A journey through parenting, lifestyle, fashion and fictional worlds
Author: Sindhu Vinod Narayan
Ex IT professional. Now a freelance writer, editor, translator & influencer. My blog is a reflection of my thoughts on skincare, fashion, book reviews and wellness.
A mother is not only for taking care of the house, the kids and wellbeing of the rest of the family. She also is the architect who plans the future for a family that beams with happiness and success. She cannot only devise a plan but also needs proper support financially, physically and mentally to make it happen. Not all moms are financially sound with terminologies or ways to invest and save. Being able to manage finance with existing funds is entirely different from being able to save for the future with maximum benefits. Investing in mutual funds is a great way that moms can plan finances and make the future plans happen with ease. Here is a list of problems that moms face and how mutual funds can help in overcoming them.
For more details, you can visit the HSBC website. Also, readers are requested to fill in this form to help you understand better and have your queries answered by the brand.
We have finally reached the end, does this mean the trends end here? No way. We already know that it keeps changing with time. But I know that you can find a lot of ideas from the posts here and give it your own twist and voila you may even bring out a trend sooner. For Z we are going to be exploring zari. Wait does that even need an introduction here in India? No right. A type of thread that is either gold or silver wire which adorns traditional fabrics like sarees, lehengas, and dupattas, the zari is an integral part of the textile and fashion industry.
Image source Indiamart
A popular choice for traditional events like marriages and other religious occasions the zari adds a touch of elegance and opulence to the fabric making it appear rich and luxurious. The Persian and Turkish artisans introduced the zari concept during the reign of the Mughal emperors. This art was refined during the Mughal era and perfected to be made into garments for royalty. The zari became an integral part of the attire for Royalty in the Mughal era.
Skilled artisans require precision and attention to detail when they work on this labour-intensive process of weaving the zari. The gold or the silver wire is twisted with cotton or silk making it durable and then being woven into the fabric to create embroideries and embellishments. It is then woven into patterns and motifs.
Zari adds a touch of luxury and elegance to the garment when it is used to create intricate patterns, designs, and motifs on sarees, lehenga, and traditional wear. A simple zari motif can make a normal-looking dress appear grand.
Banarasi zari is one of the popular forms of zari work. Banarasi saree has intricate zari works which make it one of the most luxurious sarees in the country. The banarasi saree with zari is one of the finest fabrics in India. Real gold or silver is used in the zari for Banrasi sarees and has intricate motifs, designs, and patterns for a grandeur look.
Image source Amazon
Zardosi embroidery is another popular form, where the zari thread is used along with beads and sequins. It is a painstaking process that requires a lot of patience and precision. Since it is handmade it takes a lot of time to complete a single piece of fabric, that depends on how complex the design is.
Image source Indiamart
Even today skilled artisans work tirelessly to create exquisite pieces with stunning designs and motifs which are the hallmark of the Indian fashion Industry.
We are almost at the tail end of knowing about Indian women’s fashion trends from A-Z. We have covered everything from fabrics, weaves, techniques, and dresses and we now come to the most important element that forms the basis. Yes, we are talking about yarn. Let us look.
Known for its rich textile heritage, it won’t be a surprise that India is the supplier of most of the famous yarns across borders. Yarns play a significant role in creating stunning fabrics which are an integral part of the Indian fashion Industry.
Image source Flipkart
A widely used yarn is cotton known for its versatility and durability. From sarees to salwar kameez to even handkerchiefs, the fabric is sweat absorbent and is great for hot and humid climates. It is not only the most sought out in the country but also across the world for its softness and absorbing capability. The cotton yarn is a great choice to add vibrant colors to fabrics.
Image source Indiamart
Being one of the largest producers of silk and exquisite silk fabrics, India is famous worldwide for the quality of the silk yarn. From sarees, lehengas to most luxurious traditional garments silk is the most preferred fabric for its richness. The yarn is priced for its strength, sheen, and softness making it a great choice for special occasions like marriages.
