Expat Womens Office Wear?

chilli&pepper

Hello

I am moving to Gurgaon, sector 39 in May to start a 3 year placement with DLF. I will be quite a high level executive and will be attending lots of meetings with both expat at Indian business people.

I was wondering if some one could advise me what the dress code is for women in offices in India. Is it western style suits and shirts or do expat women, tend to follow Indian fashion and go with sarees or salwaar kameez?

If suits are the best way to go, then should i buy some before i leave in the UK or are there places where i can get modern western designs tailored.

I will also be needing to find a good manicurist/beautician in the Gurgaon area - in or around sector 39. Can anyone recommend anyone, either with a salon or someone who can do home visits.

Thanks

Chilli&pepper

brownboy66

Hi Chilli, and welcome to IM

You'll find that business in India - and most cities in India with multinational companies in them, are the same as anywhere in the world. Men and women wear business suites as they would in London, Paris, NY, Sydney, etc. If you're in a senior management position then wear what you would normally wear - you're the boss! Once your settled you may want to try something different - but initially just go with what you know.

Re whether you buy in the UK or here in India - up to you. May pay to bring some outfits with you as there is no guarantee that you'll find the exact style you want here. Once you arrive, however, and get some time to investigate you will no doubt find a tailor to your liking who will be able to copy your suits, or produce something in a similar style. No shortage of fabric here.

Re the beautician - can't help you there (not something I use myself as I'm beyond hope). My suggestion would be to check out some of the hotels on arrival - there will be beauty salons there - and once you are settled other salons will no doubt become known.

good luck.

crvlvr

Bring your western business outfits from home. But, stick with the light weight stuff as the weather will be warmer. Since the CEO of Pepsi wears saris you can give that a shot too.. http://www.forbes.com/lists/2005/11/1S5D.html

brownboy66

ooooo yeah - good advice. Starting to heat up here (30 degrees on Saturday)! By the time you arrive its going to be very hot - so no heavy UK artic business survival suites !

Valini

yep: i agree with the above; especially since you'll be in Delhi, you can get away with wearing your business suits . trouser suits and skirt suits. Pick out the comfy / airy linen ones and any simple tops you like to match with them; Again, you'll be able to find someone to copy them if they're not too difficult a pattern.

Save the saris and fancy salwar suits for special occasions or weekends!
OR, as i did last year, you could get a tailor to make semi salway kameez semi western suits by making the top long. That way you'll get use out of them back in the UK.

brownboy66

phew! thank goodness someone with actual knowledge was able to offer advice (I don't know a thing about ladies business suites - just like looking at the ones my wife wears here in Delhi)

Indianworker

I would suggest bring your business suits with you from the UK which is what I originally did but I ended up never wearing the jacket i.e. just smart trousers and shirt. I still wear the same ensemble now however we are allowed to 'dress down' where I work and so do dress more casual these days including wearing Kurtas over business trousers/jeans.

Once here you can check out the various shops and malls to find replacements/extras for your wardrobe.

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Indianworker

brishti

hey chilli
wear them corporate clothes that you wear back home. problem with that maybe, would be - wearing synthetic clothing in delhi summers will suck big time. so you should be looking at cottons and linens. try and get a couple from home, and in time you can locate boutiques in delhi.
if you're not comfortable in sari's or salwars, avoid them.

as for them salon's - once you touch base in gurgaon, ask around - them carnivorous malls in that area should be having either them salon's or info to guide you to one.




:brishti

nayan

I agree to what brishti and Indiaworker says.
Bring your trouser suits. But go easy on the skirt suits. They are quite OK inside the office but if you have to walk on the streets for some reason, you may feel uncomfortable in them.

Oyar

All the posts above are accurate ... & as mentioned earlier - you will find yourself leaving out the jacket.

Alan Solly makes good readymade businesswear for women. Im sure there will be plenty of stores in Gurgaon which stock Alan Solly.

In delhi - meetings are usually very formal .. but in places like Mumbai / Bangalore you will find things a bit more relaxed.

chilli&pepper

Thanks for all your information about business suits, guys! - very useful.

Can anyone recommend a salon for haircuts, manicures etc near sector 39. Is there a lakme salon around?

Thanks again

Chilli&pepper

Margot

There's a Lakme Salon in Galleria Market. I assume if you are in Sect 39 you are working at Cyberpark? It's about 10 minutes by car from there. Make appointments in advance.

At Metropolitain mall there's also a place called Shwarzkopf. They're great for manicures and the likes but not so good with hair.

Hope that helps

Aishah

You don't want too many of those winter/synthetic suits - Delhi is cold for only about 4 months of the year. From my observations - the suits are there, if you wear a skirt have it to calf length, and also a good looking kurta, pants type of outfit can be worn. In the big cities you can look quite 'western' with this and no need for the dupatta, scarf. I have seen foreign women who are bosses wearing both styles (suits or Indian kurta) and looking fine.

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"Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

nosianai

Bring some but not all of your suits. Allen Solly, Van Heusen and Wills Lifestyle, amongst others, have a fantastic range of women's office wear.
I personally find the Kurta/trouser combi unsuitable for ppl in a leading position. It looks too much like college student.

About the synthetics... I don't get the warnings, since you would move around in an A/C car and get into a (usually freezing cold) A/C office, so there is no point in sweating.

For a good hair cut, try the Keune salon in Metropolitan Mall. They can do great things with your hair.

Piper

Agreed that a suit (pants, not skirt) is the most ideal. You may not feel comfortable if you have to walk outside of the office for some reason. I've had no issues with synthetic fabrics but yes, it does get very hot in the North!

Your team may enjoy it if you stitch some salwar suits/saris and wear them for special events occasionally.