In Sabyasachi

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In New York for the UN summit, Kajol put in an appearance wearing a Sabyasachi jamdani sari. Picking up on the embellishment on the sleeve-cuffs, she finished out the look with Amrapali jewelry and a Malaga clutch.

Though we weren’t the biggest fans of the blouse sleeves, it was easy to overlook given how radiant Kajol looked. What we can’t overlook however are the excessive accessories. She could’ve easily skipped the cocktail ring and kamarbandh/belt and opted for a more discreet clutch. Given that it was a daytime event, the accessories made the whole look feel way too garish and costume-y and the kamarbandh/belt was especially cringeworthy. Pity really, coz’ the look could’ve been a whole lot more impactful! Though like we mentioned before, despite it all Kajol looked radiant!

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kajol wears sabyasachi to UN

Kajol

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56 Comments

  1. I think she looks lovely.. the Kamarbandh/belt is a definite overkill and should have been avoided at all costs. But I like how well the saree, the blouse and the necklace work together.

    Reply
    • +1
      I agree with PnP that the look was over accessesorized…but unlike other remarks I strongly feel that credit ought to be given where it’s due. Yes, the kamarbandh and ring could have been easily avoided, but that doesn’t take away the fact that Kajol looks very radiant. Also, at the UN Kajol’s sensibility, wit, and persona must have mattered much more than some of the accessories she sported..people at the UN will ceratinly be less nit-picky than some of the readers here.

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  2. How does a regular jamdani saree become a ‘designer (Sabyasachi) ‘ piece? I am assuming the design on the saree is a Sabyasachi creation, with contracted weavers? But I must add, that it’s good to see old weaving techniques on celebs. That said, the saree is gorgeous and looks pretty good with the blouse. Kajol has over-accessorized and did not need the gold belt. She look good though.

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  3. This is seriously excessive! One thing I have consistently noticed with indian celebrities is that they have no sense of occasion! They will come dressed in Jeans and tee at a premiere or in an over enbellished outfit at someone else’s wedding! This is another such example.. Kamarbandh to a UN sunmit.. Like really??!!

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  4. Someone please ban Kajol from representing India at ANY event in New York – so so event inappropriate, it’s just embarrassing. And this is not the first time… Indian shaadi or UN summit.. I’m confused and infuriated.

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  5. This is a Sabya sari? I get it. This is like your chota sari shop putting its sticker like Gupta Bros on a handloom sari. Please.

    Raima wore something similar and looked X times better. And Tanuja is still well dressed. She can give her daughter a few lessons.

    PS: Dhakai and Jamdani are the same I think.

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  6. This would have looked nice at some afternoon kitty party or something but the accessory on the waste is a little too much for UN. That being said, she still looks lovely and I love the way the whole outfit is put together. Kudos to the stylist.

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  7. Is that a kamabandh or the chaabi ka guccha? I like the addition of that, I have some beautiful ones that were given to me at my wedding and I’m going to start wearing them. Having said that all that jewellery seems out of place in a dull, grey and cold New York.

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    • They are chabbi ka guchcha for sure, you are bang on. Only our bloggers have never seen one to know what it is, since none of the designers make such thing. It is a very common and traditional bengali way of dressing. Beyond the understanding of modern day girls who thinks fashion starts and ends with designer gowns and shoes. We are indian, it is a shame that our fashion bloggers do not know the difference between a belt and chabbi ka guchcha.

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      • yes it is not a kamarbandh and p&p, there is no belt!! its a chabbi ka guchha.. wore in traditional Gujarati homes also.. wer the head lady of the house keeps all the important keys!! ( remember.. kyon ki saas bhi kabhi bahu thi !! he he)

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      • Thank God someone mentioned it ! I was searching for a belt on her.
        Its called a Saavi Kothu in the south (same meaning as Chaabi ka Guccha). A lot of ladies in havelis/big homes in interior india still wear it. Its essentially a very very pretty key chain. I love it and its lovely to see it on Kajol.

