Blouses.

Saree Blouses are the ultimate tailoring feat. For such a complicated shape of the body, to come up with something that fits like a glove with sufficient provision to loosen, tighten, lengthen, shorten is something that only an Indian mind could come up with.

There are two points about a Saree Blouse to which attention should be paid:

1) The colour
2) The fitting.

Color:

The Saree Blouse MUST match the saree with which you are wearing. Black and white are the only blouse colors which you can wear with many other colors. In the last 10 or so years, a style known as contrasting color matching is in vogue and sometimes results in good color combinations. But you need to hold the Saree with the chosen blouse to imagine how it would look when worn. Only then should you decide. (Women in India do hold the saree against the blouse to verify it would look good - so the sales persons will not be surprised to see you do that!)

Another style which is now in vogue is to wear blouses made with printed cloth with plain pastel crepe sarees. Some women can get away with it, some cannot. Besides, it is difficult to decide which to buy first!

Fitting:

The Saree Blouse should fit you like a second skin. Sexy is the appearance of a woman whose blouse fits here like a second skin! How can you accomplish that?

The secret is in the tucks of the blouse. Tucks are those stitched in folded in portions which result in tightening the fit. These are the tucks which are stitched in the blouse which give it the second skin fitting:

Front of the Blouse:

1) One tuck from the lower edge of the blouse to tip of each nipple. These tucks are broad at the lower edge and taper upwards to an apex. (Tuck F1)
2) One tuck tapering inwards to the nipple. There is always a seam which starts below the underarm and ends at the lower edge of the blouse. This seam is perpendicular to the horizontal lower edge of the blouse. (Let us call this as the underarm seam). The tuck is perpendicular to this underarm seam and tapers inward towards the nipple. (Tuck F2)
3) A corresponding tuck which starts from the middle of the blouse and tapers outwards towards the nipple. (Tuck F3)

Back of the Blouse:

1) Two tucks which are right behind the vertical tucks in the front of the blouse. (Tuck B1)

Other important seams / stitches.

Arm Seams:

1) Underarm seams start in the armpit and are stitched vertically towards the lower edge of the blouse. (Seam UA1)
2) Undersleeve seams start in the armpit and are stitched to the end of the sleeve. (Seam US1)

Lower edge seams:

1) Lower edge seams define the lower edge of the blouse (Seam L1)

The following are multiple stitched - i.e. more than one stitches are sewed parallel to one other at distances of half to one cm:

Table showing number of multiple stitching
Tuck / Seam Number of Additional Stitches Effect of removing it

F1 Mostly None - rarely one Accomodates an increased breast size

F2 Mostly None - rarely one Accomodates an increased breast size

F3 Mostly None - rarely one Accomodates an increased breast size

B1 Mostly One or Two- Rarely None Accomodates a fatter back

UA1 About 4-5 - each being half a cm (or less) away from each other. Allows for overall weight increase - loosens the blouse (Warning: remove only 1 seam at a time because removing one seam results in increasing the round the chest measurement by twice the width of the seam.)

US1 About 4-5 - each being half a cm (or less) away from each other. Allows for fatter arms - loosens the sleeve (Warning: remove only 1 seam at a time because removing one seam results in increasing the round the arm measurement by twice the width of the seam.)

L1 About 2-3 - each being half a cm (or less) away from each other A lowered lower edge - a perfect solution for a blouse that creeps up to reveal the bra underneath.

Table showing number of multiple stitching
Tuck / Seam	Number of Additional Stitches	Effect of removing it
F1	Mostly None - rarely one	Accomodates an increased breast size
F2	Mostly None - rarely one	Accomodates an increased breast size
F3	Mostly None - rarely one	Accomodates an increased breast size
B1	Mostly One or Two- Rarely None	Accomodates a fatter back
UA1	About 4-5 - each being half a cm (or less) away from each other.	Allows for overall weight increase - loosens the blouse (Warning: remove only 1 seam at a time because removing one seam results in increasing the round the chest measurement by twice the width of the seam.)
US1	About 4-5 - each being half a cm (or less) away from each other.	Allows for fatter arms - loosens the sleeve (Warning: remove only 1 seam at a time because removing one seam results in increasing the round the arm measurement by twice the width of the seam.)
L1	About 2-3 - each being half a cm (or less) away from each other	A lowered lower edge - a perfect solution for a blouse that creeps up to reveal the bra underneath.

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