India has a long, rich cultural history, and Indian fashion reflects that. From the ancient dhotis to the popular salwars, fashion in India has expanded in both fabrics and designs. Clothing varies by region in India, but traditional items are still found in rural and urban areas.
Saris
The sari has been worn by women for hundreds of years in India and is still one of the most popular items of clothing. It is a piece of unstitched cloth that is wound around and draped over the body in a variety of styles. The style of draping differs by the region. Some saris are pleated and some fall straight. The most common way a sari is worn is wrapped around the waist and the loose end falling over a shoulder. Saris used to be made mainly from cotton, but this changed in the early 1900′s. Today saris are made from other fabrics such as chiffon and silk. Current sari fashion features bold patterns, rich embroidery and multi-colored saris.
Ornaments
Another important part of Indian fashion and culture are ornaments. Gold ornaments are very popular because gold is believed to have powers to purify anything it touches. Both gold and silver ornaments are mixed with precious or semi-precious gems. Ornaments are worn by men and women alike. The nose pin is very popular in Indian fashion. Once worn only by married women, many unwed Indian girls now wear them as well. Necklaces are popular with both single and married women and are made of everything from diamonds to glass beads. Ear rings are worn by many people in all parts of India. Finger rings, like nose pins, are no longer strictly a symbol of marriage and are worn by singles and married individuals. Ornaments are more colorful and use a wider mix of materials in India today.
Bridal Fashions
Bridal saris are another area of Indian fashion that has seen a lot of change. They come in a beautiful range of colors in different fabrics and types of work done to enhance them. The styles are named after the different materials and work, such as bridal handwork saris, bridal silk saris and bridal kanjivaram saris. Bridal handwork saris may have embroidery, bead work or patches. Bridal saris are often experimented with by fashion designers to achieve new looks. Makeup is an important part of the bridal fashion as well. Makeup is based on the bride’s skin tone, hair color and the bridal sari. If there is not an elder woman in the family experienced with bridal makeup, a bride will usually go to a beautician to achieve her perfect look.
Men’s Fashions
As with women’s fashion, fashion for men in India relates to the area where he lives. In cold climates such as Kashmir, for example, men wear thick loose-fitting shirts called phirans to keep warm. Casual clothing for men is often a kurta/churidar combination of a collarless shirt and long pant in soft colors. Turbans are still a part of men’s fashion and are found in other colors besides white. Younger men across India also wear Western items such as jeans and t-shirts.
Fashion in India changes to reflect new trends and ideas. New life is breathed into classic pieces and offers a colorful and creative range of styles.