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        • But she is not the lady of the haveli here. she is at the UN for an official event. She could seriously do without the chabbi guccha. Unless UN has given her the responsibility of opening various doors in their building in new york. However the rest of her looks great.

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        • I f you do wear it, wear it over the pleats of your saree, and not on the side like kajol. Not only it looks better that way but also provides acupressure benefit to keep your throat clear of phlegm so that your voice remains clear and quaver free as the hook presses against the acupressure points which are related to your throat.

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    • Umm excuse me but NYC has been sunny, beautiful and unseasonably warm actually. But I agree that she looks sorely out of place and event inappropriate.

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    • I knew it! I was right..I was right!!! I THOUGHT it was the key thing that I used to see women stick in their sarees at the waist (specifically mom-in-laws in ancient hindi movies who held the keys to the cupboard that the poor daughter-in-law had no access to) ! And then I read up on the history of a cummerbund and got distracted.

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    • I f you do wear it, wear it over the pleats of your saree, and not on the side like kajol. Not only it looks better that way but also provides acupressure benefit to keep your throat clear of phlegm so that your voice remains clear and quaver free as the hook presses against the acupressure points which are related to your throat.

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  8. The whole look is very very traditional bengali look, the saree, the blouse, the jewelry. You guys are too much into designer gowns and belt and shoes to know about the tradition of our own. For you guys indian wear means north indian clothes. Just wake up there is a vast and beautiful and exceptionally rich tradition beyond bollywood and north india.

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    • LOL. So much accusation. India is vast with each region having its own heritage, even tradition vary sometimes. I bet you don’t know what a Dharmavaram, Arani or Pochampali is while you may know what Kanchivaram sarees are. It is the same thing, you can’t just expect P&P to know the details and names of each little jewelry and sarees showcased. But still they do a pretty good job of identifying things. Special kudos to them for handling lot of idiots on this blog.

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    • Yes, we know there is a vast and rich cultural heritage beyond Bollywood and “north India” (way to feed the stereotype ironically). But that’s not the point. She is not there to wear all her culture and tradition on full display. She is there for a cause and it is grossly even inappropriate to deck up like that.

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    • Amit, north indian women too wear chabi ka guchcha… the punjabi culture (that too distorted) you see in the movies dies not represent the whole if north. Punjabi women prefer salwar-kameez over saree so guchcha cannot be their accessory. But other saree wearing states like U.P and Uttarakhand have been using this ornament for ages. It is quite a common gift for the brides and we wear them at family weddings etc. Aside to P&P, kamarband has to have a belt and the designes & names vary across the regions. In UP we call it tagdi/kamarpeti/kamarband and it generally has hangings (resembling traditional anklets’ designs) as opposed to the belt like design found in south called vaddanam, I guess.

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  9. Amit dude what man I lived in Cal and Bengali women dress way better than this. This is some Bollywood Bengali thing.

    That looks like a sari ka challa but the confusion maybe because these days some waist chains have challas.

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  10. Am I the only one not impressed with the sari. Plain and simple doesn’t always mean impactful. And kajol definitely looks like a jewellery ki dukan.

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  11. Amit and Hansini, thumbs up for spotting the keys guchcha! I have seen my mother wearing them. Its just has a hook to tuck it in or are tied to the pallu’s end. Kamarbandh goes around the waist.
    As much as she looks radiant, the embellished blouse is no good match for the saree here. The sleeves golden work could have been avoided or toned down.then thering can be forgiven. The guccha is not going well with the saree here, if it was a silver one, it would gel better.
    No harm in wearing a saree to the UN, it is very much our formal wear but we could accesorise it better tht suits the occassion. This look gives me the Mata ki chowki vibe

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    • Lavanya I would like to add something here, this waist key ring is not merely a waist charm. It has additional health benefits. Our waist has acupressure points connected to the throat at 5 inches below the navel, and 1.5 inches to 2 inches on both the sides. So if the hook is 3 inches +long and 3/4 th inch + wide and the hanging part weighs more than 100 gms, and then it is inserted at1.5 to 2 inches from the navel, while wearing the saree approx 2 inches below the navel, your throat will remain clear of mucus and phlegm. So your voice will remain clear and if you require to clear your throat, the effort required will be considerably reduced. This will spare you the embarrassment of talking in a quavered voice and clearing your throat repeatedly in the middle of a conversation.

