What warrants a wardrobe staple? A timeless, wear-anywhere anchor piece that seems fitting is definitely a sharara/gharara style. This traditional style ensemble has made a swift comeback in recent times. Once considered as the supporting star of the lehengas and saris act, this style rose to the spotlight in 2019.
Frequently seen on many Bollywood celebrities and influencers, both are popularly chosen when it comes to picking out ethnic wear for festivities. The sharara was hugely popularized by the famous Bollywood Actor Kareena Kapoor Khan in the song Bole Chudiyan. However, the silhouette has been around for ages. Actors such as Meena Kumari and Sadhana have also worn this style back in the 1960s.
New-age actors like Sara Ali Khan have not only worn the gharara suit in her movie Kedarnath; the actor’s wardrobe holds a lot of Indian ethnic wear which features a number of sharara and gharara styles. Other Bollywood fashion divas like Ananya Panday, Rani Mukherjee, Shilpa Shetty Kundra, Deepika Padukone, among many others have embraced the silhouette.
The drama associated with full and flared sharara and gharara is widely loved. So what’s the difference between the two?
What is a Sharara?
Sharara is a style of flared pants that are completely loose around the legs and have a rather impressive flare. From a distance, some sharara pants might even appear as a lehenga since they are extremely undefined in shape on the legs. Usually worn with either short or long kurti and a dupatta, shararas are also often embellished with beads, pearls, sequin, zari or gota patti. These traditional yet stylish pants have a retro-chic appeal and are uber-comfy.
What is a Gharara?
A variation of sharara, gharara pants are semi-fitted from the waist till the knees. At the knees, there is a thick band where the fabric is ruched or gathered to create flare till the toes. Since the style involves a lot of flare, a gharara traditionally requires 12 meters of fabric.
Both sharara and gharara have their roots in the Mughal era. Often reserved for weddings or special occasions, they also form a part of bridal trousseau. This suit style is popular for events like a sangeet function and are even worn by Punjabi and Muslim brides today.
The Exquisite Beauty of the Sharara
Comfortable yet a thing of beauty, the sharara suit remains one of the easiest ways to dress up for a special occasion. With the wedding and festive season around the corner, what else could equip you for a puja, poolside mehendi, sangeet night or rakhi? Sharara sets can be translated in every situation. Fans of the silhouette include Alia Bhatt, Kiara Advani, Kriti Sanon among many other Bollywood A-listers.
Lashkaraa’s range of sharara suits offer a diverse range of scene-stealing pieces. From our simple and elegant Dusty Green Embroidered Sharara Suit to a georgette style Off White and Gold Sharara Suitand Light Pink Embellished Crop Sharara Suit– each style is apt for a different occasion. From our most recent collection ‘Hoor’, the Dusty Mint and Pink Embroidered Sharara is a stunning piece of art, perfect for daytime functions.
The Timeless Charm of the Gharara
The gharara suit is a happy half-way point between a lehenga and a been-there-done-that salwar kameez. This one can equally take you from a puja ceremony at home straight to a wedding as a guest or even the bride. Its edgy traditionalism and contemporary feel makes it a favorite in every woman’s closet. Traditional gharara suits that have a regal aesthetic to them like our Teal and Peach Embroidered Gharara Suit from the collection ‘Hoor’, are timeless style statements that can be styled in a versatile way.
Style Your Gharara and Sharara The Right Way
Styling can make or break any outfit. When it comes to Indian ethnic wear, it is especially true. Ghararas exude a rather grand and dignified vibe and are best styled traditionally. One can play around with the jewelry by incorporating a maang-tikka or passa on the forehead. This striking jewelry style will not be one to miss. Ghararas often pair well with large and bold jhumkas or chaandbalis. Add a couple of bangles to the mix and you’re ready for any special occasion! One can even go for statement kadas. For a traditional look, one can go for a hair bun or a one-sided braid to go with this style. Add some hair accessories, hair bun pins or gota string. This would make for a stunning traditional look.
The dupatta can be draped in multiple ways, starting from either on one side of the shoulder or spread across the neck. Another way would be to take it on the back and bring it forward on the shoulders to elegantly wrap the drape around the arms. To give it an absolutely royal touch, opt for juttis. This would allow the sharara/gharara to sweep through the floor and will showcase the work on the pants better. Lashkaraa’s latest collection ‘Hoor’ features vibrant colors in feminine styles of this silhouette.
Styling a Sharara For Millennials
The sharara’s evolution into a two-piece hands-free ethnic wear has made it a millennial favorite. This fuss-free traditional ensemble can be styled in unusual ways. A heavily embellished contemporary style sharara set like our Periwinkle Embellished Crop Sharara Set comes in a youthful hue and is hands-free. Style this one with a sleek ponytail at the back, experiment with some lilac or blue eye shadow and go for statement jewelry.
An in-trend strappy top sharara demands a playful style aesthetic. Our Light Green Sharara Suit, with embellishments on chinon fabric, can be styled with statement jewelry and soft open waves for the hairdo. One can further elevate the outfit by adding some flower petals or butterfly accessories on the hair, mirroring the embellishments on the outfit.
There are a myriad ways to style different types of shararas and ghararas. Pick your favorite outfit with Lashkaraa in our Gharara Suit and Sharara Suit collections.
References:
https://textilelearner.net/drafting-of-gharara-dress/
https://alpenglowexpeditions.com/blog/what-is-a-puja-ceremony/