Lehenga Style Saree
Encyclopedia
Lehenga style Saree is a new trend of Saree introduced in India
. This is an aesthetic blend of the traditional Saree and a Lehenga choli. Lehenga style saree is normally 4.5 meters to 5.5 meters long. Here unlike a sari one doesn't have to form pleats but simply 'tuck and drape'.
As that of a traditional saree, the lehenga style saree is worn over a petticoat
(in skirt, pavadai in the south, and shaya in eastern India), along with a designer blouse
called as the choli, which is the upper garment. The style of choli
mostly resembles as that of the choli of a conventional Lehenga or Ghagra choli. Sometimes conventional blouses are also matched with lehenga style saree. The choli is mostly as that of halter neck style, deep neck or “backless” style. As that of the saree, these cholis are also embellished with Kundan
, beads, mirrors etc.
with a zip at the side, it is made to the measurements of the wearer. The ensemble needs to be slipped in, fasten the zipper and drape the pallu over the shoulders. This is an outfit for ladies who are not comfortable with usual drapping and pleating that the regular saree demands. This style of saree’s pallu has the dramatic effect of the matching dupatta
of the conventional Lehenga Choli
.
, Kashida, Kasuti
, Kantha, Sozni, Shisha, Zardozi
etc. are some of the commonly practiced Embroidery in Lehenga Style Saree.
Bagh is a special kind of Embroidery done by women in Punjab to be worn during festivals and weddings. Bagh embroidery completely hides the base fabric and is a very heavy kind of embroidery. This Embroidery on Lehenga Style Saree is exquisite as often the cloth is barely visible and only the beautiful embroidery is visible. Kashida
is a Kashmiri Embroidery type. This is very colorful and depicts Kashmir in its patterns. The other famous embroidery on Lehenga sarees are Kantha
work and Kasuti work of Bangalore.
Various rich and exquisite embellishments are used on Lehenga Style sarees patterns which include Silver embroidery, Golden embroidery, Metal beads, Real pearls, wood beads, glass beads, mirror work, lace work, Kundan, sequins, glittering stones, zardozi etc. Mostly rich fabrics like silk
, georgette
, brasso, brocade, chiffon
, crepe etc are used in the making of a Lehenga style saree.
that is characteristic of a Lehenga Style Saree.) Finally, the pallu is draped over the shoulder like a regular saree.
The only difference between a Lehenga style saree and a regular saree is that it doesn't require pleats to be formed at the front. Few Lehenga style saris come with side hooks too. Hook it and fix technique fits the Lehenga style saree snugly around the waist
.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. This is an aesthetic blend of the traditional Saree and a Lehenga choli. Lehenga style saree is normally 4.5 meters to 5.5 meters long. Here unlike a sari one doesn't have to form pleats but simply 'tuck and drape'.
As that of a traditional saree, the lehenga style saree is worn over a petticoat
Petticoat
A petticoat or underskirt is an article of clothing for women; specifically an undergarment to be worn under a skirt or a dress. The petticoat is a separate garment hanging from the waist ....
(in skirt, pavadai in the south, and shaya in eastern India), along with a designer blouse
Blouse
A blouse is a loose-fitting upper garment that was formerly worn by workmen, peasants, artists, women and children. It is typically gathered at the waist so that it hangs loosely over the wearer's body. Today, the word most commonly refers to a woman's shirt but can also refer to a man's shirt if...
called as the choli, which is the upper garment. The style of choli
Choli
A choli , is a midriff-baring blouse shell garment in the Indian sari costume worn in India, southern Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and other countries where the sari is worn. The choli is cut to fit tightly to the body and has short sleeves and a low neck...
mostly resembles as that of the choli of a conventional Lehenga or Ghagra choli. Sometimes conventional blouses are also matched with lehenga style saree. The choli is mostly as that of halter neck style, deep neck or “backless” style. As that of the saree, these cholis are also embellished with Kundan
Kundan
Kundan keshri is a traditional South Asian gemstone jewellery, a method of gem setting in a jewellery piece, consisting of inserting gold foil between the stones and its mount, usually used to create elaborate necklaces believed to have originated in the royal courts of Rajasthan and Gujarat...
, beads, mirrors etc.
