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Original poster

Can white British women wear saris?

21 replies

satine · 07/07/2013 07:53

I've just bought a sari for a 'Bollywood' themed ball, and I love it so much I'm wondering if I can wear it again afterwards!
Is it ok for non-Indian women to wear saris? They are so beautiful, elegant and comfortable, but I don't want to cause offence!!

OP posts:

KingRollo · 07/07/2013 07:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bluestocking · 07/07/2013 08:01

I am white British and go to India for work. I wear a sari if I have a formal evening do to go to (eg an event female Indian colleagues will wear saris for). I have found that it goes down very well and, very importantly for work events, is a great ice-breaker. Not sure I would wear a sari in the UK though unless I was going to an Indian wedding or something similar.
What's your sari like? Is it ready wrapped and sewn so you can just put it on like a dress?

dexter73 · 07/07/2013 08:21

I just googled your question and found this article that might answer some of questions.

CheungFun · 07/07/2013 08:25

I borrowed my friends sari for her wedding, it as so comfortable and pretty, I think they're lovely to wear!

SoTiredAgain · 07/07/2013 10:04

I am with the poster who said use the material to make it into a dress.

Putting aside my own personal opinion on whether white women saris, how many Asians do you see who wear saris on a night out to: pubs, restaurants, clubs, cinema, generally going out to a non-Asian do? Very very few. Possibly because its just not practical.

Original poster

satine · 07/07/2013 10:51

Yes, I agree that there wouldn't be many opportunities to wear it, but it's too gorgeous to be put away! I may look at having it made into something a little more fusion!

OP posts:

Original poster

satine · 07/07/2013 10:52

Thank you dexter73, I had read that but I wondered if that was a widely held view.

OP posts:

dinkystinky · 07/07/2013 10:54

Of course you can wear it again - especially for special events. And SoTiredAgain - my mother, all my aunts, my cousins, etc all wear saris out to the pub, iceskating, bowling, cinema, weddings (of the non-asian variety), etc - it depends on the person!

Shesparkles · 07/07/2013 10:59

A relative of mine does, and looks and feels great in it. Saying that, her husband is Indian and she tends to wear it when she's attending functions with his family

SoTiredAgain · 07/07/2013 11:45

dinkystinky I was thinking more about the younger women, not the older ones.

katydid02 · 07/07/2013 11:50

I would also make it into a dress.

KevinFoley · 07/07/2013 12:07

no it's a bit whatsername from crocodile dundee

Original poster

satine · 07/07/2013 14:08

So dinky stinky - would you feel offended if you saw me in a sari at a party or something? I don't mind people thinking my dress sense is quirky (Helena bonham-carter is something of a heroine of mine) but I'd hate to offend.

OP posts:

dinkystinky · 07/07/2013 14:12

No I wouldn't be offended in the slightest Satine. Neither would any of my close relatives - they'd probably compliment you on your taste.

SoTiredAgain - again depends on the person. My 20 year old cousin wears saris 24-7 because she prefers them to trousers and dresses. But yes I agree, generally its the older generation that are all about saris.

ChunkyPickle · 07/07/2013 14:18

I can't imagine why it would offend? Do you get offended when you see asians wearing western clothes?

I have a few (salwar kameez) tunic/trouser sets which I wear when I need something semi-smart but not business wear, I have a Cheong Sam dress which I wore to a wedding and keep for extra special.

sonlypuppyfat · 07/07/2013 14:21

I went to a fancy dress party once and I asked my Asian friend if I could borrow a sari she said only old women wear them! She gave me one of the trouser tunic sets instead

Eliza22 · 07/07/2013 21:57

My sister's first husband was Asian. Her wedding was a two-fold affair and its one of the best "dos" I've ever attended. The preparation for the ladies was so exciting and when we shopped for saris, I knew I was going to fall in love. So easy to wear, so pretty and feminine and I've hankered after wearing one ever since. I've sadly, never had occasion.

I think you might stand out a bit. Quite a bit, actually but whatever. Actually, I'd love to wear the Burmese lungi as. So elegant and flattering, especially when you see some of the stuff we term "fashionable".

Scarletohello · 07/07/2013 22:06

Oooh i know hiw u feel...I bought a sari last year when I was in Indus and it's beautiful! I have worn it twice since then but it was at themed events where it was ok to wear it I'd love to wear it for other events but it would feel a bit strange! ( wish I knew how to link a photo of it but don't know how to.. Can you?)

Svina · 07/07/2013 22:23

I don't wear saris, but I do wear African kangas in summer. They are traditional, practical and as they are not dressy, can be incorporated into an outfit with a t shirt without looking too whacky. Africans have commented favourably on my dress.

Saris are so specific culturally that an association with that culture would be assumed.

mumlawyer83 · 07/07/2013 23:20

I'm surprised that Asian fashions aren't a bigger part of the UK fashion scene. Look at the impact Asian cuisine has had. I wear Asian clothes and jewellery all the time. (I'm mixed race West Indian and English, my husband looks black, but is mixed race, his dad is Indian).

I'd never tell anyone what to wear. I'd no more react to a white (or any non-Asian) woman in a sari than an Indian woman in a mini dress. Even typing that sentence makes me feel really awkward.

Can you imagine going up to any person of non-western origin and asking them why they're wearing western clothes? That would be totally ridiculous. That's an unthinkable thing.

Yet the other way around seems to be fair game. I've had negative reactions from some (very few) Asian people that didn't like it and some (very few) non-Asian people that didn't like it. But on the whole everyone has been fine, as they should be.

I would definitely say wear it. You've bought it, it looks good. Jeans were totally an American thing back in the day, Brits simply didn't wear them, but no one thinks it's strange to see a British person (of any race) wearing jeans nowadays. I'm betting people will say that about saris in years to come.

Jux · 07/07/2013 23:39

If it's fine for young Indian women to wear western clothes, then why not the other way round?

I cook curry sometimes. DH sometimes make Thai Green curry. I have been known to cook other cuisines too.

What's the difference? This is a multi-cultural society.

If you like it so much and are comfortable in it, then wear it. TBH, there are days when - if I had one - I'd wear a burkha. I do have a number of Kaftans. Hardly jolly old traditional Brit wear, but they're fab in the heat.

You never know, one day women might wear trousers

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