The Dresses...

Casual or Dressy ?? Casual means attire that is comfortable, not contrived, a look that does not say “Dressed Up”. It does not mean sloppy, nonchalant or unattractive. You can be casual in a good pair of trousers, a silk blouse, and a leather jacket or in a cotton dress with sandles and a straw hat.

Simplicity is as much a sign of a well dressed woman as appropriateness. It even has an added value: it spells elegance. But looking elegant is not the only advantage of simplicity, especially in a dress. There are several extremely practical reasons too:

1: The look of a simple dress can be easily changed with accessories
2: You will not get bored with a simple style as quickly as you will with an unusual one.
3: A simple dress is versatile, for it can be worn on many different types of occasions.

Different Styles of a Dress:

1: The Shirt Waist Dress:
Also called shirt-dress, shirtwaist dress, shirt waister. A dress with a bodice and a front opening tailored like those of a dress shirt. A shirtwaist dress is meant to mimic the lines and design of men's shirts, with a crisp collar and a button down front. The sleeves may be long or short, and the dress itself tends to be at least knee length, if not longer. The dresses can be very practical and subdued, or they may be more ornamental, and a range of materials and sewing styles are used for an assortment of desired looks, from matronly and professional to more sultry.

2: The Long Waisted Dress:
It was originally described as "Girls Long-Waisted Dress, with body and sleeve in one; with or without the bertha or upper skirt; equally desirable for flouncings, bordered materials and other fabrics. Suggested fabrics: Silk flat crepe, velveteen, serge, wool, and flannel. The colors were blue, tan, brown, black, bisque tan, French blue, navy blue and mahogany.

3: The Wraparound Dress:
Our new Fair Trade Wraparound Dresses are flying out, they are very versatile they look really good over a pair of trousers or equally good over a swimsuit or bikini when you are on your holidays.

4: The Chemise:

Paired with slinky skirts as evening tops and tailored with woven fabrics, silky slips or satin camisoles were worn under suits. Elegant short slips and embroidered long camisoles were all in abundance. The camisole-also referred to as the chemise, tanks, vests or cami-top is still a popular and sexy lingerie item today. Together with slips and half-slips it remains an essential part of any woman's wardrobe. Essentially the camisole is a sleeveless and sheer undergarment, also worn as an alternative to a blouse. The cami-top on the other hand is a look-alike shape wear piece that gives a seamless and toned look to tight fitting outer garments. The Slip, by contrast is a full-length undergarment for dresses that is suspended from the shoulders by straps and often worn under sheer dresses to reduce transparency.

5: The T- Shirt Dress:
A T-Shirt dress is the ultimate in cool; wear over woollen tights with platform ankle boots and a heavy belt slung around the waist for shape. The extra long length and slightly fitted waist complements most figures and is an extra suitable for Mums with post baby tummies!

6: The Empire Style:
Perfect for skinny minnies and voluptuous girls alike, the empire waist dress is universally flattering. It adds curves to the right places, while disguising the wrong. The feminine prom dress features a waistline that hits between the upper-waist to just below the bust, creating a long, lean figure. Glamazons can emphasize the sleek shape and plunging neckline with a sleek color and tip-toe heels, while girlie girls can play up the flowy prom dress with ruffles and bows.

7: The Sun Dress:
We love the dresses of summer. Endless designs offered in lightweight fabrics that are colorful, fun, flirty and sexy. So easy to slip into and so comfortable, they're an effortless way to look fabulous. It's time to enjoy the warm breezes of summer in these skin baring designs.You can't think of anything you can't do in these dresses, from casual summer barbecues to attending the wedding of the season.

8: Cocktail Dress:
A short knee length dress shape of the 1920s, lightweight wool, satin, silk and velvet fabrics are usual and often cut to reveal the shoulders and arms. The length of cocktail dresses varies depending on fashion and local custom. The length ranges from just above the knee to touching the ankle. When it is about 5 cm (2 inches) above the ankle it is called tea length and when it is almost touching the ankle it is called ballerina length, although ballerina length dresses usually fall into the evening gown category.

At semi-formal occasions, less elaborate, shorter-length cocktail dresses may be worn, when gentlemen are in dark suits. Prior to the mid 20th century this type of dress was known as 'late afternoon'. When gentlemen are in business suits, ladies also wear dress suits or "good" afternoon skirt and dresses.

By the 1980s a dress was considered to be cocktail less by where the hem fell, but more by the level of sumptuousness the garment attained.

9: The Little Black Dress:
A little black dress is an evening or cocktail dress, cut simply and often with a short skirt, originally made popular in the 1920s by the fashion designer Coco Chanel. Intended by Chanel to be long-lasting, versatile, affordable, and accessible to the widest market possible and in a neutral color. Its continued ubiquity is such that many refer to it by its abbreviation, LBD.

The "little black dress" is considered essential to a complete wardrobe by many women and fashion observers, who believe it a "rule of fashion" that every woman should own a simple, elegant black dress that can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion: for example, worn with a jacket and pumps for daytime business wear or with more ornate jewellery and accessories for evening. Because it is meant to be a staple of the wardrobe for a number of years, the style of the little black dress ideally should be as simple as possible: a short black dress that is too clearly part of a trend would not qualify because it would soon appear dated.

