One of the most commonly seen ensembles on both men and women in India, churidar suits offer comfort, versatility, and show off a timeless sort of style. With seemingly infinite ways to mix, match, and dress up these suits, it’s guaranteed you’ll never be short of options.
Let’s take a look at what exactly a churidar suit is, what the key parts consist of, and all the ways you can accessorize them for your next big outing.
What Is a Churidar Suit?
Churidar suits typically consist of a kameez, a long tunic, for women and a kurta, a similar sort of top, for men. They are matched with a full-length pair of slim-fitting pants. Women’s tops can be form-fitting with a slit cut into the sides for comfort and mobility, or they can flare out to a bit more of an A-line silhouette.
Churidar suits can be dressed up, heavily beaded, and embroidered, but they are also available in a wide array of casual options for everyday wear to the office, around the house, or while running errands.
Churidar vs. Salwar Kameez: What’s the Difference?
On the top half, a churidar suit and salwar kameez are somewhat similar. A tunic-esque top is worn by both men and women, extending down anywhere from the knees to the ankles. The trousers are actually where the big difference is seen.
Trousers for churidar suits are tight and very slim-fitting around the thighs, calves, and knees to expose the shape of your leg. A salwar is much more loose and free. These are typically drawstring trousers and offer a more voluminous shape than the prior.
Are Churidar Suits Unisex?
Churidar suits are not exactly a “one type fits all” sort of outfit. The men’s tops are traditionally tighter and more fitted than women’s. Many women’s tops feature slits on both sides to allow for comfort and movement.
Women’s blouses will also have some room in the top portion for their breasts. So, while many men’s and women’s suits may share similar embellishments and design aspects or might even look identical, the shapes and fits are different for the two genders.
What Are the Key Parts of a Churidar Suit?
Essentially, a churidar suit consists of a top and a bottom, but there are a few key differences between men’s and women’s pieces. Let’s look at what they are and how they differ from one another.
Kameez (Tunic) for Women
A kameez is a tunic-esque top worn by women. Some tunics fall down toward the knee, some go to the ankle, and others might hit somewhere in between. They can be cut straight and narrow, with these styles frequently featuring slits on both sides. However, some might fit a little more narrowly at the waist and flare out to the ground like a formal dress.
Kurta (Loose Overshirt) for Men
A kurta is the male counterpart to the kameez. Unlike a kameez, a kurta will always have a much more straight and narrow silhouette, with a little more fitted feel. Although Kurta tops are more fitted, they still allow for a loose and comfortable fit.
Kurta tops usually extend down to the mid-thigh or knees and are made in a wide array of fabrics for both casual and formalwear. Kurtas can be dressed up with the addition of a vest, jacket, or pocket square.
Tight-Fitting Churidar Pants
Churidar pants are slim-fitting trousers worn by women and frequently paired with a kameez. While churidar pants will boast somewhat of a straight and narrow fit, some kameez blouses look best with tight-fitting churidar pants, so the blouse is truly shown off, like those included in our Teal Green Floral Organza Suit.
An organza kameez cut in a narrow silhouette balances rustic neutrals with vivid jewel tones, elegantly accentuated with rows of golden embroidery and beading to add movement.
A solid pair of rich, teal green tight-fitting churidar pants are the perfect counterpart for this elegant, slimming silhouette. A lightweight dupatta with matching golden trim and accents adds a traditional touch to the ensemble without detracting from the statuesque shape.
How Do You Style an Indian Churidar Suit?
A churidar suit consists of a longer tunic-style top and a pair of trousers, but this hardly encompasses the whole look. There are tons of mix-and-match options between pants and shirts. Plus, there are a multitude of accessories to your outfit to dress it up. Basically, the options truly are endless.
Read on to review a few more ways to dress your suit up or down for any day of the week.
With a Long Kameez
Our Dark Teal Heavy Embroidered Net Straight Suit features a jaw-droppingly long ankle-length kameez decked out to the nines in silver geometric embroidery with floral accents. Dramatic border work begins around the knees and descends down to the bottom with red, silver, and light blue tassels. The vertical stitchwork further elongates your silhouette, making you look tall, proud, and powerful.
This particular style of kameez looks best when paired with a tight-fitting trouser in a dark, striking hue to offset the reflectiveness of the silver beadwork. The dupatta mirrors the border design and tassels, elegantly draping over your shoulder, eluding a timeless sense of traditional style and class.
With a Matching Dupatta
We’ve talked a lot about how a dupatta can perfectly tie everything together, especially when it matches particular detailing on the kameez. Our Lavender Heavy Embroidered Net Straight Suit is one fine example of a dupatta making for an outstanding and eye-catching addition.
A subdued shade of elegant lavender is paired with a heavy concentration of silver beaded accents down the length of the frock. Zari work extends from the top to the bottom, with every little sprinkle of glitz and glamour identically mirrored down the middle. The sleeves and bottom of the kameez feature sparkling dangled details with a scalloped edge along the bottom.
This same intricate hand-sewn bootis are precisely reflected down the length of the dupatta, as is the scalloped beading around the border. This tulle dupatta drapes elegantly over your shoulder or forearm, adding a flawless touch of style without giving too much volume.
Wear Churidar Pants With a T-Shirt
Churidar suits are an excellent option for special occasions and other similar gatherings, but they are also a very popular choice for regular everyday wear. Whether you are stepping out for school drop off, running a few quick errands, or just spending a casual day out and about, these are all times when you might wear churidar pants with a simple T-shirt.
The Blush Tie Dye Straight Suit is probably one of the more versatile outfits in our collection. This perfect three-piece set can be put together to make up an impeccable trio, and the individual pieces are great to mix and match for more casual outings.
The centerpiece of this outfit is the pink satin straight-legged pants. Versatile, comfortable, and acceptable for all seasons and occasions, these pants can be worn with the rest of the included pieces in your suit or paired with a more simple, solid-colored T-shirt for everyday use.
The satin tie-dye georgette kameez features shades of pink, purple, and red, a sleeveless design, and a boat neck collar trimmed in golden threading. The blush pink dupatta matches exactly with the pants and can easily be combined with many pieces you might already have in your wardrobe. The pants and dupatta can also be paired with a solid black or white T-shirt for a simple yet polished look.
An Updated Spin on a Traditional Indian Garment
A modern twist on a classic silhouette, churidar suits allow you to customize, bedazzle, and show off a wide variety of stylish fashions for all occasions. Whether you pair the slim-fitting trousers with a long kameez, a casual T-shirt, or other matching accessories, this is one ensemble that can be worn day in and day out, no matter the occasion.
From the boardroom to the supermarket, to dinner, dancing, and beyond, every modern woman deserves (and needs) to have a few functional churidar suits in their closet.
Sources:
Salwar kameez | Singapore Infopedia