Unlike thick Southern silks or Chettinad cottons, a Chanderi saree cannot be worn without a blouse underneath. All sarees began their life sans blouses. In South India, you can still find villages where elder women drape the saree without a blouse. Not so with the Chanderi.
Interestingly, the choli or blouse first makes its appearance in 1127 A.D., according to the “History of the Indian Dress,” by Charles Fabri. It is a lovely brief book that ought to be read by any textile lover. Link here.
Chanderiyaan is a digital website that connects the weavers of Chanderi to the world at large.
Article about Chanderi fabric in Medium here.
Chanderi sarees in a textile blog here
An nice overview of Chanderi sarees here
8 interesting things about the Chanderi saree here
A technical explanation from a textile historian here