What to Wear in India..Helpful Hints for Women

imhere0905

Hi, I've gotten a couple of SKs in Delhi, I'm generally between a 12 and 14 Australian and approx 5"4. I want to get a couple more though and I am in Jodphur at the moment, has anyone had experience here, I've tried looking in the shops but there isn't anything I like.

Also, I've had some nice comments about the fact that I am wearing SK though as far as I know nothing has been said to the majority of people who are in Jodphur at the moment who aren't.

karolina

Very good advice, and hopefully it will help more people to show respect towards the culture they're travelling in. By the way a Salwar Kameez is comfortable too. As far as Goa is concerned I have to say that at least some years back the beach dress code was basically ONLY topless and tiny bikinis and even thongs, in northen Goa anyway, don't know if it's still like that, but then there were busloads of Indian men coming in from Mumbay on Sundays to have a look at all the bare tits , well no surprise really...

SilverButterfly

No, I thought as much! I was only asking as most of my "going out" tops are low cut and wasnt sure what the standard of dress was in Mumbai nightclubs. Definatley dont want to offend anyone or draw any unwanted attention! Guess its better to be safe than sorry

Thanks for the info on Goa too, can't wait to get there!

Hope you are having a lovley trip

lizzydee

What a great thread! I'm off to India tomorrow.

You mentioned that you were given strange looks for wearing flip-flops, what is acceptable footwear? (I was planning on wearing flip-flops most of the time!! )

traceyam

I always had the impression that in India flip flops and thongs were sort of considered poor peoples' shoes. You can certainly wear them, I doubt anyone will think you're poor.

Lots of Indian women wear sandals with salwar kameez. I opt for a closed-toe sandal with a wide, low heel, something like this: http://www.designershoes.com/images/lgalannasesto.jpg The closed toe and the low heel help keep your feet out of the muck - and lots of muck there is. I sure wouldn't recommend shoes with kitten heels, unless you're extremely good at walking in muck, dirt, and uneven surfaces in them (some women are but I'm not one of them). You can wear a flat shoe like this: http://img.wizwid.com/PImg/750163/bsc/750163923i.jpg or even a pump with a wide, low heel, too, if you think you'd be comfortable doing a lot of walking in pumps (I wouldn't).

If you won't have time to break in a new pair of shoes, make sure you get something that is very comfy right out of the box, and take several sheets of moleskin with you. You might also want to bring a pumice stone and a nail brush. If you wear sandals or flipflops, your feet will get REALLY dirty and that is some high-intensity dirt that doesn't come off easily in the shower.

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Daal_face

Hi Ladies,
Regarding the flip-flop issue, I didn't bring my sandals to India and boy do I regret it. My feet get really hot and swollen here. I went to the markets to find a pair of sandals but ended having to purchase a pair of cheap white flip-flops for 30rs because they were the ONLY pair that would fit my feet. I guess if I had gone to an actual shoe store in the city I may have found something that fit me but even then, the shoes here seem to be so narrow. I was wearing a beautiful blue/green/gold SK with my flip-flops and I realized that they didn't really go well together but I didn't expect to receive so much attention for them. I honestly didn't think anyone would notice but EVERYONE did. In America, you could wear mis-matched shoes and hardly anyone would take notice. Not so in India.

I'm in Palolem still and it is EXTREMELY hot. I'm taking cover in this internet place (the cheapest in the area at 40rs/hr). On thursday I finally spotted the Indian Bikini Patrol, walking down the beach fully dressed. They gathered around a row of loungers to gawk at the ladies who were tanning in them. It was creepy and pathetic. This behavior is notorious throughout India and most Indians seem to feel shame about it.

We had dinner last night with a few nightclub and restaurant owners that I've met. I told them about this forum. They confirmed to me that Goa is a completely different planet from the rest of India but even topless sunbathing has been banned here. They say that women are wearing sexy clothes in Bombay, Bangalore, Delhi and even Calcutta but only in nightclubs that are frequented by westerners and rich Indians. They advise that if you want to wear sexy clothes, cover up until you are inside of the club. They also said that they are surprised and actually disturbed at some of the skimpy western outfits that Indian women are wearing in their clubs. I was surprised to hear this from a bunch of men who are still relatively young but I don't blame them. I think an Indian woman wearing traditional clothes is exceptionally beautiful.

