Different ways to drape your shari
As decades passed, shari draping styles changed from the simplicity of village women to the structured elegance of aristocrats and modern reinterpretations on the runway
The first time any young girl wears a sari, it's rarely a proper shari at all. More often, it's her mother's orna; that long, flowing piece of fabric that carries with it the scent and comfort of home. She drapes it around her waist, usually over a pair of trousers, experimenting in front of a mirror. Sometimes the fabric goes over her head, sometimes across her shoulders, or gets tied firmly around her waist like a belt of confidence.
The options feel endless, yet most girls settle instinctively on the familiar silhouette: wrapped snugly around the waist with the loose end, the 'achol' draped over the shoulder, modestly covering the navel.
Yet what we call the 'traditional' way was once a statement of its own. Generations ago, blouses were not the norm. The shari itself, one unstitched length of cloth, did all the work. Women would loop the 'achol' across the chest, over the neck or across the shoulder, adapting to practicality, climate, and personal style.
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As decades passed, shari draping styles changed from the simplicity of village women to the structured elegance of aristocrats and modern reinterpretations on the runway. The Bangali style, once associated with widows or older women, has made a return among younger, fashion-conscious wearers. The 'Dhoti style', the 'Belted style', or even the 'Marathi style', each form tells a story of geography, identity, and time.
Wearing a shari has never been only about tradition, it is about adaptation. What starts as a child's play with a mother's 'orna' becomes, over time, a woman's statement of belonging, memory, and personal expression. Each fold, each drape, brings in someone's personality with it.
"When I was younger and studying at university, I used to ask my friends to wear a shari for presentations, but they would always find an excuse, blaming the weather, the roads, or their mode of transport. I wore one anyway, and I loved wearing sharis of all kinds," shared Afsana Begum, Doctoral Student, School of Humanities and Public Affairs, Chiba University, Japan
"Even after moving to Japan, I never let go of that love. I wanted to show that wearing a shari is not a burden or an obstacle, you can do anything in one. I've worn a shari while skydiving, in a dhoti style with my 'achol', and I've even snowboarded wearing a Kerala-style shari," she added.
The way you drape your shari often depends on your blouse; with different blouses, the style can be adapted accordingly.
"My way of draping a shari depends largely on the blouse. As someone who's 5'9" with broad shoulders, I usually go for sleeveless blouses or turtlenecks and drape the shari accordingly. When I play a character on stage, I adapt the style to suit the role. I've worn a 'lehenga-style' shari using two separate sharis, and sometimes I wear one over jeans. But my favourite look is a sleeveless blouse paired with a vegetable-dyed shari — it never fails and offers ultimate comfort," said Taslima Hossain Nodi, actress at Open Space Theatre.
However, as a mother to a one-year-old, she admits that experimenting with different draping styles isn't always practical. These days, she prefers pre-draped sharis, which have become quite popular and are especially convenient since they require little effort to wear.
Shari is often viewed through a narrow lens in the Bangladeshi context, tied closely to tradition, ceremony, or age. While the elegance of a neatly pleated, pinned shari worn with pride at weddings or formal events is still celebrated, there is far more flexibility and creativity in how it can be worn today.
Unfortunately, many still dismiss contemporary draping styles as improper or informal. But just as language, food, and music adapt with time, so does fashion and the shari is no exception.
From wearing it over jeans for an edgy fusion look to adapting the lehenga style for festivities, or even pairing it with boots and jackets during winter, the styling possibilities are endless.
Pre-stitched or pre-draped sharis, which are now widely available, are a blessing for young professionals, busy mothers, or anyone hesitant to navigate pleats and pins in the morning rush.
These alterations are not a departure from tradition, but rather a continuation of it, proof of the shari's adaptability and timelessness.
In Dhaka, we now see women wearing sharis at the office, styled with crop tops, shirts, or even sneakers. On stage and in protest marches, women drape them with belts, capes, or coats. In rural settings, the shari remains a daily outfit, worn in the most practical, movement-friendly ways imaginable. None of these styles should be considered lesser.
Rather than looking down on new or alternative ways of wearing the shari, there's room to celebrate its diversity. The shari is not hard to wear, it's only unfamiliar to some.
Once the fear is gone, it opens up a world of comfort, creativity, and cultural expression that belongs to every Bangladeshi woman, however, she chooses to wear it.
