Modern styles
The pant style saree
A fashion style in which the saree is draped over fitted trousers or palazzo pants instead of a petticoat.
Presented by ClearTrust Free for wearers, makers and the curious.
In the pant style, the wearer puts on trousers, leggings or wide palazzo pants in place of a petticoat, and drapes the saree over them in the usual Nivi way. It is a fashion style, not a tradition of any place. It suits people who find a petticoat uncomfortable or who want to move freely.
Wrapped step by step
Each drawing shows the cloth so far, with the newest step outlined in gold. The figure is a front view; the wearer's left is on your right.
Step 1 Put on the blouse and fitted trousers or palazzo pants, and tuck the blouse in if needed. Step 2 Tuck the plain end of the saree into the waistband of the pants at the right hip. Step 3 Take the cloth once round the waist, so it falls over the pants. Step 4 Make pleats of about five to seven folds at the front, a little shorter than usual so the pants show. Step 5 Tuck the pleats into the waistband at the navel. Step 6 Carry the pallu across the chest and over the left shoulder, and pin it. Step 7 Let the pallu hang down the back. Finished The pant style saree, seen from the front.
Where it comes from
Sarees have long been worn over some kind of underskirt, called a petticoat. The idea of wearing trousers underneath is a modern fashion choice that grew with the Indo-western trend in clothing. Stylists and designers show it in magazines and on stages, and ready-made sets are sold with matching pants. There is no known single origin, and no regional costume behind it. It is best understood as a variation of the Nivi drape in which the underlayer has changed, while the way the cloth is folded stays the same.
How it looks
The saree falls from the waist as usual, but the pleats are shorter or sit slightly higher, and the pants show at the ankle. Slim trousers give a clean line, while palazzo pants give a wide, flowing one. The wearer often chooses a lighter saree, since heavy cloth can bunch over pants. Some versions use a shorter saree, reaching just above the ankle, so the pants are part of the look. A belt may be added to hold the pleats.
Who wears it and when
It is worn at parties, cocktail events, fashion shows and in offices where the wearer wants a more modern line. Dancers also use it for ease. It is rare at weddings of a traditional kind or at temple rituals. Since the underlayer is trousers, the saree is tucked into the waistband of the pants, which stays in place well, so it can be more secure than a petticoat for people who are active. It is a style of the last few decades and still changes with fashion.
Sarees worn this way
Also part of it, and being written: Georgette (Light enough not to bunch over trousers.), Chiffon (Falls loosely over wide pants.).
Sources and further reading
Original text and drawings by the EveryPallu desk, written with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. The drawings are simplified diagrams of the order of wrapping, not a lesson: how a drape is worn differs from family to family. If we have something wrong, tell us.