Scalloped, sequinned, strapless. The upper cut sets the rhythm to your saree ensemble when you dress up. Blouses have undergone a stylish upsweep this festive season. Take your pick from the tie ups, blingy, and sleeve detailed pieces to suit your mood and occasion and rev up the glam quotient of your saree through real zari and hand cut mirrors
Admit it. A gorgeous blouse elevates the overall look of an unassuming saree, whether it is for a wedding, cocktail party, Sunday brunch, or for a formal appearance at work. You can look your relaxed and elegant best in a swish blouse teamed with an underplayed saree. While satins and silks are out, organza with its dreamy wisps, georgette with its fluid fall and net with its feminine elegance makes way into the trend circuit. The boat cuts, embellished backs, capes, spaghetti straps, peplums, jacket cuts and single shoulder contours have been elbowed aside by reinvented cholis, intriguing sleeves, infiniti cuts and striking crops. Choose the best that flatters your frame…
Exaggerated arm cover-ups bring in a touch of elegance in balloon sleeve blouses. The lavish embroidered blouse from Awigna arrives in pastel hues like salmon pink and peach, complete with fine threadwork rich in cutdana, sequin, beads and mirror work. The sleeves bring in a Victorian touch to the blouse, with the collared neckline accentuated with floral embroidery creating a contemporary look for the quiet silhouette. Perfect for an afternoon wedding, this bishop style blouse comes priced at Rs 59000 and can be teamed with a pre-stitched saree or flared pants.
The blouse finds its origins in the ‘stanapatta’ worn by women as recorded in the ancient artworks of Maharashtra and Gujarat. The unmistakable feminine contours of the garment add to the elegant appeal of a traditional ensemble it becomes a part of. The addition of elements like tiny bows add to the trendy appeal. Designer duo Charu and Vasundhara celebrate off shoulder blouses. “The organza detailing can be tied into a bow,” says Charu. “The embellishments in the midnight blue net blouse make it easy to team the garment with a contrast colour or a two-tone coloured saree, or lehenga. This adds a sparkle to your evening functions with a touch of aplomb.” Pegged at Rs 69,440, this flatters all body types and arrives in midnight blue, oxblood, bottle green and rose pink with embellishments in gold and silver thread.
Designer Ridhi Mehra creates a jewelled neckline in a startling deep U-neckline blouse. “The net plays up the graceful appeal with beads and stones creating the illusion of a studded neckpiece,” she says. Set beautifully in layers, the blouse also features tear-drop shaped translucent beads placed strategically all over the beige pink blouse.
Cold-shoulder crop blouses from Loka by Veerali Raveshia make up the bling quotient for your wardrobe. Replete with colourful sequins and mirror work, the block printed jade green blouse comes with an elegant halter style neckline. “The cold shoulder sleeves give an illusion of a decorative and colourful kada,” she says, “You could pair this creative blouse with a two-tone saree to add cheer to your wedding celebrations.” Optionally, slip it on as a crop top for a touch of pop and fun. Priced at Rs 28800
The gorgeous evergreen choli experiences a fun makeover with feather detailing, at the hands of fashion designer Nitika Gujral. “The ink blue ombré organza choli comes with straps, laced with feathers. A contemporary classic with the right amount of drama that makes you the showstopper,” she says with a smile. The butterfly-like embellishments dangling on a beaded chain attached to the straps of the blouse add to the glam quotient further. “You can recreate the blouse in net and georgette, other than in organza.”
Shilpi Madan for Sunday Herald