Indian Selections

…bringing India to you

Archive for February, 2012

Explore Your Beauty with the Evergreen Salwar Kameez

Posted by indianselection on February 29, 2012

When it comes to Indian dress and looking good, the options are endless. There are varied dresses. What is more interesting is that each of these dresses can be worn in many different ways. Among all these dresses, the one that has garnered a lot of popularity is the ‘salwar kameez’. It is not just one article of clothing like the saree, rather it is a collection of several articles that come together to make an outfit. Nowadays, most Indian women, especially the ones that are working, prefer salwar kameez over saree because it is easy to wear and even easier to carry. Wearing a salwar kameez can make you look really elegant and help you create a unique style statement. It is not uncommon for women to parade their curves in a well-fitted salwar kameez.

The origin of salwar kameez dates back to the 12th century Iranian era. This style of clothing was then introduced in India by the Mughals. During those days, salwar kameez was worn by both men and women but there were minute alterations in the styles of both. Of course, this dress has managed to evolve itself over the centuries. There are different kinds of salwar kameez today in which the distinct influences of various cultures are clearly evident. Most commonly this dress is fashioned from fabrics like georgette, chiffon, net, cotton, silk, satin, etc. One of the latest trends makes use of fusion fabrics which is actually the mix of two or more fabrics that have been mentioned above.

From time to time new styles and names have been introduced in the world of salwar kameez. Traditional churidaar kameez has always been immensely popular in India. Nowadays, there are different kinds of this dress available in the market and the latest styles include Salwar Kurta, Punjabi or Patiala Suit, Churidar Kurta, Parallel Salwar Suit, Patiala Salwar Suit, Pathani Salwar, Sharara Salwar Kamez, Indo-Western Salwar, Bandhej/Bandhani Salwar.

The bridal salwar kameez are a bit more special. They are made from of colorful silk thread with silver or golden wire threads. Pearls, beads and sequins are used as embellishments. The embroidery is usually done by hand and the styles include fitted Kameez, Angrakha style Kameez, Anarkali style Kameez, A-line style Kameez and Kurta style Kameez.

Posted in ethnic Indian attire, graceful, Kurti, Salwar Kameez, traditonal clothes | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

Reviving the Walls with Vibrant Indian Tapestries

Posted by indianselection on February 21, 2012

Thinking of giving your home a complete makeover? Or are you just looking forward towards giving your office cabin a fresh, new feel? When it comes to decorating your own area, you want to make sure that everything fits your style and every corner suits your taste. If you are a perfectionist, you will probably work really hard to create an artistic atmosphere that evokes your passion and elegance. Whatever may be the case, the first thing that you will to need to stylize is the wall. Walls are, almost always, the very first thing that attracts our attention once we enter a room. That is why they need special attention and care.

Now, the possibilities of decorating the walls of your room are endless. You can use paints, graphics, posters, paintings, etc. But most the times it is really difficult to figure out how to make the wall art compliment the rest of the home decoration you have put up. There is an easy solution to this. Use Indian wall hangings. They are so vibrant and distinctive that they go well with almost every kind of home décor. Indian artists, both early and contemporary, have long been known for making wall hangings or tapestries that resonates with India’s ancient aesthetic. Available in various materials like fabric, wood, cane, bamboo, metal, mud and paper, these tapestries bring to life various scenes from various parts of India.

Indians are famous for their jaw-dropping embroidery which is usually done in bright colors and makes use of mirrors, wood, beads, cowrie shells and buttons. Every region of India has a technique of its own of creating such tapestries. Made popular by the Mughals, the Kalamkari technique found its way into Andhra Pradesh. The Gujrati style makes use of (but is not limited to) terra cotta, Kashmir is famous for its papier mache and Tamil Nadu is home to the platter or Tanjore hangings.

Elaborately and intricately embroidered Indian tapestries not only display patterns and designs. Sometimes they also depict age-old sagas and long forgotten tales of kings and queens. They exude a feeling of warmth, fantasy, imagination and inspiration. These stunningly beautiful artworks can be hung on the wall both framed and unframed. These can also be used as curtains, sofa throws and table spreads.

Posted in ethnic Indian attire, Home Furnishing | Leave a Comment »

The Timeless Beauty of Sarees

Posted by indianselection on February 15, 2012

In recent times the busy world has restricted the use of sarees to family occasions and festivals like Diwali and Dusshera. Even though the rat-race of everyday life has forced Indian women to get into trousers and shirts, they have not forgotten that the beauty of saree is eternal. It is the ultimate definition on a woman’s beauty, elegance and poise. That is why new prints, patterns and styles of sarees emerge in the market. And that is why, saree – the apparel wore by Indian women since time immemorial, is still so contemporary.

Saree – which is believed to be the Indian woman’s universal identity, are generally made of cotton, silk or synthetic fibers. A portion of the credit for keeping the popularity of sarees alive goes to the manufacturers and designers of recent times. They take immense pleasure in creating new designs and styles for these traditional dresses which keeps on bringing freshness to the fashion trends. Lehenga sarees are one of the most popular styles of this apparel. It is the perfect blend of a lehenga and a saree. These are most preferred by those who find the original style of wearing a saree very difficult. They can be easily wrapped around the waist and the pre-stiched pleats will automatically fall in place. The sarees are very comfortable and can be easily carried. They are available in different colors and combinations.

Another popular form is the Maya saree. They are made in shot-colors and are designed to change shades in the sunlight. The name suits this saree as “maya’ literally means magic. These are best suited for daytime outdoor parties. The reversible sarees are also a great addition to the unending variety. As these are designed in two different colors and show more than four pallus or anchals; they can be wore in many different styles. How about denim sarees with pockets where you can keep your keys, mobiles and pouches and still look ravishing?

As interesting as the new styles are, the traditional sarees are also popular as ever. They can be found in different kinds like Kanjivaram, Baluchari, Dhakai, Jamewar, Banarasi, Zardousi, Sambalpuri, Tangail, etc.

Posted in graceful, Indian national garment, Saree, Sari / Saree | Tagged: , | Leave a Comment »

When Home Furnishing Is an Art

Posted by indianselection on February 7, 2012

Class, elegance, sophistication are what that define home renovation. If you are bored with the usual looks of your home and thinking of giving it a new touch, here are suggested few ways with the help you can do it. Changing the physical structure of your home may be expensive and a long term process. You can easily avoid such a method if you are in a hurry to furnish your home.

Home furnishing can be real fun. A home is place where you feel a relaxed breath. It’s a shelter over your head. It’s a place where you find solace. You would definitely want to groom it in your way. There are a number of ways to groom your home. Let’s start with the bigger options. You can change the wall colours for a change. If you think the furniture to be old enough you can replace them for new ones. If not for the whole replacement, you can add a small piece of tea table or a bookshelf or a couch to it.

The curtain replacement is another good option. You can change the old ones and get new ones for your windows. It’s the affordable way for home renovation. You can also buy some show piece or soft toy to decorate your home. A big flower vase or a lamp at the corner of your room will look good. Flowers add beauty to your home. You can buy two small flower vases and get fresh flowers to decorate your room. The fresh smell of the flowers is sure to freshen up your mood and lighten your spirit.

Hope you are now less worried about giving new touch to your home. The above suggestions will surely meet your need. So, stop thinking get started with home renovation to brighten your home.

Posted in Home Furnishing | Tagged: | Leave a Comment »

 
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