“Being well dressed hasn’t much to do with having good clothes. It’s a question of good balance and good common sense.”-Oscar de la Renta.
With fast-growing fashion and increasing social media influence, it’s important to keep oneself updated with different types of Indian dress trends in ladies’ ethnic wear. This article will take you through all kinds of different silhouettes across different ethnic outfits– top-wear, kurtas, bottoms, skirts. It will also guide which style suits best for which occasion, thus making you- the Fashionista! ready with styles on your fingertips. So let’s get started:
Different Ethnic outfits for women
As we all know the kurtas have changed look overtime from our old straight-cut kurtas, A-line kurtas to asymmetrical, high low kurtas. Here’s how you can identify each of them easily:
STRAIGHT KURTAS:
These are the simplest of form with straight front and back hemlines. These can be worn as daily wear or formal wear. These pair well with varieties of bottom wear- churidar, leggings, patiyalas, skirts, and pants. For festive occasions or parties, the straight kurtis look great when paired with skirts adding the traditional look to the trendy outfit.
A-LINE KURTAS:
A-Line Kurta
This is the most commonly used silhouette in ladies ethnic kurtas. These are single panel kurtas, fitted from the shoulders to the hips, and gradually flared from the waist making an ‘A’ shape. It can easily be twinned with skirts. It remains the most popular of the lot. They can be worn as casual or festive outfits at college, office, daily wear, or parties. These can be easily coordinated with a wide variety of bottoms- churidars, leggings, palazzos, patiyalas, or pants.
Anarkali Salwar Kameez
This is one of the most graceful and elegant silhouettes. It is a frock-like style, creating a flowing silhouette. The style usually consists of 3/6/8 panels or Kalis giving it the voluminous look. In trend for occasions like marriage functions, parties, and festivals.
ASYMMETRICAL KURTAS:
Asymmetrical kurtas have an asymmetrical hemline that is which is not symmetrical as in the case of straight, A-line, or kalidar kurtas. The most common type of asymmetrical kurtas has a front hemline above the knee and calf-length at the back, although a lot of variations are also available. They can be paired well with ankle-length leggings or narrow Palazzo.
HIGH-LOW KURTAS:
This kurti as the name suggests has a shorter front hemline compared to the back hemline. It can be worn both casually or for formal occasions. These can be paired well with leggings, palazzos, skirts, and pants.
C CUT KURTAS:
This is quite similar to a high low kurta but has front hemline has ‘C’ shape which differentiates it from high low kurtis. These can be worn at college, festivals, parties. These look good when paired with leggings, denim, pants.
ANGRAKHA STYLE KURTAS:
Angrakha Style Kurta
In this style, two flaps lie on each other and are tied on the side with the help of strings often embellished with beads, pom-pom, or other embellishments. These can be worn both for casual as well as formal occasions. The angrakha kurtas with heavy embellishment work can be worn for parties or festive events. These can be paired with churidars, leggings, pants, and palazzo.
These Kurtis have a beautiful flow and flare out on the sides, giving a gorgeous look. Good to go as casual wear, party wear, and functions. Pair well with churidar, leggings, or pants. Depending on the length of Kurti, they can also be worn as gowns.
GOWN STYLED KURTAS/ FLOOR LENGTH KURTAS:
As the name suggests these are gown styled, floor-length kurtis similar to western gowns. Mostly Anarkali style floor length kurtis are in-trend as floor-length gowns. As these are normally embroidered or embellished, they can be worn for festivals and parties.
TAIL CUT KURTAS:
As the name suggests, this pattern has a tail-like effect, where the hemline is short in the front and tail like at the back. They look good when paired with leggings or denim or jeggings. These can easily be worn at parties, college, or just casually.
LAYERED KURTAS:
Layered Kurta
High in trend, these double-layered look is created by adding a layer with basic Kurti creating different looks –front- slit look, high low look, jacket style look. These can be worn casually at college as well as for festive and formal occasions. Pair well with leggings, churidars, palazzos.
SLIT KURTAS:
These are kurtas with front or side slit, adding glamour to the outfit. Look great when paired with skirts, palazzo, cigarette pants.
Let’s have a look at bottoms trending in fashion and how to identify them:
All about Ethnic Skirts
A-LINE SKIRTS:
These skirts are tight at the waist, gently flares out at the bottom, and look like the alphabet ‘A’. they make a triangular shape when laid flat. These are the most common and popular silhouette.
LAYERED SKIRTS:
These are ruffled skirts with fabric layers arranged on top of each other to give frilly look.
ASYMMETRICAL SKIRTS:
As the name suggests, these skirts have asymmetrical hemline. These usually have one side lower than the other.
HIGH LOW SKIRTS:
These skirts have a higher front hemline and a lower hemline at the back.
HANDKERCHIEF SKIRTS:
These are the skirts with hemline corners hanging down, very much similar to holding a handkerchief pinching in its center.
TIERD SKIRTS:
Tare made by stitching horizontal tiers or layers of fabric along the length of the skirt. These are usually long.
GATHERED SKIRTS:
The fabric of the skirt body part gathers into the waistband giving a gathered look.
BELL SHAPED SKIRTS:
These skirts are tight at the waist and flare from the waist looking like a bell.
BROOMSTICK SKIRTS:
These skirts are wrinkled all along the length. These are usually ankle length and can be worn as casual wear.
GODET SKIRTS:
These have triangular fabrics inserted into the hemline of an A-line skirt thus increasing the volume of the skirt and giving fullness to the skirt.
PLEATED SKIRTS:
These skirts come in different size of pleats. Once the size of the pleat is decided, the pattern is followed through-out the skirt.
With the above styles, skirts come in all kinds of variations like solid- plain colors, floral print- they team up well with summer kurtas, foil printed – to go well with your festive kurtas, striped skirts- can be paired with fusion style kurtas or short tops.
With the above knowledge now on your fingertips about different ethnic outfits of India, you can be your stylist and a fashionista.
Always remember “Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak.”- Rachel Zoe.
Credit: Stalk my closet.