Though India may not be a producer of wool, importing it to make sweaters, cardigans, and coats. A lot of women took to the art of knitting and is widely popular across the states.
Image source Indiamart
A lightweight breathable fabric is linen that is now becoming popular. Great for everyday wear in tropical regions where the climate is hot and humid, linen is a popular yarn used in the fashion industry.
When it comes to bags and footwear, which are accessories, jute is a widely used natural fabric that is sustainable, robust, and durable. It gives a unique and earthy texture to the products and is also eco-friendly.
As time passes and trends evolve, yarns that are recycled and sustainable like bamboo and hemp are also used because they are environment friendly and play their part in reducing the carbon footprint of the Indian Fashion Industry.
The next thing that comes to your mind is yellow and when we think of yellow, our mind immediately strikes dressing up for the haldi ceremony to which the color is mostly associated with.
Here are a couple of yellow outfit ideas for the next haldi ceremony that you want to attend.
Image source Myntra
A yellow mirrorwork lehenga in raw silk goes perfectly great for haldi ceremony.
An asymmetrical yellow dress is great as an Indo-western outfit for haldi ceremony.
A yellow and green lehenga with mirror work and a light tinge of pink here and there is a great choice.
A plain yellow saree with a bright-colored half-sleeve blouse.
A yellow cotton saree with a bright orange bandhni blouse.
A layered yellow skirt, embroidered blouse, and lots of accessories.
A monotone yellow skirt with a blue blouse.
A yellow skirt and neon green blouse is sure to rock the party.
A yellow saree with minimal gota patti work.
A complete yellow lehenga heavily embellished with beads, stones, and exquisite embroidery.
Yellow cannot only be styled for haldi but also for other wedding festivities.
Image source meesho
A yellow lehenga with a net dupatta for the cocktail party is a great outfit option.
A yellow silk kurta with a matching skirt and dupatta is just awesome.
A ruffle saree in yellow with a statement blouse is great for the wedding.
A yellow Anarkali can be worn as a gown for an engagement or even a cocktail party.
A simple saree with a gold border and a heavy blouse aress great for cocktail parties.
A cheerful color yellow is sure to make heads turn if you style it alone or even with vibrant combinations.
We have discussed fabrics, weaves, colors, and works; for X, let us discuss sizes. Be you a size XS or 3Xl or more, Indian women’s fashion trend is all game for everyone. With designers creating a multitude of pieces for plus size, we now have options that let you amp up the style quotient.
Image source meera’s plus size store
We have moved on from a period where we were told that there are no sizes beyond XL, to a period where we crossed that this store does not cater to the plus-size category. Gone are the days when it raised eyebrows when we mentioned an XXL. We have now come to the period where we find plus size clothes as comfort wear. Who does not love an oversized shirt to crash at home?
Social media has played a major role in letting people know that body positivity awareness must spread. People should not feel shy about how they look and in fact be bold to dress up and show up. Body-positive, plus-size influencers on Instagram had a major role in bringing in the shift among the masses. Be it their styling ideas, sourcing of garments, or even the way they carry themselves gave people the confidence to be proud of what they are.
Gone are the times, people sit at home thinking that they do not have anything to wear or have run out of options. The fashion industry has opened doors to a new segment of plus-size fashion that not only caters to women in plus-size but also to wear who wanted to dress comfortably.
Women began to love themselves for who they are. They are now confident in their own skin and do not worry about the eXtra in their sizes.
Image source Mirraw
As a bonus note, here are a few tips if you are plus-size.
Opt in for light fabrics like chiffon, georgette, or satin. Be it the blouse or lehenga. Heavier fabrics can make it go wrong.
Vertical and diagonal stripes work great and do not settle for horizontal or broad borders.
And as for the blouse neckline go for a deep V-neck or plunge neckline.
Three-fourth or full sleeves will work great and give you the right fit.
Corset pattern for lehenga and saree is a trend that helps hide the belly and helps in shaping you up.
