Sarees drape around your body in a manner that no other dress does. Celebrated with distinct draping techniques historically and regionally, sarees have a long presence within the South Asian tradition.
Yet, the stigma that exists around the saree in many parts of Pakistan is too intense. We at The Saari Girl have been taking that challenge face on since our inception in 2019. There is still a long way to go.
I remember the first time I wore a saree. I was 17, all about accepting myself and celebrating myself in a way that I loved. I also distinctly remember how it went downhill after I tried on a saree. I stood in front of the mirror for a really long time thinking “Do I look okay?” “Does it make me look fat?” and of course the universal questions that many girls have been conditioned to think by society: “What will people think?”. I also remember how it went uphill after that, pointing at the mirror and continuously repeating “You wear what you like. You wear what you love. You feel good and you will look good.” And I think that’s when I realised how empowering wearing a saree can be. Standing in-front of the mirror looking at myself in a saree screaming positive self affirmations. The first step of this battle begins at home, with yourself, with accepting yourself and loving your body in any dress you choose for yourself. I cannot emphasise on how empowered this act made me feel: I felt whole, I felt beautiful and most of all I felt happy.
Wearing a saree can be a powerful act of self-expression, identity, and empowerment. It allows you to celebrate style, your personality and most of all yourself.
Sarees are pretty versatile garments and can be styled in a way that accentuates your individual features and preferences. This allows you just like it helped me to express your personality and style in a way that feels unique and authentic to you.
How about you try doing that? Wear that saree you’ve been thinking of for a while, stand in the mirror and tell yourself “I will wear this saree no matter what others say because I look beautiful and I am beautiful”.
