Onam is just around the corner and in a few days time, you’ll be pulling out that beautiful white and gold drape, sitting pretty in your closet to deck up for the festive week ahead. The Onam stretch officially commenced on August 16 and will be concluding on August 26, with the celebration of Thiruvonam.

Now dressing up for Onam is potentially among the most fuss-free festive experiences, simply for how constant and classic the Kasavu saree remains. That being, said, if you’re someone who keeps looking for opportunities to style themselves fresh, the all-white and gold brief just won’t cut it for you. And in that case, it’s time to brainstorm your Onam look. Follow the cues.

If you want to keep things subtle but still head-turning, the blouse you pair your Kasavu drape with is the easiest way to get your foot into the styling threshold. Ditch the half-sleeved matching blouse with the Kasavu and instead introduce a third colour to your look. Seeing as most celebrations are around the day, brighter, warmer hues like red, orange and yellow work well – however, so does the spectrum of green hues. If that still feels too basic, go straight for the blouse’s neckline – a halter, square, boat or high neck will give you that contemporary finish you’ve been visualising; add a little bit of ornate embroidery, and you’re good to go. Better yet, if you really want to up the stakes, opt for a modest corset to frame the figure, letting the Kasavu saree embelish your piece de resistance.

Also Read: Before it Became an Onam Classic, the Kasavu Saree was Woven for Royalty

If you have strong hand-eye coordination and can put together a mean pleat that stays in place, we strongly suggest keeping the blouse basic and instead play around with how you drape your Kasavu saree. A belted drape will give you a sharper silhouette while if a cleaner finish is what you’re after, a structured tucked in-drape (like the Mundu set) will truly stand out. All the principles that apply to tying the saree the million ways you can, apply here. The only rule of thumb to keep in mind is that the border of the saree needs to be prioritised in terms of visibility, to really nail the brief on Onam dressing. While the pleats do take up much of the focus when draping a saree differently, don’t dismiss the pallu – it’s capable of creating a lot of drama for the silhouette if worked properly.

Also Read: Sabyasachi’s Controversial Take on Custom Couture Might Make You Rethink ‘Bespoke’

This is where things could really start looking high-fashion. Add to the typical saree-blouse silhouette instead of taking away from it. Waist coats are big right now and adding one over the blouse, or even something like a half-coat could make your look feel utterly modern. The same goes for using a belt as a cummerbund, or making your jewellery picks stand out by going heavily structural. And the sunglasses are your ultimate accessory for Onam morning!

Opt for one, or mix and match between all three alternatives to look like the star of the celebration – this Onam, re-imagine your Kasavu moment.