Choga or chogha means ‘cloak’ and was traditionally worn to protect oneself from adverse climatic conditions. But the modern choga sets for women you would find on your wardrobe’s shelf were brought by the Mughals from the land of Persia. This loose-fitted, knee-length coat or tunic was also worn previously in some regions of India, such as Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Choga, a part of Rajasthani aristocratic culture, was a popular garment by Bengal and Uttar Pradesh elites. In the shape of an asymmetrical silhouette of an Anarkali, people wore woollen ones in winter and light silk in summer. Unlike a daily-wear garment, this attire was embellished with jewels and brocade, rich embroidery and all sorts of craft. A rich part of our fashion history, choga sets have disappeared from the luminescence of the fashion world.
Why are Choga sets so underrated?
While searching for “Online designer dresses”, hardly you’d find chogas to pop up in the search engine. Why is it that the modern woman with a keen interest in fashion is unaware of the elegance of the Chogas?
Choga sets are rooted explicitly in specific regional and cultural grounds, which might not be accessible to everyone. Moreover, the mainstream movie industry hasn’t exploited the massive opportunity that chogas presents as designer dresses for women.
Another possible cause that Choga is not under the spotlight may be stereotypes. Chogas is believed to be out of sync with contemporary styles. Trendsetters often fail to project beautiful garments like choga to the world, which puts them in the ‘outdated category’ that is incompatible and unaligned with modern fashion.
Unfortunately, chogas are at present not a commercially lucrative or viable choice to flaunt by the fashion industry since it is not “mainstream”. But authentic designing brands like Torani, driven by loyalty towards the various fashion strands, don’t shy away from flaunting their choga sets among its collection of designer dresses for women.
Unweaving the fabric of Choga
Chogas have a flare structure, making it a comfortable choice to swirl with sassyness. Traditionally, embroidery, craftsmanship, motifs, and symbols are subjectively associated with the region’s history, adorning choga sets. Choga sets are usually ceremonial attire. They are worn by both men and women on special occasions. Depending on the regional culture, the garment is typically open in the front and tied using ‘Doris’ or buttons.
Styling Choga sets: Fashion fusion or not?
It might be intimidating, no? To think about styling a garment that does not have the gaze of relevance from the modern world. But if you have a keen eye for good fashion sense and a brave heart for risking experiments, then you have chosen the proper attire, as choga sets are known for their versatility.
Amidst the herd of designer dresses for women in malls, stores, and online websites, Choga sets for women have inexplicably made their mark using its luxurious appeal to regal royalty, and styling it right will make it a balanced blend between old-world tradition and fresh modern styles.
With a Lehenga
Yes, of course, why not? With a plunging or sweetheart neckline of a sleeveless blouse and heavily embroidered lehenga skirt, a choga would spice things up for you.
With a Kurti and Palazzo set
Are you kidding me? Obviously, the sensibility that a Kuri and palazzo’s grace brings can only be paralleled by the authenticity of choga sets. Adding it will make your ‘outfit of the day’ ‘show-stealer of the day’.
With an Anarkali set
Yes! Yes! A hundred times, yes. It might seem like a non-traditional take on the typical designer dresses you get everywhere for women. But if done right, it can work wonders. And it is a good, trusted designer brand like Torani that will help you achieve the same.
It is about time!
It is about time that we bring in a new trend. A trend for old-school chogas in the new modern world. It is time to pay tribute to the cultural significance it carries.
Choga sets for women are a perfect fashionable blend of tradition and modernity, as they are sleek, versatile to style with, highly comfortable, and perfect for formal, semi-formal, and casual gatherings. It is one unique, embellished, gorgeous garment every lady should have to revitalise their boring or repeated outfits.
So explore designer dresses for women in all directions and find the glory of the history of fashion in its diversity with Torani.
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