I know I’m way behind the rest of the blogosphere on the recent White House State Dinner, but it is the perfect introduction into one of my favorite things about India: saris.
I have to say, I wish E! covered this event the way they cover the Oscars, because I have some lingering questions that Google simply cannot answer. Where did Katie Couric get her beautiful sari shawl? Why didn’t anyone help poor Mrs. Gupta tie her sari? Where the heck did Michaele Salahi find her lengha? Why did Supriya Jindal go for a boring black gown instead of a brightly colored ensemble? As Diana Vreeland said, “Pink is the navy blue of India.” I’m pretty sure Giuliana Rancic would’ve gotten all my questions answered (and I’m excited for the return of Giuliana and Bill on January 3rd! But I digress).
While Michelle Obama nailed it in her gold gown by Indian-born designer Naeem Khan (she was as elegant as she was appropriate to her Indian guests), my best-dressed pick is…
Bhavna Shyamalan.
This is how a sari should be worn. Her pleats in the front are immaculately folded, the congu (the drape on her shoulder) is at the perfect length and sits on her chest perfectly, and the black and white is perfectly appropriate for the magnitude of the event. She looks stunning. Unlike poor Mrs. Gupta (whose sari is wearing her), Mrs. S is rocking this sari, channeling Jackie O and Aishwarya Rai all in one.
So this brings me (in a long-winded introduction) to one of my favorite things about India: the sari.
I detested this garment long before loving it. I had difficulty walking without tripping over my pleats, I could never pin my congu in the right place, and the petticoat was tied so tight that it left a red stripe around my waist when I finally removed it. Anytime my mother opened the white armoire in the guest bedroom, I would grimace as her hands lingered over the shelf containing my small collection of saris.
Then last year, something changed.
While shopping for outfits for my cousin’s upcoming wedding, I was captivated by the brightly colored yards of silk and chiffon, embroidered and beaded, elegant and beautiful. Without realizing, I had selected four gorgeous saris that I couldn’t imagine my fashion life without, with my mother asking me “Seriously? I mean, SERIOUSLY?”
Something must have registered in my face, or she may have realized that this action may never be repeated, because she bought me those four stunning saris, and I haven’t looked back yet.
After purchasing them, I still utilized my mother’s (painful) mastery of sari tying to get into the garment for the next 8 months. When packing for the NetIP conference in Toronto and pulling out a green chiffon heavily embroidered in gold thread and beading, I realized that I had no idea how to actually get this on myself.
Mummy dearest and YouTube both came to the rescue, and when Labor Day rolled around and I pulled the yards of chiffon from the zippered sari pouch, I managed to wrap the yards around me successfully and meander through the NetIP gala.
My love for the sari is about one year old. And I’m in the perfect place to rock the look (and add many more to my wardrobe).
Need to learn how to tie the sari by yourself. Check out the video below:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxyyplADV5o]