Putting it Together

Saris For the Bride:
1: Gadhwal
2: Paithani
3: Banarasi / Baluchari
4: Silk Kantha
5: Kanjeevaram / Sambalpuri / Ikat Patola
*Whatever you choose should be good quality original long lasting silk that is non transparent. Obviously something that looks more of elegant than seductive.

Saris For the Corporate Woman:
1: Light weight Printed Silks in subdued colours
2: Crepes in small prints
3: Cottons well starched and simple in design
*Cotton Saris look great if worn with a matching Silk Sleeveless or mega Sleeved Blouse

For the Lean and Fit Women:
1:Georgette Silk & Chiffon Sarees: are the most flattering for the well maintained body and come in the most varied designs and colors. These definitely fall into the Seductive bracket and you might want to consider them on a special evening with Hubby Deary! :)

Other Occassions:

Cotton Kantha's / Kota's: Best for office.
Silk Kanthas: for any evening functions these look absolutely elegant.
Kanjeevarams: Orange, Amber or Mustard Colored look great for any Haldi Function.
Banarasi Saris: Brown, Green, Teal, Blue Perfect for any wedding.
Lukhnavi Chikan Saris: Come in dull colors and are extremely transparent Unless u have a perfect 10 u are better off avoiding this one. However you might want to go in for a White Black Blue kurtis which look extremely elegant also a Luckhnavi Suit looks great with the right stitch and fit for the office.
Bandhanis: Ideal if u wish to wear a colourful look with loads of bangles and some oxidized heavy jewellery with a long black bindi. Can be worn for any Haldi Kunkum or those Dandiya nights when u don’t wish to adorn a ghagra choli...
Ikat: Main forms of Ikat are Patola from Gujarat and Pochampalli from Andhra Pradesh. These are great for any engagement or wedding and come in the most varied of colours.
Banarasi / Jamdani: Golden Weave or Zardosi Work in red looks great on a bride.
Chanderi: This ones a sure head turner. Well Starched and worn with a matching Silk blouse looks awesome. This also is the super transparent but if worn well and carried to perfection, you will be grabbing the right kind of attention.
Baluchari: Traditional saris from Baluchar, Bengal, characterized by mythological scenes hand-woven on the sari. Unique and one of a kind these are best for any wedding.

The 6 Yard Wonder - Elegant & Seductive!

Silk Saris never fail you in terms of making the atmosphere appear festive and colourful and there is a variety you can choose from each part of India. The core of any good sari wardrobe is to have at least one traditional Sari from every region of India. In addition, there should be some plain, single coloured Saris, to show off accessories – be it elegant jewellery or a shawl to perfection. The wisest thing to do is to choose colours that complement you and make your jewellery stand out. For an Image of most of these visit: http://www.exoticindiaart.com/textiles/Saris/

Saris from North India:

Banaras Brocade: This sari from Banaras is virtually mandatory in the bride’s trousseau. These saris vary tremendously as weavers create different products to suit different regional markets and changing fashions. Most brocades usually have strong Mogul influences in the design, such as intricate intertwining floral and foliate motifs, kalga and bel. A characteristic found along the inner, and sometimes outer, edge of borders is a narrow fringe like pattern that often looks like a string of upright leaves called jhallr. This is almost a signature of Benarasi brocade.
Lucknow Chikan: Chikankari is a fine and intricate shadow-work type of embroidery done by white yarn on colourless muslins called tanzeb (tan meaning body and zeb meaning decoration). The word ‘chikan’ according to one school of thought appears to have had its origin in Persia, being derivative of chikn or chakeen. Indian women wear chikan Saris or aunty Sari at all occasions these Saris are available at different colours and designs. It is also known as chikan lucknowi Saris.

Saris from South India:

Gadwal: Gadwal Sari is made in cotton in a style influenced by the Banarasi weaves. While the ground of the Sari is cotton, there is a loosely attached silk border. Copper or gold-dipped zari is generally used in these Saris. The motifs of the murrugan (peacock) and the rudraksh are popular. Traditional colours for these Saris are earth shades of browns, greys and off-whites. However, brighter shades have been introduced for the North Indian buyer.
Kanjeevaram Sari: No Indian bridal trousseau is complete without the ‘Kanjeewaram’ Sari, characterised by gold-dipped silver thread that is woven onto brilliant silk. Kanchipuram is a town in Tamil Nadu with more than 150 years of weaving tradition – completely untouched by fashion fads. Kanjeewarams are favoured for their durability. Kanjee silk is thicker than almost all other silks, and is therefore more expensive. The heavier the silk, the better the quality. Peacock and parrot are the most common motifs. Though lightweight kanjee Saris are popular as they are easy to wear and cost very little, the traditional weavers do not like to compromise. While Korean and Chinese silk is suitable for light-weight Saris (machine woven), only mulberry silk produced in Karnataka and few parts of Tamil Nadu, is right for the classic Kanjeewaram.
Konrad Sari: The konrad or the temple Sari is also a speciality item from Tamil Nadu. These Saris were original woven for temple deities. They are wide bordered Saris and are characterised by wedding related motifs such as elephants and peacocks, symbolising water, fertility and fecundity. Traditional colours for these Saris are earth shades of browns, greys and off-whites. However, brighter shades have been introduced for the North Indian buyer.
Others: Pashmina silk, kota silk, Mysore crepes, pochampallis and puttapakshi Saris are also popular South Indian Saris Typical wedding Saris from Kerala are the nayayanpets and bavanjipets which usually have a gold border on a cream base. Traditional colours for these Saris are earth shades of browns, greys and off-whites. However, brighter shades have been introduced for the North Indian buyer.

