Apparel November 2019 Apparel November 2019 issue | Page 39

FEATURE
In fact, www.saree.com, in an article titled
‘Dressy Dupattas – Add Ons that Complete
Your Outfit’, says, “Dupatta—a style statement
or a tedious add-on! No matter how you see
it, this elaborate separate—an Indian ethnic-
wear separate, an odhna or chunni—cannot be
overlooked. There was a fashion phase when
the use of dupatta saw a downward trend—but
today, the dressy or ornate dupattas are back to
the fashion nucleus and how! While many may
see this fluid fabric as just a matching add-on to
outfits like suits and lehenga-cholis, these days
fancier or heavily woven/embellished versions
mean that they are the centre-piece of the whole
look. Banarasi Dupattas are quite in vogue for the
same reason, as they can easily uplift the look of
even a plain outfit.”
What, however, has made this second innings
so interesting is that it is no longer seen as merely
something one could wear with their kurta,
but is draped attractively to show off its entire
length and breadth. The dupatta has become
a playground for experimentation—it can be
knotted like a scarf in the front or draped like
a closed pallu at the back. It can be made into
ruffles and flows with the cadence of a skirt; it
can be tied to a belt to form a kind of crossover
drape; it can be used as a statement-making,
head-turning piece all by itself. One could just
have a plain outfit and a gorgeous dupatta tucked
with a belt straddling it. The yardage is right to
play around so it can be added as a cape even
to work it well with a Western outfit. In addition,
beaded fringes and other embellishments also
lend dupattas a ‘wow!’ factor.
Today, these drapes also come with discreetly
cut armholes, allowing them to double up as
jackets or be alternatively worn as dupattas. In
the past, a dupatta was worn as a cape or trail,
THE DUPATTA
HAS BECOME A
PLAYGROUND FOR
EXPERIMENTATION.
draped almost over the head. What has added
further drama to this item of clothing is that it has
gone beyond the suit or salwar-kurta ensemble.
It has been dramatised and revived so it works
well with an evening gown, pantsuits, and even
a jumpsuit—just like a stole finds myriad uses,
the dupatta also has been repurposed and
repositioned so it could reach newer heights; a
cape is among its most innovative uses as it can
be teamed with Western-wear as well.
APPAREL
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November 2019
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37