Saris are quintessentially South Asian. Every state, region, and community has different ways of tying it, different preferred styles and patterns, different lengths and on and on. It has followed us through the centuries and into the diaspora. Every fashion designer worth their salt has sent hundreds of beautiful, innovative saris down the runway. But the fabric is the easy part – what really sets saris apart are their blouses.
Below are some 31 of the best and most delicious sari blouses to show off, cover up, or catch every eye and light in the room.
1. Spiderweb Saree Blouse
From Sonam Kapoor’s photo shoot for Shehla Khan
2. Pattern Clashing
From Sabyasachi at Lakme Fashion Week 2013
3. Itty Bitty Diamond Bikini
From Tarun Tahiliani’s Bridal Collection 2012
4. Mughal Cut Out Blouse
Photographed by Nitin Patel
5. Zari Vines – delicate zardozi embroidery borders this blouse with a large back cutout
From Anushree Reddy
6. Deep Vee – your back will look oh so sexy
7. Indian Overcoat
From JJ Valaya at Aamby Valley Bridal Week 2012
8. Barely There – Sheer Blouse
From Rina Dhaka at India Couture Week 2014
9. Straight Cut Beaded Blouse
From Suneet Varma, Photographed by Colston Julian
10. Keyhole Cut Blouse
Photographed by Nathan Vaithee
11. Sweetheart Cut & Princess Sleeves
From Arpita Mehta at Lakme Fashion Week 2013
12. Full Sleeves Crop Jacket
From Anju Modi at India Couture Week 2014
13. Backless with Ornaments
Sonakshi Sinha from the film ‘Holiday’
14. Double Layered Sari Blouse Jacket Combo
From Bhairavi Jaikishan at Lakme Fashion Week 2013
15. Fringed Blouse (or Stars & Stripes)
From Arpita Mehta
16. Jacket Blouse
From Monisha Jaising at India Couture Week 2014
17. Scalloped-Edge Window Blouse
From Khoobsurat
18. Christmas Bow Tie Blouse – why use hooks and buttons, when you make a big bow!
From Sabyasachi, Photographed by Viral Bhayani
19. Oriental Crop Jacket Blouse
From Anita Dongre
20. Velvet Bodysuit
From Sonaakshi Raaj
21. Spaghetti Strap Blouse – show off those abs
From Ashima Leena at Aamby Valley Bridal Week 2012
22. Offbeat Plaid
From Sapana Apina
23. Gota Work Blouse
From Ashima Leena at Aamby Valley Bridal Week 2012
24. Wrap Blouse – complete with a bow too
From Anushree Reddy at Lakme Fashion Week 2014
25. Boucle Blouse
From Sabyascahi at Lakme Fashion Week 2014
26. Pseudo Peplum
From Niki Mahajan
27. Full Length Choli
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Sabyasachi
28. Halter-Neck Blouse – accentuate your triceps and deltoids (shoulder and upper arm muscles)
From Ashima Leena at Aamby Valley Bridal Week 2012
29. Blinged Out Blouse
From Pam Mehta
30. Off The Shoulder
From Dia
31. Boob Tube – even if you’re flat chested, it doesn’t mean you can’t have something to give that “moti aam” feeling
From JJ Valaya at Aamby Valley Bridal Week 2012
From lace bodysuits to completely backless blouses, designers are constantly working and reworking the classic sari blouse. Who knows what this year will reveal in new sari designs.