Archive for February, 2011

Impress your man! Wear a ‘Mumtaz-Style’ Sari tonight!


The Mumtaz Style of wearing a saree still has many takers as the leading lady of Bollywood inspired the imagination of millions of young women with her unique saree-draping style that became a trademark in itself. The glittering navel-revealing saree that she wore in the movie ‘Brahmachari’ was quite well received and became a rage among young women in the 1960s & 70s.

In my opinion, the high number of searches that occur frequently in any search engine for learning the style of wearing a ‘Mumtaz-style’ saree is proof of the fact that the leading lady made an indelible imprint on the fashion consciousness of an entire generation. Mumtaz almost patented this style of draping a saree and it also stamped her entry into Bollywood as one of the leading ladies of Indian cinema.

Complimented with a small sleeveless blouse, the Mumtaz-style saree draping is tightly draped around the body in such a style that the pleats are avoided altogether and it hugs the body like a second skin, accentuating the curves of the female wearing it. In the Mumtaz-style drape, essentially one drapes the pallu twice over. The pleats are not exactly done away with, but yes they are less. The pallu is very short; it covers the bosom but is more tightly gathered (not pleated but gathered) & brooched on the left shoulder with little over six inches of pallu.The Mumtaz style sari is quite good for sarees having heavy or embroidered borders. It is one of the most innovative ways to wear a traditional Indian saree, though I would not recommend it this type of a drape for a ‘wedding saree

However, there are certain colors which you should keep in mind while opting for a ‘Mumtaz-style’ drape. Although you can wear any color saree in this style but certain colors like orange, pink, turquoise blue or any other light color would do justice to this type of drape. Light colors would not only make you look slim but also look quite classy as well. I would recommend the ‘Mumtaz-Style drape’ to ladies who have the perfect curves in the right places as there is no other Indian style saree drape be it the Maharani style, Devdas style, Indo-western style that can highlight the female form as much as the ‘Mumtaz Style’ drape can.

Try out the Mumtaz-style Saree draping today and be prepared for those admiring glances that are sure to come your way.

Bollywood Sarees of the 1970s – Turning Point of Indian Fashion


bollywood sarees styles of 1970Bollywood has always influenced the fashion trends of the common Indian. However, no other decade than Bollywood’s Swirling 70’s have influenced the Indian fashion history more. These were the times when Bollywood heroines were coming out of the closets of coyness of the 60’s into the open as independent modern women. It was the age of “Women power.”

The 70’s Bollywood saw heroines sporting a look of carefree dressing, confidence and novel styles of saree designs and draping. From saree blouse designs to the accessories to go with the sarees, everything got a new bolder look. From the simple stylish retro look to the dazzling disco style, the heroines of the 70’s glorified the Indian screen.

Be it Mumtaz, Sharmila Tagore, Asha Parekh, Rekha, Hema Malini or Jaya Bachchan, each introduced a new style of wearing saree. The unforgettable saree crafted by Oscar Winner, Bhanu Athaiya for Mumtaz in “Aap Ki Kasam” and “Bramhachari,” made Mumtaz sarees eternal. With see-through layered sarees, Mumtaz brought a new way of wearing saree by casing the pallu twice, with the narrow border creating a circle above the waist and another below the knee.

Sharmila Tagore was responsible for initiating the bold look of Bollywood Fashion with synthetic transparent sarees paired with low-neck laced blouses. Even her traditional look in films like “Chupke Chupke” wearing simple patterned cotton sarees was immensely appreciated, even though Jaya Bachchan can be referred to as the Queen of Cotton sarees as worn in films like “Abhimaan,” “Guddi” and “Parichaay.”

1970-bollywood-sareesWhen Jaya Bachchan indulged in the simplicity and ethnicity quotient, the glamour quotient was heightened by divas like Hema Malini and Rekha, who sizzled in their Kanjivaram, printed and fashionable sarees. Rekha was the trendsetter of wearing traditional South Indian silk sarees adorned with heavy jewelry. She also made chiffon sarees with halter neck, high neck or noodle strip blouses a popular and glamorous choice.

