Cost of Clothing in India?

mercedes10

I will have a couple of free days in Delhi (first-time visitor to India) before embarking on a tour. I'm planning to arrive with very little luggage and buy clothes when I get there. As everything will be completely new to me and I wont have had a chance to get used to the prices expected etc. I wonder if anyone can give me a rough idea of what I should be paying for clothing? (Sari, Salwaar Kameez). I'm thinking Salwaar Kameez would be the easiest and most comfortable thing to wear day-to-day. Am I right? or do you have any other suggestions? I'm very keen to buy a sari too, but I imagine they're not actually the most comfortable thing to wear when travelling (or am I mistaken?)

I want to blend in as much as I can (as much as a blonde, white woman can anyway!). Would it be a good idea for me to wear a headscarf?

Any info. you can give me on costs (and maybe any ideas of good places to shop for clothes) would be greatly appreciated. Thank You!

volga_volga

pls see the following thread:

clothing shops in Delhi

cost: around Rs 300-400 for a decent Salwaar. they
come with trousers but these never fit

also note that most clothes on sale in India are tailored for an indian figure/shape, I could never find anything in dept stores over there that would fit. So, take some stuff you feel comfortable in with you (esp light cotton/linen trousers)

headscarf - absolutely not necessary unless you are going to Muslim places like Kashmir

note. usual advice - to see what other girls wearing - may not apply as in Delhi they are quite modern (lots of so called Indo-West styles and many many are wearing jeans) but in villages they are still very traditional.

My rule is to cover legs (full length) and shoulders. everything that does that works fine.

Volga

volga_volga

buy yourself a sari or try one - it is amazing experience, like wearing a ball gown but not to balls only

although not a particularly comfortable for travel... and you would need help to put it on, it is not so easy even for Indians, beauty parlors have special "sari tying" service

next time in India I am definitely going to wear a sari for at least one full evening (now that I own one), just to gauge the reaction from Indians and non-Indians

mercedes10

Thanks volga_volga. Being a tall Westerner I'd better pack some more clothes than I originally planned then - never really stopped to think about the fact that the clothes probably wont fit me! Although I suppose I could always get some things tailor made (though not sure I have enough time).

Yes, I'll definitely buy a sari (I think they're beautiful) though probably wont wear it much. I tried one on once before in Sri Lanka and it seemed a bit of a faff!

So, as long as I'm covered up then, you don't think it matters if I don't wear something traditional? In fact, would Indians find it strange if I DID wear something traditional??

Many thanks for your help.

virajverma

Indians in the metros dont mind the travellers in their dresses.
As fo rthe dresses I agree with Volga about the fits. And as you mentioned about your height it shall be a bit of problem. But you can always get it stitched, Which is not expensive.

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Basho

Indian respect you if you are well dressed, the vast majority of them dress well. This does not mean dressing like a local, but wearing nice clothes that do not offend their sensibilies. If you try to dress indian style you may find that you commit fashion crimes that you are totally unaware of, just as an indian might in the reverse situation. Being tied down to the hassle of buying clothes when you arrive might be a bit of a hassle, as not much is bought 'of the peg' and pre made stuff may turn out to be quite pricy designer stuff (although I'm not sure about this).

mercedes10

Thank you all for your helpful comments. You're right - trying to hunt down clothes when I arrive might not be the best introduction to India. I'll pick up some suitable things here before I go (but leave room for anything I might want to bring back too!). It's also interesting to know that Indian clothing is not necessarily the best way forward. Cheers!

bhabilinda

I've been here for two weeks now, and have only been wearing shalwar kameez. I have been both in the cities and in the countryside. The only thing I have recieived is smiles, greetings and signs of respect for my choice of clothing. In fact, several has stopped me on the street and thanked me for dressing "nice and appropriate".

You can buy ready-made shalwar kameez (or punjabi suits as they are called) in bazaars from around 250 IRS for the simple ones. THe wide trousers are usually with knit-band in the waist. You can also buy the fabric and have it stitched, should b e from around 300-400 IRS.

The advice I can give is: anything goes, except spagetti-strap tops. I'm sorry, but IMHO it looks tacky to wear this, considering the culture of the country you are traveling in.

mercedes10

I agree with you - I would never wear vest tops etc. in a country like India. I had planned to wear shalwaar kameez, but from all the other replies I was beginning to think it might be more hassle than it's worth. Did you manage to buy yours off the peg or did you have to have them made? I'm concerned now that I wont find anything to fit and being a newbie and also short on time, the pressure to find a tailor etc. and have it ready on time might just all be too much pressure. I could of course buy from an Indian shop here in Scotland, but it seems silly to pay so much more here for the same thing and then take it with me!

bhabilinda

I bought a few off the rack in Connaught Place (the bazaar under ground, don't know the name) in my size (european 40/42). (I'm 170 cm and medium/large build) Also in Jaipur and in South Delhi malls I've found ones that fit. Remember to bargain hard! The simple cotton ones are the most comfortable and cheap.
\

As for shoes I'm in some cheap leather sandals I bought in Thailand last year. Works well.

AllanM

I think the name of the bazaar you mention is Palika Bazaar. I found much better clothing at better prices than in Paharganj. I don't know about prices elsewhere in Delhi as it was a one stop shoping extravaganza.

indiawise

02/04/04

OK: Lets see if this will help.
Without further confusion you should take a rickshaw from yr. hotel and head to 'Fab-India', located at N-block market, Greater kailash (GK-1), South delhi. This place/shop is very well known and about 10-15 minutes from jukaso inn ..that is if u r staying there. Whatever it would be a good idea to have a look at this shop if u r looking to do some shopping. Apart from finding and buying s'thing that you can wear, you would also be accessing some very good quality and a high standard of design and prints and all that. Something to take home also. It’s a little more expensive than the deals elsewhere but affordable and worth it. The shop is closed on Tuesdays. Fab-india shops firstly deal in good and pure cotton clothes and since it would be warm this might be what u need.
What is quite popular with both indian and western women (tall ones included) is the 'Dogris' and long kurtas to go with them. The dogris are cotton salwars. The difference being that they are stitched like jodhpurs, i.e they are real loose above the knee and sort of tighter from the knee to ankle. So they don't flap around like pyjamas. They are also actually very 'chic' and comfortable and friends of mine have used them whilst travelling. Off course they need to be worn with a knee length kurta or shirt.
Having recommended this fab-india shop so much I must say that, its also true that whilst in the hills and most places u would be just perfectly ok wearing your jeans and a t-shirt.

guerik

Check out Fab-India, definitely. I wish I'd gone there at the start of my trip! Went at the end of my trip last time (when I had next to no money left) and will be going there as my first stop on my next trip - it's nice stuff and well made, not too expensive, and you could probably wear pieces at home (if you wanted to).
I would bring your own pants/skirt (especially if you're taller/wider than the average indian) and pair it up with stuff from Fab India that would work well - just make sure they're plain as almost everything there is patterned. You can wear one of their mini kurtas with jeans/pants practically anywhere (also have tons of nice scarves/dupatta to finish off the outfit)

bijapuri

aaaaaa- Palika Bazaar- after 34 years of visiting India, they finally SLIMED me this trip!

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