A silk saree is a superior choice for anyone looking for an outfit that flatters all body types. It’s a beautiful piece of fabric that wraps around your body perfectly and highlights your curves. However, it’s because of this function that getting that perfect silk saree becomes a little complicated.
To choose the best silk saree that suits your style perfectly, consider its embellishments, color gradation, the type of silk it’s sewn with, and the fabric’s trim. Purchasing a silk saree without acknowledging these important factors can result in an ensemble that is less flattering.
In this article, we will focus on the different aspects that go into buying the best silk saree. That way, you can make the right decision when adding one to your wardrobe.
What Makes a Silk Saree Flattering?
Sensual and elegant in its draping, a silk saree drops into a silhouette that enhances your most notable assets. Silk sarees are luxurious in design and glamorous in appearance. That’s why they’re perfect for special occasions and celebrations.
A silk saree becomes truly flattering when it adequately complements your best features. It will make you feel confident and comfortable while wearing it. But not all silk sarees help you achieve that feeling or look. Silk is not one type of fabric, and the different variations offer different looks. Your task is to find a silk saree that complements your personal style, body type, and expectations.
Know Your Silk Saree Types
The various types of silk sarees stem from the different regions where the silk originates. Each type of silk offers stunning colors and intricate details that makes them both impressive and unique.
Banarasi Sarees
The classic Banarasi saree was crafted in the city of Varanasi and locally known as Banaras.
Banarasi sarees are called zari throughout the region. They are considered the finest sarees in the East because of their gorgeous brocade in silver or gold. These sarees are often added to the bride’s trousseau and are worn within the days after the wedding to mark the bride’s newly-wedded status.
You can wear Banarasi sarees in the summer, but only if there’s a light breeze. Silk is lightweight but it doesn’t absorb moisture as cotton does. That’s why many consider silk to be an ideal winter fabric. Nevertheless, with Banarasi sarees, its premium quality silk is enough to keep you comfortable during the summer months.
All embroidered on finely woven silk, these sarees are designed to be opulent and exquisite. Banarasi sarees have a special place in every woman’s wardrobe in the East.
It takes about fifteen days to more than a month to weave a single Banarasi saree. Sometimes, it even takes six months, depending on the designs and patterns’ intricacy. As such, Banarasi silk sarees are given an upgraded status in the silk fabric family. And cost as much too!
Kanjeevaram Sarees
This saree originated from Kanchipuram, the capital of Tamil Nadu, a state in India. The Kanjeevaram saree is made using the finest silk in the region and is identified by its unique texture. These sarees also contain intricate traditional patterns that are made using gold and silver thread.
The Kanjeevaram or Kanjipuram saree is beloved because of its fabric and original design in motif and embroidery.
Due to its beauty, the Kanjeevaram saree is perfect for any event or celebration. The Kanjeevaram saree is also a staple for women in the East, so you’ll find this saree and more in almost every woman’s wardrobe. But be warned, because of the motif and embroidery, it can sometimes feel uncomfortable wearing a Kanjeevaram saree in the hot, sweaty months. So, keep it stashed away for the winter days instead.
Tussar Silk Saree
The Tussar Silk saree is specific to a smaller region in India. The tribal people take the silk from a particular type of silkworm in South Asia, using them to make these delicate sarees. They often come in neutral colors, including beige and honey hues, and are ideally suited for summer months because of their colors and lightweight material.
Wearers balance the color by matching the saree with brightly-colored blouses. But some take advantage of the softer colors and use them to highlight the duskiness or warmth of their skin tone.
The Tussar silk saree is treasured in the East, because the Tussar silk weaving industry in India is more than a century old. The industrial hub is based in Bhagalpur and is handled by more than 30,000 weavers who work on approximately 25,000 handlooms.
As such, these sarees are a prize to behold and must be handled gently. The Tussar silk is fragile and delicate. You can wear it with ease, but it requires special handling and a moisture-free area and bag, so it can be protected from any external elements.
Additional Silk Saree Types
If you want to explore more options of silk sarees that are less popular, look for the types of sarees mentioned below:
- Art Silk Sarees: Artificial or imitation silks that offer comparable elegance to that of natural silk.
- Bhagalpuri Silk Sarees: Made in Bhagalpur, also known as the silk city. They are designed by expert craftsmen who use unique techniques and are delivered in superior quality. Better suited for winter times.
- Baluchari Silk Sarees: Designed to depict stories through intricate patterns. Good for special events in every season.
- Konrad Silk Sarees: Traditional in design, excellent silk qualities, and handwoven. These are also called Temple Sarees, and can be worn on cooler summer days.
