Semi-stitched vs ready to wear
Semi-stitched vs ready to wear
Every piece on this site is one of three things. The product page says
which, and it changes what you do when the box arrives.
Ready to wear
Stitched, lined and finished. It has a zip, a chain or a drawstring, it
is hemmed, and where a choli — the fitted short blouse — is included, it is
made up. You unpack it, you put it on, you go. No tailor, no appointment, no
lead time.
Take your true size or the next size up. A finished garment can be taken in
by any local alterations shop for very little; it cannot be let out, because
there is no spare fabric inside the seams.
This is most of what we stock, and it is what the shop is for.
Semi-stitched
Sewn to shape, left open at the seams. The skirt is constructed and the
embroidery is finished, but the waist seam is not closed, so it can be set
exactly to you. The choli usually comes as a flat piece of matching,
already-embroidered fabric for a tailor to make up.
Take the smaller size if you are between two rows. Budget one visit to a
local tailor, an afternoon of their time, and roughly $25–60 in the US
depending on where you are.
Unstitched
Fabric and trim only. Cut, embroidered, but not sewn. A tailor makes the
whole thing up. We stock very little of this and we label it clearly.
Which one do I want?
| | Ready to wear | Semi-stitched |
|---|---|---|
| Wearable on arrival | Yes | No |
| Needs a tailor | No | Yes, once |
| Best if you are | Between sizes on the larger side, or short of time | Between sizes on the smaller side, or hard to fit off the peg |
| Extra cost | None | About $25–60 locally |
If this is your first one, or the event is in under two weeks:
ready to wear.
The vocabulary, once
- Lehenga — the long flared skirt the outfit is named for.
- Choli — the fitted short blouse worn with it.
- Dupatta — the long scarf worn over the shoulder or head.
- Zari — metallic thread, gold or silver, woven or embroidered in.
- Gota — flat metallic ribbon laid on as a border, rather than thread
stitched in.
- Cancan — a stiffened net petticoat that holds the skirt's shape.
- Kali — the gores, or panels, in a flared skirt. More kali, more flare.
Questions: cedarstonestore@gmail.com.