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Traditional outfits in India may look entirely different from one state to another thanks to cultural differences and the distinguished craftsmanship of clothing items. You might, however, identify one most prevalently used piece of clothing across a broad spectrum of outfits across the country; yes! We are talking about the dupatta. You might have seen women wearing a dupatta with a salwar kameez, a lehenga , or perhaps even a fusion-wear outfit; the versatility of draping a dupatta is remarkable. This understated clothing item can enhance the look of your fashionable attire in a fraction of a second. With this article curated specially for you, let's take a detailed look at its emergence, materials, draping styles, and aesthetic qualities.
The Hindi-Urdu word dupatta, which means "shawl of doubled cloth," is derived from Middle Indic elements that come from the amalgamation of two Sanskrit words, "du" and "patta," where "du" stands for "two" and "patta" stands for "strip of clothing." The veils as well as scarves worn by women throughout the ancient era are extensively described in early Sanskrit literature with terms like "avagunthana" (cloak veil), "uttariya" (shoulder veil), "mukha-pata" (face veil), and "siro-vastra" (head veil). It is thought that perhaps the style evolved from the ancient uttariya, a shawl worn to drape the upper half of the body.
With its origins in the Indian subcontinent, it is quite natural that we ought to recognize dupattas as being a part of our culture. They play a significant role in orthodox households, as women frequently wear their dupattas to cover their heads. This is employed to keep their faces hidden from everyone except their partner. This tradition seems to have become obsolete in recent years, yet it continues to be practiced for a wide range of reasons. If you hail from Delhi, Mumbai, or perhaps some regions of southern India, you will notice women wearing dupattas as a barrier to safeguard their faces from pollution. Other than that, women, even today, use the dupatta to cover the upper half of the body.
WeaverStory Dupattas: Ways to Style Your Dupatta Like a Pro!
Whether you choose to call it a "Dupatta," "chunari," or perhaps even an "odhni," this piece of clothing is, needless to say, one of the most versatile things you can add to a multitude of outfit options and slay through a wide range of special occasions or maybe just rock a casual day of your life. They come in a variety of fabrics, ranging from a silk Banarasi dupatta and heavily embellished gota dupatta to simpler versions such as a cotton or organza dupatta. At WeaverStory , you are showered with a plethora of dupatta options, all varying in styles, fabrics, design, and craftsmanship. Without further ado, let’s look at everything you can do with your WeaverStory dupattas.
Simply drape it around
Dupattas like this pink, hand-embroidered organza dupatta look great with just about any outfit. The best way to enhance your look is by pairing this exquisite zardozi dupatta with a plain, floor-length Anarkali suit. All you have to do is drape it around your shoulders like a shawl and add some statement-dangling earrings to the outfit. You are destined to look drop-dead gorgeous in this royal-looking drapery.
Bridal one-sided cowl drape
Brides frequently seek ways to revamp their classic bridal lehengas. Even though the drape is not a modern draping style, it adds a touch of quirkiness and modernity to the lehenga. Instead of wearing a traditional dupatta conventionally, simply style the rust organza dupatta differently.
You will realise that one simple change can make a significant difference. Pin the bridal dupatta on both sides of your shoulder using a safety pin, leaving one side open for comfort to move. The dupatta is heavily embellished with intricate zardozi work and is brought to you straight from the craft cluster of Farrukhabad. The dupatta looks heavy enough to blend well with your lehenga and elegant enough to make you look like a dreamy bride.
Traditional Drape
Options of traditional dress for women in Gujarat and Rajasthan include impeccable designs in terms of sarees, chaniya cholis, and bridal lehengas. One common thing among all three is the Gujarati drapery that makes them look even more pleasing to the eye. This technique, bedecked in Gujarati style, holds cultural significance and heritage. Draping in Traditional style calls for a Bandhej dupatta.
In this draping style, the Bandhej Banarasi Dupatta is pleated as well as draped on one side first, keeping 3/4th of the dupatta flowing in the back. The backside free end should then be pleated and tucked to the side of your waistband. Lastly, the front corner of the underlying border must be well pinned at the side seam. It provides a refined drape along the pleat creases. Dupattas like these styled in this particular style go well with traditional wear clothing items like the chaniya choli.
One-side shoulder drape
This is yet another classic method to drape a dupatta over a traditional dress suit. It is very easy to carry and will seamlessly add elegance to your ethnic wear outfits, such as Anarkali suits. A one-sided drape particularly fits floor-length Anarkali suits with heavy, imperial dupattas. This style is intended to highlight your neck design. Women frequently show off their lehenga blouses in this way.
A supremely elegant and royal-looking dupatta, such as the WeaverStory's Plum Velvet Dupatta, is a perfect option to experiment with this style. The center of the dupatta border must be pinned at the shoulder, which helps to add balance. On lightweight fabrics like silk Anarkali suits and Banarasi bridal lehengas, this drape style comes off beautifully.
While there are countless dupatta draping styles to explore, it is important to pick the right one. You can explore a plethora of dupatta options on our website, as each piece is specially designed and crafted by expert artisans to give you the look of your dreams.
Author: Simran Shaikh
