How to Drape a Saree: 5 Easy Styles for Beginners

Draping a saree can look tricky at first, but with a little practice anyone can do it. Here are five simple styles, starting with the most popular.

Before You Start

• Wear a well-fitted blouse and a petticoat (underskirt) tied firmly at the waist.
• Wear the footwear you plan to use, so you get the length right.
• Keep a few safety pins handy.

1. The Classic Nivi Drape

1. Tuck the plain end of the saree into the petticoat at your right hip, so the lower edge just touches the floor.
2. Wrap the saree once around your waist, tucking as you go.
3. Make 5–7 even pleats of about 5 inches each, hold them together and tuck them in at the centre of your waist, facing left.
4. Take the remaining fabric around your back, bring it over your left shoulder and arrange the pallu – pleated or open.
5. Pin the pallu at the shoulder and the pleats at the waist.

2. Open Pallu Style

Follow the Nivi drape but leave the pallu loose and flowing instead of pleated. This shows off the full design of a rich ikat or Bomkai pallu – perfect for parties.

3. Butterfly Drape

Make the pallu pleats very thin and pin them high on the shoulder so more of the blouse shows. Works beautifully with lightweight silk.

4. Pallu as a Dupatta

Drape as usual, then bring the pallu from the back around to the front and over the opposite shoulder like a dupatta. Comfortable and graceful for weddings.

5. Belted Saree

Drape in Nivi style and add a slim belt or a traditional kamarbandh at the waist. It keeps everything in place and gives a modern touch – great for handloom cotton sarees.

Tips for Handloom Sarees

• Cotton handlooms hold pleats better when lightly starched and ironed.
• Silk sarees slip more easily – use pins generously.
• Iron the pleats after draping for a crisp finish.

Find your next saree in our Odisha Sarees collection.

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