Indian women build wardrobe legacies with a few treasured pieces of fabric that were passed down to them from their mother or grandmother. More often than not, these include crafts such as Kanchipuram and Benarasi silks—be it saris or lehengas. One such Bollywood personality who repeatedly wears craft-forward ensembles is Genelia Deshmukh, whose sari collection features varieties from our country’s vast offerings of heritage textiles and handicrafts. The icing on the cake is her ability to bring together a variety of mismatched traditional jewellery into one look.
For those seeking inspiration on how to wear heritage saris and lehengas this festive season, here are the best traditional looks of Genelia Deshmukh to emulate.
Ahimsa Paithani sari
A conscious fashion consumer, Deshmukh is mindful of how her silk is sourced, even when it comes to her heritage saris. Leading by example, she chose the ‘ahimsa’ version of Paithani—a heritage sari style from Maharashtra—with kota zari-inspired weave, featuring motifs of peacocks, swans and elephants, a mainstay in the traditional sari, too. Fuchsia high-neck blouse brought contrast to the look alongside a touch of regality. The navratna-heavy pearl jewellery added to the sari look’s traditional appeal. One could swap the blouse for a sleeveless number and switch the necklaces for a choker, to bring a contemporary edge to the same sari look.