The very thought of a South Indian saree brings a series of beautiful and larger than life images to mind. We aren’t joking, try it for yourself. The minute one asks to imagine a South Indian saree, chances are you’ll get a flashback of the beautiful Rekha ji in beautiful silk saree and stunning jewelry, or of Ali Bhatt from the movie Two States, not to forget Deepika Padukone from her wedding. You can even recall a distinct relative/friend looking stunning in a crisp, silk, eight-yard beauty.
If you plan to attend a South Indian wedding as a bridesmaid or are the bride yourself, then a pure silk Kanjivaram saree is a must. And believe us when we say that one can’t go wrong with this royal attire. The complete look paired with traditional temple jewelry, fresh flowers in hair, gold hair accessories, and an embroidered blouse, will look simply divine.
While dressing up, every detail, big or small matters, to achieve that perfect, head-turning look. These days we have a flood with options: saree, jewelry, makeup, hairstyle, or footwear. It is a task to assemble a look with the correct proportion of each element mentioned above. We, therefore, advise you to not get carried away and go for a look that not only is stylish but comfortable too; otherwise, the distress will reflect on your face.
Helping you in the dressing-up process, we have created a list of tips and tricks to rock that South India Saree look.
The right fabric & colour
One of the most noticeable elements of a South Indian look is the silk saree. One can opt for a Kanjivaram silk saree, Kanchipuram saree, Uppada Silk saree, Mysore Silk saree, or even a Banarasi saree, depending on the choice. One thing that, however, remains common irrespective of the saree type you pick is to ensure that the fabric is of really good quality. A saree in quality fabric might cost more but will stay intact for years, with its shine and flow only adding to your look. So girls, try and refrain from cheap fabrics and embroideries.
Further, if you plan to splurge, then go for nothing else but a pure traditional silk saree. While they are a bit heavy on the pocket, it’s nothing short of an investment. As it’s often said that a pure silk saree often outlives its owner.
After you have made up your mind on the fabric, the next important step is to pick the right shade for that ultimate look. We know many more things/accessories/makeup goes into creating that final look, but the colour of your saree will set the base for the things that’ll follow. Thus, opting for the right shade is essential, a hue dark or light can compromise the entire vibe you are planning to create. We would suggest going with a shade that’s timeless instead of opting for something that will go out of vogue in the upcoming season.
Try to keep it subtle
For that perfect South Indian saree look, we’d say don’t go overboard, which often happens with the ample amount of choices we have by our side. A beautiful party wear weaving silk saree like the one above is in itself quite luxurious, so keeping the heavenly vibe intact, go easy with the accessories and hairstyle. We have seen a few examples where a glam of a beautiful South Indian saree was killed by overdone and mismatched accessories.
Blouse matters
Like the colour of your saree, the fit, finish, cut, and shade of your blouse matters. This small piece of attire, if good, adds stars to the whole look; if not, it can be the spoiler you were trying to avoid this whole time. While you can check out some of the most trending blouse designs here, there are a few tips that one must keep in mind while selecting a blouse to complement the South Indian saree look.
Here are a few pointers to consider:
- Opt for a contrast colour blouse; it will brighten the whole look with the detailing more visible on it
- You can even be a trendsetter with a personalized blouse
- Avoid a blouse with over detailing, as it takes away the charm of a soft silk saree
The crux, however, is that go for a blouse that you’ll be able to carry and look stunning at the same time.
Mindful accessorizing
There are several elements that go into creating that perfect South Indian saree look. The list of accessories is long, including a fine gold temple necklace, a lovely gold jhumkas, matching bangles, a gajra, bindi, an anklet, kamarband, and even a potli bag. These are all the options you have, now as per the occasion and the look you have in mind, make these accessories a part of your outfit. Keep in mind to create a balance between the outfit and accessories to achieve a glamorous look.
Also, makeup and hairstyle play a big part in achieving that stunning look. So, for the former, we’d say either highlight the eyes or the lips, it’s a big no-no to a full-face heavy look. For the hairstyle, depending on your face cut, you can either opt for a neat bun or open hair with nice accessories.
Designer’s note
We’d suggest you not to rush into a decision. A silk saree is an asset for a lifetime. So, take your time, and do some research on the design and colour. Also, when on a shopping spree, always try on the saree (don’t be lazy), see how it looks on you, and click a few pictures (preferably in the sunlight) to back later.
Speaking of shopping, there might be times when a shopkeeper will offer you to dye the fabric in the desired hue. We’d say a big no to that as dying weakens the fabric and takes aways a few years from its life span. Another drawback of dying is that the end result might vary (though slightly) from what you have imagined. So, why take any chances? Go for the options that are available with the seller.
This was our take on the ways to enhance your look in a South Indian saree. Keep all the pointers in mind, and we assure you we’d definitely grab a lot of eyeballs.
