Published: 12:21 AM, 17 September 2018
How to wear Dupatta in different styles at weddings
Vidhi Maingi Gaur
A well-draped Dupatta can add instant grace to any bridal lehenga or Indian outfit. We pay homage to the drape and count ways on how to wear the Dupatta in different styles.
The humble Dupatta completes complements and even accentuates the Indian dress worn with it. It's the veil that delicately hides a shy face; a shelter for the curious eyes who peer from within, a scarf pinned to perfection or draped casually over the head, shoulders and arms (or even one of the three). We sing of its wonders, even as we explain how to wear a Dupatta in different styles.
Why wear a Dupatta
While a bride in 2008 is often thinking and rethinking about the necessity of the different pieces of her bridal attire, the Dupatta is right now in a safe territory. It's not just a drape, but also accentuates the emotions and the personality that you wish to portray in your bridal look.
You can fling an end over a shoulder with careless abandon, drape it delicately over your head and shoulders or let it snuggly wrap around your waist, gather it around your neck or even let it function as a sheer cape.
The humble Dupatta comes in a variety of avatars, depending on its cultural context, fabric, length, embellishment style and even the draping style you choose to don it in. We explore Dupatta draping styles with this article.
How to Wear A Dupatta in Different Styles
When it comes to Dupatta draping styles, variety really makes a difference. You can wear a single Dupatta or pair it with another. It could be a veil or a head cover.
You may drape it over your shoulders, cover your arms or thread it through the crook of your elbows. It also varies with the bridal outfit you have in mind - a lehenga Dupatta, a lehenga saree, draping a Dupatta on suits, Dupatta saree, the Dupatta as a fusion garment and even draped as a dress.
Let's explore each step by step.
Single Dupatta styles: Did you know you can style your Bridal Lehenga with a single Dupatta in more than a handful of ways? Here's the long list.
0. As a veil: Let it drop from your head to cover your eyes. Variations to this note can extend to cover your entire face or recede to a little below your forehead.
2. Covering the head: Simple yet elegant - you achieve this style by draping the mid-section of the Dupatta over your head. It then flows naturally over your shoulder, either cascading down your back or over your arms.
3. Over the head, attached to wrists: Extend the draped Dupatta from your back and pin it on your wrists. Variations include attaching it to a single wrist or to both.
4. Over the head, above the chest: Extending from over the head, one end of the Dupatta in this style is draped across the chest. This look completely hides the bridal blouse.
5. Pinned to the back of the head: Pinned a little beyond a fabulous hairstyle or a lavish Mang Tikka, Passa or MathaPattii, this style is perfect for a confident bride, who still embraces her traditions.
6. Covering the head with a front U-shape: Cover the head, then drape the Dupatta in a deep U-shape across the front. This style is mostly worn when the choli is comparatively plain. Keep the Dupatta heavy and match it up with the lehenga.
7. Worn over the chest (U-shape): Here, the Dupatta is carefully draped over the chest in a loose cowl. It allows you to show off your crowning glory and can be used to hide flab over the stomach.
8. Worn over the shoulder: Simply take the Dupatta and wear it over one shoulder.Let it flow naturally or attach the other end on your arm. Let your tresses flow or pin them expertly into a half-up hairstyle.
You could combine it with the other end serving as a head cover.You can also try attaching (or tossing) it over both the shoulders and then let it flow down your back.A reverse version of this (seen above) is also very popular.
Double Dupatta styles:
Two's better than one, at least where expert Dupatta drapes are concerned. Here are some common styles:
0. One on the head, one like a saree drape: Cover the head simply with one Dupatta, while pleating the other, attaching one end to your wrist, encircling it around yourself and leaving it over your shoulder or spead to your wrist. For a great effect, try this with contrasting Dupattas or have the two in the same shade - in contrast to your Bridal Lehenga.
2. One on the head, one on the shoulder: Ideally, the one on the shoulder should match your lehenga, while the other can be of a different colour.
3. One on the head, one covering the front: Again, this one requires you to cover your head. The other Dupatta fits your front and flows freely. Both the Dupattas can be of the same colour. It's really chic and classy at the same time.
How to Wear A Lehenga Dupatta: Styling a Lehenga Dupatta is often in line with what you would choose to emphasize about your Bridal Lehenga.
It could be a specific bridal look you're aiming for, an effect - possibly draping a lehenga Dupatta to look slim or one that works well with your wedding theme. You could achieve these effects by using a single Dupatta or two (in the styles mentioned above).
You can also opt for a saree-like drape in either style.
Dupatta Styles on Suits: Bridal salwar suits or not, styling a Dupatta over a suit is an important dressing decision and can help you achieve multiple looks with the same set. You could try a single or double Dupatta approach here or opt for the more traditional Dupatta draping styles discussed below.
Modern - Fusion Dupatta styles: Willing to experiment? With changes in ethnic dressing styles (yes - the half saree and Dupatta dresses are a thing now), even the Dupatta has become more versatile. Here are some new ways to do drape your Dupatta:
* Bengali Knot Style Dupattas
* Belted Dupattas
* Dupattas as dresses
* Dupattas over gowns and fusion anarkalis
* Dupattas over pants
* Dupattas with dresses
We hope that we've helped you understand how to wear your Dupatta in different styles. Of course, you can mix and match these styles any way you want! Experiment with the styles, colours, and your hairdo to find the perfect style for your wedding day.
The writer is a social marketer