Go for free-flow pallu and do not pin it up and as for the pleats on the front, go for minimal ones.
Dark color gown with a sweetheart or deep V-neck works perfectly well for plus-sized bodies.
Choosing the right kind of clothing with make you look eXtra special even if you are on the eXtra large or plus-size segment.
Being a land of diverse cultures and traditions, it all reflects Indian women’s fashion. The color white holds a special place among designs, patterns, and colors. White reflects purity and elegance. Though in some traditions white reflects sadness and sorrow, some do associate the color with happy occasions.
A universally liked color, this color exists in the wardrobes of both men and women. Being versatile, it can be styled with both light and dark shades. Be it weddings or cocktail parties white is a great choice for choosing your attire. There was a season when white replaced pinks and reds.
Image source Vogue
Alia bhatt’s lehenga was the talk of the town, the white lehenga that was layered with sheer and had silver thread work caught everyone’s attention that brides to become in favor of the humble color for their choice of wedding attire.
Image source Vogue
Sara Ali Khan flaunted a lehenga choli that had floral embroidery in pink and was embellished with mirror work over white fabric that gave a grandeur look.
On that note when we talk about the trends in W, I thought I’d also give a couple of wedding trends for lehengas because we are talking about ‘W’.
Light gold lehenga: A great choice of color for lehenga that can be apt for weddings to after parties. This color will give you the versatility to pair up with any color of your choice later when you choose to reuse this outfit for any other occasion. Not only that just change the accessories and tada you are ready to rock the party and even traditional rituals.
Multicolored embroidery: These levels up the lehenga game and it gives you a different dimension. It makes your outfit extra luxurious when you play with a myriad of colors on your outfit.
Image source Pinterest
Emerald green: the color of hope and love, it is a rich color that goes well with gold jewellery.
Ombre choice: For brides who get confused if they should go for pastel shades or dark, the ombre is a great solution.
Color blocking: Gone are the days when wedding attire is monotone, the concept of color blocking is great when you want to play with shades of light and dark.
Timeless elegance and modern sensibilities are the fusion element in Indian women’s fashion. Indian women’s fashion has evolved over the history of 1000 years and is still adapting to the changes keeping its uniqueness.
Venkatagiri weave
Image source The Chennai silks
With a history that spans a thousand years, the Venkatagiri weave originated in the town of Venkatagiri in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Known for elegance and intricacy it has a special place in the history of textiles. It continues to thrive as a symbol of cultural heritage and is also loved by connoisseurs of handloom.
The fine cotton threads are woven with unique precision which is the beauty of the weave. A blueprint is initially made with a design chart which is transferred to the loom and which is woven into the fabric with cotton threads. The jamdani technique of weaving being adapted to make little motifs is the highlight here. These small motifs are done by hand mechanically and require a lot of precision with gold or silver threads which add more beauty to this weave.
The history can be traced back to the 18th century to the reign of the Venkatagiri Nayakas who were the local rulers at the time. The weavers were encouraged to weave intricate pieces for the royal court and it was a symbol of wealth and status as it became popular with the aristocratic group. It is recognized with the Geographical indication tag by the Government for its authenticity.
Vaira oosi
Image source The Palam silks
With intricate needlework and vibrant colors the vaira oosi holds a special place in the hearts people of Tamilnadu and is cherished by saree lovers. The precise intricate needlework that resembles the diamond needle brought the artwork the name, vaira oosi which literally means diamond needle. It is mainly done on cotton and silks and the shine it brings out when light falls on the fabric is mind blowing.
The Indian women’s fashion trend depends on weaves and garments and how women carried themselves. Women in films whom I would say were the first role models we look up to even today for fashion inspiration. Though at times like today, we have social media at our fingertips, when we refer to a trend, we most often mention the name of the celebrity who sported it.
