Tunics and kurtas/kurtis

catgirl

My aunt just sent me a lovely kurta from India. It is a "stand-alone" item (i.e. doesn't come with the pants as many Indian outfits do). I have a few of these and often wear them with jeans or leggings and boots as a way to wear my Indian clothes. However, they are far longer than what YLF calls tunics. Can tunics be worn at any length that works or is there a rule here, as with skirt length? Like Shana, I'm going to post some photo examples so you can see what I mean....

15 years ago

Dressing

29 replies

Latest reply was from Sona

Srujana

Veteran

How much longer is far longer? Like, to your knees? Below your knees?

I'd say wear them with leggings and adjust your shoes to match (i.e. perhaps don't wear OTK boots with super long kurtas) The older salwar suits that I have can't be worn as tunics (those go down to my mid calf) but anything knee length or shorter should work I think...can't wait to see pics!

15 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

Yes, my really old ones are way too long - I might shorten them to make them more current! Do you wear yours with anything but traditional bottoms? I really like the idea of getting more use out of them, and people here think they look dressy no matter how casual they would be in India!

Here's the photo I just posted in another thread:

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15 years ago

Srujana

Veteran

I only wear them with leggings or skinny jeans when I go over to a relative's house and somewhat 'proper' attire is required. Honestly though, I prefer the comfort of traditional bottoms over jeans :p

It took me a realllly long time to wrap my head around the idea of 'fusion' fashion...I really didn't like mixing East and West and wearing kurtas over jeans in public. I love wearing Indian clothes, and I love my American clothes, and while I have friends who can and do wear the mixed look with lots of style, I felt like it drew too much attention to me. Its still not something that I wear as part of my usual wardrobe... I have a friend who designs fusion clothing and I've worn some of her styles to work and gotten lots of compliments, but I never feel like I'm in my own skin when I do that.

As for your kurta...its beautiful and I wish I could see more detail...I think its long enough to be a dress actually. Add a long pendant necklace or a scarf, or a belt and you've got a full outfit

15 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

Srujana, it could be a dress except for the slits on the sides. They actually come up fairly high... yes, and the comfort factor of salwars can't be beat!

I like the fusion fashion too. I feel like I don't get to wear my Indian clothes enough, between the cold weather and the occasions. It's so hard to see them all going to waste! But I understand that not-sure feeling of mixing it up too.

15 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I have clients who wear Kurtas! I I prefer them with skinny blue jeans and pumps though - sometimes a silk scarf too.

Very pretty kurta

15 years ago

Vani

Veteran

Here are a few ways I've worn my kurtas and kurtis

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15 years ago

Srujana

Veteran

Vani, that orange one is fabulous on you!!

15 years ago

Anonymous

They are all fabulous.

15 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

Vani, I love it! The moto jacket with kurta is so rad. Your maroon one looks the same color as mine. I have decided I'm going to make a pattern and start sewing my own out of cool fabrics... then I can control the length and fit!

15 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

EXACTLY, Vani. That's how my clients wear their Kurtas.

AG, the pumps or sandals are essential I think.Skinnies work so, so well. Leggings and boots somehow don't work as well.

15 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

Angie, yes! This is NOT how I would wear the kurta. I just threw it on over the leggings and boots... I feel like I need a whole day to put together and photograph outfits properly, and I just don't have that kind of time, sadly.

15 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

*slaps forehead*

Ohh! I thought you wanted feedback on the outfit. Sorry

15 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

Angie, my fault! None of these are outfits. I am terrible about posting things unstyled - I need to find the time to style them properly first.

15 years ago

rutuja

Active Member

Wow..I would never have thought about wearing a moto jacket on my kurtas. I absolutely have to buy a jacket now. But then again I am waiting to stop nursing so I know my fit better.

15 years ago

shana

Veteran

I kind of love the whole east meets west fusion look and I LOVE how Vani does it. For Kurtas longer than say mid-thigh, I like how it looks with skinnies or straightlegs but for the shorter ones, I really like a slim bootcut - like the sexy boot from the gap for example. Especially for an inverted triangle body type, the bootcut really helps in balancing out the proportions, especially with the loose style of the kurta.

15 years ago

Sally

Veteran

wow I have a heap of them too. I have some that are really too long and I have the matching pants. I have considered taking up the long ones. I usually wear them with leggings and flats or boots but I like the way you have styled them Vani.

I have a heap of saris too but dont know to do with them even tho the fabric is lovely.

15 years ago

Sumegha

Member

I recently came across the trend of really long Kurtas (below the knees) and absolutely love them. and if worn with trouser salwars that you can get stitched, they look wonderful and so casual. it's a very Pakistani outfit. I'm thinking of getting myself a few of them stitched. something like this: http://www.rupalionline.com/im.....952_01.jpg

12 years ago

K. Period.

Veteran

Ughhhh! You are KILLING me! I love the look of kurtas, but feel too culture vulturey to wear them (I really have zero connection to Indian culture other than a deep and passionate love of Julie Sahni's cookbooks and a trip to the Golden Triangle a decade ago). I am utterly infatuated with the traditional textiles, though. I would wear this in a heartbeat with skinny jeans if I could. *sigh* You look great in it Una, and I can't wait to see you wearing it with skinny jeans and a moto jacket, because I know you are going to!

12 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

These are so gorgeous and the fabrics look so rich. I really hope you can wear them, Una! I love the way Vani styled hers.

12 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Beautiful, Sumegha! I miss my denim-coloured kurta and cream salwar's. I should get a new set.

12 years ago

Nidhi

Active Member

I love how Vani has styled her kurtas! Since moving from India, my kurtas/kurtis hardly get worn- thanks to the weather. Sometimes though, I have tucked long kurtis into pencil skirts and they make great blouses! Mind you, this would only work if the slits aren't high enough to peek out of the tuck and if the print/pattern of the kurti allows this fusion. Some prints just end up looking wrong when paired with skirts but nevertheless, I am happy when I achieve a good pairing!

12 years ago

Aida

Veteran

You could certainly just treat it as the dress-over-skinnies formula, subbing in your kurta. And of course an interesting topper, like your metallic moto. Vani's examples look super!

12 years ago

Nicole D

Veteran

That looks lovely. I think tunics can be any length, if too long, just adopt the dress over pants strategy. By the way, Asian ladies, do you feel culturally co-opted if a non-Asian wears an authentic Indian item (not to an Asian event but just for the sake of style? As kcan alluded to.

12 years ago

wishi

Member

Hey guys....
Well is it normal to wear scarf over kurta and jeans...?

12 years ago

minimalist

Veteran

Thanks for reviving this thread, Wishi; it's fun to see pictures of Una from three years ago!

I'd love to hear more about what The K and Nicole asked: how do you feel when someone not of your ethnicity or cultural background co-opts aspects of that dress?

12 years ago

Fuchsia_pink

Active Member

As an Indian, i think ethnic wear looks quite stunning on non Asian women. And they often put a non traditional spin to it too, which is really nice! For instance, i had an American friend buy a green sari and wear it with a bright contrasting underskirt.(typically, saris and underskirts are matched as closely as possible)

12 years ago

amiable

Veteran

I have a few kurtas (I think - maybe they're something similar?) in my closet languishing. This is motivation to bring them out - Thank you!

12 years ago

ManidipaM

Veteran

Late reply but short of wearing religious motifs on them, I am delighted to see cultural transfusions. And the religious motifs or Sanskrit hymns are not an offence. More that I feel the wearer might be embarrassed to realise what she was avowing...

12 years ago

Sona

Veteran

What Angie said. I do it all the time!

12 years ago

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