Apparel November 2019 Apparel November 2019 issue | Page 38

FEATURE
In Celebration of the Dupatta
The subtle but sure influence dupattas have commanded through ages is not lost
on us. In this vein, Chitra Balasubramaniam shows how this perennially elegant
piece of clothing is witnessing resurgence today.
Call it the chunri, odhni or dupatta, this piece of
clothing denotes modesty and grace. While it
was ditched in favour of new alternatives—stoles,
jackets, and wraps—today, the dupatta is making
a comeback. Sometime ago, I had spoken about
how stoles have been increasingly replacing
age-old dupattas, highlighting how chic they are,
and how they can be draped with both Indian
and Western-wear—well, maybe we had written
off the dupattas too soon. Whether it is the
want to get back to tradition or just the novelty
of it, suddenly, dupattas are back in vogue.
They seem to be making a comeback in a slow
and steady manner. This is further validated by
runways, which have been seeing dupattas styled
to perfection, and fashion magazines that have
carried articles on wearing a dupatta innovatively.
It will not be long before apparel manufacturers
will start selling dupatta ensembles with the
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November 2019
traditional suit cloth. Ready-mades, which
hitherto shunned dupattas and consisted of just
kurtis, too, will probably get them back in action.
This is best testified in an article on Elle.in, which
says, “The designers at fashion week seemed
to have realised that the real hero of the outfit
is, in fact, its cape. At Tarun Tahiliani, Swarovski
crystals exploded over the lightest drapes
of fabric which were then paired with classic
lehengas and even elaborate ballgowns. Shaymal
& Bhumika focused on romantic ruffles, while
cape styles—that allow the arms to move freely—
seemed more popular than ever, with Jayanti
Reddy, Anamika Khanna and Anushree Reddy all
showing off the dramatic drape. If you’ve treated
your dupatta as an after-thought all this time,
these gorgeous offerings—paired with innovative
draping techniques—can add dimension to every
outfit you try.”