User:Kalpana B Shah

There are those who wait for great things to happen to them, standing quietly, patiently in the wings; and let life go by. And there are those who grab hold of life with both hands and bend it to their will - the doers, the achievers, the ones that happen to life. One look at Kalpana Shah and you will know she is one of the latter. Kalpana was always good at grooming, but as her many clients eventually noticed, her prime talent lay in the drape of that oh-so-difficult-to-tame garment, the Sari. Always fascinated by beauty and glamour, Kalpana took up professional courses designed to hone her natural skills, making her the connoisseur she is today. She began to learn the fine arts of makeup, hair styling but the craft in which she went on to make her mark was draping a Sari. It wasn’t long before her reputation as an accomplished Sari draper grew and flourished. She was soon getting calls from the rich and famous. Fashion shows and films were to follow. Kalpana has dressed the crème de la crème of the glamour industry – from movie stars to models, not to mention the movers and shakers of the business world. In the words of Kalpana, “Indian women & Sari share a long lasting relationship. India’s cultural symbol is a Sari. It is impossible to compare any western outfits with an Indian Sari. A woman’s fragility shows up only after wearing a Sari”. Time to time ways of Sari draping are becoming innovative. Even today’s fashion world is discovering newer ways of wearing a Sari. Once upon a time women only use to wear single Sari slowly they started wearing two Saris with a dupatta, then only two dupattas & also a sari with a dupatta. Sari draping a lot more depends upon the designer i.e. in what way the designer makes Embroidery, the fabric material of the Sari, colour & print of the Sari & not to forget is the weight of the Sari which is also very important. Ultimately the presentation is in the hand of the Sari Draper. Sari Draper before draping the Sari has to keep the following things in mind: The figure, height of the person, also the weight of the Sari. Secondly pinning of the Sari is very important so that the person wearing the same feels comfortable in her movements. The simple Sari worn perfectly makes a woman look elegant. I offer a variety of styles to my various clients. I have been running the Sari teaching classes for the last 30 years. The concept is especially popular for the varied fancy styles. The simple Sari worn perfectly makes a woman look elegant. The Sari is the most sensual & glamorous, yet it’s the only unstitched garment in the whole of the world. I teach & attend to all kinds of teenagers, middle-aged women; in short all age groups. Also I have been holding practical & theoretical classes where I impart information & guidelines on how to develop, enhance & maintain the beauty of a woman.

Having achieved great professional succesh through her drapes, Kalpana Shah recently launched her first coffee table book on Indian Sari Draping titled ‘The Whole 9 Yards’. Drawing from her over 30 years of experience and mastering almost 300 styles in Sari draping, the book aims to revive the art of Sari draping and restore the magic created by our ancestors with this unique piece of garment. It unravels the history and myths behind the Sari and exposes readers to an array of styling options for each occasion. It combines traditional and modern draping techniques to create cult draping patterns that suit woman of all ages displaying an unparalleled understanding of this woven heritage and its legacy across traditions.

‘The Whole 9 Yards’ is already privately launched, provides precise instructions to readers, along with photographs, illustrating the many steps that go into draping a sari. With instructions, it offers a variety of styles suited to every occasion, from parties to weddings and even for corporate events.

An exquisite design and concise, well written copy together with beautiful photographs ensures a book that is not just pleasing to look at, but also an excellent and full-proof guide to the practical art of draping a sari. A must have for every Indian women, both in the country and abroad, the book features models & trend setters in the fashion and modeling industry.

This book is unique both in terms of content as well as form. We have used the best of everything from paper, to pictures supplemented by in-depth research, models, production and the expert guidance of Mrs. Shah creating a work of art in the form of an appealing coffee table book.

The book apart, Kalpana Shah has been involved for various international projects and has conducted workshop in many different countries. Kalpana Shah’s endeavour will be and has been to unselfishly pass on her knowledge, skills and in depth understanding of this art form to the young and talented young women of India and across the globe and to ensure that Sari is back in vogue!