Get sexy

Wow, Naomi Campbell can still look soft and feminine.

Naomi recently wore a sari when she walked the ramp for Mumbai's blast victims (26 Nov 2008) for Mai Mumbai (I am Mumbai), a fashion-for-relief show at the 2009 Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai. The fund raiser was organised by hotelier Vikram Chatwal with the proceeds going to improving Mumbai's medical facilities.

This was Naomi's first stint on the Indian catwalk. Despite having seen her in umpteen Victoria's Secret ads and brochures, I think she's looked one of her sexiest best in a sari.

The next time I go for any mega-event -- wedding, anniversary, launch party etc -- I am wearing a sari. Yes, I am aware I don't have legs as long as Naomi's, but I do have a midrif. And love handles! Forget the decolletage and forget leggy legs, nothing beats a bit of midrif peeking through chiffons or georgettes.

Growing up in India - and in an army background - I've seen many 'regular' women turn into uber sexy beings when they've walked into a party sheathed in nine metres of figure-hugging saris. I've seen my mom transform from just-mom to this you-can-look-you-cannot-touch lady. My mom's always been shy; but when she dressed up in a sari, she looked like a queen. So beautiful, so untouchable; but mostly, so confident.

In grade 6, all students - girls and boys - would stop in their tracks when Mrs Mamta Sharma walked through the school corridors. She was 27, slim, tall, had beautiful long hair she tied in a plait and wore nearly-backless blouses. We would all stand and stare in awe as she would glide towards us... She had the smoothest arms, the most curvaceous waist I've seen and a back that enticed you to run your hand over it.

Then there my friend's mom, Veena aunty. I remember her wearing these gorgeous cotton saris. High neck, Chinese-collared blouses with sleeves that reached the elbows, a chignon and the gentlest of smiles. She did not show an inch of skin and yet when she walked she was so graceful, you wanted to fall on your knees and kiss her hand.

I also remember a former boyfriend discussing his first crush. "She was 26 and we were 14. She used to wear bright saris and when she wrote on the blackboard...we always waited to get a peek of her blouse from under her arm," he had said blissfully. I understood what he meant. The sari does not throw the cleavage in your face; it gracefully sheaths it and sinfully sculpts the breasts. Not in a way that says women are ashamed of their breasts, but in a way that promises wonders when revealed... However, the way he had said it was quite creepy and I'd (thankfully) subsequently dumped him.

Dimple Kapadia gave a new meaning to "rolling in the sand" when she gave Rishi Kapoor a red face in her red sari in Sagar. Sridevi's bust-thrusts and orgasmic moans are well-documented as she wreathed in the rain in an electric blue sari in Mr India. My favourite Smita Patil completely defined "wet scenes" when she danced in the rain with Amitabh Bachchan, clad in a slinky white sari in Namakhalal. Karisma Kapoor -- I don't really like her though -- reinvented her career wearing chiffons in Raja Hindustaani (sic movie though). Sridevi had also done in her shimmering chiffons in Chandni. Urmila Matondkar also went back to the sari to get a reboot in Judaayi.

So that's it. Instead of worrying about what-to-wear at any event now; I am going to pull out one of my sexy chiffons, wear one of my halters, strap on a pair of high heels, tightly drape the sari around and let my midrif rule the day.

PS: Might have to insist on Partner driving or hiring a taxi; still cannot walk properly in a sari. Pic courtesy: ibnlive.com

LIVE update: So inspired by Naomi, I decided to wear a sari at home today. It was a bit of a disaster since initially I looked like a tent. However, after putting up pics of the experiment on Facebook -- and much needed ego-pampering-from-girlfriends later -- now I feel much better. Here's to the sari. :D
However, Partner came back home, took one look at me and LAUGHED. Thankfully, his mom was on the phone while he was laughing at me. She gave him a piece of her mind. Haha. That's called having the last laugh. I did say I love his mom, right?