What is a sari? I guess that’s a solid first question. A sari (also spelled saree) is a single piece of fabric varying from five to nine yards in length and two to four feet in width. Saris are most common in Southeast Asia and worn both for everyday wear as well as elegant events.
Though there are myriad ways to wear a sari, the most common style has the sari wrapped around the waist, with one end draped over the shoulder, showing the midriff. Often, you’ll wear a petticoat and a blouse underneath.
Note: red is traditional for wedding gowns (so if you’re not the bride, it’s best to go with a different color).
How exactly how does this work? I’m assuming you’re referring to the renting of a sari and not life. I’ve yet to figure out how life works. Being honest, I still have trouble operating fancy toasters so I won’t attempt to explain one of humanity’s more pressing questions. As for the rental, you choose the beautiful sari you want, you pay us a small amount of money, we send it to you, you wear it and get compliments like “well ain’t you one spicy bowl of dal,” and then you return it without wine or chutney stains. Repeat the process.
You’ll have four days to wear it and return it (being specific: 96 hours from the time you receive it).
What exactly is included? Along with the actual sari, we provide a petticoat, which is a skirt that is worn underneath. Please note, it must be tied tightly around your waist in order to hold the weight of the sari (i.e., it’s going to be very tight).
What about the blouse? In India, sari blouses (usually a fitted crop top) are originally attached to the actual fabric and must be cut off and tailored to your body. Unfortunately, in the United States, it’s difficult to find a tailor to create an affordable custom-made blouse. On the bright side, crop tops have been in fashion for years and it’s not difficult to find beautiful and affordable alternatives. Read this post for blouse suggestions.
How do I put my sari on? If you have an auntie close by, ask her; she’ll know best. If you don’t have an auntie, which is sort of heartbreaking, read this post or watch this video for a step-by-step guide. Know it might take a couple tries to get it perfect.
Can I wear a sari if I’m not Indian? We’re not the authority on what you should or shouldn’t wear. That being said, most Indians have no problem with a non-Indian wearing a sari as there’s nothing to be offended over. We actually think it’s lovely to have others wanting to wear one—and, nowadays, most brides welcome non-Indian guests to wear one. Yet, if you are renting this for an event, you might want to ask the hosts their thoughts.
Worth noting: if you are thinking of renting this for a costume party or Halloween then that’s an absolutely terrible decision. A sari is a beautiful garment meant for meaningful occasions… it is not a Princess Jasmine costume. Just want to be clear on that. Enjoy!
Are there any height restrictions? This isn’t a roller coaster – so no, you can wear a sari no matter your height. However, height will affect the look. I wouldn’t have known this until I wrapped a sari on one of my 5’9 friends and it didn’t go as smoothly as I expected. Usually, saris cover your feet and graze the floor, but in order to tuck-in the sari, it landed around her ankles (which is completely fine)! Be aware that if you are 5’8 or taller, your ankles might be showing; if anything, this is a great excuse to show off a new pair of heels!
Do you have multiple saris of the same kind? Although we do not carry multiple matching saris, we’re always looking to expand our inventory! Send us an email at contact@simplesaris.com with your vision (sari or wedding colors, pattern, material) and we can work together to make this come to life.
Is shipping really free? Yes, definitely! We currently only ship within the United States, but hope to expand to Canada as well. Shipping to and from is completely included in the price. However, we believe in reduce, reuse, recycle — so you must ship the sari back in the same box it was sent in. If you don’t, we’ll charge you $15 for killing trees. We think this makes sense.