52 beautiful Bollywood-approved saris we spotted in 2018

Lehengas, anarkalis and sharara sets will always look good, but no silhouette can beat the timeless elegance of a sari. Over the past year, Bollywood’s best dressed women have returned to the six yard staple time and again, proving that the drape is as versatile as it is beautiful. Here’s a look back at how Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Sonam K Ahuja and others wore their saris in 2018.

The party-ready cocktail saris

Image: Viral Bhayani

Back in June, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan attended an event at the Ambani residence in a sheer, burnt gold sari that had everyone’s attention for its party-ready vibe. As the year progressed, we’ve seen more than just a few Bollywood ladies spruce up their festive wardrobes with shimmering cocktail saris. While Priyanka Chopra Jonas celebrated Isha Ambani’s engagement at Lake Como wearing an embellished nude Manish Malhotra sari, both Gauri Khan and Esha Gupta made things easier with pre-draped saris that are perfect for the woman who likes to keep her hands free on the dance floor. Khan stood out this year in her blush pink Tarun Tahiliani, and Gupta’s feather-detailed Falguni Shane Peacock is one every bridesmaid should check out.

The regal, traditional weaves

Image: Viral Bhayani

Bollywood icon Rekha is known for her extensive collection of Kanjeevaram saris, but she’s not the only one to favour the handwoven drapes. This year, several Bollywood stars were also spotted in rich weaves, from Kanjeevarams to silk brocades. Post her mother’s demise, Janhvi Kapoor collected Sridevi’s last National Award in Delhi wearing a pink and ivory sari that belonged to the late icon, and later in the year, Anushka Sharma made a strong case for Chanderi saris in her deep green version. At Sonam K Ahuja’s wedding reception, Chanderis won Kangana Ranaut’s vote too. As for Rekha, this year’s winning look was that gold and white sari, worn with a delicate choker in June.

The not-so-basic, new-age drapes

Image: Viral Bhayani

As fashion continues to reinvent itself, so has the traditional Indian sari. During Veere Di Wedding promotions, Sonam K Ahuja pushed the envelope once again with her sartorial choices, promoting the film in a distressed denim sari (worn over a cropped white shirt instead of a blouse) on one occasion. At red carpets, Malaika Arora ditched traditional drapes for a strapless futuristic Amit Aggarwal sari gown, and both Mira Rajput Kapoor and Kriti Sanon skipped on fussy petticoats for trousers under their saris. Pro tip: You can easily give your sari a new-age spin by following in Mira Rajput Kapoor’s footsteps and adding a belt over your OOTD.

The colour of the year

Image: Viral Bhayani

Across ages, occasions and styles, one colour reigned supreme in Bollywood’s sari wardrobe this year: white. While Jacqueline Fernandez picked a lacy Manish Malhotra sari earlier this year, Dimple Kapadia went the royal route in her ivory Kanjeevaram drape, and Sara Ali Khan’s creamy white Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla sari was another winner. Sisters Kareena Kapoor Khan and Karisma Kapoor proved that a white sari can work just about anywhere (with the former in Manish Malhotra, and the latter in an bohemian Anamika Khanna embroidered with multicoloured threads), and Deepika Padukone even worked a white caped sari during at TIME event in New York.

Before you buy your next sari, take inspiration from some of 2018’s most beautiful celebrity picks.