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  12. The thing she’s wearing on her waist is a key holder and used to be worn by bengali women in the earlier days. they would either wear it in the waist or tie to their pallu. This i guess was worn to give an ancient bengali feel. Aristrocat bengali women were also often seen wearing unmatched or contrast full sleeve blouses with their traditional red and white sarees.
    Minus the clutch this is an all in all ancient bengali look.
    And I just loved it 🙂

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  13. The saree is nice, but she is way too blinged out – a different blouse with only the earrings and necklace would have been perfect. But the sleeves, cocktail ring, key holder, AND bag were overkill. Plus, it’s during the day. For the UN. Way too Bollywood, unfortunately.

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  14. So event inappropriate. I am positive she had other times to showcase her “traditional” wears other than an UN summit. And that accessory is not just a jewelry for “Bengali” women alone. I have seen ladies wearing them in the South Indian movies & old pictures too. Though I guess it depends on the caste maybe. Some one has mentioned that it is a Gujarati thing as well.

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  15. Did Sabya claim that this jamdani sari is his creation? He probably just designed the blouse. You may just double-check with him.

    Every Bengali woman owns one or more of this Dhakai Jamdani variety. It is a handloom sari that is created by skilled workers in specific regions of Bengal and Bangladesh. How can Sabya create it? … unless he visited one those villages and supervised a custom creation by them.

    Since this is a fashion blog, I will refrain from stating how I feel about this “gold-show” at UN Meet!!

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  16. Wow, everybody’s getting their knockers in a twist about a pretty little chabi ka guchcha(key ring). Would you have considered it inappropriate if someone was wearing a suit with a gold brooch? It is a United Nations summit, everybody there is representing their country and Kajol is doing a dang good job of owning her Indian and Bengali heritage.

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  17. This is a designer saree?? How can someone like Sabyasachi call this his? This is a traditional weave/loom and nothing other than the blouse can be called his! The entire outfit is so mismatched and over accessorized. But then again, that has already been pointed out. Yeesh.

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  18. I am Bengali and this is not a bona fide Sabya creation. Its a traditional dhakai weave which my mom had in tons. Second, blouse looks very mismatched. The traditional bong look would be a “ghoti hatha” red blouse (but that is too Durga Puja-ish”. Finally, Bong women used to tie their chabi ki guchha to the end of their pallus. This look is definitely not a bong look…its just a hodge podge of Kajols “bollywood bong” sensibility. The Mata ki chowki comment was hands down the best!

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  19. This is just a normal cotton saree with jamdani print on the paar. Dhakai Jamdani is a far more superior and regal looking fabric and doesn’t look like the cheap cotton, and the jamdani weave is done throughout, not simply on the borders. It’s an embarassment to call her saree a Dhakai.

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  20. I have an interesting input here about the chabi chhalla. I have come to know that this thing has acupressure benefits. The acupressure points related to the voice box or larynx are about five to five and a half inches below the navel, and about 1.5 to 2 inches laterally on both the sides. So let us suppose that the saree is worn about 2 inches below the navel and the hook is 3.5 inches long, and sufficiently wide, also the weight should be atleast 100 gms so that the end of the hook presses properly on the skin contact area, So it acts to keep th throat clear provided all the above conditions are fulfilled. The chabi challa should be inserted over the pleats and not as inserted on the side by Kajol if you want the acupressure benefits.

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