DIY Universal Saree Blouses!

What are universal saree blouses?
Those basic gold, silver and black blouses that everyone's been talking about. They go with most saree's and you dont have to worry about matching blouses.

So where do you get them from?
In Delhi M-Block is full of them! and so is every small little shop around town. Meena Bazaar and Greenways have the prettier embroidered ones.

Why the DIY?
Because
1. They don't fit! they are made in a standard size 36", even if the button closes perfectly there are alterations that are required.

and

Reinvent your Trousseau, Re-Learn to Style . CIW presents Abhilasha!

Crazy Indian Wedding Treasure Box present :

from http://www.lookinggoodfeelingfab.com/

Abhilasha 

Learn from her :

Reinvent your Trousseau, Re-Learn to Style 

Hello, all the lovely readers of “The crazy Indian wedding”

Thank you so much Roli, for giving me the opportunity to interact with all your readers, pretty brides and brides to be. This post is words of wisdom from a wise old married woman (haha...just kidding) on adjustments and saris.

Marriage means different things for different people, but one common thing that every married person will tell you is that it means ADJUSTMENTS. 

Just before I got married I started dreading this word, it felt like an unknown monster that was about to consume me. It is vague and obscure, and no one could really tell me what those adjustments would be..

So fear not, I am here to spell it out for you. It is those small things for some food habits, for some sleep habits, for a lot of people mother-in-law habits and even the way that we dress sometimes requires a little tweaking.

 You can make this process as simple or as difficult as you want it to be. Pick your battles wisely, choose the things that you will not compromise and stand your ground and let go of some other minor issues.

A lot of girls are required to make adjustments to their wardrobe after marriage and often that means the inclusion of the traditional Indian sari. 

So bye bye to your individuality or sense of style? No. I think not.

The sari is the most gorgeous and most versatile piece of clothing ever.

Here is how you can inject some style and personality into it:

1   Choose the material: Opt for lighter fabrics like georgettes, chiffon, satin and net to give it a fun youthful feel.

     Play with print: Go crazy playing with prints, Masaba has turned every Indian symbol into a sari print, so can you, cow, camera, hand..go play. You can even pick unusual, more western prints like the lip print, zebra, birds, or big floral prints to add a dash of the west to your traditional Indian sari.

     Ditch the blouse: Yes, you heard me, forget about the age old habit of dutifully separating the blouse piece and running to the tailor for your matching blouse. Try wearing the sari with a shirt, t-shirt, tank top, jacket or a shrug, like I have worn here. 

     Accessorize: Go for contrasts in the colours of the accessories and even to feel. Mix a statement studs and spikes necklace to the traditional kanjeevaram.

      Shoes: Have fun with the shoes, saris don’t always have to be worn with kolhapuris. Try them with gladiators or ballerinas or pumps with a very western style.

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  Looking for more style statements to make, Check out her blog onhttp://www.lookinggoodfeelingfab.com/

      Crazy Indian Wedding Recommends the following must reads :

DIY Manish Malotra Jacket:

http://lookingoodfeelingfab.blogspot.in/2013/04/diy-manish-malhotras-phulkari-style.html

     Dig out that old Phulkari Dupatta!

Pulkari Draped Jacket

http://lookingoodfeelingfab.blogspot.in/2013/04/phulkari-dupatta-just-for-salwar-suits.html

New ways to wear a Saree

http://lookingoodfeelingfab.blogspot.in/2013/02/new-way-to-wear-your-old-sari.html

Salwar+Golden top+Golden Jewelry = Golden statement

http://lookingoodfeelingfab.blogspot.in/search?updated-max=2013-03-13T21:48:00-07:00&max-results=7

Dress as a top (or a blouse)

http://lookingoodfeelingfab.blogspot.in/2012/11/have-fun-this-festive-season-with.html

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Try out your new style with the new RAJKUMARI collection. Take a peek at http://www.crazyindianwedding.com/2013/04/crazy-indian-wedding-treasure-box.html

Look What I Found! Sari School!

I guess I will probably start a whole section of 'Look What I Found!' I seem to be finding a lot of new things these days! :P

When I was about to get married one of the things-to-learn was how to tie a Saree. Still not an expert I do continuously you-tube different ways of draping a Saree.

