The Working Woman's guide to Ethnic Wear

When we generally talk about workplace or experience at work, we tend to talk mostly about the work environment, work pressure, job satisfaction and if this happens between close friend-circles and family- the pay cheque that you earn. What we miss out in discussing or don’t pay much thought to, are the sartorial choices we make while we go for work. It is very important to dress right to make the perfect impact. While men can manage with variations to trousers, shirts & blazers but in India, women need to take into account several factors. In a culture where a woman’s aesthetic sensibilities are considered very important and a lot of attention is paid to the way they dress; having the perfect knowledge and collection to pull off the Indian ethnic is essential. Let us see a few go-to options available to us, so that the next time you go for a job interview you can prepare yourself for the potential interview questions not fussing much over your outfit.

Saree: This ethnic outfit is the most versatile and evergreen that lets your attitude breathe in elegance for every occasion with minor tweaking. It is accepted as the traditional Indian formal wear. For formal spaces, there are a few considerations that must be kept in mind. Avoid wearing big bright prints and embellishments for formal spaces. Experiments with blouse designs for neck and sleeve if not tried elsewhere can cause embarrassment and harm your public image at large. One should pick specific fabrics like cotton silk, kota silk & chanderis and select lighter colours.

Salwars: A flexible and easy-to-carry ethnic dress, salwars are worn in a combination of salwars/churidaars, a kameez and a dupatta. One colour finds a new look when paired with another colour and each time gives you a new look. It’s rare that this mix and match between dupattas, salwars and kameez can make even a moderately small collection repetitive. The kameez i.e. the top, is at least knee length long and gives a formal look with grace and poise in equal measure.

Kurtis (long): Trendy, comfortable, stylish and versatile- what else do you look for in any outfit? Moreover, if that also goes with your formal outings, there is nothing that can replace it. Long kurtis that extend till the knee do it all. Just choose earthy, light or pastel shades. It is ideal in solid prints & embroideries.

Kurtas (short): With all the graceful elements of kurtis, kurtas are more or less short in size than Kurtis which almost end at waist length. They are short tops in blouse style with some Western sartorial influence which works as the perfect fusion when Indianized. Wearing them with jeans and harem pants gives you a semi-formal look and if you are a teacher or have long working hours like in BPO sectors or the Advertising industry, this is the best mix for formal yet comfortable.

Leggings: One can object to the categorization of leggings as formal, however, in India leggings are acceptable as part of an ensemble like kurtas by most organizations unless mentioned explicitly. This gives you the perfect look with the right amount of comfort and doesn’t restrict your movement unlike conventional formals. They can be paired with loose shirts, kurtis, kurtas or polo necks and thus add a formal poise.

Churidars: They are quintessentially narrow trousers that fit tightly and cover the lower body fully. They are called churidars for the bangle-like effect it creates towards the bottom. The excess part of the garment here gets folded allowing to achieve that illusion. Kurtis and kameez pair the best with it, however, people are also seen pairing it with long shirts and Indian waist coats.

Use these cool and amazing tips for choosing your office attire, so that you can dress towards success and get the edge you need to reach the top of your profession.