto your knees or sometimes beyond too. Usually the hems, sleeves and neckline are adorned with fine embroidery or hand-painted motifs. The look of the sleeve changes periodically: two years back, they were long, ver-rr-y long and the extra material gathered at your wrists, giving them a very elegant and puffed chic look. Then came the Mega Sleeves. These were SHORT and large and just found their way upto the upper arm. This year, designers have become lazy. They have completely dispensed with sleeves.

The bottom exactly resemble a pajama bottom. They are loose and flaring like harem pants and are secured around the waist with a string inserted inside the pants. Compared to the top or Kameez, the Salwar or the bottoms are drab little pieces that serve a very utilatarian process. Decoration or embroidery, if done at all, are just simple repetitions of the main design.

Both the pieces are set off with a long scarf called a Dupatta which is wound around the neck or folded and left hanging on one shoulder.

The Salwar-Kameez is very popular among school and college-going women. The dress is colourful, and more importantly very very comfortable while running for a bus or going straight to a party after classes. Usually churidhars are in cotton; more elaborate and ornate dress sets are stitched in silk for weddings or special functions. Nowadays, the top alone comes in lycra stretch material that accentuates the curves in suggestive curves.

Essentially the salwar-kameez is a North Indian dress. It came into the country with the advent of the Mughals around the 10th and 11th centuries. Mughal court dancers who practiced the Kathak wore a variation of the modern dress; this was tight around the bosom and with a beautiful great flare that started from the hips.

Today the Salwar has penetrated every nook and corner of India. Even staid and orthodox South which swore by the half-saree or the Thaavani. In later articles,I will introduce you the Thaavani and Kerala's Mundu.

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