What Necklace Suits a Sharara or High-Neck Anarkali?

A short choker or collar necklace that sits just above the neckline suits a sharara or a high-neck anarkali, paired with chandbalis or long earrings to frame the face. Long necklaces tend to fight a high neckline and get lost in the fabric, so keep them for open or V-shaped necks. If the outfit is heavily embroidered at the neck, you can skip the necklace and let strong earrings and a maang tikka carry the look.

Why do shararas and anarkalis need a different necklace?

Both outfits are popular for mehendi, sangeet and family wedding functions, and both often come with a high, round or band neckline. That neckline already draws a line around the neck, so the jewellery has to sit above it or work with it. A necklace that falls below a high neck ends up sitting on embroidery, where it neither shows clearly nor lies flat.

What necklace suits a high-neck anarkali?

For a high or band-collar anarkali:

1. A choker that sits on the neck above the collar, in Polki with pearls for a traditional look or in diamonds for an evening function.
2. A narrow collar necklace if the neckline is slightly lower and round.
3. No necklace at all when the neckline is heavily worked, with chandbalis, jhumkas or long drops instead.

Add a maang tikka or a passa to balance the strong vertical line of an anarkali, and one kada or a few bangles if the sleeves are short.

What necklace suits a sharara?

Shararas usually come with a short kurta and a dupatta, and the neckline varies:

• Round or high neck: a choker or short collar, as with an anarkali.
• Sweetheart or V-neck: a layered look works here, such as a choker with a longer necklace beneath it, or a single medium-length necklace that follows the V.
• Heavy dupatta on both shoulders: keep the necklace short, so the dupatta does not cover it, and wear statement earrings.

Which earrings suit these outfits?

Earrings matter most when the neckline is high, because the ears and face are the open area. Chandbalis suit festive shararas, jhumkas suit mehendi and haldi, and long diamond or Polki drops suit evening functions. Keep earrings in the same metal and stones as the choker so the look stays together. Our guide on choker or long necklace for your neckline explains more neckline shapes.

How do I choose the colour and stones?

Pick up one colour from the outfit and repeat it in the jewellery. A pastel sharara suits pearls, soft Polki and light diamond pieces; a deep wine or emerald anarkali suits Polki with emeralds or rubies; an ivory outfit works with almost any stone, so the jewellery can lead. Keep the metal tone the same across necklace, earrings and bangles.

Can a necklace be adjusted to my neckline?

Yes. Because we make jewellery in our own manufacturing unit, the length of a choker, the shape of its clasp and the size of the drops can be adjusted so it sits just above your neckline and stays comfortable through long functions. Bring the outfit, or a photo of the neckline, when you choose. See our Polki jewellery and bridal jewellery pages for the chokers and collars we make, each made to suit your budget.

What about bangles, rings and the maang tikka?

With a sharara or anarkali, the hands and the forehead finish the look. If the sleeves are short or three-quarter length, a single kada or a small stack of slim bangles on one or both wrists works well; with full sleeves, one bracelet over the cuff is enough. A cocktail ring or a solitaire adds a point of interest when you hold the dupatta. For the forehead, a small maang tikka suits mehendi and haldi, while a larger tikka or a passa on one side suits the sangeet and the wedding. Keep every piece in the same metal tone as the choker and earrings, and repeat one stone colour, so the full look reads as one set rather than separate pieces.

Frequently asked questions

Can I wear a long necklace with a high-neck anarkali?

It usually does not show well, because the high neckline covers where a long necklace falls. If you love long necklaces, choose a sharara or anarkali with a V or deep round neck for that function.

Is a choker too heavy for a mehendi sharara?

Not if it is a light one. A slim Polki or pearl choker suits mehendi well; keep the heavier, wider chokers for the wedding and the sangeet.

What jewellery suits a sharara with a heavy dupatta?

Keep the necklace short and close to the neck so the dupatta does not hide it, and let statement earrings and a maang tikka do most of the work. Pin the dupatta so it stays clear of the choker.

To see chokers and earrings for your outfit, WhatsApp us on +91 99980 43886 for a video call, or book a visit to our Parle Point showroom.