The Diwali party invitation has arrived, and with it, the annual question of what to wear (and what to gift). Saris are rarely a wrong answer, particularly when India’s textile heritage offers such a rich vocabulary of craft, from the intricate supplementary-weft motifs of Jamdani and the lustrous weave of Mashru silk to the metallic threads of zardozi and the glint of hand-applied embellishments. Each technique brings its own character to the drape, be it the precision of woven motifs, the relief of raised metallic threads or the ornate detailing of hand-worked embellishments.
Whether you’re dressing for a house party that runs past midnight or a family dinner where the photographs are practically compulsory, the right saris leave outfit dilemmas at the door. Here are 23 to consider for your Diwali wardrobe, spanning traditional textile techniques and contemporary interpretations of festive dressing.
