Best uk place to buy a sari/saree?

[Grumpysfirstwife]

My DD would like a saree/sari.
I've had a look on the usual sites (ebay/Amazon) but I don't really know what I'm buying so really could do with finding a shop or online store with very good customer service to answer all my probably very obvious questions.
Can anyone recommend somewhere?

[Nksw]

Are there any areas nearby with a high ethnic minority population? A town near me has a high street full of beautiful things like this!

[SuckingEggs]

Where are you?

[MiddleClassProblem]

You're better going to a shop if you can

[TondelayaDellaVentamiglia]

have a look at Rupali ...have had a couple of things from them

[Grumpysfirstwife]

I've not found anything in the neighbouring towns hence my post on here, maybe I need to travel further afield?

They are beautiful and I can see why she wants one but I don't know how to wrap/fit them or if I need a particular size or even undergarments.

[yummytummy]

There's a website called rupali.com which is good. Or like pp said if you are near an Asian area?

[SealSong]

Bombay Stores in Bradford. An absolute Alladin's cave of all things sari and Asian clothing related. It's a fabulous place to visit -

website

[Grumpysfirstwife]

I'm in Staffordshire suckingeggs.

[LadyStarkOfWinterfell]

How old is she and where will she wear a sari? Because if she's a teen/young adult, white and intends to wear it clubbing she should maybe think twice...

[marcopront]

With a sari you also need a blouse and petticoat.

Can you get to Birmingham? There are loads of shops there.

[marcopront]

Also they are not easy to put on and if you are not used to them they are not very comfortable.

[Grumpysfirstwife]

She is teenager and wants to wear it to a friends wedding and evening party. Also she is white but wouldn't wear it clubbing or anything it's for special occasions. She wore goth clothes for a while and has worn vintage too. She's really not into following the crowd, she wears things she likes the look of.

Rupali looks great thanks.

[detectiv]

Agree, loads of choice in Leicester

[Grumpysfirstwife]

Leicester isn't too far away, I may pop over in the week.

Thanks for your help

[LadyStarkOfWinterfell]

That's cool, but she should be aware that some people might find it culturally appropriative. A sari to a non Indian wedding is a little odd. Maybe get some lovely sari fabric and have a dress made?

[Grumpysfirstwife]

Thank you.

[ChocolateLocks]

You can get a cheat sari which has already been stitched and all you do it put the skirt on and wrap the loose material once or twice- no one would ever know. I second Leicester or Birmingham and rupali and Bombay looks.

[pinkmagic1]

Like pp have said, Rupali are very good. I have ordered abayas to wear when visiting family in the middle East and ordered some lovely cotton kaftan tops from them on a few occassions. They have more choice on line than in the Leicester shop and things have arrived very quickly.
Saris are beautiful and if your daughter has the confidence to pull off wearing one, why not.

[Hippychickster]

I live in Leicester. There are loads of shops here that sell saris!

[MiddleClassProblem]

There should be videos on YouTube that show you how to wrap it x

[indianbackground]

This is pretty long but I hope helpful. My family are in Indian but I was born here. My mother wears a sari all the time. I've always worn western clothes. I happen to have a disability and wouldn't be able to put on a sari easily. However even my cousins who where western clothes and sometimes a sari have to be dressed by someone else. It takes a lot of practice. Takes my mother a couple of minutes herself and she uses one safety pin at the shoulder. it takes her at least 15 mins to put one on me, even though I know I know exactly how to stand. She is doing it "mirror image" - both of us will have fabric over left shoulder but I'm facing her when she is dressing me - i don't have DC. but I suppose like when you dress your child and are doing up buttons the "wrong" way.

Wearing a sari takes quite a bit of practice. As others have said she needs a long plain skirt that is tightened and the sari tucked in. You need to remember to pick it up when going up stairs, if you stand on a sari it will come off or tear if you have a pin (yes it was very embarrassing ). As with a long dress you need to learn how to go to the toilet!

Your daughter will need a generally tight fitting blouse as well. Take care when buying a sari as sometimes it comes with a blouse piece attached. The idea is that you cut that off and the tailor will make you a blouse the right size. In India all of these shops will have a tailor and quite a few in the UK. Buy a light sari, some have beads which look lovely but are heavy and take getting used to.

There are now ready made saris. They look like a sari but are already made up in a skirt. I've been looking to buy one. I've found them quite expensive - mostly they are aimed at brides who are marrying an Indian and want to wear a sari for the wedding family occasions.

Saris are beautiful. If your daughter really wants to wear a sari maybe see if there is anyone at her school who wears a sari regularly (teachers or parents) who might let her try it (including dressing her!). you'd be there and perhaps a couple of friends or they could have an assembly at school which my mum did a few times.

An alternative is to wear a Salwar Kameeez - long trousers and a long top over it (as with saris there are a few ways to spell that.)

[Grumpysfirstwife]

Thank you indianbackground. That's very helpful.
She is currently looking at the rupali website and periodically shouting out that she's found one. She is also looking at kaftans and suits but there's too much choice I think.

We don't know anyone who wears them so I'm off to watch YouTube videos.

Once we have ordered one (or 20 by the sounds of it) and its arrived I will get to work practicing putting it on her.

Rupali is amazing, I wish western clothes were as beautiful

[indianbackground]

I spoke to my mum who said she certainly wouldn't be offended by someone white wearing a sari. She suggested pins - count how many you put in and where.

I would say don't count on wearing that. If you can go to Leicester to a shop I would because you can see the material and buy the skirt and ready made blouse. Someone there might dress your daughter if you are lucky.