One of the most intriguing features of festivals in India is that many of them, though regional, are multicultural. One such fest is Onam, which is celebrated tomorrow. It’s that time of the year when you plan to devour the traditional Onam sadhya with your Malayalee friends or get those Kasavu saris and mundus pressed and ready to drape on. If you are among this lot, you could do with some advice from Fashion experts on the dressing trends this festive season.
Freelance designer, Karuna Rampal, believes, “The Onam sari is best known for its sophistication and timelessness. White and gold complement each other and when worn with a contrasting blouse, it’s not difficult to make a style statement. The sari is popular even among the non-Malayalee-Bollywood celebrities and that’s another reason why a lot of young girls are captivated by the trend.”
According to Neela Edwards, co-owner of Ravikes, “The kasavu sari is a remnant of the past. The fine handlooms from rural communities were always in demand for fineness of count and design. Awareness and the internet have taken the mundu across the globe. Today, the discerning woman wishes to revive old cultural traditions and wear it.”
One of the best features of the Onam sari is its versatility. “It can be worn in many regional styles – Coorg, Bengali, or Gujarati way to look fashionable and elegant,” says Neela’s partner, Padmaja Bhandary.
Pairing the Onam sari with a brocade blouse has been the trend for a while now and Roopa Reddy from House of Blouse, suggests, “If you want to go bold, wear a fan strap or wide spaghetti strap blouse in either a traditional plain red or green. You can take it further by doing a brocade pairing.”
There are other innovative ways to flaunt your Onam sari this year. According to Rachana Reddy, accessory designer and co-founder of House of Blouse, “Add a bold or colourful border on the reverse side of the cream or white sari so that it plays peek-a-boo while you are moving around without disrupting the traditional Onam sari’s gold border.”
Srishti Nair, a boutique owner opines, “If you aren’t comfortable wearing a sari, you have the option of flaunting a Kasavu churidhaar instead. There is also the gorgeous two-piece set mundu that is making quite a style statement. And again, there are different traditional and regional specific draping styles (followed in different parts of Kerala) that you could adopt. Brocade pleats add an interesting twist for those who are looking to fuse styles. You even get white and gold saris with traditional prints like that of Kathakali masks.”
Draping yourself in a beautiful Kasavu sari is only half the job done. Accessorising appropriately is a must. “Large earrings in pearl and gold or a statement maang tikka are in. Try not to over accessorise as it will divert the attention from the beautiful sari-blouse pairing. As every fest keeps one busy organising the meals and attending pujas, you may want to keep those feet comfortable yet stylish in wedges with traditionally crafted straps. There are many varieties in the market with sequined straps in a combination of colours and motifs. A potli bag would complete that look. Carry one in the hue of gold and off white to match a statement blouse or a bold reverse pallu,” Rachana recommends.
Now you’re all set to rock that white and gold tomorrow.
