How to Choose Jewellery For Saree? A Guide on Completing Your Saree Look
For Indians, sarees are not merely garments, but emotions and long-running traditions of elegance wrapped in a 6-yard cloth. Centuries have passed, but the love for sarees we Indians possess has never been dimmed; instead, it has only seen a rise, and now people of other countries are embracing wearing sarees.
When it comes to having a complete and sophisticated saree look, pairing it with the right jewellery plays an important role. Despite being exposed to countless jewellery options, we often fail to choose the right jewellery to pair with the right saree.
However, today, we will address this concern and will share a detailed guide on how to choose jewellery for saree that will complement each other. As a lot of factors go into choosing the right jewellery like the occasion, fabric, and necklines, we will discuss each of them.
Types of Jewellery Metal To Pair Up With Sarees
Though today’s market is flooded with a wide range of jewellery from real gold to imitation and oxidized, knowing the most common types will help you sort the right one to pair with the right saree.
Gold
From time immemorial, especially in India, gold jewellery has been worn for every occasion and attire. It is also common because it holds immense value in Hindu mythology and is associated with diverse traditions and rituals.
The same gold jewellery gets passed down to the generations, and its shiny and unique allure makes it ideal to pair up with a variety of sarees like Kanjeevaram, pure silk sarees, and banarasi sarees. Since you can get a range of designs, styles, and weights, you can even pair light-weight gold jewellery for a minimal look with chiffon and georgette sarees.
Silver
Silver is also considered as a prized possession when it comes to owning jewellery, and its increasing value makes people invest heavily in them. Silver comes in different types like pure silver and sterling silver giving them different touch and adding elegance to them.
They go great with light-weight sarees like cotton, chiffon, georgette, and even organza. When you pair silver with sarees, it enhances the look and doesn’t overshadow them. Even if you are wearing a rich saree like banarsi or silk with silver embroidery, pairing it with a silver choker and bangles will complete the look.
Platinum
It is in the same league as gold when it comes to value and looks closer to silver, but with elegance. It speaks of rarity and often comes with diamond studded, which heightens its looks and glamour.
If you own a certain piece of platinum jewellery, you can flaunt it with any saree from Kanjeevarm to silk, banarsi, cotton, and chiffon. Platinum even stands out when you wear it with plain and solid colour sarees.
Diamonds
Diamonds are the precious stones that are still not common amongst the masses because of being pricey, but owning them means you can elevate a lot of your saree looks without doing much.
Diamonds complement rich sarees like Kanjeevaram, silk sarees, tissue sarees, banarsi sarees, and any saree with heavy zardoshi or embroidery. You can even pair small diamond jewellery like studs, hanging earrings, bracelets, and rings with cotton and other light-weight sarees.
Gemstones
Gemstones are becoming a norm in the world of jewellery, and due to their diverse types like ruby, emerald, and amethyst, they are making them more adaptable with the different saree styles. Gemstones are changing the saree game, and you get to experiment with more looks, and you might have seen celebrities sporting new saree looks from green emerald to red rubies for completing their Kanjeevaram saree looks and pure silk sarees.
Not just this, the gemstone category also has polki and kundan, which go well with minimal designs, sarees like bandhej and patola designs.
Oxidized
Oxidized jewellery is gaining immense popularity in recent times as it has opened a plethora of options for women who don’t possess enough of pure gold and other precious jewellery. It comes in both silver and gold oxidised and goes way too well with sarees, especially cotton, chiffon, georgette, and other lightweight sarees.
They may come for cheaper than other metals, but they very much complement diverse saree looks. Right from the toe rings to jhumkas and bangles, you can avail a range of types and designs.
Must Have Jewellery to Wear with Sarees
Despite the material and designs, there is a range of jewellery and types that you must own if you want to complete your look. Some of the must-have pieces are:
- Necklace
- Chokers
- Bangles
- Rings
- Drop earrings
- Stud earrings
- Earrings cuffs
- Bracelets
- Anklets
- Toe rings
- Handcuffs
- Rani necklace
- Long necklace
- Nose rings
With this jewellery, you can nail every saree look!
Best Jewellery for Different Saree Fabrics
Now that you know the different types of jewellery made of different materials, now is time to unlock different fabrics and the ideal jewellery match for them:
Kanjeevaram and Silk Sarees
Kanjeevaram and Silk Sarees are timeless sarees that have a history of centuries. Both the sarees come in different types from different regions, but they both offer a rich look. To complete these saree looks, jewellery is a must, and the most common yet perfect choice would be temple jewellery or gold jewellery.
While Kanjeevaram is best complemented with traditional temple jewellery, silk sarees look best with pure gold and even gemstone jewellery, especially with a base of emerald or ruby.
Cotton and Linen Sarees
Cotton and linen sarees offer an elegant look and are ideal for several occasions and daily wear. Since they are a little undertone and don’t offer opulence as silk sarees, silver jewellery goes best with anything that has a silver tone like oxidized jewellery or platinum jewellery.
If you wear it for everyday use, then pair it up with small and dainty earrings, thin silver bangles, and silver rings. If you have to attend an occasion like a gathering or small function, then a choker with big-sized earrings with rings will pull up a great look together.
Georgette, Chiffon, and Lightweight Sarees
Lightweight sarees like georgette and chiffon have universal acceptance for any type of jewellery. Based on their work, you can either pick gold or silver jewellery, and if they are on the heavier side of work, like intricate cutdana work or zardosi work, you can even opt for diamonds, gemstones, and polki jewellery.
