Royal Kanjeevaram Or Romantic Organza, Celebrity Drape Artist Dolly Jain Shares Tricks To Ace Your Bridal Sari

“I have often heard people say that once you’ve worn a sari it’s very difficult to use the washroom. That’s just strange to me. It’s a big misconception because our mothers, grandmothers, in fact, a majority of Indians wear sari every day, so, do you think they don’t use the washroom for hours?” questions Dolly Jain.

 And, she raises a valid point. The sari draping artist has mastered 325 styles of wearing the garment and is a favourite among many Bollywood celebrities as she helps them navigate the six yards of style.  

“The fact is, if you have draped the sari the right way and its pinned in the right places, nothing is going to move even an inch,” she says. 

Well as an expert who holds the record for wearing a sari in 18.5 sec, it may be easy for her to say so. But, Dolly is all about sharing her wisdom of the traditional drape via her namesake YouTube channel.  “I have put up all the knowledge in my channel because I feel that if I retire today then I will forever feel guilty about not sharing my art with the future generations while I had the chance,” she says.

Touché to that and on that note here are her tips for wearing the elegant garment to best suit your style:   

It’s all about the fabric

From handloom to synthetic weaves and even denim, sari has truly evolved. So, apart from picking the right draping style, you also need to be very picky about the fabric of your garment.

“People often complain that they look ‘fat’ in a sari, they never say ‘short’ or ‘too tall’ but they will only say ‘fat’. This misconception arises because they think that a five and a half yard long fabric wrapped around them will only add bulk to their body. I truly believe that you have to select the fabric and drape the sari according to your structure,” she says.

Her picks? Georgette, Kota cotton or silk and Organza that are easily wearable with basic draping skills.

Petty over petticoat

 While most of us barely acknowledge the existence of a petticoat, Dolly stresses that it is the ‘foundation stone’ of wearing the perfect sari.

She says, “If the petticoat is too long, no matter what drape I give you, everything is going to go wrong. I also do not recommend wearing a body-hugging shapewear petticoat. It will make you very uncomfortable and is cumbersome to drape a sari too. I always say, if you perfectly fit into a size M then get a petticoat in size L with some room so that you can easily tuck the sari.”  

Sari > Gowns 

While sari-gowns and various such fusion variations of the garment are a rage in the wedding circuit, Dolly suggests going back to basics.   

With over 325 styles of draping in her kitty, she advocates wearing a sari draped like a gown to a cocktail function over the sari-hybrids.

“I once dressed a bride who wore a beautiful wine coloured sari that was draped like a gown with a gorgeous jewelled bikini blouse for her bachelorette party. I can’t tell you how beautiful she was looking amidst her guests who were wearing gowns. That moment just reaffirmed for me that nothing looks better than a sari,” says Dolly. 

Six yards of style for every wedding

As newer, contemporary versions of sari take over our sartorial sensibilities, wearing the basic drape just won’t cut it. With her popularity soaring during wedding season, Dolly has seen the humble sari get amazing makeovers as a part of the bridal trousseau.

“The Gujarati style with the seedha palla is quite popular this wedding season. Brides wear this with the nath and bangles that gives them a very royal look.”

We asked her to suggest the most in-demand sari style for each of the wedding functions and here’s what she had to say:

Mehendi: I would suggest the bride opt for a ‘mermaid sari style’ that has minimal pleats and a tucked pallu. This would allow her to easily get henna on her hands without worrying about managing the pallu.

Sangeet: For this function, a royal drape would be ideal that is basically wearing a lehenga with a sari.

Wedding: A crisp nivi style sari! This is a South Indian drape with neat lines that is a perfect fit for the traditional main ceremony.