Salwar kameez is undoubtedly the most popular Indian ethnic wear for women after sarees. This beautiful ensemble is extremely diverse in its own way and can be molded into different styles. Since its inception till date salwar kameez has evolved in style hugely influencing the fashion trends. This unique three piece suit has essence of both eastern and western wear, which makes it popular among women all over the world. Women in the western countries mix and match salwars or kameezes with western wear to give this typically south and central Asian ethnic wear a more modern look.
Salwar kameez can be worn to different places on various occasions depending on the fabric and style you choose. You can wear it casually to a grocery store, or can wear it to an official meeting or maybe wear it on your best friend’s wedding reception. It entirely depends on the style and work of the suit you choose to wear. Colors play a huge role as well. While some colors are considered to be typically formal and generally worn to official meetings or parties, there are others that are simply for wedding occasions. So, one must be careful while selecting what to wear and considering the kind of event they are about to attend.
Here are some of the basic categories that salwar kameezes can be divided into. If you read through this, you’ll have an overall idea about what to wear and when.
Casual Style Salwar Kameez for Daily Wear
Casual style salwar kameezes are generally made of breezy fabrics, like cotton, khadi cotton, malmal, chikankari and comparatively lighter silk. Casual salwar kameezes can be designed in several ways. It can have light embroidery or print with simply embellished dupatta or can come in a simple solid color with light printed dupatta. Apart from being simple, this style of salwar kameez needs to be extremely comfortable and easy to maintain as well. Casual salwar kameezes are perfect for wearing at home, while going to the market and sometimes to work.
Semi Formal Salwar Kameez for Small Events
As said earlier, salwar kameezes can be styled in different ways to suit the person wearing it. Semi formal salwar suits are basically a mix of both casuals and formals. These are ideal to be worn to semi formal gatherings like lunches, tea parties and small sit down dinners. Materials like crepes, silks, chiffons, satins and even cottons are used for semi formal salwar suits with light embroidery, print or simple handwork. Laces can also be used to add that extra finesse.
Salwar Kameez for Weddings and Formal Events
Heavily worked silks, satins, Jamawars, nets and chiffons are ideal for making salwar kameezes for weddings and other formal events. Wedding salwar kameezes can have really heavy hand or machine works. Zari borders, zardosi work, sequins work, chikankari, bead work are mostly done on these types of salwar kameezes. For wedding salwar suits, the dupattas have equally heavy work on them. But, for formal events, it is a bit different. Generally if a salwar suit has heavy work on it, the dupatta paired with it has comparatively less work and vice versa.
Looking at the increasing trend of women wearing salwar kameezes to different occasions and on daily basis, it is quite evident that this beautiful ensemble attire will never go out of fashion.
About Author
Sonam Chanda is a fashion journalist with a special interest in Indian culture. Recently she did a research on Indian attire and wrote several articles on sarees, salwar kameezes, lehengas and other ethnic wears.