How to Wear a Sari (Saree)

• Sari: ranges from 5 - 9 yards in length
• Low-Cut Fitted Blouse: midriff-baring blouse, ends just below the bra strap.
• Petticoat: a waist -to- floor length skirt, tied tightly at the waist by a drawstring
• Safety Pins

MOST COMMON STYLE
1.) Put on the blouse and petticoat tightly. The petticoat color should match the sari color as closely as possible but not necessary since you will not see it. The blouse can be short sleeved or sleeveless, with a variety of necklines.

2. Remember, you will be working right to left. Start with the inner plain edge, tucking it into the petticoat just right of the belly button, about 2-3 inches. Make sure the bottom of the sari touches the floor. Now wrap the sari around once, so it comes back in the front on the right hand side. You should not see the petticoat at this point.
Tip: wear your heals before you start to put on the sari. This will indicate exactly how much material to tuck into the petticoat so the sari hits the top of your feet. The amount you tuck in depends on how tall or short you are or how long you want to wear the sari.

3. Now from the tucked-in end, make pleats of equal width - about 5 to 8 pleats and hold them together neatly so they fall straight and even. I would safety pin the pleated area to stop the pleats from falling apart as you are holding it. See that the pleats are piled on top of each other evenly. The lower edge of the pleats should also be even, just off the ground.
Tip: another option is to pin the pleated area and iron this area. You will have to take the sari off, iron the pleated area and put it back on. The gracefulness of the sari depends mainly on these pleats.

4. Turn the pleats towards the waist slightly and tuck the bundle into the petticoat.
Tip: tuck pleats about 2 inches towards the belly button from your first tuck (#2).

5. Wrap the remaining sari around once more and bring it up under your right arm and over your left shoulder. Fold and arrange your shoulder pleats neatly before you place them over your shoulder. This portion should fall about knee level.
Tip: if you think the portion that is over your left shoulder is too long, let go of some of the material and add more pleats(#3)