Salwar Kameez

I am so happy. I was looking at the clothes women need to wear to fit in in India and I decided to buy a couple of long skirts to wear until I could buy a Salwar Kameez. So I biked out three miles to Salvation Army thrift store, where I bought a skirt and ten Agatha Christie books. Then I went to the Goodwill next door, and they had a Salwar Kameez top! The matching pants were nowhere to be found, but I bought the top, went back to Salvation Army and found some white slacks which go with it instead. The outfit is so pretty, in my favorite color, blue, and it was only $5! Score! I am so excited and feel more prepared for the trip!
I have to thank all you guys who commented here on appropriate dress for this amazing find!
BTW, is there a particular way I should wear my hair? It is past shoulder length, and I am debating whether is is best left loose, tied in a ponytail, or braided down the back. Thanks!

Wear your hair anyway you like, just don't cut it.

I agree with Tracyam! Wear it any way you want and are comfortable, as that is how everyone there wears theirs!
Now Goodwill...your talking my language! I have found so many great finds there that I have saved thousands!
Enjoy your trip, you well dressed babe you!!

Tie a string of fresh jasmine flowers (about R5) in your hair each day

Does it not look weird (in the eyes of Indians) to see a westerner in Indian clothes? Don't they think like: "why does this westerner try to look as us, Indians? I can see that he/she is westerner anyway?" I dunno... maybe this is cultural bias from my side...

The kids may giggle (they giggle at me sometimes, wearing a vesti) but the adults will appreciate it.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I don't wear salwar kameez while in India to not "look like a Westerner." As a 6' blonde Irish amazon, that's sort of difficult to hide.

I wear a salwar kameez because it's extremely comfortable, well-suited to travel and the climates in India, and is inexpensive to have custom-made. It's attractive and helps ease many interactions when you present a familiar profile. It's also a nonverbal way of communicating awareness of and respect for cultural norms.

If someone wants to interpret my choice of clothing in some other way, that's up to them.

No, I had nothing but approving looks when I wore a Salwar. People stare at you anyway (I'm blond and tallish so stand out), wearing the clothes that people see every day makes you that little bit less exotic. I

When I was in India last month, I didnt see any westerners dressed in Indian clothing.

There was only one occasion, in Agra, when two girls walked into the restaurant dressed in Saris. I'd say that everyone in the restaurant stared, and then went back to eating. I guess it was such an unusual sight.

So, if you are trying to blend in then I am not sure whether this will work. Just dress conservatively and you will fit in. I wore cool cotton pants and tshirts and didnt have a problem. Many young people in India dress in jeans and tshirts nowadays anyway.

Spray a whole can of hair spray or empty a bottle of hair-oil on your head, then braid into rope like formation. Or tie into a bun... called juda.
Or how about: best hairdo

jokes apart, thats not totally warranted to change hair if the idea is just to be dressing in a salwaar kameez.

The long wrap around skirts are also a good idea. You can pick these up in India for under 100Rs.

Peole react to a westerner in Indain garb differently I suppose. Some are more acceptable and others may not. Depends if in urban centers versus rural areas.

For girls and ladies the Salwar is always acceptable. Saris can be a touch over done for just casual wear. Plus usually (when I was growing up in India) the westerners who wore saris tended to be the junkie crowd or at least looked that way.

Also dress appropriate to the ocassion. A dressed up sari when attending a wedding or formal party would be appropriate, not so much a salwar (though they do have real formal looking salwars).

Salwar will of course be easier to wear and far more comfortable if you are gonna to be active on that day. Saris are also more difficult to hold on to (wear that is), if one is not used to it.

From yours truly,

The Fashion Expert. Not from The Gap...

Others please correct me but from what I've heard the outfit being complete makes a real difference. I.e. wearing the shirt with non-matching pants doesn't do the trick. Also it seems wearing the accompanying scarf makes all the difference. Any comments?

Thanks for the comments everyone! As for the top and pants not matching, I googled a lot of pictures where they were selling salwar kameez with the top and bottom different colors. I figured as long as it doesn't clash, I should be okay.

I think it doesn't matter so much that the pants and top "match" but it does seem quite important to actually wear the dupata (scarf). Once you've been in India for awhile and you see a Westerner in salwar without the dupata it looks half-finished. The dupata is a nice thing to wear, is very light, and can easily be put out of the way just by draping the two ends over one's back, so why not wear it?