Follow these basic guidelines and keep yourself safe. We can’t always predict the nature of the threat that we face regularly on internet, but we can surely protect ourselves by being extra careful on our part.
]]>Does this sound familiar? Do you dread shopping online to avoid such an experience? Is that the reason you restrict your online shopping to only a handful of e-commerce websites even when you come across fantastic products elsewhere? Fear no more! It’s not that hard to avoid scammers and detect fake websites. When you are equipped with the right knowledge, it just needs you to be a little aware and vigilant to detect such scammers. After all, online shopping has its benefits for sure. From the convenience of being able to shop at your fingertips to getting fantastic deals and a mind-boggling selection of products to easy delivery and return options, shopping has never been so consumer-friendly.
Here are some basic guidelines that you can use while shopping online with confidence:
Remember any business thrives on trust; be it between the business and its customers, the business and its vendors or the business and its employees. Any genuine business would not like to lose its hard-earned reputation for just a few bucks. So be vigilant, show your trust and be happy shopping online!
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With change in time and fashion, saree has undergone lot of changes in the way it is worn and styled. Not just changing fashion, different culture, social structure and climatic factors has also contributed to the way how saree is worn and styled. Let’s take a look at how the eastern part of India has contributed towards this eternal favourite garment of Indian women. The eastern states of modern India comprises of Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal. Sarees from eastern India are quite well known for their distinguished weaving, style and pattern. The rich traditional and cultural history of these states have influenced their weaving culture.
Bihar
The state of Bihar is known for Tussar silk and the sarees woven from the silk. Tussar silk is a non-mulberry silk that is also known as ‘Wild Silk’ as it is produced from a wide winged moth that is yellowish brown in colour and feeds on wild forest. It is a coarser variety of silk and is lot cooler, porous and breathable than other silk varieties. Another form of Tussar silk saree comes from Bhagalpur in Bihar. These sarees are known as Bhagalpuri silk sarees. The most notable feature of this silk is in its dyeing technique that give them a mesmerizing look. The state is also known for Madhubani or Mithila painting. It is a folk painting done by hands using natural colours and dyes. Though conventionally this art form was done to decorate and add colours to home, but with changing times, it has now been done on other products including sarees. Madhubani painting is generally done on Tussar silk sarees weaved in Bihar. The painting narrates different aspects of nature, scenes and deity from ancient epics on the sarees. These sarees are considered extremely rich and ethnic.
The women in Bihar has a unique style of wearing sarees which is called 'seedha aanchal' style. In northeast Bihar, women prefer to drape their saree in ‘purnia’ style too. The women from this state are traditionally known to wear saree. In modern times as well, no occasion and festivity is complete without the women getting decked up in sarees.
Jharkhand
Jharkhand is an eastern state of India, which is originally curved out from the state of Bihar. Like Bihar, Jharkhand also produces Tussar silk but a different variant, called Kuchai silk. Kuchai silk is produced mainly in Kharsawan and Seraikela in Jharkand. The cocoon for Kuchai silk is grown on Sal and Arjun trees. The state also produces another variety, Ghicha silk which is a by-product of Tussar silk. The sarees made of Ghicha silk gets a raw texture as the silk is manually reeled from cocoons making it uneven.
Jharkhand’s tribe-centric culture has major influence in the saree patterns, often with traditional paintings or prints demonstrating tribal dances and festivals on them. Women generally prefer to wear sarees here. Women belonging to well off families prefer to wear sarees made of variants of Tussar silk. However, tribal women of the state go for the traditional attire of Panchi (lower garment) and Parhan (upper covering).
Odisha
Odisha is another eastern state of India which is immensely rich in its heritage and culture. The state is known for its architectural marvel as depicted on some of its renowned temples. The reflection of this intricate architecture can also be found in its textiles and weaves. The handcrafted sarees of the state are greatly influenced by temple culture in the form of temple borders, mythological design and traditional colours of Lord Jagannath. There are quite a few varieties of sarees weaved in this state. Depending on the region where it is weaved, the fabric used, the weave, design of the fabric and the pallu varies. The handloom sarees here are among the finest in the country.
Odisha ikat, also known as Sambalpuri Ikat is handwoven ikat wherein the warp and weft are tie-dyed before it is woven into a saree. These sarees are known for their heavily woven pallus and borders in contrasting colours and meaningful designs inspired from the temples of Odisha. These sarees are available in both silk and cotton. It is produced in Bargarh, Sonepur, Sambalpur, Balangir and Boudh district of Odisha.
