Women on heavier side should buy saris in Georgette, Chiffon or Chignon. Silk saris (saris) look beautiful and one tends to look slimmer.

Shorter women should buy saris with small borders or no borders. They should definitely avoid big borders as big borders make one look shorter.

Thin women should buy Organza, Cotton, Tissue and Tussar Saris. These Saris (saris) gives a fuller effect.

In printed Saris, avoid big prints, as it gives a gaudy and a huge look. Delicate print on a Sari, gives a delicate look.

Dark skin color women should generally buy dark colours like maroon, green, dark pink etc.

In office Pinup your Sari, this looks smart and is manageable too.

For an outing or a function, just pinup the tip of the sari and let the rest fall on your hand. This gives a very graceful look. But of course the Sari should have a good fall.

Cotton, Tissue or any starched Saris should be ironed properly and at the time of draping, the pleats should be done with your hands pressing and shaping it properly.

Put the pin on the back shoulder as this keeps the sari intact and does not show the pin too.

Don't wear a very flared petticoat inside.

Using colour to balance your body is a great idea. Wear light colours where you are small and dark colours where larger. For example, if you have large hips, wear dark skirts or pants and a light coloured blouse.

Wearing set-in sleeves with shoulder pads will help you to balance wide hips. The shoulder pads will add to your shoulders therefore balancing with your hips.

Don't choose clothes that are too tight. Clothes that fit well will make you appear slimmer while tight clothes will only add pounds.

Wear tops or dresses that have a scoop neckline with half or long sleeves to hide heavy arms and draw attention to the face and neck.

• Clothes in solid colors with simple lines will make you appear taller.
• Wear straight silhouettes in a solid colour to hide a thick waist.
• The skinner the stripe, the thinner you appear.
• A straight cut skirt and full leg pants will hide large thighs.
• To appear shorter, jackets or tops should fall below the hips.
• To lengthen your legs wear slim, straight leg pants.
• To appear taller and thinner, try a pinstripe suit.
• Long sleeves should hit just at the wrist bone.
• When you are wearing a white shirt, wear a bra close to your skin color.
• To hide wide hips, try an a-line style dress.
• Give a new updated look to an old blouse or jacket by sewing on new buttons.
• Pleats add pounds. If you want to look larger through the hips, wear pleats. If you don't, avoid pleats! · If clothes don't fit, have them altered. If they don't fit, they'll remain in the closet.
• One of the biggest trends for spring is denim. You can find it in skirts, shorts, jeans, jackets, and shirts and even kurtas.
• Pin a safety pin to the inside of your slacks in case of an emergency. If a button comes off or the zipper breaks you will be prepared.
• When you buy an everyday item, try to think of at least three things you already own that you can wear with that item.
• Choose your accessories wisely. Accessories can completely change the look of an outfit.

Pick a Texture

Saris come in plethora of decorations: Zari (embroidered is fine gold fiber) works, glass works, prints, woven, Bandani (tie-dyed), embroidery, brasso are some of your choices.

Pick the Length

The most common length for a Saree these days is approximately. five meters (six yards). But depending on your body shape and style of wearing the Saree, you can decide on a specific length. Your choices would be saris of four yards, six yards, eight yards (almost obsolete now), and nine yards.

Pick a Color and Design

This is the hardest part. So many choices, so little time. For weddings we recommend derivatives of red with Golden Zari. For daily use, we usually recommend the off-brand name printed cotton saris. For the fashion conscious, we recommend those being currently shown in television advertisements. Your choices include, but not limited to:

• Printed floral designs and themes
• Inter-woven designs (the reversible Sari)
• Plain colored sari with designer Pallu (or vice versa)
• Saris with borders, without borders, or borders on either sides
• Saris with Pallu, without Pallu
• Saris with attached blouses

Buy Matching Accessories

A Sari being an unstitched piece of cloth, is vulnerable to borrowing by siblings, in-laws and friends. One of the ways to customize the Sari is to find the exactly matching blouse and under-skirt, which are custom made for the person. While at it, do not forget the fall, and a matching handkerchief.

Shopping for petite sized clothes is a major problem. Some of the common statements made during this process are - trousers ado not fit at the fork, the waist is too large, jackets are not available, check the children's section. People wrongly think that petite sizing needs will be met just by putting on an extra small size. But a petite person has a small bone structure, but a woman's body. It is very frustrating then to be directed to the smaller - read 'children's' - sizes when the correct garment is non-existent. However, luckily, in India, there are tailors who can custom make a garment to petite proportions.

Color and prints

Wear single columns of color. They increase height and prevent the visual cutting up of the body shape into distorted color groups.

Wear small prints as per as possible, and large prints only on the shoulder and chest - to lengthen the shoulder and bust line.

Horizontal stripes make petites taller. Vertical stripes can also enhance elongation when teamed with a cardigan or jacket.
Stay away from neons, blocks of color and an overplay of 'sheer' mixes.

Necklines, shoulders and tops

• A regular shoulder for petites is 33.75 cm. Stay with a good fit to enhance the shoulder line even 2.5 cm over the exact shoulder can make a petite look like she is wearing an oversized garment.
• The armhole should fit snugly.
• Wear tops that are short and elongate the torso.
• Revealing a bit of midriff works well to lengthen the body. Teamed with low waist hipsters, cropped fitted tops are ideal for petites.
• Navel revealing styles, besides making one look taller, also make a small chest look visually larger.
• Low necked waistcoats over fitted tops enhance the silhouette.
• Necklines that work: Boat, sweethearts, halters and Chinese collars worn open. Also favorable are square necks for tiny shoulders and lightly draped cowls for small busts.
• Necklines to avoid: Vee necks for thin necks, Puritan collars and funnel collars. Also, ruff collars and Mandarin collars worn closed. No ties and no jabot scarves.
• Always define the shoulders. Leave them bare. Cutaway sleeveless styles and wide scooped necks enhance the shoulder line.
• Tiny fitted sleeves work better than puffed styles that 'drown' the wearer.

Ethnic Wear

• Wear 'kurtas' fitted till the waist or lower bust.
• As far as possible, maintain a waist shape. Avoid oversized flared styles.
• Keep 'dupattas' long and narrow.
• 'Ghagra-choli' sets are good to show off the body shape just keep the 'choli' close fitting and the 'dupatta' sheer.
• Saris make petites taller. Ensure that the 'cholis' are short and the saris worn low waist. For evenings, wear backless and shoulder-revealing 'choli' styles.
• Chiffon and georgette saris look best.
• Borders should be narrow and 'pallavs' simple, not over designed.

Accessories

• Tiny earrings work. Avoid over sized earrings except thin hoops.
• Slim petites can carry off chunky jewelry.
• Avoid bulky bags they visually weigh one down.
  'Bindis' should be small or vertical.
• Wear the highest heels possible, but keep them the same color as the trousers, skirt or dress.
• Strapped heels give the illusion of a longer leg even if the shoes are platforms.
• Avoid patent leather shoes.
• Slim line shoes with a neat finish are best to elongate the foot.
• Wear sunglasses that are not too large, but that flatter the eyebrow line.
• Try make up that is luminous or glowing. The trick is to project the face and shoulders. A light dusting of sparkle for the evenings can accent the shoulders.
• Best hair on petites: Short with more volume at the crown and thin at the nape. Or opt for straight hair, up to the waist.

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