Sari
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A sari is a women's garment from the Indian subcontinent, that consists of an un-stitched stretch of woven fabric arranged over the body as a robe, with one end attached to the waist, while the other end rests over one shoulder as a stole (shawl), sometimes baring a part of the midriff. It may vary from 4.1 to 8.2 metres in length, and 60 to 120 centimetres in breadth, and is form of ethnic wear in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan. There are various names and styles of sari manufacture and draping, the most common being the Nivi style. The sari is worn with a fitted bodice also called a choli and a petticoat called ghagra, parkar, or ul-pavadai. It remains fashionable in the Indian subcontinent today.
Terracotta figurine in Sari-like drape, 200–100 BCE from Bengal.
Tara depicted in ancient three-piece attire, c. 11th century CE.
Lady being offered wine, Deccan, c. 1630 CE. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya
Choli
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A choli is a blouse or a bodice-like upper garment that is commonly cut short leaving the midriff bare, it is worn along with a sari in the Indian subcontinent. The choli is also part of the ghagra choli costume in the Indian subcontinent.
Woman in choli c. 1872.
Choli from Gujarat at the Peabody Essex Museum.
Traditional choli tied at the back from Braj region of Uttar Pradesh.
Woman in an ancient form of long, front-covering choli, tied at the back.