There is not much difference in a Lehnga and a Ghagra. Lehngas cover the full length below the
waist and touch the floors, but, comparatively Ghagras are slightly shorter. The lehngas come in two varieties – sharara
and gharara. The sharara style is sleeker. It runs close to the body till the knees
and then broadens in full flare at the falls and borders. It is like the
ground-kissing gowns of the Western world. It renders a mermaid look. The gharara is split like a divided skirt.
Both are worn with a kurti and a full
odhni.
Complimenting the loose-fit ghagras and lehngas, the choli snugly fits the bust of the woman
to define the curvaceous female form. The choli
usually has heavy embroidery-work over thick fabric.
Ghagra-choli, or lehnga- choli can also make a thin
figure gain a few virtual inches or a plump figure look slimmer. A choli that
has the same color as of the lehenga, made of the same fabric and with vertical
stripes, de-emphasizes bulk. In addition to these, an exaggerated shoulder
gives a taller appearance to a shorter woman. Flouncy ghagras should be avoided
by those who are not so tall and shapely.
Appliqué work suits a slimmer woman especially when poised
with multiple patch work or horizontal stripes suit thins and narrow-shouldered
women well.
Ghagra-cholis have
come out of the label of wedding-wear and bridals and came out into competition
with party attires. Woman still believe in a slight modification of traditional
looks and churning out great fusions. Fusions have always struck a balance
between tradition and western trends. Once this was understood, there was no
looking back for lehngas and ghagras with sleek cholis. It came out afresh with
a challenge to party wears like spaghettis or tank tops and gowns.
