Styling
Draping cotton for the office
5 min read · Updated
In short
For the office, choose a lightly starched Mangalagiri cotton saree with a narrow border, pin five to seven pleats at the waist, and pin the pallu flat at the shoulder so it stays put through a commute and a full day of work.
Pick the right saree
- A narrow Nizam or striped border reads as tailored.
- Mid-tones like indigo, bottle green and madder hide creases better than ivory.
- Light starch keeps pleats crisp until evening.
Pleats that hold
Keep pleats narrow (about a palm width), align the border edges, and use one safety pin inside the pleats at the waist. Iron the pleats in the night before.
Blouse cuts that work
- Elbow-length sleeves for air-conditioned offices.
- A boat or collared neckline for meetings.
- Contrast cotton blouses — easier to wash and rotate.