Madras checks have found their way into the wardrobes of Bollywood celebrities, this time in the most creative, coordinated pieces that will both surprise and inspire you. From bralettes to trousers and skirts, the traditional plaid is now being incorporated in modern designs like never before, reaffirming the belief that carrying tradition forward is the way ahead in fashion.
What is a Madras check?
Madras check is a pure, lightweight cotton fabric with a plaid design and traditionally worn for centuries across the coastal region. It was originally yarn-dyed with natural dyes such as indigo and turmeric, and the colours bled with every wash, giving rise to the term ‘Bleeding Madras’.
It is characterised by an irregular pattern in a minimum of two colours, usually in vibrant hues of red, green, and blue. While the fabric has evolved in terms of its colours, styles, and dyes, it continues to retain its traditional charm.
Bollywood celebrities in Madras checks
Recently, popular celebrities donned classic checks in different styles, serving as inspiration on how to pull off a look that’s both interesting and unique.
Diana Penty:
The actress looks stylish as ever in a classic Madras check trouser by Anamika Ananth. The piece is adorned with glass-beaded dori on the pocket sides, adding a playful touch. It is beautifully paired with a modern hand pin-tucked and draped bralette in a matching pattern.
Adding to the ensemble’s visual appeal, the dupatta brings fluidity with its gathered, pleated drape, made of handloom cotton. It’s been stitched in a way that gives a cape effect, which works wonderfully in bringing a contemporary vibe to the traditional checks.
Janhvi Kapoor
Janhvi stunned in a custom Amit Aggarwal ensemble that brought “the timeless Madras checks to life in a reimagined silhouette.” The striking off-shoulder corset was hand-moulded in resin, giving it a luxurious appeal, while the Madras checkered skirt was beautifully draped at the centre.
The beauty of the fit lay in the signature polymer detailing by the designer at the waist, seamlessly blending the fluidity of the drape with structure. Be it the hues, the pattern, or the design, what once may have been hard to imagine has been presented with brilliance in this creation.
Ananya Panday
Images: @ananyapanday/Instagram
Ananya wore the chicest plaid saree as a blouse, making it count as one of her biggest fashion experiments this year, and it turned out well. The deeper checks in black, blue, and red may vary from the traditional vibrant hues but work well for a bold statement appeal. Paired with a traditional veshti, her one-shoulder blouse truly steals the spotlight.
These unconventional styles go on to show how traditional checks are now being experimented with across different pieces, proving that when it comes to creativity, the sky is the limit.
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