Thread: Sari as a cover-up, bad idea?

I've been toying with the concept of wearing a sari as a cover-up sometimes. Has anyone done this? Is it a bad idea?

I'd love to hear some thoughts...

I've worn a sari a few times and it seems like an awfully complicated coverup to wear, with all those yards of fabric.

You could use some of the sari fabric and make a cover up easily by draping it over one shoulder, measuring length to floor (cut off there), then sew up the arm side to wherever you want the opening to be (think 'seeve'). Have it larger than you'd normally wear; loose opening. leave the other side open, then when you want to cover up, just drape it over the top, 'sleeve' in and pin (or add a snap) the other side shut whever you want it. It's like a poncho, but prettier, and over one shoulder.

Originally Posted by tigerb

I've worn a sari a few times and it seems like an awfully complicated coverup to wear, with all those yards of fabric.

This. But the fabric from a sari is ideal to make a beautiful coverup *from.*

Having also worn sari from time to time it does seem like more trouble then it's worth, however there are ways to fake the pleating which would bypass a lot of the inherent fussiness.

Originally Posted by sterlingspider

Having also worn sari from time to time it does seem like more trouble then it's worth, however there are ways to fake the pleating which would bypass a lot of the inherent fussiness.

It's called an automatic sari but you still wouldn't be fully covered.

Use it to make a caftan. . .

{{{HUGS}}}

Not that anyone else would do this but....Don't try to learn how to wrap a sari the day of the performance. lol. Talk about feeling like an absolutely failure and utterly stressed. Not worth the trouble. And I had no idea what I would do after the performance to wrap myself back up. I needed at least one extra pair of hands.

I do know how to wrap saris, at least enough to do a quick and dirty. Wish I had a pic of myself in one I wore for a friend's wedding. :-)

Though I may cheat on the pleats a little - I don't make them as pretty and clean.

I just am bored with my pullover coverups now and looking at the neo-tribal dancer veil wraps - some are cute but you still usually see half the costume, heh.

Was thinking a sari is relatively quick (the way I wrap them anyway) and also looks nice.

Wouldn't work with big bulky skirts but I thought it would be do-able with the sparkly stuff.

Seeing all the sari fabric in the swapmeet made me think of the two I have in my closet. They're not sparkly but they are pretty.

If you're into sewing, and want to keep the border/pallu visible, I love how these coverups are constructed: Cover-ups

Heh, I've had my eye on those for years! I love hoods too.

You know I would love just any excuse to wear a sari. I've always wanted to - they are soooooo beautiful!

I've used a large opaque dupatta as a coverup before. That worked fairly well.

Those coverups are YUMMY. I love hoods also. I unfortunately hate straight seams and am really impatient - I keep telling myself "you can make something like that!" but lo, I never do!

That makes two of us. I just keep thinking "how hard can it be?"

I've not used a sari, but sarongs...did the quick and dirty halter dress trick. Hold the fabric across your back just higher than bra level, bring the right 'tail' (with your right hand) up over your chest and over your left shoulder. Bring the left 'tail' (with your left hand) over your chest and up over your right shoulder. Tie the 'tails' together behind your neck.

Couple of points:
If you want to make it a 'permanent' coverup you can round the corners at the 'hem.' Allows you to make your coverup longer too.

Looks absolutely gorgeous if used as a costume piece. Open the front and tuck under the sides of your dance bra. For cab you can add brooches for sparkle or for tribal (like I did) you can use a more rustic fabric and leave it unadorned but hey, we're bellydancers, why not add some nice Kuchi?

There is a way to tie the corners of a 3-yrd opaque veil or length of fabric together to make "sleeves," well, more like openings for your arms. You put your arms through and it is open down the front. You would need a sash at the waist to hold it closed. Pretty and no-sew.

Originally Posted by dunyah

There is a way to tie the corners of a 3-yrd opaque veil or length of fabric together to make "sleeves," well, more like openings for your arms. You put your arms through and it is open down the front. You would need a sash at the waist to hold it closed. Pretty and no-sew.

Sort of along this line, take a veil length of fabric, fold one side over to the middle, bring the other side over to the middle, safety pin the 2 corners to the middle edge. Now you have a long sleeveless open-front "vest". I love this drapey look for when I want a bit more coverage and it looks nice with either cabaret or tribal depending on the fabric. You can do it with one of those pashmina shawls that are so popular now.

It seems kind of weird to me, to wear a sari as a cover up, mainly because a sari is a dress item in itself, not a piece of clothing used as a cover up in reality. It would be like wearing a day dress as a cover up.

Using the sari fabric to *make* a cover up, now that makes more sense to me.

Originally Posted by Nebula

Sort of along this line, take a veil length of fabric, fold one side over to the middle, bring the other side over to the middle, safety pin the 2 corners to the middle edge. Now you have a long sleeveless open-front "vest". I love this drapey look for when I want a bit more coverage and it looks nice with either cabaret or tribal depending on the fabric. You can do it with one of those pashmina shawls that are so popular now.

Yes, this is what I was talking about, only I just tied little knots rather than pin. It looks great.