Bomkai saree is a handloom saree known for its intricate weaves and patterns. This variety first originated in Ganjam district and was later introduced in Sonepur as well. Bomkai saree has an extraordinary fabric that is an outcome of ikat and embroidery interwoven into each other. The borders and pallus of this saree is marked by intricate thread work. The motifs of Bomkai are inspired by nature and tribal art. Bomkai sarees are available both in silk and cotton.
Another saree type from Odisha is Baandha. Baandha sarees are dyed using tie and dye method unique to Odisha. They have a subtle shimmer as they are interwoven with gold or silver threads. They have a unique three dimensional beauty and come with many symbolic and mythological motifs on the pallu.
Women of Odisha have been wearing sarees as their traditional costume. Interestingly, in Odisha, different regions have their distinct draping style. Some of the drapes from Odisha are Kuncha, Kotapad, Santhal, Ghorapindha, Kaccha and its variation.
West Bengal
When it comes to saree, Bengal handloom is the most ancient one in India and sarees from here narrates a rich weaving tradition which highlights the artistic culture of the state. The state has a wide range of sarees to offer from different regions and each of the variety has its own saga. Bengal is known for producing the best quality of cotton sarees. The state is also known for Tussar silk, Muslin and Linen sarees. Let’s take a look at the range of sarees this state has to offer.
Cotton handloom sarees are weaved in Fulia-Shantipur cluster of West Bengal. These sarees are made of finest cotton and are not starched to give a classic flowy appearance. These sarees are woven with contemporary motifs and texture and gives a chic urban look. Some experimentation is also been carried out on these sarees by blending cotton with wool, jute and linen.
Cotton silk sarees are made by blending cotton and silk. Cotton Silk sarees are known to provide the comfort of cotton along with the richness of silk. These sarees are weaved mainly in the Shantipur-Fulia cluster of Bengal.
Khesh cotton sarees are very unique due to its process of weaving. In this process, the warp is with yarn of a particular colour and the weft is with strips of thin cloth which is usually selected in terms of its colour and texture. The weaving process adds an element of surprise as the pattern for the weft is unpredictable and is not known till the weaving is complete. This unique art form comes from Birbhum district of West Bengal.
The handwoven Linen sarees from Fulia in Bengal exhibits simplicity, elegance and beauty. The material used in the weft defines the type of linen. Pure Linen sarees uses linen for both the warp and weft, whereas Silk Linen sarees use silk for the weft and similarly, Cotton Linen sarees use cotton for the weft.
Like most of the states in eastern India, West Bengal also produces Tussar silk sarees. However, the weaving technique here is little different. Weavers combine this silk with other yarns like cotton and wool to come up with a richer knitted fabric. Depending upon the region various motifs like fish, conch, rudraksha, flowers are weaved into the sarees.
Kantha is an embroidery style that originates from Bolpur in the Birbhum district of West Bengal. The word “Kantha” in Bengali means embroidered quilt. This stitch is characterized by the ‘running stitch’ that was used to adorn the quilts with artistic embroidery. Kantha stitch reinforces the fabric and creates lines, fields of colour and motifs. Sarees with kantha embroidery are typically made of pure silk, tussar silk and cotton. Depending upon the intricacy of embroidered patterns, a saree takes a few weeks to several months to prepare. This in turn determines the price of the saree.
Baluchari saree is the most exquisite saree from West Bengal. The history of Baluchari Sarees dates back to 18th century when under the patronage of Nawab Murshidkuli Khan, the craft flourished in the village of Baluchar on the banks of river Bhagirathi in Murshidabad in West Bengal. A flood in Bhagirathi River forced the trade to shift from Murshidabad to Bishnupur in Bankura district of West Bengal. Modern day Baluchari sarees are mostly weaved in Bishnupur where the weaving technique was revived in the mid-20th century. Baluchari sarees are known for its intricate design and depiction of mythological scenes on the pallu of the saree. The process of making Baluchari sarees includes cultivation of cocoons, processing the yarn and making motifs using the technique of Jacquard weaving where two weavers work for almost a week to produce one saree. The material used for the saree is silk and the saree is polished after weaving. The richness of this saree makes it apt for wearing during festivals and weddings.
Weaving of Jamdani sarees originated in Dhaka, Bangladesh and now it has been carried forward in parts of West Bengal as well, mainly in Habibpur and Ramchandarpur near Fulia. Jamdani is a woven fabric in cotton and is one of the finest varieties of muslin. It is one of the most laborious form of handloom weaves, which involves the supplementary weft technique along with the standard weft technique. The weavers use fine needle like spindles to create the weft motifs on the base sheer material.
