No exotic fancy dress, but a garment that is worn daily by women through the length and breadth of India, 5½ metres of continuous fabric. Unstitched. Yet a perfect fit for every figure. And not as complicated to wear as you might suppose.

Step 1

At least part of the secret of the sari are the "underneath" garments - a waist -to- floor length petticoat, tied tightly at the waist by a drawstring. (No elastic, please!) And a tight fitting blouse that ends just below the bust - short sleeved or sleeveless, with a variety of necklines.

Step 2

Starting at the navel, tuck the plain end of the sari into the petticoat for one complete turn from right to left. Make sure that the lower end of the sari touches the floor.

Step 3 & 4

Beginning from the tucked-in end start making pleats in the sari, about 5 inches deep. Make about 7 to 10 pleats and hold them up together so that they fall straight and even

Step 5

Tuck the pleats into the waist slightly to the left of the navel, and make sure that they are turned towards the left.

Step 6

Drape the remaining fabric around yourself once more left to right, and bring it up under the right arm and over the left shoulder so that it falls to about the level of the knees.

Step 7

The end portion thus draped is the pallav, and can be prevented from slipping off by fixing it at the shoulder to the blouse with a small safety pin.