Attire and appetite in India - questions

Cardamom · May 30th, 2008, 12:00

Welcome, Lizzie!!

Looks like you've got a lot of great answers already!!! Just thought I'd pitch in too since I faced the same questions when I was prepping for my first (and only) trip to India on business.

I don't know what kind of business you're in or if you're there as the client, or you're there wooing a prospective client. On my trip I was the client visiting a company we do a lot of business with - so they wanted to make sure we had a good time. Therefore, we were taken out A LOT. We ate and drank A LOT!!! Some days I only ate one to one 1/2 meals because we had eaten and drank so much the night before. There was just no room! I think they thought I was anorexic or something, but I just couldn't eat anymore. It was fun for the first few days, but the novelty wore off after a bit. It was nice to skip a huge breakfast and just have tea and some trail mix in my room. So I highly recommend snacks plus some pepto

I had no problem with all the dried fruits/nuts I brought in to the country.

Have a great trip and please report back, I'm always interested on hearing about people's business adventures in India!

-C

puchoo · May 30th, 2008, 12:04

Absolutely agree...and for me that translates into jeans , a tee and floaters/sneakers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by capt_mahajan

I dress for comfort. (

Haylo · Jun 1st, 2008, 18:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by dzibead

Is this a "British" thing? In the U.S., I can easily find lightweight cotton pants, sometimes with a drawstring or elastic waist, and pockets!

First, I have to stop sniggering at the mental image of a woman wearing drawstring cotton pants with pockets - not a pretty image I'm afraid! I am hoping that as you are American, you are talking about trousers and not a flimsy item of ladies lingerie!

*cough*

Okay, I have regained my composure now.

By "women's clothes" I meant the more feminine attire. While pockets can be stitched onto anything or set into any seams, womens clothes are cut in such a way that even if you had pockets, anything more than a sliver of paper would completely spoil the lines.

Conversely, a well cut man's jacket will have inside jacket pockets which can take a wallet, without the weight of it pulling and ruining the line of the suit. I know it's possible because I have made several jackets with inside pockets that sit under the bust.

Quote:

I'm with Nick on the jeans issue: for me, even the lightest ones are usually too hot and heavy to be really comfortable. It's not just the cut or fit of jeans, it also has to do with how dense and non-breathable the fabric is

Thanks for the advice, sounds like I need to rethink my attire. Perhaps I'll take some for cooler evenings, but won't rely on them for during the day. Perhaps salwar kameez really is the way to go - I just think it might look a bit daft with the fairly heavy footwear I need for anything more than a brief stroll.

Then again, I'm only going to be one of those odd British tourist types anyway, so what the heck!

Nick-H · Jun 1st, 2008, 18:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haylo

First, I have to stop sniggering at the mental image of a woman wearing drawstring cotton pants with pockets - not a pretty image I'm afraid! I am hoping that as you are American, you are talking about trousers and not a flimsy item of ladies lingerie!

*cough*

You just wait until someone brings up wearing thongs in India!

!

the opoponax · Jun 2nd, 2008, 01:23

Weird, was I just hallucinating the pockets?

I didn't end up buying anything with pockets, but I could've sworn some salwars at Fabindia had them. Especially the really big Patiala style...

Nick-H · Jun 2nd, 2008, 01:48

Those weren't pockets...

Those were where you were supposed to put your legs!

the opoponax · Jun 2nd, 2008, 02:02

Ooooh, that explains a lot...

capt_mahajan · Jun 2nd, 2008, 02:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

Those weren't pockets...

Those were where you were supposed to put your legs!

Dunno about anybody else, but my legs are attached to the rest of me.

so far.

Nick-H · Jun 2nd, 2008, 03:22

That's why the best clothes incorporate a way of carrying them around!

Sandrahray · Jun 3rd, 2008, 02:45

What about attire in temples, the Taj, etc? Is there any place I would go as a visitor that capris and a short sleeve shirt would offend? Flying into Delhi, spending most of our time in Agra and Varanasi - any comments on attire those places whether more or less conservative? thanks so much!

mani · Jun 4th, 2008, 16:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandrahray

What about attire in temples, the Taj, etc? Is there any place I would go as a visitor that capris and a short sleeve shirt would offend? Flying into Delhi, spending most of our time in Agra and Varanasi - any comments on attire those places whether more or less conservative? thanks so much!

capris & short sleeve shirt are fine.

welcome to india

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May 30th, 2008, 12:00	#46
Cardamom Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New York, NY Posts: 283	Welcome, Lizzie!! Looks like you've got a lot of great answers already!!! Just thought I'd pitch in too since I faced the same questions when I was prepping for my first (and only) trip to India on business. I don't know what kind of business you're in or if you're there as the client, or you're there wooing a prospective client. On my trip I was the client visiting a company we do a lot of business with - so they wanted to make sure we had a good time. Therefore, we were taken out A LOT. We ate and drank A LOT!!! Some days I only ate one to one 1/2 meals because we had eaten and drank so much the night before. There was just no room! I think they thought I was anorexic or something, but I just couldn't eat anymore. It was fun for the first few days, but the novelty wore off after a bit. It was nice to skip a huge breakfast and just have tea and some trail mix in my room. So I highly recommend snacks plus some pepto I had no problem with all the dried fruits/nuts I brought in to the country. Have a great trip and please report back, I'm always interested on hearing about people's business adventures in India! -C

Jun 2nd, 2008, 01:23	#50
the opoponax Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brooklyn, via New Orleans Posts: 1,052	Weird, was I just hallucinating the pockets? I didn't end up buying anything with pockets, but I could've sworn some salwars at Fabindia had them. Especially the really big Patiala style...

Jun 2nd, 2008, 01:48	#51
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,763	Those weren't pockets... Those were where you were supposed to put your legs!

Jun 2nd, 2008, 02:02	#52
the opoponax Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brooklyn, via New Orleans Posts: 1,052	Ooooh, that explains a lot...

Jun 2nd, 2008, 03:22	#54
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,763	That's why the best clothes incorporate a way of carrying them around!

Jun 3rd, 2008, 02:45	#55
Sandrahray Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Alabama Posts: 5	What about attire in temples, the Taj, etc? Is there any place I would go as a visitor that capris and a short sleeve shirt would offend? Flying into Delhi, spending most of our time in Agra and Varanasi - any comments on attire those places whether more or less conservative? thanks so much!

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