Saris from Central India:
Chanderi and Maheshwari: The Chanderi Sari from Madhya Pradesh is light and meant for Indian summers. It is made in silk or fine cotton with patterns taken from the Chanderi temples. The Maheshwari Saris are also both in cotton and silk, usually green or purple with a zari border. The traditional block-printed tussar can also be found in contemporary designs nowadays.

Saris from East India:
Baluchari Saris: This Sari from Bengal is usually five yards in length and 42” wide in flame red, purple and occasionally in deep blue. The field of the Sari is covered with small butis and a beautiful floral design runs across the edges. The anchal has the main decoration depicting narrative motifs. Taingals and kanthas are other speciality items from Bengal.
Others: Baluchari, Kantha, Ikat, Sambalpuri

Saris from West India:
Bandhani: The panetar Sari is a Gujarati-Hindu Sari of satin weave and Gajji silk with red borders, central medallions and a white body, which may contain regularly spaced red tie-dyed spots. Single colour Saris and odhnis with white spots are also common. The most famous of this type is the Gujarati Sari called Garchola. It is usually red, but occasionally green, and is divided into a network of squares created by rows of white tie-dyed spots or woven bands of zari. The Garchola is a traditional Hindu and Jain wedding Sari, which used to be made of cotton, but is now usually in silk. The number of squares in the Sari is ritually significant multiples of 9, 12 or 52.
Patola: The most time consuming and elaborate Sari created by the western region is the potole (plural patola) which has intricate five colour designs resist-dyed into both warp and weft threads before weaving. Double ikat patola Sari is a rare and expensive investment. A cheaper alternative to double ikat patola is the silk ikat Sari developed in Rajkot (Gujarat), that creates patola and other geometric designs in the weft threads only.
Gujarati Brocade: These are extremely expensive and virtually extinct. The main distinguishing characteristics of the Gujarati Brocade Sari: Butis (circular designs) woven into the field in the warp direction instead of the weft, resulting in their lying horizontally instead of vertically on the Sari when draped. Floral designs woven in coloured silk, against a golden (woven zari) ground fabric. Although such ‘inlay’ work is a common feature in many western Deccan silks, the Gujarati work usually has leaves, flowers and stems outlined by a fine dark line.
Embroidered Tinsel Saris: The western region also has a rich embroidered tradition, made famous by ethnic groups such as rabaris and sodha Rajputs. The Sari with zardozi, the gold gilt thread embroidery technique, at one time patronised by the Moghul emperors and the aristocracy, is today an inextricable part of a bridal trousseau. Balla tinsel and khari work are the cheaper variations available in metallic embroidery, which have also become quite popular.
Paithani: This Sari is named after a village near Aurangabad in Maharashtra. Now also woven in the town of Yeola, these Saris use an enormous amount of labour, skill and sheer expanse of material in their creation. Distinctive motifs such as parrots, trees and plants are woven into the Sari. The shades vary from vivid magenta, peacock greens and purples. In the pallav, the base is in gold and the pattern is done in silk, giving the whole Sari an embossed look.
Kota Doria: Kota in Rajasthan, India is the home of the famous Kota Doria saris made in small villages around the Kota city. "Kota Doria" is a super transparent yet stable cotton or cotton/silk weave consisting of varied guages of yarn, creating an almost graph like pattern called khats (squares formed between the different thicknesses of fibers). The intermittent heavier guage yarns give the fabric enough weight and lateral stability to fall very gracefully, yet it is incredibly airy and transparent. Generally, these pieces are worn in the heat of summer. The chequered weave of a Kota sari is a prized possession of many women. The gossamer-fine fabric Kota dorias are the finest weaves in India - so fine that they are almost weightless.
Other Saris from this region: The region is also famous for producing ornate Saris such tanchois, amru brocades, shikargarh brocades and tissues. Abrawans (literally meaning flowing water). Tissue Saris, usually woven with the finest silk thread are also quite popular. A classy design in Abrawans is tarbana (woven water) with a fine silk warp with a zari weft giving an almost metallic sheen. Kincab or Kinkhwab Saris are the most popular of the brocades and are so covered with the zari patterning that the underlying silk cloth is barely visible. Jamawars also come from Uttar Pradesh. These silk Saris are embellished with zari threadwork. The popular theme is a jacquard weave in ‘meena’ colours like orange and green. Tanchois (in zari) are another item from of Uttar Pradesh and have different designs, not just Moghul motifs. Another type is the kora silk Sari which is starched as brittle as organza.