Fancy Dress Party Ideas >
Bollywood Costume

Bollywood costume ideas for women

How to get one:

1) Borrow one off a friend
2) Buy one (try the internet, or Indian clothes stores)
3) Make one! See instructions below.

How to make a passable party sari with little sewing skills:

• Sari Wear:
  • a close fitting tshirt (this will be visible so make sure it matches your exotic material below), or
  • three-quarter sleeve tshirt, or
  • either of the above two but cropped (i.e. just under your bust), OR
  • singlet top, tank top, or boob tube (depends how much of your arms you want to expose).
• Wear a longish, A-line, skirt. If you don't have one, then a petticoat could work as well. (The colourful sari material will be wrapped around your skirt, and tucked into your skirt/petticoat).
• Buy some exotic looking patterned material, at least 4 metres (depending on your size), and proceed to wrap once around your skirt, tucking into the top of it, and then flipping the remaining bit over your shoulder. Pin in place.
• Can't get/afford exotic looking material? Buy some plain, but brightly coloured fabric, eg. hot pink, and stick plastic jewels, or gold sequins on with a bit of craft glue, or use a gold pen to put your own pattern (fun!)
• Optional, buy extra material and attach to your head like a veil (see first pic below).

• Wear some simple sandals. Feeling creative? Decorate some flip flops with plastic jewels available from discount shops and fabric shops.
• Paint your toes nails (matching your sari colour)
• Paint your fingernails matching colour
• Wear a gold anklet
• Wear lots of thin bangles (we reckon at least 15, the more the better the effect )
• Try a nose ring (see below photo)
• Gold, intricate, thin, dangly earrings. Thin gold hoops next best option.
• Put a red dot in the middle of your forehead. Alternatively, if you're close to some asian shops, buy a bindi and stick it on
• Lipstick to match the colour / intensity of your sari colour
• Mascara, and dark eye liner
• Some sensual, exotic perfume
• Arty? or got arty friends? get them to do a henna design on the back of your hands
• Try experimenting with your necklaces - try placing on top of your head, with the centre bit resting on your forehead.
• Hairstyle - Straight, silky, shiny hair, or tied back in a pony tail or bun.