- Chanderi Silk Sarees: Lightweight, comfortable, ideal for casual or everyday wear.
- Mysore Silk Sarees: One of the most famous silk sarees in the world. These are made using the purest silk and are available in rich, vibrant colors, and are a good choice for summer and winter months.
- ThanChoi Silk Sarees: Designed using a brocade look and floral motifs. These are very growing in popularity throughout India as winter wear.
- Paithani Silk Sarees: Depict nature patterns and scenes. The typical colors available include purple, blue, green, and magenta, and are typically worn in the summer.
- Bandhani Silk Saree: Originated in Gujarat, these sarees are woven through a unique dyeing technique.
- Crepe Silk Sarees: Made using crepe fabric which is raw silk that’s tied and twisted together. Crepe silk is lightweight and comfortable. It is also affordable. However, crepe de chine, a crepe type, is the expensive and most delicate crepe fabric. Because of its technique, you can wear crepe sarees in any season.
- Raw Silk Sarees: Raw silk sarees have gum removed from the silk and are less even and smooth than traditional silk. They do not possess the same sheen but are less expensive and more comfortable than other sarees. It is a great summer choice.
- Cotton Silk Sarees: Made using cotton and silk as a hybrid fabric. They are lightweight, absorbent, soft, and ideal for casual summer wear.
Find a Color That Suits You
As mentioned above, silk sarees suit just about everyone. But, the color of your silk saree is equally as vital to enhancing your look.
With silk sarees, some colors are more popular than others, including:
- Cobalt blue
- Gold and gray
- Emerald green
- Orange and magenta
- Mustard yellow
- Deep earthy green
- Rich maroon
- Magenta
- Black
However, there’s no definitive rule that you’re only limited to these colors. Depending on your skin tone and preferences, you can pick just about any color saree you want. For example, if you have tan or olive skin tones, warm colors would suit your skin better since they’ll bring out your inner glow and won’t wash you out.
Dark pink, maroon, green, magenta, purple – any of these colors will be suitable as long as they’re finished with gold embroidery. Add some gold jewelry and gorgeous jhumkas to the mix, and you’ll be garnering compliments for days. But silver and bronze or plain sarees have become popular with these colors as well in the past decade.
With the right balance of blouse color, embroidery, and jewelry, women are turning these sarees into wearable works of art.
Designers recommend keeping your undertones in mind and opt for complementary colors. if you have a fair complexion. Suppose you have a neutral-toned complexion, choose sarees with pigments of white, peach, and yellow. Otherwise, a combination of different hues would also work beautifully.
You can also choose between either gold or silver color embroidery. But if you also have the choice to choose between various shades of gold and silver, take it.
Don’t settle for pale colors like pastel pink, green, orange, and white if you have cool skin tones. This is because they will wash you out more, especially if you do not have a pink undertone. Silver, magenta, grey, sapphire, and emerald will give you more depth and warmth to emulate a fresh glow. Pair that with softer shades of gold and it’ll bring more warmth to your cheeks.
Pick Embellishments According to Your Occasion
Embellishments will vary according to the type of silk saree you buy. You probably won’t be able to find a simple Banarasi saree because they’re known to be extremely detailed and could be too formal for some occasions. However, finding simpler ones shouldn’t be too complicated with the other styles that we’ve mentioned.
Floral embroidery, motifs, and patterns are ideal for informal occasions and gatherings. This includes brunch with friends or a casual dinner party. However, if you want a more reserved-looking saree with color-blocks, one that contains zari along the trim would be suitable.
You’ll find plenty of silk sarees with heavy embellishments and some even depict scenes from various popular folklores. This is because silk sarees are traditionally worn for special occasions. But you will be able to find sarees with simpler motifs if you do some digging.
Silk sarees can suit business meetings or office settings. But it depends on which color you want. Pay attention to styles that are appropriate for your workplace. But keep the designs to a minimum if your workplace has strict rules.
If you’re wearing your saree in an environment that requires a lot of movement, we recommend you keep the embroidery to a minimum. It can sometimes be difficult to stay comfortable in a heavily-embroidered outfit for longer periods.
However, you can go big with your saree choices if your workplace allows a little heavy embroidery. Just make sure your workplace is big enough that a little rustling won’t disturb anyone.
Who knows? You may just inspire other people to think outside the box with their workplace wardrobe.
How To Pick a Saree Blouse
If ordering a silk saree online, you can often get fabrics custom-stitched or a premade blouse that you choose from a sizing guide. Whenever buying a saree blouse separately, be cautious of the material not fitting correctly or the sizes not suiting you.
