Best Tips To Buy Sarees: The Ultimate Guide To Choosing Wisely
The best tips to buy sarees include checking and rechecking everything. Right from the event you buy your saree for to getting the best quality saree, everything needs your attention to detail. Explore different fabrics, designs, styles and blouses before you make your pick. Ultimately, your saree must complement your body shape and make you shine. Take along a friend or relative to get a second opinion. At the end of the day, the most stunning outfits demand effort!
Even the best shoppers can get confused when it comes to buying sarees. There are so many types, styles, designs and fabrics that it’s natural to get a little overwhelmed. But worry not! Our guide of tips to buy sarees will guide you to your dream outfit. Starting from choosing the right fabric to closing the deal, we have covered all the essentials that you might need before making the decision. Continue reading to find out more!
13 Tips To Buy Sarees: Choose The Best Quality and Design
Here are the best tips we’ve curated to help you in your mission to buy the best sarees. This short read is sure to save you money and make you look stunning!
#1 What’s The Occasion?
Different types of sarees and outfits match the theme for different events. If you’re buying a saree for a wedding or reception, a heavy fabric and design are more suitable. On the contrary, sarees for office wear or everyday use need to be light and comfortable. Party-wear sarees should be stunning and make you stand out. Festivals often need modest outfits with cultural designs and prints.
Thus, considering the occasion before you buy a saree is very important. In case it has a dress code or a theme, your purchase should match that as well.
#2 Choose The Fabric
The fabric is, hands down, the most important aspect to consider when buying a saree. The fabric will decide how effortless your saree drape will be and how naturally it should sit. Also, it should match the season and theme of the event. For instance, winter weddings typically need thick material sarees and heavy outfits. Summer weddings, on the other hand, will demand cotton, chiffon or other lightweight sarees to keep you cool and breezy the whole time.
Here’s a quick at-a-glance guide of popular fabrics and when to opt for them:
|
Fabric |
And Its Details |
|
Cotton |
Breathable, lightweight material. Best for casual wear and subdued meet-ups. |
|
Silk |
Formal occasions, like weddings, receptions, festivals, etc. |
|
Chiffon |
Evening parties, fancy events. Provides a subtle drape. |
|
Georgette |
Both casual and formal events. |
|
Crepe |
Good for all events. Provides a flattering drape. |
|
Satin |
Weddings, receptions, dinner parties, etc. |
|
Linen |
Breathable, lightweight fabric for summer parties and events. |
|
Net |
Night events, parties and receptions. |
|
Organza |
Thin, transparent fabric for a luxurious, glamorous look. |
|
Velvet |
Provides a royal look. Best for weddings and fancy receptions. |
#3 Verify The Craftsmanship
You may get heavy-looking sarees for low prices online or at shady stores, but they’re often made of poor quality. These don’t set well, drape naturally or last long. You certainly don’t want a saree that will tear or look cheap!
Hence, one of our top tips to buy sarees includes checking the weave and craftsmanship. If you’re buying a traditional, cultural saree, ensure that it’s authentic. Zari sarees can be made of synthetic material and lose their shine soon. Also, ensure that heavy work like stones, sequins and embroidery is attached securely.
#4 Examine The Dye
A lot of dyes, if done inaccurately, will bleed when you wash them. It reduces the fabric’s shine and makes it look dull. Also, block-painted sarees are sometimes unevenly done or may have patchiness. A quick trick to check the material’s dye is to rub a white cloth on it. If it transfers, the dye might bleed.
#5 Pallu & Border
The most prominent parts of a saree are the pallu and border. Remember to assess them very carefully. For instance, thick borders can make even a modern saree look traditional. A heavy pallu can instantly elevate a simple saree, and similarly, a dull one can pull down the heaviest ones. If possible, try to minimally drape the pallu and see how it looks on you.
