Photographs: Courtesy Corporate Voice Weber Shandwick
So you thought there were just a few traditional ways of wearing the sari? Take a look at what designers at the Wills Fashion Week have done with this traditional garment.
Six yards or nine, the Indian sari is an extremely versatile garment. There are as many ways of wearing it, as there are regions in India.
And yet, despite so many options, the sari continues to lend itself to immense variation.
Designers at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week, which was held in New Delhi recently, have experimented with the garment and created some exciting new options.
Click on NEXT to see how they have turned around the humble sari.
Images: Hot models sizzle in saris
Image: Jesse Randhawa sizzles in a Reynu Tandon creation.Photographs: Courtesy Corporate Voice Weber Shandwick
Silver stripes meander on sheer black, changing direction according to the flow of the sari created by Reynu Tandon.
A jewelled shoulder and you're ready to party!
Images: Hot models sizzle in saris
Image: Nethra Raghuraman in a Rajdeep Ranawat creation.Photographs: Courtesy Corporate Voice Weber Shandwick
Rajdeep Ranawat is aiming at red carpet glamour with this creation.
A baroque border outlines a Calypso Coral and sheer black sari through which hints of gold peep through.
A sequinned waist-length blouse with a stand-up collar enhances the sari.
Images: Hot models sizzle in saris
Image: Sulakshana Monga creation.Photographs: Courtesy Corporate Voice Weber Shandwick
Sulakshana Monga has designed a simple white sari with gold butis and faded gold pleats.
The dramatic, semi-sheer white blouse demands that you wear it only if you don't have an ounce of extra flab.
Images: Hot models sizzle in saris
Image: Models shows an Ekta Jaipuria and Ruchira Kandhari creation.Photographs: Courtesy Corporate Voice Weber Shandwick
The beauty of this sari, designed by Ekta Jaipuria and Ruchira Kandhari lies in its vibrant colours, redolent of India, and traditional, hand-embroidered blouse.
Don't miss the unusual drape!
Images: Hot models sizzle in saris
Image: Models shows an Ekta Jaipuria and Ruchira Kandhari creation.Photographs: Courtesy Corporate Voice Weber Shandwick
The sheer pallu is back, highlighted by huge round motifs.
The body of the sari, designed by Ekta and Ruchira, is panelled in panels of self-embossed yellow and gold with silver buties.
Images: Hot models sizzle in saris
Image: A Masaba Gupta creation.Photographs: Courtesy Corporate Voice Weber Shandwick
Masaba Gupta's colour-blocked sari, in vibrant lime green and coral, is aimed at the young Indian woman.
The black abstract pallu, says Masaba, represents a woman's way of life.
A sequinned coat in electric blue adds to the drama – note the matching blue panel that edges the sari's pallu!
Images: Hot models sizzle in saris
Image: A Masaba Gupta creation.Photographs: Courtesy Corporate Voice Weber Shandwick
The thin orange border adds to the edginess of Masaba's dramatic black 'n' white sari.
The phone booth imprint, which is one of the highlights of Masaba's autumn/winter collection, represents constant wait.
The black cut-out blouse adds a funky touch, while the white coat is a demure screen for this attention-demanding creation.
Images: Hot models sizzle in saris
Image: Supermodel Indrani Dasgupta in a Payal Pratap creation.Photographs: Courtesy Corporate Voice Weber Shandwick
Payal Pratap has worked in the industry for six years, before assisting her husband, designer Rajesh Pratap Singh, for over a decade.
Here, she takes a traditional colour combination and jazzes it with a vest and a coat.
The vest takes inspiration from the traditional Patola weave, while the purple velvet overcoat lends a touch of luxury.
Images: Hot models sizzle in saris
Image: Alecia Raut in a Payal Pratap creation.Photographs: Courtesy Corporate Voice Weber Shandwick
Texturing, patchwork, borders and embroidery are highlights of Payal Pratap's creations.
An electric blue skirt peeps through from under the sheer black sari, while a matching electric blue vest overlays the netted black blouse.
Careful white detailing adds to the sari's glamour.