Origin
Lehenga style saree is a form of readymade saree that arose from the need of an artistic yet easy to wear party wear. The easy to wear option of the garment tells the ladies just to slip into it and be ready in minutes. Stitched as a long flared skirtSkirt
A skirt is a tube- or cone-shaped garment that hangs from the waist and covers all or part of the legs.In the western world, skirts are usually considered women's clothing. However, there are exceptions...
with a zip at the side, it is made to the measurements of the wearer. The ensemble needs to be slipped in, fasten the zipper and drape the pallu over the shoulders. This is an outfit for ladies who are not comfortable with usual drapping and pleating that the regular saree demands. This style of saree’s pallu has the dramatic effect of the matching dupatta
Dupatta
Dupatta Dupatta(Urdu: دوپٹا, Hindi: दुपट्टा, Bengali: ওড়না, Sindhi: پوتي, Tamil:துப்பட்ட) Dupatta(Urdu: دوپٹا, Hindi: दुपट्टा, Bengali: ওড়না, Sindhi: پوتي, Tamil:துப்பட்ட) (alternative names include chadar (in Pakistan), orni/odhni, chunri, chunni, orna, and pacheri, is a long,...
of the conventional Lehenga Choli
Gagra choli
Gagra choli or Ghagra choli, which is also known as Lehenga choli, is the traditional clothing of women in Rajasthan and Gujarat. Chaniya choli is another term commonly used to refer it.It is a combination outfit of a Lehenga, tight Choli and a Dupatta.-Lehenga:Lehenga or Ghagra is a form of...
.
Embroidery and Embellishments
Various types of Embroidery patterns are employed according to the Lehenga Style saree. Bagh, ChikanChikan (embroidery)
Chikan is a traditional embroidery style from Lucknow, India. Literally translated, the word means embroidery. Believed to have been introduced by Nur Jehan, Mughal emperor Jahangir's wife, it is one of Lucknow's most famous textile decoration styles....
, Kashida, Kasuti
Kasuti
Kasuti is a traditional form of embroidery practiced in the state of Karnataka, India. Kasuti work which is very intricate sometimes involves putting up to 5,000 stitches by hand and is traditionally made on dresswear like Ilkal and Kanchivaram sarees...
, Kantha, Sozni, Shisha, Zardozi
Zardozi
Zardozi or Zar-douzi work is a type of embroidery in Iran, India and Pakistan.-Iran:Zardozi is on of the most important elements of Persian cultural signs and Handicrafts. It is named around the country by names such Zar-douzi , Kam-douzi , Gol-douzi and Kaman-douzi...
etc. are some of the commonly practiced Embroidery in Lehenga Style Saree.
Bagh is a special kind of Embroidery done by women in Punjab to be worn during festivals and weddings. Bagh embroidery completely hides the base fabric and is a very heavy kind of embroidery. This Embroidery on Lehenga Style Saree is exquisite as often the cloth is barely visible and only the beautiful embroidery is visible. Kashida
Kashida
Kashida is a type of justification used in some cursive scripts, particularly Arabic. In contrast to white-space justification, which increases the length of a line of text by expanding spaces between words or individual letters, kashida justification is accomplished by elongating characters at...
is a Kashmiri Embroidery type. This is very colorful and depicts Kashmir in its patterns. The other famous embroidery on Lehenga sarees are Kantha
Kantha
Kantha is a type of embroidery popular in Bangladesh and in West Bengal, India. The use of kantha is popular in saris traditionally worn by women in Bengal, but any garment or cloth with kantha embroidery may be called a kantha garment.Kantha stitching is also used to make simple quilts...
work and Kasuti work of Bangalore.
Various rich and exquisite embellishments are used on Lehenga Style sarees patterns which include Silver embroidery, Golden embroidery, Metal beads, Real pearls, wood beads, glass beads, mirror work, lace work, Kundan, sequins, glittering stones, zardozi etc. Mostly rich fabrics like silk
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
, georgette
Georgette
Georgette may refer to:* Georgette Lemare, fictional character from the anime/manga Strike Witches* Georgette , crinkly crepe-like fabric...
, brasso, brocade, chiffon
Chiffon
Chiffon may refer to:* Chiffon , a type of fabric* Chiffon cake, a light, fluffy cake* Chiffonade, a French term for the cutting of herbs or leafy green vegetables into long, thin strips* The Chiffons, girl group of the 1960s...
, crepe etc are used in the making of a Lehenga style saree.
Draping a Lehenga Style Saree
Compared with traditional sarees, the method of draping a lehenga style is relatively simple and hassle-free. The plain end of the saree is tucked into the in petticoat/skirt and wrapped once completely around the waist, similar to wearing a regular saree. Whereas pleats would be formed in a traditional saree, at this point with the lehenga style one continues to tuck in the drape without making any pleats. (In a Lehenga Style Saree, pleats are replaced with embellished gotas or panels at the front, which imparts a flared silhouetteSilhouette
A silhouette is the image of a person, an object or scene consisting of the outline and a basically featureless interior, with the silhouetted object usually being black. Although the art form has been popular since the mid-18th century, the term “silhouette” was seldom used until the early decades...
that is characteristic of a Lehenga Style Saree.) Finally, the pallu is draped over the shoulder like a regular saree.
The only difference between a Lehenga style saree and a regular saree is that it doesn't require pleats to be formed at the front. Few Lehenga style saris come with side hooks too. Hook it and fix technique fits the Lehenga style saree snugly around the waist
Waist
The waist is the part of the abdomen between the rib cage and hips. On proportionate people, the waist is the narrowest part of the torso....
.