Parties and Presentations

We are now available within the Salt Lake and Tooele County areas for parties and presentations.  We will come in and do a free 30 minute presentation as well as have starter kits available for purchase for those interested.  The kids love to see the possibilities and then try their own hand at it.  We'll bring our large stash of saris and everyone can experience the fun for themselves leaving them inspired to go home and continue to create on their own.  More details to come.  If interested please send us a message in the contact form.

Renaissance Princess

Oh,The Romance!

This is one of our favorites, such a fun look and so simple.  It is made with only 3 pieces: 1 solid, 1 sheer or lace, and 1 sash.  Don't forget to accessorize.  This would look great with a tiara!

Start by wrapping the sari around your shoulders using the narrowest side to allow the most length to drape down the back.  Hold in place while you secure the skirt.





The skirt, as shown in the photo, is made by placing the next sari across the chest and tying in the back securing the top piece in place at the same time.

The sash is then wrapped around the waist from front to back then wrapping back to front again to be tied.









Allow the ends of the sash to hang down the front of the gown for additional flare.

If your piece is long enough it will create a fun train down the back!

Roman Soldier

Not Just For Girls! 

We used 3 saris and a sash for this sentry.  You can also make it with just 2 saris and a sash and leave the cape off depending on the look you want. 

To start, tie 2 saris near the corners leaving a little end there to hang over the shoulders.  Put over the shoulder and then do the same thing on the other side.  

Next, tie a sash around the waist to bring the front and back saris together for the tunic.  

If you want a cape attached just tie in a 3rd piece by the corners at the shoulder knots and let it drape down.     

You could easily add a sword to this outfit as well.  Try tucking it under the sash or better yet tying it on at the side! 

Arabian Princess

This exotic look is created by using 4 saris.  In our example we used 2 solid and 2 sheer pieces.  I've mentioned the colors here only to differentiate between the layers.  You, of course, will choose your own colors and styles!

Our first sari (silver) is wrapped high on the chest and then tied by the top 2 ends into a double knot behind the back.  Pull the knot tight enough to fit close to the body and stay in place securely.    

We tied the next sari (pink) around the shoulders to tie in front with the knot hanging loosely at the chest.  Tuck the ends into the skirt as shown.

The outer skirt (striped) comes next by tying the top 2 corners around the chest with a double knot in front.  Tuck the ends into the skirt for a more finished look.  You can even grab the bottom 2 corners of the top (pink) and tuck it into the skirt in back to create this open sleeve look. 

For the head wrap a long sari works best.  Our's is made by centering the narrow end of the fabric (white) around the forehead and tying behind the neck.  Flip it back over the head so that the length flows down the back.  Loosely throw the remaining length over and around the shoulders and neck as in photo above. 

For another fun variation you can tie a turban.  Using the narrow side of a sari place around the forehead and tie in back at the neck.  Flip it over to drape down the back and then begin to twist and wrap around the head.  Tuck the end up under one of the twists leaving a tail to fall down to the side.

Other Fun Things to Try

There are lots of fun things you can do with your saris.  Not only can you create fun costumes but also head wraps, "hair", capes, backdrops and scenery for your play, etc.  The possibilities are endless! 

 Basic Top-

There are many ways to create a top.  Decide on the look that you want to achieve and then just start experimenting.  This is just a basic wrap to get you started.  Start by wrapping your sari around your neck and cross one side over the other in front, then tie a sash around your waist to hold.

Basic Skirt-

All we did here was tie the sari around the waist where the material met in the back rather than at the corners.  By tying this way it makes the skirt have a lot more flow.  You can even tie a sash across the top with a big bow in back as we did here.






Basic Head wrap-

Take your sari and drape it over your head centering it in about the middle of the fabric.  Throw the ends over your shoulder one at a time and voila!

Hair-

Move over Rapunzel!  I'm sure every kid has tried this at least once but if not this should get them thinking of their own tower.  This look works best with a large rectangle piece.  Just wrap the sari around the forehead (using a narrower side) and tie behind the neck.  Any length will do!

 Veil-

As we've said with other pieces, there are lots of ways to make a veil.  This is a fun one!  This veil is just draped over the bun in her hair but you could also tuck it under the elastic to secure the hold.  It is fun to let it fall down the back this way and then drape it over the arm.

 Another twist on a veil-

Here took the above veil and tucked it under her elastic holding the bun.  Then just twist the length of fabric and wrap it around the head and then tuck back into the elastic at the bun.  Beautiful!

Bustle Anyone?

We used our tule to create this once popular look.  Just wrap the tule in a ball and tuck it up under the skirt and then adjust to fill out with volume.  Of course it would work with any lightweight fabric so use what you have.  Quite the fashion statement!

Train or Cape-

What dress or hero outfit wouldn't look better with this addition?  This can be as simple as tying a sari around your neck and letting it drape down the back or, better yet, tying it to another layer or shirt at the shoulders.

Don't forget your saris will make great backdrops, floor coverings, room dividers, curtains, etc. for your next big production. 

Basic Securing Techniques

 There are many to ways to secure your saris while making your design. 

One way to tie a sari is to use a double knot.  Where and how you tie the knot depends on the look you're trying to achieve. Knots tied close to the body create a straight look or they can be loosely tied to drape. 

Besides tying the material itself, another way to secure a sari would be to fold the top over a sash and then tie it onto the body by the sash.  This allows for more flow and abundant folds.

This fun look was created using a hair band instead of tying the ends.  Wrap the elastic around the fabric just as you would a pony tail and pull some through to form a bow.  This makes it easier for small hands that struggle to tie as well.

You can also tie onto an existing piece as show here.  This created a beautiful train down the back of the dress.  It would also work great for a cape.

You can also use safety pins to secure each piece in place if you are planning on wearing your design out for the day.  With that added step you will be set for any fair, party, or even a ball!

We've even just tucked into existing clothing or under another layer to hold in place while putting everything together.  This would eventually be secured by a top layer that is tied or pinned to hold.

Materials To Use "Saris"

Traditional Sari Costume

Saris were traditionally worn in Southern Asia and consist of several yards of cloth draped around the body to create a skirt and cover the head and shoulders. 

Our Saris are usually 1-2 yard lengths of material surged around the edges to prevent fraying but you can also use sheets, table cloths, runners, curtain panels, you name it!  

We use the saris to wrap, tuck, and tie or pin for an endless supply of costumes.  No need to spend lots of time and money sewing each individual look, just simply untie and then create a new design with the same pieces.  Remember, you are the designer.  This is just a starting point, you'll come up with your own great ideas.  Your choice of fabric will effect your final look however, so we've listed a few things to consider.

Color-

Rich contrasting color combinations create the most appealing designs. Look 

for both fabrics that are solid and those with design on them.  These work especially well for layering and creating a more dramatic effect.

Weight- 

Lighter fabrics are easiest to twist and tie and create the most flow and drape.  Heavier materials  work best on the bottom, such as a skirt, but can also work well as back drops.

Texture 

A great dress up box has lots of different textured saris.  Sheer material gets lots of play as veils and trains while lace can dress up any design.  Drapery fabrics have been among our favorites.       

Modesty-   

In our home we always dress up over our clothes, for modesty purposes, since the designs are usually only tied on.  Don't worry, the clothes will not take away from the look, you can just use them as a part of the design as seen here!

We also use long strips of fabric as sashes to create ties, headbands, belts and more.  Tule creates an extra special look laid over the top of any gown.  Ropes and belts work nicely as well.