To Can-Can Or Not To Can-Can, That Is The Question

You might want to reconsider your stance!

May 6, 2026
  • Can-can
    Tara Sutaria in a lehenga with can-can, and in one without itInstagram/Tara Sutaria

    Historically, women have always loved a little bit of volume, sartorially. From wearing the voluminous bustle underskirt under their garments in the Victorian Era, to adding layers and layers of tulle, the penchant for voluminous garments has survived centuries. While we may no longer casually chill at home in clothes that don’t allow people to come too close in our radius, the voluminous underskirt is a huge part of ceremonial fashion, even today, in the form of can-can. 


    Some lehengas come with built-in can-can sewn into the inner lining of the garment, others are worn with separate underskirts under them. While the lehengas with built in can-can are rather effortless and easy since you don’t have to wear the layers separately, it allows no room to detach the cam-can. The lehengas that don’t come with built-in can-can however, can be worn both with and without the can-can underskirt.


    If you are a woman who usually wears a can-can underskirt under all her lehengas to add more volume and structure to the look, you might want to try going without the can-can once a while. Sure, the gravitas of a lehenga with lots of volume is unmatched, there are certain scenarios where you can skip can-can.

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    Why You Should Consider Going No Can-Can

    For stature

    If you are a petite girl who is Team Can-can all the way, we have some bad news for you. Adding volume to your look horizontally can give an illusion of a shorter body type. While you may have not given it much thought, it makes more of a difference than you realise. Wearing a lehenga without a can-can underskirt will take away that extra volume, and will make your frame look narrower, hence, taller.

    For a more toned-down look

    Picture this: you want to re-wear your wedding lehenga, or your engagement gown for a friend’s wedding, but it seems too OTT. This is where removing the can-can can come to your rescue. Taking away the volume makes the look significantly more toned-down, and you won’t have to worry about looking like you’re the bride!

    For more comfort

    There’s no denying that can-can is a lot of hassle. From not being able to sit comfortably in a car, to not being able to reach your shoe beneath all the layers, even the most ardent fans of can-can will agree that life would just be easier without it!

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