Sharara and gharara sets are timeless festive staples. Comfortable, feminine, and always graceful, they are go-getters when you want to get festive-ready sans any effort. At first glance, they may look alike, but their cuts set them apart. A sharara is the flared and flowy bottom that starts to flare from the waist, almost mimicking a skirt as you move, and is usually paired with a kurta and dupatta. Ghararas, on the other hand, are fitted till the knees before flaring with a stitched band in between, giving it a distinctive charm.
If you have ever found yourself mixing up a sharara and gharara, then you are not alone. From the unique cuts that separate them to their fascinating origins, styling tips and perfect occasions that they are made for, we are about to decode it all here in our blog.
What is a Sharara?
Sharara suits, loved and embraced for their fluidity, versatility and grace, comprise a kurta, the wide-legged pants or shararas, and the dupatta. The flared bottom mimics the silhouette of a skirt when you twirl or walk. The flare widens from the waist, offering a voluminous look that feels comfortable and radiates elegance. What was once paired with a short or long kurta and a dupatta, sharara for women are currently paired with Anarkalis, tunics, crop tops, capes, shirts and blouses too.
A staple of the Mughal-era fashion, shararas continue to reign supreme in weddings, festive soirees and every other special occasion. Whether adorned with delicate embellishments and rich embroidery work or pastel shades featuring minimal designs and refreshing prints, shararas exude effortless glamour.
Historical Roots of Sharara
The sharara dress traces its roots to the luxurious courts of Oudh, where it was embraced by the royal women as a symbol of elegance and grandeur. Carrying the rich essence of the regal aesthetics, this outfit is deep-rooted in historical significance and Mughal heritage.
Its dramatic evolution over the years combined traditional charm with modern design elements. Today’s sharara sets are every modern woman’s favourite, given how they transition from festive wear to fuss-free contemporary and bridal attire. From bridal sharara to party wear sharara, the versatile collection online at Aza will fascinate you
How to Style a Sharara?
And do you know what makes them a timeless wardrobe staple? Well, you can style them in a dozen different ways other than sharara and kurti. Do not believe us? Here is a roundup of all the most popular ways of styling sharara for women and ditching the tried-and-tested kurta sharara look.
Make a Bold Kurta Statement: Break free from your conventional kurtas and swap it with a bolder piece. You can show your love for strappy kurtas or ones with open backs and plunging necklines.
Sharara Meets Peplum: If you are looking to shake up your usual picks, then let peplum-style tops be your best friend this season with your sharara dress. They also make for a trendsetting option for bridal sharara.
Add Flair with a Jacket or Cape: Layering adds new depth and dimension to your sharara style. Whether you are looking for ways to layer up as the winds turn chilly or simply adding an element of drama, layering your sharara set with a cape or jacket is your ticket to looking refined yet playful.
Turn to Contemporary Favourites: Love to experiment with your outfits? This time try turning to a bright ruffle top with your monochrome white sharara pants, or let your kimono-style jackets do the talking with your flared bottoms. You can even go for sharara and crop top set
Perfect Occasions to Flaunt a Sharara
Shararas are a timeless wardrobe treasure. They are accessory-friendly, easy-to-style and every woman’s favourite fuss-free silhouette. Can't wait to try them on for your next event but not sure which occasion is best suited for the outfit? Here are some of the best occasions where you can flaunt the elegance of sharara and kurti set.
- Weddings and Receptions: Lavishly embroidered sharara dress made of silk and velvet is a statement choice for weddings and receptions. For intimate weddings, you can always commit to minimal pieces in pastel tones and subtle detailing.
- Sangeet and Mehendi: A go-to choice for pre-wedding festivities such as Haldi, Mehendi and Sangeet, sharara for women made of chiffon and lightweight georgette work great for festive charm and easy movement.
- Festive Brunches & Daytime Functions – Bring refreshing and playful energy to your daytime invitations and festive brunch parties with shararas in cheerful and mood-lifting prints. Look for soothing shades like mint green, ivory or pink sharara pants for the best daylight photography.
4. Evening Parties & Cocktail Events – There is no outfit as glamorous and easy to wear as shararas when it comes to evening parties and cocktail events. Look for embellished, sequin, or metallic shararas for that extra dose of glamour. Since its night, you can always go for a black sharara featuring gorgeous detailing.
5. Modern/Theme-Based Celebrations- If you thought shararas are great for traditional settings then you probably did not try fusion shararas. The Indo-Western or fusion styles are often paired with peplum tops, blouses, or crop tops, adding a playful and modern twist to your overall outfit.
What is a Gharara?
The glamorous cousin of shararas, ghararas radiate an effortlessly refined and exquisite charm. They ensure a snug fit from the waist up till the knees before bursting into a voluminous flare. The flare is created with a ruched knee section, usually reinforced with a thick band made of gota lace to conceal the joint in style.
