Is there any trick to wrapping a stiff saree, as opposed to wrapping a
silky one? I find the stiff ones very difficult to wrap, and I am
looking for detailed, and if possible, illustrated directions. Please
note that the material for most stiff sarees are cotton. Also it is a
south indian dress, in niva style. Thank you.

Hello thenotoro!

As the owner of several saris, stiff and soft alike, I can appreciate
the difficulty in wrapping the stiff ones.  My favorite is an
elaborate raw silk brocade, and it always gives me fits because it is
very stiff - stiffer even than the cotton ones!

Unfortunately, there is no special "trick" to wrapping a stiff sari as
opposed to a silky one.  Both styles are wrapped the same way.  I've
found through practice that if you tug the fabric as you pleat (fold,
tug, fold, tug, fold, tug) and pull each pleat straight from the
bottom as you go (awkward, but workable) it's a bit less of a hassle
to get everything to fall into place.

There are several sites available with illustrated instructions as to
how to wrap a sari:

How To Wear A Sari  (This discusses the southern style of wrap, step
by step.)
http://www.kerala.com/fashion/hwsari.htm

How To Put On A Sari
http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/southasiacenter/saree/Sari.htm

Sari Excuses (Details under "How To Wear")
http://www.garamchai.com/mainbazaar.htm

Chantal Boulanger has written a book discussing the varying styles of
sari wraps:

Saris: An Illustrated Guide to the Indian Art of Draping
http://www.devi.net/saribook.html


Good luck!

--Missy

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