Urmila Matondkar
The ‘Rangeela’ girl as we know her made all of us even women who went in awe looking at her on screen. Be it her beauty or hair, the costumes she wore had a lot to speak about. Manish Malhotra, the designer also mentioned that there were copies of her costumes post that movie on every street. The movie that made him win the Designer of the Year award. Her designs in the movie ushered in fashion trends and became a style statement.
The peplum skirt, knotted tops, black saree, and red leggings were an instant hit among the womenfolk of the country. Her smart casuals looked very glamorous and became a trendsetter. Her gharchola and the bandhani in the song made the weave much more famous and preferred for the ghaghra. Her tangerine skater skirts, the pleated skirts were such a hit. Though it is nearly 28 years since the movie was released, the trends she set are still timeless and are great fashion inspiration for a confident woman.
Uppada
Image source Karagiri
Tracing back its origin to the 18th century, when the country was ruled over by the East India Company, the weave is from the Uppada town in Andhra Pradesh. A traditional handloom technique is known for its intricate designs and fine texture; the weave is a testimony to skilled craftsmen.
The Weaver population from Uppada migrated to Peddapuram where they happened to learn the weave of Jamdani from the Bengali weavers. They incorporated their techniques into jamdani which brought out a new weave called the Uppada. It is lightweight and the sheer texture gives a grandeur look and is most sought after for making traditional garments.
The weavers take great pride in their artistry which is time-consuming, complicated, and labor-intensive. A diverse range of patterns with motifs that include nature and geometric designs in vibrant colors make the weave unique. Gold and silver zari threads are used for extra richness to the woven fabric. The intricate designs and elaborate borders on the pallu are the highlight of the uppada weave. The metallic thread in the body adds grandeur to the fabric.
Another unique feature is the texture of this weave which is lustrous and has a sheen which is because the warp is made of pure mulberry silk and the weft is a combination of silk and cotton that is responsible for the shine. The uppada weave has received the GI tag from the Government for its uniqueness and authenticity which is another reason for its boost in the global retail market. It is a weave that is cherished by the connoisseurs of handloom textiles and is even passed through generations as an heirloom.
From vibrant, colorful lehengas to elegant sarees, and trendy kurtas, Indian women’s fashion caters to every occasion and taste. Indian women’s fashion is a cultural phenomenon celebrated across the world and not just only a source of our national pride.
Tanchoi
Image source Jaypore.in
Tracing back its origin to Varanasi in the 19th century the tanchoi weave was introduced by the Persians who migrated during the period of emperor Akbar. Luxurious silk fabric is known for its distinct weave and ornate designs that are rich. It is a favored choice among the royals for its look and feels. The floating warp technique is used to weave on satin. There is an intricate embroidery of patterns and motifs with colorful silk threads. A labor-intensive and time-consuming art, the tanchoi weave is a meticulous process that requires a lot of patience and skill.
The motifs in the intricate designs are inspired by nature, mythology, and folklore. The symmetry, boldness, and precision are evident in the intricate patterns that are woven. The hues and shades are usually contrasting with zari and meenakari embellishments. Dyed with a wide range of colors like jewel tones, earthy tones, and pastel shades the tanchoi is mesmerizing. This unparalleled beauty is a masterpiece of Indian textile art.
Tangaliya
Image source itokri
Tracing its origin back to the Dang region in the western state of Gujarat, the tangaliya is known for its vibrant colors and unique motifs. The tangaliya was practiced by the Bhil tribe from the region who were known for their weaving skills. Known for its bright colors like oranges, red, green, blue, and yellow from natural dyes the resulting fabric is stunning and depicts the cultural ethos of Gujarat.
Telia rumal
Image source mirraw
Tracing the origin back to the 16th century during the reign of Qutub shahi dynasty in Telangana, the telia rumal or putta rumal is a tie and dye technique known for its vibrant colors. The fabric is woven in a pit loom using the resist dyeing technique known for bright colors that are derived from natural sources like pomegranate peels, turmeric, indigo, and madder.
