Material Girl

When I initially started buying some Indian clothes, I decided that under no circumstance would I ever need a sari. I was content to buy and wear salwar kameez, kurtas, and churidar. That was until Susanna came to stay at the Cultural Center. She’s on her fourth visit to India/second long term trip. She very convincingly explained to me that I needed to go sari shopping and to own a sari by the time I leave. So, off we went Wednesday after work.

Susanna was right. Sari shopping is an experience everyone (well, female) should have in India. We went to the old city of Pune where the markets are teeming with people on the evenings and weekends. We went into the first store, kicked off our shoes, and plopped down on the mattresses on the floor. A man started tossing fabrics our way, responding to our likes (few) and dislikes (many). To get what you want, you can’t sugar coat what you say. If it’s ugly and has too much bling, speak up. The pile of fabric grew until we realized that we weren’t seeing anything that I liked. We left the shop with a good idea of what I didn’t like and some idea of what I might like.

The second place we went was similar to the first. Someone took us to the second floor, where we tried to sit down. Then someone else guided us to the third floor. There was another group of women looking at beautiful saris in the corner. Again, off with the shoes and down on the mats. At this place, the shop assistants didn’t toss fabric our way so much as display it in front of us. At first, they showed a lot of fabrics with bright orange. Eventually, we got on the green/blue/purple track. It was time to try them on. A sari is generally a big piece of fabric intricately looped around a body. The people in the store were very good at quickly tying the saris and showing them to us. It was a lot of fun to have someone drape and dress you in beautiful clothes.

I finally settled on a bluish-purple fabric with a beautiful gold pallu and a purple top. I plan to drop it off at the tailor tomorrow. It should be completed by Sunday. Now I need to learn to dress myself and to find a place/occasion to wear my new outfit. Will someone I know please get married soon and have an Indian wedding?

Getting wrapped

First sari

So much fun to try

Beautiful embroidery but not quite right 

The instigator

That's the stuff!

Pallu (back)

Trim of skirt and shirt