A trend of wearing Paachwari or Five yards saree with a small pallu was introduced in the Bollywood Sarees of 70’s, by nearly every actress. From Asha Parekh with her tightly worn traditional sarees to reveal the hourglass figure of Indian women to Babita and Rati Agnihotri in “Ek Duje Ke Liye,” every one sported this look. Even Suchitra Sen, with her high-necked, short-sleeved saree blouses was quite appealing.

Reena Roy’s polka dot sarees are still a rave among fashionable women, with the size of the dots varying from small to large. Bags, shoes, shawls, hair accessories, make up also changed with the change in the saree styles and following them became a style statement for the masses.

The Bollywood Saree style of the 70’s are still popular among today’s generation that is why, you still see films like “Om Shanti Om” and advertisements of Dairy Milk chocolate “Aaj pehli taarikh hai…” as a tribute to the golden era of Bollywood Filmy Fashion.

Use these tips to keep sarees and lehengas in great shape!


It’s every woman’s dream to have a stylish wardrobe that includes a mix of both traditional and contemporary dresses. Traditional dresses for Indian women usually include the bridal silk sarees and lehengas that are not only costly but also require a bit of maintenance to retain their luster and patina for long periods of time. Following the tips given below will help you keep your sarees and lehengas in perfect shape for the next generation.

Caring for sarees
Traditional Indian Sarees like the Benarasi or the Kancheevaram silk sarees have always held a special appeal in the hearts of Indian women. To ensure that these sarees maintain their sheen, it is advisable to dry clean them, instead of subjecting them to hand –wash or machine-wash. Dry-Cleaning the sarees not only helps in removing hard-to-remove protein stains but also  avoids the prospect of wear and tear that may occur during the machine-wash process. Once the sarees have been dry cleaned, you should not make the mistake of hanging them in a cupboard instead try and fold these sarees and place them in a saree cover. Put naphthalene balls in the drawer where you want to keep these dry-cleaned sarees as it will keep them safe from moths.

Taking care of lehengas

Most brides love to wear a lehenga on their wedding day. Bridal silk lehengas are the hottest selling items in an apparel store and silk being a delicate fabric is quite expensive and requires proper-handling. Just like sarees, dry-cleaning works best for silk lehengas as well as the fabric may get twisted in any hand-wash or machine-wash process. Even if you have to hand-wash a lehenga, you should try and swirl the fabric in a sink, press the fabric to squeeze out the water and hang dry. While ironing silk lehengas, try and place a piece of light fabric on the ironing surface that will absorb the excess heat from the ironing surface. You should continue with the ironing process by switching the iron to silk or rayon setting. If you adhere to the above mentioned tips, you will not only retain your sarees for long periods of time but also wear it on your diamond jubilee too!


Useful tips to keep your saris in perfect shape!


Saris have always held a special appeal for women of all ages in the Indian society. Indian women with their voluptuous bodies look perfect in a six yard sari that accentuates their curves and makes them look gorgeous. Even you may be having quite a few sarees in your wardrobe that may have been gifted from close family members and these might also include kanjeevaram and benarasi sarees that are very expensive and may not last long if they are not stored properly.

The first step in maintaining a durable saree collection is to keep washed and unwashed sarees separately. Keep sarees that you wear regularly and those which you wear for special occasions in separate drawers and place moth repellants in such places. If you have a lot of silk sarees in your collection, then the best option to ensure their longevity is to dryclean them. Machine-wash or hand wash may spoil these sarees and in my opinion, hand-washing works best for traditional Indian sarees. Once these sarees have been dry-cleaned you should not make the mistake of hanging them in the cupboard, instead you should fold these sarees and wrap them in some soft cloth or dupatta made of mulmul. There are special saree covers that are available in the market that may hold six to eight sarees. If you have a lot of cotton sarees in your collection that require starching ensure that no starch remains on the saree as it may attract moths that will not only spoil the cotton sarees but also other sarees placed alongside. Napathalene balls serve as the best moth repellents to preserve cotton sarees.

Your saree collection may have burgeoned over the years and each sari may have a separate set of memories attached to it but if you don’t take proper care of your collection, your investments in terms of time and money spent on these sarees may go waste. If you adhere to the precautions outlined above, then you can be rest assured that your sarees will retain their luster and sheen for a long time and can even be preserved for the next generation.

Handy tips to wear a saree ‘Air-hostess’ style!