The telia rumal apart from being a cultural recognition has also found its place in contemporary fashion that it is used in making shawls, stoles, and scarves.
A vibrant and diverse tapestry of culture, heritage, and style is what Indian Women’s fashion is about. The defining aspect of Indian women’s fashion is the diversity of traditional clothing that varies across geography.
Salwar Kameez
Image source Karagiri
The history dates to the Mughal era in the 16th to 19th century and consists of tunic and loose-fitting pants. Often has embroideries and embellishments to make it look more elegant. Paired with a dupatta it adds a touch of elegance and can be draped across the shoulder or over the head. The comfort it offers is the key reason that most people prefer to wear the salwar kameez. It is apt for hot and humid climate because of the loose fit of the pant that allows ample movement.
It suits all body types and is versatile to be worn for any occasion. It holds significant cultural and regional significance. The same salwar kameez has different distinctions across geography. For example, in Punjab, it is of vibrant colors and in Lucknow, it has chikankari work.
Sambalpuri ikkat
Image source myntra
A traditional textile art that originates from Odisha is the Sambalpuri ikkat. Intricate patterns and vibrant colors make it a unique tie-and-dye textile art that has rich cultural significance. It involves a complicated process of resist dyeing that is done before weaving onto the fabric. The process is labour-intensive and requires skill and precision. The intricate patterns have motifs inspired by nature, geometric designs, and symbols depicting tradition. The colors used are vibrant and are derived from natural dyes.
It has a great impact on the economy of the weaving community of Odisha, apart from being of cultural significance. The skill is passed across generations and is a form of livelihood for the people of Odisha, contributing to the socio-economic development of the state.
Siddhipet Golabhamma
Image source Pinterest
Originating from the town of Siddhipet in the Telangana district, it is a mesmerizing art form that is being passed down through generations carrying the essence of the culture of Telangana. Gola bhamma translates to round mother which signifies the round circular motifs that are characteristic of the art form. An eco-friendly and sustainable form of art, it is made using dye from plants, seeds, and minerals.
The circular motifs drawn are by freehand without any template or stencils. The patterns are eye-catching and vibrant depicting subjects from nature, folklore, and mythology.
An ever-evolving industry, the Indian women’s fashion segment is constantly influenced by varying trends that come and go. Not only attire but the material that is used also plays an important role in fashion trends. For example, there is a difference between a cotton saree and a chiffon saree. Each is different on its own, be it comfort, durability, and efforts taken to maintain.
Gathered or pleated strips of fabric that aid volume and give an appearance of a frill is called ruffle and that is now becoming a fashion trend. Right from sarees to gowns to even crop tops, the trend has hopped across categories of garments that aid more grace and elegance.
From sleeves, yokes, hemlines, and even dupattas can have ruffles of various sizes ranging from large to small based on the look or the occasion for which the garment is to be worn. The ruffle adds a touch of femininity to the wearer. Elegant in appearance it tends to highlight the curves. It also adds depth and creates movement when worn.
Image source pinkvilla
This movement and depth make an eye-catching appearance of the outfit. It gives a vintage and bohemian outlook to the outfit. Its ability to be able to incorporate into various fabrics or patterns makes it versatile. While Chiffon, georgette, and organza that is lightweight give a dreamy effect when a ruffle is added, silk, satin, and velvet get a lot of volume when a ruffle is added since they are more structured.
Image source Amazon
Designers have incorporated the ruffle trend in most Indian attire and it especially gained a lot of traction when Deepika Padukone wore it for Cannes. Her off-white ruffle saree with pearl collar designed by Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla for the closing ceremony brought this trend alive and much sought-after. Not to forget yet another time when Deepika flaunted a dual-tone ruffle saree to a popular TV show with colors right out of a candy shop was an instant hit that a lot of manufacturers adopted the design to offer it to the masses who wanted to follow their star. If you would want to check out the saree you can buy an affordable one just by clicking here.
That Madras Mom 