INDIAN ORNAMENTS WITH WESTERN OUTFIT

Indian Jewellery

Jewellery has always been an integral part of the Indian attire. Jewellery is worn with traditional Indian outfits such as sarees, Salwar kameez etc, and at present is also worn with western outfits such as jeans, skirts etc. Jewellery is worn to adorn one's self and to look grand. Earlier, jewellery was made of animal bones, shells, animal teeth, wood, stones etc. At present, jewellery is made from metals such as gold, silver and platinum. Jewellery is made in various designs and patterns. Various gemstones such as diamond, topaz, emerald, sapphire, ruby, pearl etc. Bangles, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, pendants, armlets, payal, tikkas, jewellery sets etc are some ornaments that come embedded with gemstones. Then there is bridal jewellery, contemporary jewellery, traditional jewellery, 22 karat jewellery etc. You would also come across traditional jewellery such as jewellery with 'mina work', 'Kundan jewellery', 'Choker jewellery' that are classic, vintage and unique. Contemporary jewellery is specially designed so that it does not look flashy and can be worn daily. At present, jewellery made from crystals has become a fad and is pooled with western outfits. You would also come across artificial jewellery/ imitation jewellery which come in varied designs and are relatively affordable.

The design and pattern of jewellery would vary from region to region. For example, South Indian jewellery is essentially made from gold and is quite flamboyant, whereas, jewellery from the northern regions of India are simplistic. Additionally there is jewelry such as oxidised jewellery, Mangal Sutra etc that are worn by Indian women. Popular jewellery makers such as D'Damas, Tribhuvandas Bhimji Zaveri jewellers, OM jewellers, Popley and Sons, Kalyan jewelers, Alukka jewelers, De Beers etc offer elegant and timeless pieces of jewellery.

INDIAN CLOTHING 

Indian clothing is colorful and free flowing. It reflects the country's cultural and ethnic diversity and is designed to be comfortable in the sweltering heat of the Indian summer. The majority of Indian fashion and clothing history is influenced by Hindu traditions, though increasingly younger Indians look to the globalized fashion world for cross-cultural styles.

Saris, are the most common outfit worn by an Indian woman, both traditionally and in contemporary India. A sari is a simple rectangle of colored cloth 5 to 6 yards long that is wrapped around the woman's body in a specific manner. Due to the generous amount of cloth involved, saris fit women of all sizes and are traditionally adorned to accentuate the curves of the female figure, often revealing the wearer's midriff. The well-to-do wear saris with threaded highlights of real gold as a sign of status and prestige.

Necklace: These are very popular fashion accessories across India amongst girls and women of all ages. Necklaces are made of a variety of materials, ranging from glass beads to gold and diamonds. One special necklace is the mangalasutra, worn only by married Indian women. It is the Indian equivalent of the western wedding ring. Traditionally a woman wore it during her wedding ceremony and took it off only if her husband died.




Costumes from Bollywood films, which are often exaggerated versions of what is worn day-to-day in India, have proven hugely influential on the direction and designs of Indian clothing. Film directors often recruit top fashion designers to concoct Bollywood costumes, which are generally colorful and ornate. Though many Bollywood designs are rooted in traditional Indian garments, many films also show young, hip Indians in jeans and tee shirts---Western dress that is becoming increasingly popular in India.

Bangles: Worn on the wrist, bangles are believed to be protective bands and women always wore them as symbolic guards over their husbands. As with other ornaments, bangles today are worn by women of all ages all over India and are made of silver, gold, wood, glass, and plastic, among other materials.

A Ghagra Choli or a Lehenga Choli is the traditional clothing of women in Rajasthan and Gujarat..Punjabis also wear them and they are used in some of their folk dances. It is a combination of lehenga, a tight choli and a odhani. A lehenga is a form of long skirt which is pleated. It is usually embroidered or has a thick border at the bottom. A choli is a blouse shell garment, which is cut to fit to the body and has short sleeves and a low neck.

Different styles of ghagra cholis are worn by the women, ranging from a simple cotton lehenga choli as a daily wear, a traditional ghagra with mirrors embellished usually worn during navratri for the garba dance or a fully embroidered lehenga worn during marriage ceremonies by the bride.