Bishnupri silk sarees are woven in and around Bishnupur in Bankura district of West Bengal. These sarees are known for its finest silk that have a smooth and soft texture. These sarees come with variety of colours and traditional motifs inspired by traditional terracotta temples of the region, nature and rural lifestyle. Bishnupuri silk sarees are fusion of modern geometric motifs and traditional art.
Begumpuri sarees are not just about a beautiful work of art, it’s an excellent example of how an old craft needs to be revived and transformed into a success story. These sarees are weaved in Begumpur of Hooghly district in West Bengal. Originally the weavers here used to weave the traditional plain Mathaparh and Nakshapar cotton sarees. Due to the lack of interest shown by the customers due to the repetitive designs, the tradition of handloom weaving was gradually disappearing. In 2010, it was revived by the Weavers’ Service Centre, Kolkata. With the introduction of jacquard loom, extra weft in the weave, new dyeing and designing technique, the handloom clustered got a favourable response which in turn resulted in enhanced production.
Tangail sarees originated in Tangail district of Bangladesh. After partition, majority of these weavers immigrated to West Bengal and got settled in Fulia with government patronage. Tangail saree is weaved with a unique style by using extremely fine yarns that makes it soft and comfortable. Weaving style, color, design and length of this saree is very different from all other sarees. One of the exceptional features of these sarees is Par or the border. Jori or silk yarn is used for making the border. There are Tangail Jamadanis and then there are Fulia Tangail. Tangail Jamdanis are similar to Dhakai Jamdanis, but has a softer feel and sparser distribution of motifs. Fulia Tangails, incorporates vibrant colours and large intricate design woven in double jacquard. These sarees are also being woven in mulberry and tussar silk besides cotton.
Needless to say that the women from Bengal have not only been wearing sarees from ages but they have epitomized this costume to another level. They are known for their unparalleled way of draping sarees. Bengal women has a unique style of draping saree, known as 'Athpourey' drape. In this style, pallu comes from back to the front on both the sides. It has a box pleat at the front. The state has also given us the style of combining the saree with a blouse and petticoat. It was first developed by Jnanadanandini Devi, wife of Rabindranath Tagore’s brother, Satyendranath Tagore. She developed this style to defy the purdah system and to enable women to move out of their seclusion in the andarmahal and take part in outdoor activities. She fused the Parsi and Bengali style to come up with this new style.
Image courtesy: Wikipedia, Painting by Mr. Gautam Partho Roy and Collection by Mr. Pradip Burman
]]>With more and more participation of Indian women in the work force, office fashion has gone through a radical change especially when it comes to women. Initially, when Indian women entered the corporate sector, women’s dressing was more about being modest. Feeling comfortable or looking stylish wasn’t much of a priority. Instead staying covered up was more important. Gradually, as more women started working in corporate along with the fundamental changes in the society, work wear for women also started getting more interesting and bolder. Equipped with more buying power and changing career status, women in India started to experiment with western outfits. Today, western wear has become a norm when it comes to work wear for women. Interestingly, Indian women never stopped mixing traditional office wear with western outfits. When it comes to corporate wardrobe, Indian women always enjoy a wide range of options and saree definitely manages to find some space in their wardrobe.
Though saree has always been an excellent choice for office wear, there has been a sharp decline in its popularity. Barring some sectors such as education, hospitality, healthcare etc., women in the corporate sector prefers to make a power statement in their business suits. Besides the changed fashion perception, there are few other factors too which led to this drastic change. Now a days women prefer to opt for hassle free western wear that gives them better mobility. Tying a 6 yard saree in the morning is considered as a daunting task. Many women also think that saree needs lot of preparation.
Hold your thoughts…have you ever wondered, it’s just a perception and can be changed? If we just go back to not so distant past, we would notice that these saree cladded Indian women left their mark not just with their equal participation in Indian freedom struggle and in the farm lands, but also by flying planes. Saree can equally make a power statement in any corporate meetings if they are styled appropriately. Many of our women corporate honchos like Naina Lal Kidwai, Chanda Kochar, Meera Sanyal and Arundhati Bhattacharya are regularly seen in graceful sarees making their presence felt.
Let us take look into the common myths that are leading saree to an oblivion when it comes to corporate dressing.
Time consuming- It definitely needs some practice like every other thing. Look at our mothers or grandmothers, how quickly they can drape a saree with elegance. Saree gives so much flexibility as it allows you to drape the way you like.
Not so formal- It’s about our perception. With changing time and fashion, we associate business suit with power position and authority. However, if we look around we would notice that most of the women leading corporate firms opt for saree as the formal wear. What matters is how you style your saree for work and your attitude towards your work.
