Anarkali suits are one of the most popular Indian suits, which travel a long way back into the history, yet are still trendy, and loved by the modern women. The first time Anarkali suits made its entry into the fashion industry was after the Bollywood diva Madhubala wore it in the famous song Pyaar kiya toh darna kya from the Hindi movie Mughal-e-Azam.
Following this iconic trend of the royal attire that became popular with the film, Bollywood divas of 1970s and ‘80s- Parveen Babi, Rekha, Jaya Prada, Madhuri Dixit, Sridevi and so on won people’s hearts in this attire, on and off-screen.
The designer Anarkali suits have made a major comeback into the fashion industry and have been winning hearts since then. All thanks to the talented designers who have made trendy additions and alterations to the classic style and introduced the modern trends with this beautiful Indian suit. Let us have a look at a few interesting facts that add up to the fame of Anarkali suits.
History of Anarkali
The Anarkali suit derives it name from the royal Mughal courtesan Anarkali at the court of Akbar, the Great. Akbar gave orders to build a wall around Anarkali and bury her alive as soon as he found out her relationship with Prince Salim. Anarkali is still remembered, because of her undying love for Prince Salim, who later came to be known as Emperor Jahangir, and her style statement.
The Word ‘Anarkali’
‘Anarkali’ stands for “Pomegranate Blossom”. Pomegranate is an exotic fruit, grown widely in India, Iraq and the Mediterranean region. The flowers of a pomegranate plant have a bright orange-red colour.
Origination of Anarkali dresses
The Mughal courtesans had mastered a dance form “Mujra” which they perform in the royal courts and made popular. They used to perform Mujra in a flowy long dress, with narrow fit pants and matching dupatta. In remembrance to the great dancer and an equally great lover Anarkali, this Mujra dress was named after her.
Anarkali Salwar Suits as Worn by The Common Women
Before being tagged as a high-end fashion attire, Anarkali Salwar suits were worn by the women of Pakistan, northern parts of India, and the Middle east. These dresses, heavily embroidered or embellished with stones, sequins, beads and threads were usually worn during special occasions like a wedding or a religious event.
Bollywood and Anarkali
Designer Anarkali Suits have made a powerful comeback, thanks to Bollywood and its divas- Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Bipasha Basu, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Deepika Padukone, Vidya Balan and so on, who have worn it to premiere shows and award ceremonies, to music launches and parties. The Anarkali Suit is such an attire which flatters every figure-type that accentuates the top part of the body, and cover up the flaws in the waist and hips with ease.
Modern Trends of An Ancient Attire
The Anarkali suits that we usually see today are modern designs of the ancient piece that the Mughal courtesans wore during their performances. While the classic Anarkali suits consisted of a floor-length kameez, a narrow churidars and matching dupattas, the modern ones come with a variety or styles and add-ons like jackets or churidars replaced with palazzos, cigarette pants or lehengas. The length and cuts of the kameez have also changed.
Fabrics Used for Anarkali Salwar Kameez
The elegance of this royal attire lies on three things- the cut, the designs and work and obviously the rich fabric. These suits are made from superior quality fabrics like silk, georgette, velvet, net, brocade and so on. Cotton Anarkalis are also great for daily usage.
The Designs
Simple Anarkali suits act as a great base for the embellishments and embroideries transforming them into stunning designer Anarkali suits that make them a gorgeous ethnic attire.
And the Best Part, Suitable for All Body Types
Designers are working everyday relentlessly and modifying the designs of Anarkali suits, so that every woman gets to flaunt themselves in this particular type of suit. While women with a figure on the heavier side look great with a sleek A-line Anarkali suit, while those with petite frames look good in a frock-style, frilly Anarkali. There are a number of cuts and designs of Anarkali suits available in the market, and at least one to suit every body type.
