Priyanka Chopra, our very own desi girl and a proud creative export to the West, has done it again. The diva was back in the news for her recent photoshoot with an international magazine. What caught everyone’s attention was her saree style, carried with much poise and finesse, though without a blouse. The pictures went viral in no time and received both flak and love.
As for the flak bit, it gave another tool to the online preachers who were up in the arms defending the ‘sanskaar’ and a ‘culture extinction’ that might just be an outcome of such a shoot. What really surprised us was the very fact that many of these harbingers never realised that blouses were never a part of our ‘culture’ to begin with and to brush up one's memory of the same, here’s some history for the cultural aficionado in you.
Right from the sculptures dating back to 300 BC, from the times of Maurya and Sunga, to the Gupta period from 335 to 455 AD, women and men wore fabric or rather pieces of fabric on the lower part of their body, while the upper part or the breast area had very little to cover up.
However, with the onset of the Mughal Empire in 1526, certain visible changes came to the fore, including how women dressed themselves up. Even then the concept of our ‘now famous’ Indian blouse seemed too far. Noticeably, in Bengal, most women never wore a blouse. They opted for a more bare-breasted saree during the Victorian era and many continue to do the same even now.
Alright, so after this gyaan on Indian history and the backstory of blouse, the anxious you should know that we have Britishers to thank for this trendy piece of cloth in our wardrobe. Hence, we fail to understand as to why the trollers got so hurt with PeeCee’s photoshoot, going as far as calling it a ‘sadly mutilated version of a saree’. Wonder what happened to the same lot when Bollywood and some of the biggest creative geniuses on this side of the globe decided to present their leading women in a saree sans the blouse. Don’t trust us? Right from the showman Raj Kapoor to the magnificent story-teller Yash Chopra, leading filmmakers made their heroines flaunt the blouse-less style in the classiest manner possible.
Aishwarya Rai
Aishwarya Rai graced the blouse-less saree look in her much-revered character of Binodini in the movie Chokher Bali.
Zeenat Aman
Zeenat Aman’s seductress look way back in 1978 when she sang the famous lines 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram' without putting on the blouse.
Preity Zinta
It was in 2004, when the marvelous Yash Chopra gave us one of the most outstanding movies of his career, where Preity Zinta draped her saree, sans her blouse, in the song ‘Janam dekh lo’.
Regional Movies
Moreover, you just can’t blame our dear Bollywood for being the trendsetter of the same on celluloid. Some of the most impactful regional movies showcased their actresses donning the no-blouse look.
Well, haters gonna hate but we simply loved how Priyanka Chopra owned every bit of that cover with not just her sheer sex appeal but an unmatched bareback elegance. For those of you who can’t agree more and want to flaunt your indigenous style at the next social event, we have got you covered (pun intended).
Scroll down for some of the most exquisite saree styling ideas without your dear blouse.
Coorgi Style
Traditionally, this style has pleats at the back. The end of the saree is brought below the left shoulder, and secured over the right shoulder in a firm knot called ‘molakattu’. Are you taking down notes?
Madisaru
Madisaru plays an important role in Tamil Nadu’s culture. In this saree-draping style, the lower half is worn like a loincloth while the upper half is pleated like a normal saree.
Halakki Vokkaliga
It’s a traditional attire worn by women in Karnataka. The saree is first tied around the neck and then wrapped around under the shoulders, making blouse and petticoat completely unnecessary. Pair it with a necklace and some bangles and you’re all set to head out.
Himalayan Style
Wear a saree like you normally do and take the end of the saree and wrap it around your neck, covering your back.
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Sarong Style
It is a stylish way to glam up your look at a cocktail party. Just wrap a saree around the shoulder, hold the end of the saree drape and twist it around your neck and tuck it in a belt.
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