Your blouse can make or break the look of your saree. We recommend choosing a budget-friendly but simple fabric, like cotton, because it’s breathable and gives a little stretch.
Decide on Your Chosen Fit and Cut
The saree blouse is an integral part of the entire saree outfit. Your blouse’s fit and cut should be comfortable but not too tight, so you can move your arms easily without tearing the fabric.
To find out what your fit should be, wear your favorite fitted shirt of the same fabric as your anticipated blouse, and take note of your measurements. If you’re getting your blouse tailored, these measurements will help your tailor give you the best fitting.
However, if it’s a readymade blouse, get one that fits the measurements according to the retailer’s sizing guide. For safety’s sake, check the reviews, and order a size up or down, depending on what others recommend.
Choose a Blouse that Suits Your Comfort Level and Body Type
Though you might be tempted to don a small choli with your silk saree, you may not like it if it doesn’t fit your body type.
As an example, let’s say you don’t like to show off your stomach, so wearing a choli will be out of the question. You’ll want something that goes down to your waist and doesn’t flare out. A simple fitted blouse would be more suitable.
Remember not to worry about your blouse style if it doesn’t fit conventional standards of beauty. You don’t need to skip wearing a sleeveless blouse only because you don’t have muscled, toned arms: your comfort and your taste matter. Choose a blouse that satisfies both.
Pro Tip: If you feel nervous about wearing a particular type of blouse, wear something similar beforehand and test it out. Or, wear the blouse around the house to make sure it’s not too short, long, tight, loose, or slinky. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Match Your Saree
Contrast colors are the best choice for your saree but don’t turn it into a color medley. Consider picking a less dramatic color scheme on your saree, and don’t worry about it being plain. If you’re choosing a blouse for day wear or the office, any basic blouse will match.
If you like a printed blouse with similar colors to your saree’s, match the pattern to your saree’s design as much as you can. Florals and geometric patterns will not mix.
If you’re in doubt, though, light and plain blouses are the only choices you should go with.
Always remember to be careful with the blouse fabric. If you have a luscious silk saree, buy an equally luscious silk blouse. And do not skimp on the quality. It’ll be easy to tell them apart if you buy cheap silk for an expensive saree.
Avoid Trends and Think Long-Term
If you’re going to wear a blouse and saree a lot, you don’t need to add bejeweled sleeves, elaborate embroidery, or add extra fabric. You also don’t need thick fabrics like velvet. They can go out of style quickly, so choose something that will be timeless and consistently stunning, no matter how long you have it.
By investing in the classics, you’ll get enough blouses for your daily sarees, with some selection. You’ll be able to mix and match your saree with different blouses. You’ll also freshen up your appearance, and your wardrobe will remain functional and practical.
Learn How To Take Care of Your Sarees
If you’re going to be buying a silk saree or two, you’ll want to be prepared to care for them long-term and maintain their integrity.
Silk sarees are costly, so it’s vital to keep them in safe storage conditions. Don’t store silk sarees on a shelf or stuff them in a bag in the corner because they will wrinkle easily. Silk sarees require a secure area in the wardrobe where you can hang them, away from one another, and separate from the other clothes you have. You’ll also want to keep your sarees wrapped in cotton bags or muslin bags to protect them from dust.
Additionally, silk sarees will need more care in the wintertime since they acquire a ‘unique’ smell in colder temperatures. You’ll need to put in mothballs around the sarees in their storage bags. Otherwise, the cloth will attract worms and insects.
To keep your saree clean, use a specific protein shampoo with cold or hot water. If you use any strong or harsh detergents or chemicals, you’ll risk tearing and damaging the fabric, and the zari will get damaged.
How To Wash a Silk Saree at Home
If you want to wear silk sarees regularly, you’ll also need to wash them properly and with gentle techniques. We recommend hand washing the saree in a sink with cold water, adding a delicate detergent or protein shampoo, and massaging the saree slowly using your hands and dapping any stains with your fingers. You can then leave it to soak for a while until clean.
By following these care rules, your sarees will stand the test of time.
Final Thoughts
Silk sarees are an investment in your style and wardrobe, so don’t go for questionable designs or shoddy fabric.
If you want to look your best, search for a brand that offers reliable, premium-quality silk sarees. You’ll be better off knowing you’ve bought the best that money has to offer.
We suggest shopping around and comparing which saree would suit the different occasions. Whether it’s buying silk sarees for your wedding trousseau or upgrading your business attire. We hope we’re able to help you find the most comfortable silk sarees on the market!