If they are simple and even plain with no work, silver and oxidized earrings will complement the look the best. If you want to keep the look minimal yet rich, then pair it with diamond studs and platinum earrings. Keep it uniform with the base like if wearing silver, then don’t wear anything with a gold base.
Designer and Other Sarees
Apart from the three categories of sarees we have discussed above, we are also witnessing a rise in designer sarees, organza sarees, tissue sarees, and other fabrics. For organza and tissue sarees, you can pick gold or gemstone jewellery because they often give a rich look, and diamonds will work best if they have silver work.
For a gold base, you should ditch gold jewellery and rather stick to gemstone jewellery or polki jewelry. For other designer sarees, the choice must depend on the base of the work, texture, and colour.
Tips to Pick the Right Jewellery for the Right Saree
Even after knowing the various types of sarees and jewellery that we are exposed to, it can still get confusing since sometimes we get a saree that doesn’t fit in any category and may not go great with the above said jewellery. In such a scenario, the tips we are sharing here will be of great help as they follow a set of unsaid rules every person should follow to pull a great saree look:
Consider the Fabric
For any saree that has a rich fabric like Kanjeevaram, silk sarees, banarasi silk sarees, and even tissue silk sarees, anything of a gold base will go best. Most of these sarees often have gold base embroidery or stone works, which can only be complemented with rich jewellery like temple jewellery, gemstones, and pure gold jewellery.
For fabrics that are common in everyday life, like cotton or linen, silver or oxidized jewellery works the best. Most cotton and linen sarees come in solid colours with no embroidery work, so silver takes out the best look. For georgette and chiffon, you can go with any sarees depending on the shade and work.
Consider the Occasion
You can’t walk straight to the office gathering by loading yourself with heavy sarees and jewellery. You always have to keep in mind the occasion, like if you are attending a lavish dinner party or wedding, then heavy sarees like silk or Kanjeevaram will look best, but if the saree already has a heavy work, then pick jewellery that is not heavy, but something that brings out the beauty of the saree. Gold and gemstone jewellery work best with it.
For normal occasions like gatherings and small affairs, pick jewellery that is not heavy. Like for gold-based sarees, you can pick a choker set with drop earrings and bracelets, and anything that is silver-based, you can choose to complete your look with rings, a choker, thin bangles, and stud or drop earrings.
Consider the Neckline
Neckline is a very important part of consideration because if you pair the blouse with a certain neckline with the wrong piece of jewellery, then it can underplay your entire look. For highneck blouses like boatneck and covering the entire neckline then a small necklace should be ditched. Pair the look with stud earrings and for the neck, long necklaces like rani haar will go best. A choker will also complement the look, as long as it stays around your neck.
For low-neck blouses, a shorter necklace with a diamond pendant sets will go best as it takes out the beauty of your collarbone. You can pick the normal size of earrings, jhumkas, and even big size studs will go great. If you want to keep things minimal but not overwhelming, then pick minimal pendant jewellery, but statement earrings that complement the fabric and tone of the saree.
Consider the Colour
Going all the same colour has been in fashion for the longest time, but things are changing for good. While you can still sport a monochrome look, you can now wear jewellery that goes in contrast with the colour of the saree. You must have seen celebrities doing the same as well, and the contrast can be experimented with gold-tone sarees. For red silk sarees, you can wear emerald green sets and earrings, or for yellow Kanjeevaram sarees, you can wear jewellery that has blue or purple gemstones.
For silver-based work, nothing complements it better than diamond, pearls, silver, and oxidized jewellery. Colour combination plays a huge role in completing your entire look.
Final Words
Wearing sarees has transformed in style and fashion, and so is the game of pairing it up with the right set of jewellery. When you are looking at how to choose jewellery for saree, there are a lot of factors that come into play, and you will get most of those factors discussed above.
FAQs
How to choose jewelry with a saree?
To choose the right jewellery with the saree, understand the fabric, colour, neckline of the blouse, and the occasion. For a grand and rich look, pair Kanjeevaram or silk sarees with gold or gemstone, and for a minimal and regular look, silver or oxidized jewellery with cotton and linen sarees work the best.
What is the 2:1:1 rule for jewelry?
The 2:1:1 rule in jewellery means wearing 2 pieces of the same category and 1 piece of another category. Like wearing 2 regular pieces but 1 statement piece.
How to look rich in a saree?
To look rich in a saree, always pick gold-tone sarees with heavy work and keep the jewellery minimal like a studded diamond ring or pendant necklace. You can do the opposite like picking a less embellished saree and pairing it up with heavy jewellery.
How do you know which jewelry is right for you?
Picking the right jewellery depends on the look you want to create. To complement your silk sarees, always pick gold jewellery, and for cotton and linen sarees, pick silver-based jewellery. For the chiffon and georgette sarees, minimal jewellery is recommended.
How to choose bangles for a saree?
To choose the bangles, consider the occasion and the fabric of the saree like single gold bangles in each hand creates a standout look for silk sarees and thin silver bangles complement a minimal cotton look sarees.
Can I wear oxidised jewellery with a silk saree?
No, oxidized jewellery is a big no when it comes to pairing with silk sarees. Given how rich silk sarees look in themselves, you should always wear them with gold or gemstone jewellery.
What is the necklace rule?
The neckline rule is based on the neckline of the blouse you are wearing. For example, if you are wearing a high-neckline blouse, then you should pair it up with a choker or long necklace, and for a low-neckline blouse, wear a necklace that is shorter in size and reaches just above the neckline.