Of sarees & kimonos

Ask most women or young girls around they would tell you that they find the saree a difficult garment to carry. Six metres of cloth wound over a drawstring skirt on your waist , then an edge pulled up across your chest , pinned up at the shoulder with one end handing loose at your back. All this and not a single stich. Don't contest that it looks nice, even sensuous if worn properly and in the context of Indian culture, draws respect in religious, family and even formal meetings. Infact in b-school saree was the de-facto dress for placements, worn by most if not all.

Personally I keep little more than an hour to dress whenever I have to wear a saree. But then random clicks and I know that someone from Japanese culture here in USA keeps 1.5 hours for dressing up in a Kimono. This sounds even more complicated.

A complete kimono outfit has three main garments: the undergarment (basically an undershirt and slip), the nagajuban -- the silk robe layered just over the undergarment -- and the outer robe. But in between and around those robes are nine ties and sashes, all of which must be secured at certain spots around the torso using particular knots. All 12 pieces must be properly arranged if you want to be comfortable and keep the robes from falling open.

However saree & Kimono are different you discover.

The key to the undershirt is to get rid of body curves. Unlike many dresses, kimonos are intended to hide a woman's shape rather than accentuate it. For slender women, that means padding the waistline; for full-figured women, flattening the chest -- either by wrapping it in a piece of cloth or by wearing a special, chest-reducing kimono bra.

The complete article from Wall Street Journal is here.
The thirteen step guide to dressing up in a kimono. Slideshow here
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