It’s the most important interview of your life and your friends may have suggested you to wear a sari in air-hostess style but how will go about it and that too if your Mom is not at home. Well you have done the right thing by opting for a google–search that has brought you to the right page.Hunter Green Net Party and Festival Embroidered SareeA sari usually measures 6 yards and you should hold the least patterned edge and tuck it into the draw-string of the petticoat. The first step in wearing an Indian Saree be it a party wear saree or any other type of saree is to wear a tight-fitting petticoat and blouse that will form the base of the sari. Make sure the undergarments worn below the blouse and petticoat are of good quality as they will not only give you a good fit but also boost your confidence. While tucking the pleats into the petticoat, you should ensure that bottom edge of the saree goes below your sandal so that the right length can be estimated. Then in the second step, you should hold the embroidered or the most decorative edge and throw it at the back of the shoulder which will become the ‘pallu’. The remaining length of the saree should be pleated together and then tucked into the petticoat as that will give the flow to the saree.

An airhostess style saree is tied in just the same way as a normal saree except that the pleats are held together quite nicely with the help of pins. A border saree will be just perfect for an ‘Air-Hostess’ style drape where the pallu is heavily pleated and pinned on the shoulder. Even the vertical pleats that are tucked at the navel are severely pleated and pressed. Same goes for the pallu pleats that are pinned at the shoulder.

To get the perfect ‘Air-hostess’ look you should wear a complimentary U-shaped saree blouse that covers the upper body completely and gives a very elegant and formal look. Mastering the ‘air-hostess’ style drape would help you create the desired impact in a formal setting like an interview or a conference.

Author Bio: The author is a designer by profession and has extensive knowledge about the apparel industry. To know more about the options available in Indian Party Wear Sarees you can contact him at sales@sareez.com.

Churidar Salwar Kameez ; Latest Offerings from Sareez


Newly Arrived Churidar Salwar Kameez Collection 2011

Want to buy these dazzling churidar salwar suits visit Sareez.

Latest Designer Sarees 2011 Collection


Buy Latest Designer Sarees 2011 at Sareez.com

Slip into a Six Yards Sari to look ravishing


A Saree is, undoubtedly, the most gorgeous and captivating outfit worn by a woman. Numerous dresses have come and gone out of vogue in the past but the saree still rules in the minds of Indian women due to its elegance and traditional charm. With a constantly growing Indian diaspora, the sari is all set to attain topmost place in the fashion world. Those women who do not feel comfortable in a sari can opt for other viable choices like lehengas and salwar kameez. So, just go ahead and explore online portals for the perfect dress that suits your body type and color palette and enhances your personality.

Sarees ; If you love to wear a sari, once in a while, for some significant occasion, you can log on to any web portal and search for sarees that include designer Indian party sarees, Indian Embroidered Sarees and Indian pure georgette sarees that are famous, the world over, for the intricate designs and exquisiteness. Other than these qualities, it is the elegance and style of these sarees that tends to captivate everyone’s attention. On the online shopping portals, you can also find a mesmerizing collection of Party Salwar Kameez made from the premium quality fabrics that are quite in demand among customers for their rich look and graceful texture. A substantial majority of customers also go for Brasso sarees that serve as the perfect outfit for formal/semi-formal occasions. A brasso saree is popular as a gift item too. So it is definitely worth a try!

Salwar Kameez ;Salwaar Kameez The Salwar Kameez is another example of all season wear.. These are available in various fabrics that include the famous Georgette Salwar Kameez which are simple yet stylish. These suits are especially designed for women, who like looking very different and modern. If you are fond of silk fabric then the Banarasi Salwar kameez is something that you should go for.

To add glitter to your wardrobe, you can purchase Benarasi Salwar Kameez embroidered with resham work, stones and beads. On these online shopping portals, brides-to –be can also find many awesome, gorgeous and stunning bridal salwar kameez designs for their wedding and various other special occasions.

For Valentine’s Day Get 15% Flat Discount on Sarees, Salwars & Lehengas


15% discount on sarees, salwar kameez and lehenga cholis

For the coming Valentine’s Day Sareez.com is offering 15% flat discount on Sarees, Designer Sarees, Bridal Lehenga Cholis, Salwar Kameez, Anarkali Salwar Kameez. Offer valid till 14th of February, 2011. Use code VAL11 while checkout.

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