Images: Hot models sizzle in saris
Image: A Payal Pratap creationPhotographs: Courtesy Corporate Voice Weber Shandwick
Payal Pratap's creations reflect a sensibility that is modern and independent, yet rooted in tradition.
Huge yellow roses bloom on a black background even as Payal panels the sari with her signature border.
Don't miss the stunning sheer blouse, in textured black.
Images: Hot models sizzle in saris
Image: Lakshmi Rana in a Dev r Nil creation.Photographs: Courtesy Corporate Voice Weber Shandwick
Dev r Nil's use the sheer pallu to lend this black 'n' white sari their trademark contemporary, quirky look.
In keeping with the theme of their collection, graphic roses border the sari.
Images: Hot models sizzle in saris
Image: Sheer sari by Rehane.Photographs: Courtesy Corporate Voice Weber Shandwick
Bright flowers bloom over this sheer sari by Rehane.
The delicate cut-out and beautiful blouse add to the outfit's overall glamour.
Images: Hot models sizzle in saris
Image: Model Lakshmi Rana shows a creation by Anju Modi.Photographs: Courtesy Corporate Voice Weber Shandwick
The free-flowing spirit of this beautiful cream and gold sari by designer Anju Modi is held together the military style, knee-length coat.
The severity of the coat, however, is reduced with the use of feminine embellishments.
Images: Hot models sizzle in saris
Image: Kanishtha Dhankar in a Samant Chauhan creation.Photographs: Courtesy Corporate Voice Weber Shandwick
The royal gold and white sari ends in a pallu with a layered wood finish...
Dark lace edges the white blouse.
But it's the naughty red, peeping though, that gives this sari the Samant Chauhan touch.
Images: Hot models sizzle in saris
Image: A Shivan Narresh creation.Photographs: Courtesy Corporate Voice Weber Shandwick
Shivan and Narresh's unique signature style is bold, confident & sophisticated.
Check out the use of colour fields, and the dramatic black and white border.
Images: Hot models sizzle in saris
Image: Diandra Soares in a Sonam Dubal creation.Photographs: Courtesy Corporate Voice Weber Shandwick
Sheer, shaded rose is dramatised with black and sudden flashes of colour.
The shiny red and black border matches the red cuff on the black overcoat in this Sonam Dubal creation.
Images: Hot models sizzle in saris
Image: Nethra Raghuraman in a Sonia Jetleey creation.Photographs: Courtesy Corporate Voice Weber Shandwick
India's national bird comes alive in this Sonia Jetleey creation, both in terms of the colours and the peacock motif that runs through the sari.
The textured blouse, too, follows in peacock motif.
Images: Hot models sizzle in saris
Image: A Chandrani Siingh Fllora creation.Photographs: Courtesy Corporate Voice Weber Shandwick
Chandrani Siingh Fllora's bright summery sari in yellow and blue is enhanced with an exquisite, self-embossed blouse.
The Kolkata based designer, whose collection was dominated by zodiac signs and the designs we share with them, says funky motifs will be a major trend this autumn/winter.
Images: Hot models sizzle in saris
Image: ATarun Tahiliani creation.Photographs: Courtesy Corporate Voice Weber Shandwick
A beautiful combination of textures and weaves highlight this masterful Tarun Tahiliani sari.
Don't miss the temple border, the traditional contrast between sari and pallu and the sharp edging that highlights the pallu.
Also see: Photos: Tarun Tahiliani brings Maha Kumbh on the runway
Images: Hot models sizzle in saris
Image: A Nida Mahmood creation.Photographs: Courtesy Corporate Voice Weber Shandwick
The subdued grey is enlivened by the yellow border in this Nida Mahmood creation.
An unusually styled blouse, and the reverse olive green border, are an unexpected but interesting detail.
Images: Hot models sizzle in saris
Image: An Urvashi Kaur creation.Photographs: Courtesy Corporate Voice Weber Shandwick
It can be a gown, or a sari – we leave you to choose the look for this lovely batik sari by Urvashi Kaur.
As a designer, she seeks inspiration from the vast heritage that India offers and consistently attempts to restore and find ways to adopt sustainable practices to keep indigenous craftsmanship alive.
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