THE CUMMERBUND IS BACK IN STYLE, AND HOW
Stylistas of late prefer to cinch the six-yard wonder with a statement belt
Sari isn’t just a piece of clothing. It’s a metaphor for female allure, a synonym for a dance movement. It’s the Holy Grail of the Indian style canvas. Never feeling dated and always coming across as impossibly of-the-movement, it can be styled to suit every fantasy. Of late, it’s been styled with an array of belts and cummerbunds — embellished, printed and embroidered. Last week Madhuri Dixit Nene looked chic and cheerful in a printed and embellished sari which was cinched at the waist with a matching belt. Singer Kanika Kapoor too opted for a Manish Malhotra sari teamed with a shine-on belt. Nora Fatehi was a vision in an ornate sari paired with a leather buckled belt. Palak Shah, founder, Ekaya, attributes it to creativity being its organic and spontaneous best, and to the fact that experimenting with saris and belts together is simply a lot of fun. “Interest in the trend, and the resulting popularity, stems from understanding the sari’s inherent fluid beauty. A belt helps accentuate its natural draping on the wearer’s body, and from there, different styles of belts are an expression of personal taste,” says Palak.
In a recently unveiled campaign, designer Pranay Baidya’s muse Srimoyi Bhattacharya wore a Chanderi sari accessorised with a vintage Chanel chain and medallion belt. “Saris worn with belts, cummerbunds and jewelled chains have been a longstanding tradition across several erstwhile princely states in India since time immemorial. It instantly adds a feminine flair to the wearer, highlighting their waist and also adding a beautiful structure to the sari drape. With a sari’s styling always evolving, women are constantly looking at new ways to style them. There is so much one can do with this versatile nine yard of textile, and belting it up sure has been receiving the popular vote,” shares Pranay.
Designer Ridhi Mehra observes that traditionally, the cummerbund has been an integral part of regional bridal looks. “Bringing together this accent from the past and sprucing it up with modern fashion paradigms has birthed this striking trend of belted saris,” says Ridhi.