Indian Traditional Dresses - The Real Portrait of Indian Fashion

Posted by Rahul Agarwal on December 8th, 2015

The Indian traditional dress is a reflection of a particular ethnicity, cultural tradition, climate, or geography of a specific region. Traditional clothing has represented Indian fashion throughout the years. Many of the types of clothing are commonly worn in rituals, festive occasions, and special events, but some of them have been redesigned to be worn casually. Indian traditional dresses stand out for their colorful prints and designs. They reflect India's great diversity of weaves, colors, and fabrics that make each piece of dress unique. Colors are often influenced by the type of ritual, occasion, or the religion concerned. Indian traditional dresses are often classified into the following: 

Saree 

The saree or sari is a long piece of unstitched cloth, which is often patterned and is draped over the body. Sarees are typically worn with a tailored blouse and often times over a petticoat. The cloth may range from four to nine meters long, and it is commonly worn in rural and urban areas in India, making it a staple in the closets of Indian women. The way the saree is draped depends on the area, but the most common style involves wrapping the fabric around the waist with one end draped over a shoulder. 

Salwar kameez 

The salwar kameez is commonly worn in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and other northern areas of India. It is made up of the salwar (a pair of loose trousers with narrow ankles) and a kameez (a tunic or a long shirt). This clothing is known as 'shalwar' or the 'punjabi suit' in India, and its global popularity is attributed to Bollywood actresses who wear them. Salwar kameez is popular with teenage girls, too. A dupatta is often worn with this Indian traditional clothing, and it is a scarf that can be drawn over the shoulders, drawn back over your bosom, or used to cover the shoulders or the head. If you are looking to buy salwar kameez at compatible rates, online stores are the best option to do so. 

Lehenga choli 

This is a traditional dress in Northern India, particularly in places like Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. The lehenga refers to an embroidered and pleated long skirt, and the choli is a midriff blouse, similar to some of those that are worn with sarees. Cholis are tailored to fit snugly around the body and they have a low neck and short sleeves. A dupatta may be worn to complete the look, but this time, it is tucked into the skirt before being wrapped at your waist and draped over your shoulder, like a saree. 

Kurti 

Also known as 'kurta', the kurti is a long blouse, shirt, or tunic with a length that goes beyond the waist or below the knees. It can be worn casually even in the office. Kurtis can be worn with a dupatta and a pair of salwar, or churidar pants, which are narrow throughout the legs. They go well with jeans and leggings, too. 

About the Author: 

The article is written by Rahul Agarwal, the Marketing manager at DesiClik.com. Rahul is a frequent blogger on a variety of subjects like fashion, food & culture of India.