Traditionally made from rich fabrics such as silk, brocade and velvet, ghararas often come detailed with sequins and zardozi. They can be paired with short kurtis, blouses or even long tunics and kurtas. The way they blend regal tradition with festive glamor is what makes them a perfect choice for weddings and celebratory events.
Historical Roots of Gharara
Originating in the 19th-century Awadh, specifically in Lucknow, during the Nawabi era, the gharara drew from the elaborate fashion embraced by the aristocrats of the time. Traditionally worn by elite Muslim women as an embodiment of status and grace, ghararas transitioned from everyday royal attire of the noblewomen, like the voluminous farshi gharara, into celebratory wear. Its distinctive design, featuring wide-legged trousers ruched at the knee continues to reign supreme as a symbol of royal elegance with cultural significance spanning India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
How to Style Ghararas?
When styled well, ghararas help you make a statement. Check out our tips on how to wear ghararas the right way.
Color Play for Trendy Flair: Look for rich jewel tones like red, maroon, royal blue and emerald-green when attending grand celebrations such as weddings. To ace your daytime occasion look, turn to pastels such as powder blue, mint, lavender and blush pink.
Reinvent your Look with Contemporary Tops: To modernise your Gharara, start experimenting with contemporary tops like crop blouses, peplum styles, or asymmetrical kurtas.For minimalist ghararas, try pairing trendy embellished tops.
Modern Twist on Traditional Details: Invest in modern ghararas that balance tradition with trends through subtle embellishments. While light threadwork, delicate zari, sequins and crystals add sophistication, geometric and abstract patterns add a contemporary edge.
Choose Unique Dupatta Draping: Try modern dupatta drapes to update your gharara look. You can either lean towards a single-shoulder drape, dramatic asymmetrical styles or even a chic cape or shawl. For heavily embroidered ghararas, make sure to choose lightweight fabrics.
When to Wear Your Gharara?
Ghararas are an excellent fit for a variety of festive and formal occasions. The right kind of gharara can instantly elevate your look. Given below are some of the best occasions where you can wear them.
- Weddings & Receptions – A perfect choice for weddings and receptions, ghararas featuring heavy embroidery and rich fabrics such as silk and velvet promise a regal and statement look.
- Engagements & Mehendi Ceremonies – Ghararas are ideal for engagement and mehendi ceremonies, especially those crafted from lightweight fabrics and featuring subtle embroidery work.
- Festive Celebrations – Jewel-toned and pastel-colored ghararas are the best deal for cultural festivals and daytime functions. Jewel-toned or pastel ghararas for cultural festivals and daytime functions.
4. Evening Parties & Cocktail Events – Outfits like ghararas are your best friend for evening parties and cocktail evenings. Choose pieces made of glamorous embellishments or metallics.
5. Traditional or Cultural Functions – Wear ghararas to traditional and cultural events to turn heads. Make a statement in gharara sets defined with classic cuts and traditional embroidery.
What is the Difference Between a Sharara and a Gharara?
Here are some of the key sharara and gharara difference.
Pants Style: A sharara features flowy and flared pants that are fitted at the waist and gradually flare out from the hem. On the other hand, a gharara is more structured and is fitted from the waist to the knee and before it flares out from the knee with the help of a stitched band.
Flare and Length: The flare of a sharara starts right from the waist, making it versatile enough to be paired with both short and long kurtis. A gharara’s flare, however, begins at the knee, which is why it is usually styled with shorter kurtis to highlight the dramatic silhouette.
Occasion and Fit: Shararas are lightweight, comfortable, and flowy, making them perfect for festive gatherings, casual parties, or even daytime weddings. Ghararas, with their regal knee flare and fitted structure, are more suited for formal occasions, bridal wear, and grand celebrations.
Celebrity Appeal: Shararas frequently make appearances in Bollywood-inspired festive looks and have been spotted on celebrities such as Alia Bhatt, Sara Ali Khan, and Aditi Rao Hydari. Ghararas are often worn by celebrities at high-profile events. A-listers like Deepika Padukone, Kriti Sanon, and Kareena Kapoor Khan have been seen wearing them for weddings, receptions and more such occasions.
Sharara
Gharara
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, we could end your dilemma of gharara and sharara through our guide. However, despite their differences, they both share similar cultural roots tracing back to the Mughal era. Adored and embraced by the royal Mughal women, they continue to retain their position in the sea of fleeting trends.
While shararas bring a breezy and flowy appeal that is perfect for your effortless movement, ghararas exude structure and regal elegance with their unique flare. In the end, the “what is best for you" truly boils down to your personal style and the occasion. Both the silhouettes are timeless in their own right and guarantee a statement look.
