Ask YLF South Asian correspndents: Westerners thrifting

Hiya ladies--forgive me if this has been covered in another thread--I haven't been following so closely lately.
I have a question about buying and wearing thrifted Indian clothing from the Goodwill.
We have a huge South Asian community in our city, many recent arrivals. Our local thrift stores have alot of beautiful indian pieces (male and female atire), that I have often considered getting to wear as separates mixed with my regular MOTG stuff. I want to be bold enuff to wear this stuff but the last thing I want t o be is disrespectful of a culture that I am still learning about. I no longer have chummy friends to ask as we've lost touch after many moves and have only recently had some good looks at some clothing pieces to have had this question.
So, new chummy friends--my question is, in all respect because I feel awkward asking --Do you think it would be considered disrespectful or be a problem for me to wear Indian pieces (male or female) with my regular stuff out and about?
I have to say some of the pieces I've seen in thrift stores are so amazing --the detailing and the work in the stitching--I almost can't help myself!!!
ALSO--I would love to know the common names of the attire pieces I just don't want to call something a shirt if it has a rightful beautiful name--you dig?
Thanks in advance for any help!!

14 years ago

Kirti

(website)

Veteran

I don't think it would be considered disrespectful at all Indian clothes are so beautiful and they flatter all body shapes so well that I would love if everyone tried them!

There are a few common pieces you may want to know the cultural terms for .

Indian tunics are called kurtas, they are typically like dresses with slits on the side. I'm wearing one here - http://dressupforlife.blogspot.....-yeah.html. These come in a variety of fabrics, cottons are perfect for summer since they are so breezy and hide problem areas!

There are two types of pants that are worn with these. A 'churidar' is a pair of leggings with a little bit of scrunching at the bottom. The word 'churi' means bangle and the scrunching at the ankle is supposed to resemble bangles. I'm wearing one here - http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fMc0.....G_1052.JPG.

The other pant called a 'salwar' and looks kind of like harem pants (https://encrypted-tbn3.google......W1KJDZD9QA).

A very voluminous version of these is sometimes called a 'patiala', after the region in Punjab where women wear them. (http://www.google.fr/imgres?hl.....9,r:14,s:0)

Women usually wear 'chunnis' or 'dupattas' with their kurtas tops and Indian bottoms. These are scarf like, although they may be a little longer and wider than what we call scarves.

Apart from these, you have saris - the traditional Indian garment. (http://www.google.fr/imgres?nu.....#038;ty=25). There are many lengths, colours, prints and fabrics in which saris are made and they can be draped in a variety of ways!

I'm sure if you have an Indian community nearby, you may also find Indian shawls or shorter scarves! They are so great to add colour to any outfit! And any kurtas you find can easily be 'westernised' by wearing them with jeans/leggings.

Does that help?

ManidipaM

I can't imagine very many things it might be considered disrespectful for you to wear, actually. Short of a Sikh man's turban or kara (steel bangle worn by both the men and the women). In terms of common names:
*the long scarf/shawl so popular in India is called a dupatta in most communities (unless woollen, in which case it *is* a shawl to us)
*long maxi skirts are typically called ghagra or lehenga (though often lehenga also denotes the entire outfit, with a blouse or cropped top and the dupatta)
*tight pants that scrunch at the ankles are called churidar
*voluminous loose pants are called salwar or patiala (more voluminous than salwar with a bit of draping in the gathers)
*the tunic- or shirt-like garments worn over churidars or salwars or patialas can be voluminous or fitted, long or short. If just a little over crotch length, it is a kurti (upto about mid-thigh); longer and it is called eitehr kurta or kameez
*the saree you probably know. Six yards of fabric draped in various ways to cover most of the body, often leaving part of the waist bare.
* the skirt-like undergarment that underpins and holds the saree in place is called a petticoat, being a Victorian English import.
* the cropped top worn with a saree is called a choli or simply a 'blouse' (some people distinguish a choli as being tied on, rather than fastened by snaps or hooks like...well, Victorian English garments!
* men's wedding outfits typically involve a churidar, kurta and sherwani (a long overshirt or coat worn on top), and often a chadar (like a dupatta, a long scarf)

There are of course other garments in various regions, but these are the ones you'll be most likely to encounter I think!

modgrl

I asked a similar question a few months ago -

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....king-beige

The lovely ladies of YLF told me to go for it!

Sunita

Definitely go for it! Kirti and Manidipa have given you loads of info. Please post some pics if you do try out those looks...I'd love to see them!

Have fun!

crazyone

Patty, go ahead and purchase them! I can't think of anything that would be offensive that would also have been given away to a thrift store. I think the ladies before me have covered garment names.

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