Only for special occasions- Not really. If you choose the right fabric and pattern, it can be worn on a regular basis. It’s only our changed perception that we have started associating sarees with weddings and parties. Due to this, even when it comes to work wear, we associate sarees only with special occasions. Just imagine, how you can beat your Monday blues with an elegant and smart saree drape that motivates you to start your week on the right note. Or for that matter going for a mid-week change that lifts you up just when you start feeling burnt out.
It’s old-fashioned- There couldn’t be a more interesting attire than a saree. Having saree in your work wardrobe adds an interesting flavour to your dressing. When most of your colleagues in the office are donning the same boring business suits, you can breathe a fresh air to your office environment. Isn’t that exciting?
While most of us find it very easy to style our saree for social gatherings like weddings, parties or festivals, we feel that saree is not an attire that go well in the office environment. The reality is, styling saree for work is altogether a different ball of game. And if it is not done correctly, it can affect your persona negatively. The good news is, it’s not that complicated. It’s rather simple and straightforward. You just need to make some smart choices. To make it simpler, we are going to focus on each of the aspects that would help you bring out uber smart office chic look in saree.
Not every type and texture of saree work in office environment. Needless to say, one should stay away from any kind of glitzy and flashy sarees. However, you can never go wrong if you choose sarees in natural fabrics. Sarees such as handloom cotton, cotton silk, khadi, linen, raw silk and tussar are the best bet when it comes to office wear sarees. No matter if you want to go for solid colours or prints, traditional weaves always add a touch of class and elegance. In case of prints, try to go with smaller prints preferably, though there can always be an exception based on the pattern and styling of the saree. Linen, raw silk and tussar sarees are so versatile that you can pull them for an after-office party with some minor change in makeup and accessories. Besides the handwoven varieties, chiffons can also be a great addition to your office wardrobe.
Colour is another key element when it comes to office wear. Loud colours can be a total put off. Pastel hues and earthy tones go best with office ambiance. Solid colours and sober prints in these shades can make your look subtle but stylish. As in the case of western wear, black coloured saree has the ability to make you look quite formal. Not just the colour of the saree, the colour of the blouse and how you pair it with your saree colour also has a strong impact on your overall look.
Blouse is an important part of your saree look. It can make or break your style quotient. To look professional, one should avoid any kind of flashy cuts and design on the blouse. Keep it simple, sober but stylish. You can opt for boat necks, collar necks or even round or v-necks. Just make sure to avoid deep necks to maintain the office decorum. Similarly you can opt for long sleeves, quarter sleeves or even sleeveless but without looking edgy. Depending on saree colour and pattern, you can opt for same colour blouse or go for contrasting hues. All you need to do is to select a colour that does not stand out noticeably.
Sarees are never complete without accessories. However, for office wear we need to choose the accessories smartly. Opting for accessories doesn’t mean that we have to go all out in loading them. The trick is to balance it out. If you are opting for a heavy neck piece then you can go easy with bangles. Similarly, if you are opting for a statement earring, then you can completely avoid wearing a necklace. The rule is to completely avoid any glittery stuff. You can either opt for oxidized silver jewelry or natural stone jewelry. Pearls also go very well with your office sarees especially with silk and chiffons. You can also pair your handloom sarees with simple wooden or terracotta jewelry too. And yes, make sure you put on your watch to make the look absolutely formal. Invest in quality watches with gold, silver and black leather straps. This gives you the option to pair the right one with any of your sarees.
This is the most important aspect of your office look. Avoid any kind of dramatic, over-the-top makeup or hairstyle. Office ambiance is very different from social parties or weddings. Always opt for neutral and effortless makeup. Nude, pastel and earthy shades of lipstick is what you should go for. Simple kohled eyes without much drama is what looks good with your office saree. When it comes to hair, clean and neat hairstyle looks the best. Simple blow dried hair is always the most effortless look that can go with your saree. You can also try sleek ponytails, simple braids and high or low bun hairstyles.
Follow the above suggestions and bring a breeze of freshness to your office wardrobe. Sarees are not meant for just festivals, weddings and social gatherings. Change the perception and flaunt your corporate look in sarees with all your confidence.
Image courtesy: fashionmarket.lk, southindianfashion.com, Instagram-priyanka_pareek90, styleatlife.com, makeupandbeauty.com, blingsparkle.com, sujatra.com, Pinterest, wedlockindia.com, cinespot.net, sixyardsoffinery.com, ajio.com, indiarush.com, fashion-hunter.com, jaypore.com
]]>Tips to Maintain Cotton Sarees
Tips to Maintain Linen Sarees
Tips to Maintain Silk Sarees
Tips to Remove Stains