Saree Draping Styles – 7 Unique & Elegant Styles For Every Woman

Had it with draping your saree in the same mundane and boring way? Then switch up your conventional saree look and blow everyone away with these awesome and unique saree draping styles!  The best thing about spicing up your draping technique is that it gives a brand-new lease on life to those old sarees that you have become bored of wearing. You will be excited to know that there are many unique and different styles of saree draping this season to suit all kinds of saree wearers’ tastes. Depending upon the occasion, type of fabric and border, you can pick from our list of perky and refreshing saree draping styles.

 Whether you’re a beginner at wearing sarees or an absolute pro, we list the right saree draping styles for you. You can debut that precious designer saree with some off-beat and different styles of saree draping, such as the pant drape or Mumtaz style, to give your party or wedding look some extra oomph. So, get your safety pins ready to start draping your way to a drop-dead gorgeous look! 

7 Smoking Hot Saree Draping Styles for All Types of Occasions

1.    Lehenga Drape

Amongst the many different styles of saree draping that exist, the lehenga drape is the most popular with brides and bridesmaids. Pick stiffer fabrics, such as silk, to create more volume. There are two ways of draping this look. A second saree can be pleated around the waist evenly to create a skirt, or alternatively, you can just pull on a contrasting lehenga skirt. Start with the pallu pleated neatly over one shoulder, the rest of the saree gets pleated at the back and sides, creating a good amount of volume, perfect for a bridal look. A delicate waist chain can define your figure even further.  

2.    Pant Style

Hunting for some different types of saree draping techniques to spice up your look? Here, all you need is a pair of fitted pants or leggings and a crop top. This drape goes perfectly with softer fabrics such as georgette or a graceful art silk saree, but even a stiffer pure silk saree could work if pleated neatly. It is draped almost as usual, except instead of wrapping the saree around the body, it is simply pleated up and tucked into the front. This new style saree wearing technique has gotten really popular with young women and is revolutionizing how sarees are thought of and worn. No longer purely traditional, this look combines the best of Indian and western fashion.

3.    Infinity Drape

This saree draping new style is called the infinity drape because you are not able to tell where the pallu ends. The end result is a beautiful symphony of pleated curves of fabric. Start with draping the saree as usual, and instead of taking the pallu around the back, bring it forward over one shoulder. While doing the main centre pleats, leave a bit of extra fabric. Take a corner of the pallu and bring it around and tuck it in the front right behind this extra fabric. The final look is very rich and luxurious, with the pallu connected to the front pleats. And the best part, no loose pallu to fiddle around with!

4.    Mermaid Style

Wondering how to wear saree in different style to impress your friends? This one is quite a recent trend and is named so because of how it creates a flattering fish-cut shape with more volume at the hips and tapered at the knees. Start by draping the saree as usual. Take the pre-pleated pallu and bring over the front until the knee. When doing the centre pleats, leave some extra fabric over the hips to bring more volume there. Then, take a corner of the pallu, wrap it around you once and pin it in the centre. A heavy or thick-bordered saree is essential to create this look.

5.    Cancan Drape

This style is named after the voluminous cancan skirt, which is worn underneath the saree. Put the pallu around your shoulder like a normal drape. Start pleating the end of the saree on the other side and tuck it into the centre. This creates a bottom half with beautiful billowy pleats on one side and the pretty cancan skirt on the other side. Saree draping styles like this one are perfect for brides since it is an incredibly feminine drape and cuts a gorgeous figure as it reminds one of a princess-like ball gown.

6.    Mumtaz Style

This look is named after the famous Bollywood diva and looks positively stunning with its layered border. An ideal look to turn heads at an evening soiree without breaking the bank. Pick a georgette or chiffon saree with a pronounced border for this drape. It is draped an extra one or two times tightly around the body. Much fewer centre pleats are made so as to keep everything as body-hugging as possible. The pallu is left a bit shorter than usual. Enticing saree draping ideas such as these will leave your admirers absolutely star-struck!

7.    Dhoti Drape

This saree draping style is meant for those who want to look bold and stand out in the crowd. Hold the saree in both hands behind you and take one-third of the saree to the left side and the rest to the right. Wrap it around you, and as the two sides meet in the front, tie both these pieces in a knot on your navel. Take the fabric on the left underneath your leg and tuck it in the back in a pleated manner. Take the fabric on the right under your leg and bring it over your shoulder into a pallu. Pleat neatly. With its rather masculine style of draping, this look signifies power and emancipation for women.

The Best Way to Prep for All Kinds of Saree Draping Styles

In order to ensure a neat look, prepare your look by ironing the entire saree before you start draping. Pro tip: As with all different styles of saree draping, it always pays off to pleat and iron your saree pallu in advance, especially if using a silk saree. This helps it to look very neat, and there is less to do while draping. Having a friend or family member to help you through more complex saree draping styles is also a good idea.

FAQ on Saree Draping Styles