Sama

I think your statement really has more to say about those people than your flip-flops.

I spent the month of September in Chennai, wore salwars of every variety, and also got complimented. The only sandals I brought were flip-flop variety, but they were sturdier, heavier, and had thicker rubber bottoms than typical GAP variety flip-flops (i.e, cheap). They were pretty raggedy looking (in my opinion) after a month, but no one (that I noticed) acted like you describe, and I was out and about at least 12 hours a day, and traveled on weekends. In fact, I saw Indian women in both saris and SKs wear ALL different types of shoes, and the shoes left outside my yoga school by the Indians who came for consultations were ALL raggedy looking.

as for sleeveless v. sleeves, many salwars are sold without sleeves and you get the sleeves separate in case you want to sew them on. Many times I and the other yoginis wore sleeveless salwars and never got a second look on the street about our "bare arms". Most of the SKs I brought back are sleeveless and I wear them when I teach.

By the way, my Indian friend (woman) told me that in her neighborhood in Chennai, women over 50 wearing salwars are frowned upon, that the attitude is that an Indian woman over a certain age should wear saris all the time.

__________________
My India, 2005-2008
sama: Pali/Sanskrit: that state of consciousness which reflects neither attachment nor aversion

Sunray

I've seen countless western girls wearing Sari's. Is it me or do they just look wrong? I do think that often this is due to the sari's worn seem to be made from their grans curtains. Personally I'd at least buy a nice one.

I think the best a western girl can do is a salwar camise over jeans. I think this looks good and is a nice east west blend.

On thing to mention is that this really only applies to girls. As a guy, apart from running about naked, I can wear just about anything I want. This saddens me and to is Indias shame that its unable to be more tolerant.

traceyam

IMO, no Western woman should attempt to wear a sari unless an Indian woman shows her how to drape it and how to carry herself properly in it, and she puts in a little time at home getting used to moving in it. That is a LOT of fabric for a Western woman to wear and it isn't as easy as it looks. Indian women have been wearing saris since childhood, to wear one with style and grace isn't an automatic skill, it takes a little getting used to. It's not merely the draping of the fabric but also how you move in it; a sari requires a different carriage than Western clothing.

Combining a kameez with jeans would look hip in the U.S. perhaps, but a foreigner trying to wear Western and traditional Indian clothing at the same time in India just comes off as clueless and doofy.

Sama

My friend is an Indian woman (almost 50) and she was referring to Indian women who are 50+. She was referring to her particular neighborhood in Chennai -- she told me how women in her neighborhood, if they see a woman of a certain age wearing a SK, will suggest that she wear a sari.

In other words, she was telling me that people are conservative and that once a woman hits a certain age, she is expected to act and dress a certain way (which she does not do, by the way....)

Gaye

But back to my favorite topic...Shoes!!
HELP!
I'm heading to Delhi in 2 weeks and after reading all the posts re what to wear on my feet I'm totally confused. I have size 5/6 feet so buying shoes shouldnt be a problem BUT I wear orthodic insoles so I now really dont know what I should bring. Any advice girls??? My list is as follows:
hiking boots
leather sandals
treking sandals
trainers
Will I really not be able to wear my trainers or treking sandals with a SK? Also as I plan to go Rajasthan in late Nov/early Dec just how cold will it get? (I HATE the cold) and how hot during the day? I'm really trying to only bring 2 pairs of shoes but am always happy to buy more on the way...

Remember; You dont need a man to be happy... you need shoes, lots and lots of shoes!!

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PRIYA

You can wear them if you wish ........but you'll get funny looks and they will look odd . Seeing you have a shoe fetish, wait until you get to India. I'm sure you'll find plenty of shoes for your SK's, but I don't think you'll be able to utilise your inner-soles.

Whatever you decide........ENJOY YOUR JOURNEY.

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laneelee

Make it easy on yourself ladies. Cover up! You'll get enough attention without being dressed western. I totally second the advice given here! COVER UP!

laneelee

as far as the shoes, I took a covered toe leather sandal by Keen. Only thing i wore besides flipflops. Totally worth the 100 bucks. Comfortable and dirtand shit guarding!

Sama

can you post a pic of what they look like?