Todays designers have no concept of Utility of dress. Precious stones are stitched on to whole sarees , which are intrinsically made longer in length, and thinner in texture. The sarees are wound several times (more than normal) before the paloo is flung over the shoulder. ( I cant see myself running to catch a bus in this. And I would discourage anyone trying to do that with so many precious stones attached) . Poor me; I still don't believe it when the salesman says its 6 yards, and make him measure it. I shudder at the length I will need to measure here.
The other trick is to make it look as if no blouse is worn. This is achieved by having straps on blouses. And then casually allowing your open hair to fall over it. Sort of a cross of Meena Kumari and Princess Diana. Sometimes, the purpose of the palloo is done away with altogether. How else will anyone see the pearl bead work on the non trivial section of the blouse ? Models march across the stage holding their palloos widely away from their torso.
(Take a deep breath. Count up to 10. Temper under control). 20 years ago, someone would have thought she is in the process of removing the saree. No nice girls did that on stage. Today nice is a bad word.
Can you see yourself going to work in your uncle's pajamas, and grandmother's saree blouse? Will a balloon dress put you at a superior advantage getting into bus no 392 going to Ghatkopar? Will a thigh level frock combined with skin colored tights be ideal wear in Central railway second class ladies bogey? How do you feel about squeezing your way to the front of the bus (trying to get off) during the 7 pm rush hour, wearing a stomach skin displaying top on low rise jeans ? And do you dare to complain if you get advertantly or inadvertently pinched in the process?
Is that off-the-shoulder dress going to be dangerous health wise, given that you are standing in the doorway of a ladies compartment, half out of the door, and not likely to get a place to enter in till your station comes? Do you think the strategically placed slit at the back of your knee length skirt is a great aid for climbing into buses when several people behind you urge you to hurry up in cast the bus starts moving ? And why crib about the staring, observant person (in the seat next to where you stand, wearing your smart short top, displaying your considerable midriff) as you hang on to the oscillating overhead straps , on you way to college?
Somehow, in the effort at promoting originality, the individuality has been lost.
The question is who is all this for, and who is going to wear these clothes. And is this what we teach at the National Institutes of Fashion Technology?
