Desi is Me

“Namaste, it’s a pleasure to meet you", I greeted to an Indian lady whom I had met for the first time. "I am not a Namaste type woman, I am very happening." She replied with revulsion. “Desi” and “Behenji” are just a few of the many titles Indian girls today loathe being referred to. Certain people even dislike being greeted with a Desi salutation!  How does something simple as an ethnic greeting determine the behavior or the personality of that person? How does wishing, “Namaste!” make you less popular? I love welcoming people in “Desi Andaaz”. I consider it respectful when someone greets me with “Namaste”. Therefore, it should not be frowned upon and viewed as outdated.

Saree Styling

Today's generation is scared of being Desi. They also want to be called happening. They don't want to be labeled Desi or Behenji. They wish to be Mod (Modern). In doing that they are losing their identity. Well, we have to be blamed for that. We have placed a judgemental mentality in their minds. You wear western clothes, you are accepted in the group. You wear a salwar suit, you are questioned. In our own houses, when we are stepping out if we clad desi wear, we are questioned, if we wear jeans no one questions.

Traditional Nivi drape in different styles

Wearing jeans sounds very easier than wearing desi salwar. We have made our simple desi dressing very complicated. "Keep your dupatta right", "your pallu is falling down", your pleats are not right," "blouse is not matching", are some of the common comments you get to hear, when you try to wear a desi dress. Sometimes the Nivi drape (common saree drape) makes you stumble while walking. All these things do not allow the GenX to try their hands on the Desi clothes. They are ready to go to the moon, ready to solve any tech gizmo, but they are not ready to try the Desi attire.

Moreover wearing Jeans means cool attitude. This attribution of coolness to Jeans is also given by us. Why wearing a salwar cannot be cool? You see a westerner donning salwar, you call that cool. I wear Bindi, I am called Behenji. Madonna wears a bindi, she is called Happening. Is it the skin color that determines the Desi attire outcome.

There has been a desi in me all the time. I did not know how to wear saree during school days. But my love for Saree would make me drape the saree in my own way during school vacations. I would just go around the house wearing saree. Mom indeed found that crazy but loved such nuances of her daughter.

When my trousseau was getting ready, I wanted traditional sarees, whereas my friends were shopping for designer sarees. Some of my friends actually told their parents to not to waste their money in buying them Desi trousseau. They preferred western clothes instead. They knew they would be wearing them, unlike the desi trousseau, which would be sitting folded in one of the corners of the wardrobe.

I personally feel, we have made our Desipan not happening, not easy to wear, and have not introduced properly to our GenX.

Wearing Kurti as a single piece Garment.

Desi dressing can be as easy as slipping into a pair of Jeans and a Tee. Try replacing your Jeans and Tees with,
: Patiala Salwar topped with Tee.
: Salwar topped with spaghetti top, further adorned with a Shrug.
: Palazzo( there are varieties in this, from colored to embroidered ones) topped with Shirt or a Kurti.
: Jaipuri Skirt with a Tee.
: or Simply wear a kurti.

Saree draped without Petticoat and Blouse

Draping saree can be equally fun. Every time I drape a Saree, I take inspiration for the drape from the saree. Look at the saree, and the saree will speak to you. Saree drape does not mean you have to worry about a petticoat and a matching blouse. Try replacing the petticoat with

:  Jeans

:  Legging

: Skirt

: Or Just go without it completely

Saree draped over Skirt

Dupatta Draped over Skirt

You should try replacing the blouse with

: A Tee

: Halter Top

: A high neck sweater

: Jacket

: Kurti

Sometimes try draping your dupatta over the skirt. 

When there is no fuss, no complexity, it is easier to adapt. Let's look at our Desi Closet once again. Let us make it more approachable. Let's not fuss around the way to wear it. Try the mix and match technique. Let us create our own styling. Let your desi closet talk to you. Your mood will approach the garment and make it wear it in your style. Recreate your Desi me and add color to your everyday styling.