A saree looks very elegant. However for every beginner the biggest question is how to drape a saree. Be it a powerloom or a handloom saree, the better they are draped, the better they look on you. A saree is an epitome of beauty and the draping style makes one look more elegant and more presentable. People who do not know how to drape a saree often struggle in managing it. By following a step-by-step guide anyone can beautifully drape the saree on herself and be ready for daily wear, travel, festive seasons, and office wear.
The step by step guide by Noolagam will help you to drape your saree perfectly so that you can drape every saree including the pure GI tagged handloom sarees by Noolagam.
What You Will Need Before You Begin
A saree can make a woman look beautiful and effortless. However the basics need to be sorted first. If you are a beginner and want to learn how to drape a saree, you should have a few things first.
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Take a saree which is 5.5 metres or 6 metres long depending upon the style you want to wear.
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A well-fitted blouse.
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A petticoat tied at the natural waist which gives the natural curve shape.
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A few safety pins.
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A full-length mirror so that you can check the drape properly even from sideways.
A lightweight cotton saree such as a handloom holds pleats cleaner than a heavier silk. This is the reason why it is recommended that a beginner should start with a cotton saree as it is easier to drape and easier to handle.
How to Drape a Saree Step by Step (Nivi Style)
There are different ways of draping a saree. However the Nivi Drape is the most common one used in India and is the basic starting point for anybody who wants to learn how to drape a saree step by step.
Step by step ways to wear a saree are:
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First tuck the plain end of the saree into the petticoat at the right side of your waist. Make sure that the bottom edge of the saree is touching the floor. The bottom edge should not be too high.
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Wrap the saree around your waist from left to right. Again make sure that the bottom edge is touching the floor.
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For beginners it is easier to wrap the sari again and take the pallu on the left shoulder. Pallu is the other end of the saree. Adjust the length of the pallu so that it falls back near your knee.
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Pin the pallu so that it doesn't move.
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Gather the part that will be left in front.
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Create uniform pleats about 5 -6 that face towards the left.
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Now tuck the gathered pleat at the centre of the petticoat below the navel region.
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Pin the top fold to secure it.
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Adjust the loose fabric around your chest so that it stretches from waist to shoulder.
The Three-Fold Check: A Quick Way to Know Your Drape Is Right
There is no need to open the sari again and again and wear it if there is any issue. The best way to make sure that the sari is perfectly set is to ask oneself:
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Is the pleat symmetry correct?
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Are the pleats in the front falling in this single straight line?
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One should remember that no fold should be wider than the others.
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Is the waist tension correct? Can you sit down and sit up properly without loosening the fabric? If they get loose that means the tension is not correct and the sari might open.
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Is the pallu length correct? Is the pallu length between the hip and knee? If it is too small it will not look good and if it is too big there is a high chance that one will tip off the stairs or fall on the road.
Common First-Time Draping Mistakes
Usually, beginners make some common draping mistakes that can be checked and corrected.
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The pallu keeps sliding off the shoulder. After the entire saree is set, you should see if the pallu across your chest to the waist is fitting tightly to your body. If not, then take the loose part of the pallu left on the side or front and fold it up.
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Pleats do not sit properly. The front pleats should be equal and the biggest problem becomes where the pleats are tucked. You should hold the fold facing your body, press, and then tuck your pleats in so that all the pleats get tucked in together. Then it is better to secure them with a pin so that it will not come out.
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Many beginners feel that a saree will slip from the waist. However that will not happen if the petticoat is tied correctly at the natural waistline, which gives the sari a firm grip. If the petticoat is tied somewhere else, more near the hip or above the waistline, then it can definitely loosen and slip.
If these problems are properly managed then the saree will stay as it is the entire day.
Different Ways to Drape a Saree in Different Styles
Once the Nivi drape feels comfortable, it's worth learning a few of the different ways to drape a saree that regional traditions use, since each changes the pallu, pleats, or direction of wrap:
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Bengali style where the pallu is wrapped around the body two times and brought over the shoulder with keys or a bunch tied into the end. Movement in this saree is very easy.
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Gujarati (seedha pallu) is where the pallu is draped from back to front over the right shoulder. It is then spread across the chest rather than left to hang down the back.
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Maharashtrian (nauvari)is a nine-yard saree draped without a petticoat, with the fabric passed between the legs and tucked at the back, originally designed for ease of movement.
Draped with a normal 5.5 or 6 m saree, other than the nauvari saree, which is a longer saree.
Why Beginners Overcomplicate Their First Drape
First-time drapers are mostly concerned with the pallu, its length, and its perfection. They actually forget that the actual look is determined not by the pallu but by the front pleats. It starts if the pleats are not pleated properly and if they are not stuck well and not pinned well. Then there is a high chance that either one of the pleats will be longer and you may tip off and fall. There is a chance that pleats get loose and you have to again open it and wear it or the entire look does not sit well. So as a beginner you should concentrate on your front pleats, the length and the tuck. If the pleat is correct then the pull can be easily matched.
Draping Handloom Cotton: What Changes
The fabric of the saree always determines how the drape behaves and how the saree falls on your body.
Noolagam works directly with the weaving clusters across Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Karnataka, and Kerala, sourcing lightweight handlooms, cotton such as mul , Chanderi, and Maheshwari silk. These fabrics are handwoven. They are available on handloom and can be worn on a daily basis, on occasion, and for travel as well.
If practically someone chooses a handloom which is soft to pleat then the pleat falls well as it is easier to practice how to pleat and wear the saris. Noolagam suggests starting with lightweight cotton saris so that the pleats fall easily and it is easy to manage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How long does it take to learn how to drape a saree?
It is possible to learn a basic navy drape within a week of daily practice. Once a person understands the tucking, pleating, and draping, one can wear a saree in 10 minutes.
2. What is the easiest saree draping style for beginners?
The Nivi style is the easiest starting point. It has a single wrap, front pleats and a pallu over one shoulder. It does not have additional folds or tucks between the legs like some regional styles require.
3. Do I need a specific type of saree to practise draping?
Usually a light-weight cotton saree of 5.5 to 6 m length is easiest to handle for beginners. Heavier silk sarees can be difficult.
4. What are some different ways to drape a saree besides the Nivi style?
There are the different drapes of sarees, for eg: Bengali drape, where the pallu is wrapped twice and keys are tied at the end, Gujrati or Siddha pallu, Maharashtra Navwari or a nine-yard saree, which is tucked between the legs.
5. Why does my saree keep coming loose during the day?
Saree can keep coming out during the day because of a loosely tied petticoat, wrongly tied either above the waist or above the hip. A petticoat should always be tied at the waistline where the natural curves follow so that the saree stays there properly. The reason for sarees to become loose is the incorrect way of tucking. If the pleats are not proportionate while tucking, if the pleats become uneven, then also there's a chance that one of the pleats becomes loose and the saree opens.