So this is what I stumbled upon

The Saree School invites you to learn how to drape a Saree 
On 25th Feb,
Time : 10:30 - 1:30pm 
At Jangpura Extension, New Delhi. 
Register at thesarischool@gmail.com
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There Facebook Page claims :

A workshop by renowned author Ms. Rta Kapur Chishti teaching the various styles of wearing the unstitched garment. The aim is to promote the wearing of saris and also giving the garment a contemporary touch by plunging into our roots.

The course will include : 
- A 30 minute introductory audio visual 
- An introduction to regional variations in wearing styles: North/South/East/West 
- Materials, spinning & weaving techniques. 
- Atleast 4 select wearing styles from a 108 available will be taught in practice in every session representing the regional variations. 

Learn the basics so you can reinvent this unique garment. 

Atleast 5 members to each session For Further enquiries & enrollement, please confirm through email by Thursday any week E-mail id: chishti@airtelmail.in Or contact Rta Kapur Chishti at 011-41823927 / 41823134 / 9810054147 between 10am-6pm
Or write to: The Sari School, registered at K-42, Jangpura Extension, New Delhi-110014 

Photo taken from http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Sari-School/178704555508100

DIY Saree : Readers Question

" I stumbled upon ur blog while browsing through the internet. Must say, you’ve posted amazingly informative stuff out there. They are really helpful for someone like me who really has to start from scratch when it comes to shadi and beauty related stuff.

 I have a question and was wondering if you could help me out. It’s my sister’s wedding next month, and I want to design a saree for myself. Basically, get the fabric and kinaris and assemble something! And I am looking to find some place where I can get those heavy designer blouses (Want to keep the saree simple though). Please let me know if you know places where I can go for the above mentioned stuff. Also, is it doable? Have never done this before.

Thanks a lot! And wishing you the best for your wedding "

Yes its totally doable, infact I have made some of my trousseau saree's myself and even gifted a few to my sister and my would be sister-in-law.

Here is a list of places you'll get everything you need from:

(Hope your from Delhi/NCR, because thats the place I know most about)

Fabric :

 Lajpat Nagar : There is a whole Gali which has fabric wala's. Don't remember the name of the shop from where I purchased but its Opposite 3C lane may 'corner wali shop'

Nehru Place : Good for getting plane fabric (but would recommend going to Lajpat)

For a Saree try Fabrics like : 

Georgette Brocade  (also called Khadi silk, pronounced kha-dee silk)

Silk Satin

Mukesh Work Georgette (you get this already embroidered at a good rate)

Chiffon with some embroidery

Crepe

Here are pictures for your reference :

Georgette Brocade

Mukesh Work Georgette

Light Mukesh Work

You can combine them as : 

Mixing Georgette brocade as the pleat fabric and have pure silk satin as the palla 

Mixing Georgette brocade as the pleat fabric and having mukesh work Georgette/chiffon as palla

Mixing Georgette brocade as the pleat fabric and Crepe as the palla

Using Only Mukesh Work Georgette (looks really nice, I made a saree of only this fabric in Emerald green)

Only Chiffon with some embroidery (you get already embroidered fabric at these shops)

Only Crepe (the colors come out really pretty in this so it can be used alone but it can end up looking a bit plain)

NOTE : Take fabric for facing as well! around 2 meters silk, in nice bright complimentary color.

Colours can be any! If your mixing 2 fabrics you can have them in different colors as well! I Took Plain fabric and got it dyed at Lajpat.

Borders :

You get Saree borders ready made these days, just ask straight away for a 9 meter saree border. You can also combine 2-3 borders together.

Chandni Chowk, Kinari Bazaar: you will get the most variety here at good price but insure the quality is good, Kinari can be tricky in terms of Quality.

Lajpat Nagar : There are many shops from where you can get.There is a whole gali for it. The shop which I prefer is Prakash Zari wala, if your going from KFC (with KFC at your left) then its situated near the 2nd park to your right. Ask around a lot of people know this shop. Its a bit expensive but has really good stuff.

For Latkans at Lajpat :

There is a paneer pakodey wali gali (Lane right in front of Bombay Selections) which is really good for latkans, there is a shop that has really good and cheap kamarband too!

For heavy blouses :

Try Meena Bazaar, they have a decent collection, 

Eves tailor at M block Market, GK 2 : I havn't been there personally but have heard a lot about him, if not him then you get a lot of ready made blouses in M block.

Stitching :

Any of your good local tailor can easily stitch the borders to the fabric. You can get a bright complimentary color piping also done to have a finished look to the Saree.

If I get a chance then will will put the saree's, that I have made, on the blog soon :)