#6 Check The Width & Length
Ideally, the standard length of a saree ranges between 5.5 and 6.5 metres, and the width falls between 44 and 48 inches. But if you’re tall, the saree might fall short. If you want a longer pallu, but the saree is too short, it will ruin your look. Consider these specifications before you buy a saree.
#7 Does It Include A Blouse?
A lot of sarees often come with a blouse piece. If your final shortlists do, check whether you like the blouse design and colour. It should also go with the style and neckline you have in mind. Sometimes, you can buy a saree with a readymade blouse online, in which case, check the design, style and your size.
#8 Check the Finishing
In odd cases, the best quality fabric and most authentic embroidery also fail to produce a high-quality final product. This is one of the most important tips to buy sarees - check the finishing. Your saree must look fresh, vibrant and stunning, not dull and boring.
#9 Don’t Buy A Damaged Piece!
Without fail, ensure that you open the entire saree and check it thoroughly. Unknowingly, you might come back with a damaged piece that is tough to replace or return. Especially block-painted or hand-embroidered sarees may have damaged parts.
#10 Is It Worth The Cost?
The best sarees don’t have to be expensive. You can get stunning sarees for very pocket-friendly prices. But ultimately, when you finalise a saree to buy, ensure that you don’t end up overpaying for it. Other than being a glamorous outfit, it should also be worth the cost.
#11 Try It Out
If possible, try out the saree, at least as a minimal drape. Oftentimes, the prettiest colours don’t go well with our complexion or suit our body type. Hence, it’s crucial that you try it and figure out whether it suits you or not.
#12 Assess The Colour In Different Settings
Zari or dhup chav sarees sometimes shine uniquely in different light settings. If you’re buying your saree for an outdoor event in a dimly lit area, it might end up looking completely different on the day of! Thus, if possible, check how it looks in different settings.
#13 Second Opinions!
It’s always best to shop with a partner! Grab a friend, cousin, sibling, or parent to get second opinions on your shortlisted sarees. In fact, no one can give you better tips to buy sarees than your mom!
Blush Mango: Get The Best Sarees Today!
Buying a saree does not have to be tough. If you’re still confused and unsure about our tips to buy sarees, simply head over to Blush Mango’s website and explore our wide range of saree collections. From beautiful and comfortable cotton sarees to stunning zari sarees with hand embroidery, you can find something for every occasion. Moreover, you can also pick a lovely blouse to go with it. Check out our collection today!
Final Thoughts
Buying sarees is a systematic process which you can complete with our list of top tips to buy sarees. Begin by assessing the occasion and the style you have in mind. Explore different fabrics, designs, prints and embroidery to find what you’ll like. When you’ve shortlisted a few options, consider the authenticity, quality and craftsmanship of the sarees. Make sure that you get your money’s worth and don’t end up overpaying for a damaged piece!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How do I choose a good saree?
Ans: Assess the fabric, embroidery, print, design, pallu and border carefully in order to choose a good saree. Also, ensure that the colour matches your complexion and suits your body type.
Q2. Which saree is best for beginners?
Ans: If you don’t have the habit of regularly wearing sarees, it’s best to go for easy-to-carry sarees with lightweight, breathable material, like cotton or chiffon. It’s also easy to drape and sits well.
Q3. How to select a saree for body type?
Ans: Considering your body type is one of the most common tips to buy sarees. Lightweight fabrics, like chiffon, give a slimming effect. Conversely, stiffer fabrics, like cotton, are best suited to provide structure to rectangular or petite frames. If you have an hourglass figure, you might want to look at flowy drapes that fall naturally. For petite figures, small prints and borders will look best.
Q4. Which saree is best for daily use?
Ans: Airy, comfortable, lightweight sarees like flowing chiffon and soft cotton are best for everyday use.
Q5. How to check a saree’s quality?
Ans: Use three factors to verify the quality of a saree - Touch, Shine and Weave. The saree must be soft and comfortable to touch; it should not look dull but have a fresh shine, and the weave of the saree must be uniform and undamaged.