What is a the story of Lehenga?
Lehenga is a garment that is draped around your waist. Let us say like a skirt. However it is normally ankle length. It gets its early origin from the Moghul period. When the Mughals invaded and India and conquered it, the queens of the period used to wear a long skirt type of thing known as lehenga accompanied with a choli and duppatta and decked up with heavy jewelry. It was then considered to be a dress of high society for the queens.
The girls, women of those days used to wear lehengas as their daily wear clothes like we wear jeans and t-shirts! But later on with the development in the fashion world, it became more of a fashion statement for girls and women, but this attire has largely been left for special occasions. But even in villages nowadays also, women and young girls are found wearing lehengas in their daily life.
It is a very elegant garment and is usually worn along with a dupatta (say like a stole or a shawl) and a choli (like a shirt or a top). Indian women wear many kinds of clothes and they range from the sari to slawar kameez. However Lehenga holds a special place in these garments.
With the world becoming global, the traditional Indian attires have been applauded through out the world. With our fashion designers making the borders of countries dissolve, the traditional Indian dresses are now even worn across the borders.
Different drapes
Down south when a girl turns into a teen they drape her with a silk Lehenga and celebrate the occasion with family and friends. It is called as Pavada or Langa. In the Northern part of India they celebrate weddings and the girls Lehenga is the most important of all. Here they call it Lehenga or Ghagra. In the East of India they wear the traditional Mekhla. It is like the wrap around and is exquisite in design. It is said that a Lehenga can cost anything from Rs 300 to 30000 or more. It all depends on the texture of the garment.
Flowing future
In today’s world Lehenga has made its way into the everyday life of women. Instead of the heavy embroidered ones, women prefer to wear the cotton skirts. These are comfortable and can be worn with a tee or a choli. They can use a stylish stole to cover it and throw in an accessory to fit the contemporary style.
Variety is the spice of Life!!!
When you walk into to buy a pair of jeans, you do want to know if the pair that you pick up is authentic. The same applies to the Lehenga. So when you walk into a store to pick up this Indian garment make sure you know what you want. Here are a couple of varieties that may catch you eye.
If we are talking about the material then you get to choose from
o Crepe
o Net
o Tissue
o Silk
o Satin
o Cotton and many more
If you want to pick up one for specific occasion then you have
o The Traditional Lehenga worn for weddings or called the Bridal Lehenga
o The Casual Lehenga without a choli , which can be teamed up with any blouse for get informal together
Stitch in time saves the Lehenga
Yes, the more intricate the stitch the more exclusive and the more expensive will be the Lehenga. You have to go to the top notch wedding and want to wear a Lehenga that catches the bride’s attention! Get yourself the Gota work Lehenga, this design is mainly stitched on to the material by using gold threads or if you want it less expensive you might as them to use in silver. I will tell you one thing here; you will shine through the day or night wearing this piece.
If you want to wear something to a casual get together, go for the ones that are Tie and Dye. Yes, this one is still in fashion here and they come in great cottons.
So, if you want to wear one this season, just wear one and shake your hips or sit down in the corner. But beware you will be noticed and complimented!