*&IBesides Sarees, Salwar Suits form one of the most popular outfit styles in Indian fashion. The beauty of Indian women, with their long tresses and dark eyes, have always been considered somewhat of a mystery. They are, no doubt, one of the most beautifully dressed across the world.
The Western world always admires the richness of Indian dresses and women look forward to getting decked-up in Indian attires depicting the heritage and culture of the Indian subcontinent.
Indian Salwar Kameez, or Salwar Suits, also renowned as a Punjabi Suit, these suits were popularised mostly by the women of Punjab.
Salwar Suits are usually a three-piece ensemble, which can be worn both as a workwear and as a partywear. A Salwar or the pants is traditionally loose, worn with a fitted, short tunic or kurta, known as a kameez. The kameez has side slits that just adds up to the comfort factor. This suit is paired with a dupatta or churni.
Salwar suits can be easily tagged as another name for comfortable Indian dresses.
Here are some of the contemporary Indian Salwar Kameez that women are in love with:
Anarkali Suits:
Designer Anarkali Suits probably top the list of being the most favourite of the divas, at present. Anarkali goes back a long way to the Mughal court. This dress derives its name from the pretty courtesan Anarkali, from the court of Mughal Emperor Akbar.
Anarkali Suits have long flared kurtas, tapered at the waist, that are usually worn with a pair of churidar. You may or may not choose to carry the dupatta.
If you like to walk against the motion, pair your designer Anarkali Suits with a flared skirt, or a Palazzo Pants. This will add the elements of quirk and volume to your outfit.
Pair a heavy earring and maang teeka and a potli or a designer clutch and you are all set for the occasion.
Churidar Suits:
Another favourite would be a Churidar suit for its sleek and smart appearance. This is popular among both the sexes.
Churidar Suits have long straight Kameez with fitted churidars, which are trousers that narrow down quickly, and hug the curves of your leg.
You can also pair with your churidar a long straight kameez, frock cut, or angrakha-style kurta. You can accessorise this as per your choice, just don’t forget to wear that pair of heels.
Patiala Suits:
This is your secret to recreate the look of a true Punjaban (individual from Punjab).
Time and again Bollywood celebrities have sported this look, keeping it as it is, or sometimes ditching the dupatta and pairing it with a colourful short jacket.
Patiala suits look similar to that of salwars, but just have more flares. They are of a loose fit but are tapered at the bottom, and are usually paired with a short kameez (maximum till the knee) and dupatta.
For an Indo-western look, switch the kurti and dupatta with a round neck, solid colour t-shirt, and scarf or jacket. Definitely go for some bangles, a pair of jhumkas, a little bindi and juttis.
Palazzo Suits:
Palazzo suits or palazzo pants are a younger participant in the league, but because of its different approach and style, it has gained popularity superfast.
Palazzo pants, influenced by the western wide-legged cuffed trouser, can be paired with literally anything and everything.
You can keep the look completely ethnic pairing palazzos with long kurtis, straight or flared, and dupattas. Or, you give it an Indo-western twist by pairing a designer ethnic palazzo with a cropped top or a monochrome shirt. Tuck it the shirt, fold the sleeves, wear a heavy junky neckpiece and you’re all set to rock.
Apart from these majorly worn styles of Salwar suits, you can also try Afghani Salwar suits, Sharara Suits, Trouser-Style Salwar suits, Dhoti Salwars etc, which are widely available across websites.
Afghani Suits or Aladdin Salwar Suits: A cousin of the basic salwar and Patiala suits, an Afghan or Aladdin Suit is the one that we saw ‘Jasmine’ wearing in the Disney comics Aladdin.
It has more flares than a regular salwar. This too is tapered at the bottom but the tapering is like a band, wider than that of a Patiala salwar.
Sharara Suits:
This one was made popular by Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor Khan who sported a baby-pink sharara choli in the song Leja Leja from the movie Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.
Looking somewhat similar to that of Palazzo suits, the Sharara bottoms are fitted up till the knee but heavily flared and pleated below that. Wear it on your next wedding party, and you are sure to grab some eyes.
Trouser-Style Salwar Suits:
Salwar Suits with a sleek, trouser-like bottom looks very smart as an office wear. It’s comfortable, yet fashionable.
Wear a long kurti and trouser salwar and dupatta to office, pair it with stilettoes, and your colleagues will definitely ask you for some style tips.
Dhoti Salwar Suits:
Inspired from the traditional male outfit ‘dhoti’, a dhoti salwar has a number of drapes and pleats on the frontal side.
Pair it up with an embellished corset, bralette or crop top to sport a fashionable look and rock the dance floor at your friend or sister’s Sangeet.
Now that we have shared with you the types of contemporary Indian Suits, why don’t you let us know which you would choose?
