Shararas and ghararas have been all the rage lately, especially among Bollywood celebrities and fashion influencers. When searching for ethnic wear, you may have come across both these terms, but brushed them off assuming they mean the same thing. We don’t blame you. Fashion terms can be really confusing and it’s not easy keeping up with the rapidly changing fashion trends. But just so you know, there’s a difference between sharara and gharara that most people are not aware of. Since sharara and its glamorous cousin gharara have already made a swift comeback in the ethnic fashion world, and are here to stay, it’s a good idea to learn the difference between the two!
Table of Contents
To figure out the difference between sharara and gharara, let’s first delve into the definition of both these terms.
What Is A Sharara?
Let’s start by first understanding ‘what is a sharara?’ A sharara is basically a pair of loose, flared pants. These wide-legged pants are only fitted at the waist, and flow freely till the end. Think of them as pants that look like lehengas. Except for the bifurcation, there really isn’t any difference between a sharara and a lehenga. They have a massive ghera at the end, and are breezy, relaxed and supremely comfortable.
Shararas have been around for ages, and were quite common during the 1960s. You may have seen Bollywood actresses such as Meena Kumari and Sadhana rocking these ethnic pants back in the day. They have a retro-chic appeal, and are uber-comfy and trendy. Shararas are usually worn with either short or long straight-fit kurtis, along with dupattas. Sharara suits look traditional yet stylish, and make for a great option for festive occasions. Clueless about how to style a sharara? Check out some stylish ways to wear a sharara and amp up your ethnic game this festive season!
What Is A Gharara?
Now that you have an idea of what a sharara is, it’s time to understand, ‘what is a gharara?’ You could say that a gharara is a variation of the sharara, but the only difference is that they are structured pants that are semi-fitted till the knee (or just above the knee), and flare out after that. It isn’t seamless like a sharara, and has a joint in between that is usually marked with a traditional gota.
Simply put, a sharara has a continuous, flowy flare right from the waist, while the gharara flares down from the joint above the knee. The fit-and-flare silhouette looks undoubtedly trendy, but may not look flattering on everyone. Ghararas are usually paired with a short kameez and dupatta. However, people have also now started pairing ghararas with short peplum kurtas as well.
Sharara VS Gharara Difference
We’re back to the question: ‘what exactly is the difference between sharara and gharara?’ To make it simple for you, we have listed down a few distinguishing characteristics of shararas and ghararas and what sets them apart.
| Sharara VS Gharara | ||
| Characteristics | Sharara | Gharara |
| Origin | Lebanese | Awadh, Uttar Pradesh |
| Definition | Pair of loose, flared pants that are only fitted at the waist, and flow freely till the end. | Structured pants that are semi-fitted till the knee (or just above the knee), and flare out after that. |
| Flair | Fitted at the waist, then flares down seamlessly | Lurched at the knee. Fitted from the waist to the knee, then flares down. |
| Presence of gota | No presence of gota, because it is seamless | A gota is present at the joint where the flaring begins |
| Paired with | Short or long kurti | Short kurti |
From Where Did Sharara And Gharara Dresses Originate?
The difference between sharara and gharara is not just limited to the way they are structured. Their origins are different too! The sharara has Lebanese origin, and it was introduced in the Indian subcontinent during the Mughal period. On the other hand, gharara is said to have originated from the Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh, and was introduced by the Nawabs of Awadh.
Where To Wear Sharara And Gharara Dresses
While there might be a difference between sharara and ghararas, both of these make for stunning ceremonial wear! You’ll find countless sharara and gharara options online, especially ones that are embellished with beads, pearls, sequins, zari and gota patti that can be worn along with a festive kurti and dupatta to weddings, or any other special occasions. Simple sharara or gharara dresses may also be worn for small gatherings or family get-togethers. Just accessorize with a pair of chandbalis or statement earrings, and you’re all set!
Now that you know the difference between sharara and gharara, you can make an informed decision about what to buy depending on which of these silhouettes looks flattering on you.
Related Topics
Difference Between Palazzo And Sharara: Confused between palazzos and shararas, and what sets the two apart? Here’s what you need to know.
Sangeet Dresses For Curvy Girls: Flaunt your curves in style with these fabulous sangeet dresses that’ll take your ethnic fashion game up a notch.
Celebrity Approved Shararas For Winter Wedding: Looking for sharara suits that you can wear to a winter wedding? Check out these stunning celebrity-approved sharara dresses!
Featured Image: Kalki Fashion, Ananya Panday on Instagram