Drape-dead gorgeous

Manpriya Singh

Contemporary twist to traditional silhouette sounds like a debuting designer’s clever malarkey till they reinvent to the point of unrecognizable. Like with the humble dhoti, that’s no more so. Silhouette that’s been feeding the creative vacuum rendered by overkill of anarkalis and palazzos. Dhoti sari, dhoti pants, dhoti kameez, anyone?

“The comfort factor is making this trend popular among the younger generation. In fact, the style is not just comfortable but even eye catching; with different drapes and colour further lending the innovative look,” shares designer Sonu Gandhi, who showcased the dhoti salwars, the fusion of older times dhotis and pants, at the recently concluded Chandigarh Style Week.

Back in 2013, designer Shilpa Reddy’s dhoti outfits at LFW made it to the ‘looks we love.’ A few imaginary makers and a handful of experimental celebrities were yet to happen to the silhouette, which they did when last year Anju Modi catapulted the silhouette to what it is today. With a never before deconstruction and interpretation of the garment at the India Couture Week 2014!

Team members

Team them with a short kurta, a long choli, tunic, short blouse and a dupatta. Fashion monitors never did mind a contemporary twist to traditional silhouette. Especially a long aesthetic twist. Neha Dhupia confidently ambled in at LFW last year, adorned in a pair of white separates. A silk dhoti worn with over sized high-low shirt. Alia Bhatt, in an enthusiastic burst of promotions and appearances, teamed off a kurta with a cross between a Patiala salwar and dhoti.

Glam twist

Known for her sari gowns, designer Sonaakshi Raaj too played on with interesting drapes in her opulent line of red carpet creations, Rebel with a Cause, at Lakmé Fashion Week W/F 2014. There was the red pant-cum-sari, the churidar-draped sari and a beaded body suit teamed with a dhoti sari. “Once we would associate the garment with sloppy college wear. With the new-age blended textiles that hold shape and yet are flowy, there was scope to give the dhoti pants and dhoti sarees a formal and glamorous twist,” shares Mallika Kwatra, from the label, Outline. She adds, “They not only look experimental and interesting but also alluring,” whose upcoming festive range includes a fair share of one piece dhoti gowns in solid colours.

Past to present

Airy, flowy and tucked at the bottom, it’s hard to believe a dhoti was once just a regular piece of unstitched cloth wrapped around the waist, like a long skirt. Bridal, dressy, interesting; with all the fashionable zeitgeist thrown in for ancient dhoti; comfortable is just an under assessment.

[email protected]