Your Guide To Styling Kurtis For Every Mood And Occasion
By Khushi Madan
Ladies, we’ve all been there — a closet full of clothes, yet nothing to wear. Often it’s because we’re bored of the way we’ve been styling ourselves. You spend big every month on kurtis and accessories for all occasions, yet still find yourself looking basic — and the root problem is usually that you’re either not investing in the right pieces or not categorising them right.
Tired of the same old mainstream kurti styles? Want to spice up your OOTDs and set an impression on friends or co-workers? Then you’ve walked right into our style therapy session: how to style kurtis for every mood and occasion.
1. Classic keepsakes
The classic white kurti is the ethnic equivalent of the little black dress — a staple. Most women make the mistake of investing in a single white kurti and mixing and matching it for every occasion. Efficient, yes, but not necessarily stylish. We’ve narrowed it down to two must-haves.
Anarkali
The anarkali leans classy and sophisticated. Pair it with a statement phulkari dupatta for a festive look, or a simple block-printed dupatta for a dressier one. A long-line shrug with a statement belt would cause quite a scandal.
A-line
A modest attire for simpler occasions is the A-line kurta — great as office wear or everyday casual. Pair it with quirky totes and cute strappy block heels, and add handcrafted statement jewellery, which is a hot trend right now.
2. Bon voyage, chérie!
Want to explore the world with comfort and style? You can always rely on ethnic wear for that.
Sleeveless kurta with palazzos
A straight sleeveless kurta with a breezy palazzo is the ideal ethnic travel wear. Pair it with a matching dupatta, scarf or even a headwrap for that indie look — and sunglasses are a must. Depending on the place and how much walking you’ll do, pick your bag: a suede satchel for the boho-traveller look, or a medium handheld structure to keep things classy.
Kaftan
Another vacation-friendly kurta is the kaftan. Wear it as a dress if it’s long enough and pair it with a statement belt, or as a tunic with straight cigarette pants. A quirky sling makes the perfect arm candy for the bohemian look.
3. Rendezvous romance
Whether it’s a lunch date with the beau or a brunch with your girlfriends, we know exactly what you need.
Simple tunics
If you like to keep it sweet and simple, short tunic kurtis with straight pants are your go-to look. Accessorise with minimalistic jewellery.
Chic printed kurtis
You like to go all out no matter the occasion — just keep the boundaries of ethnic fashion in mind. For brunch and lunch dates, printed luxe kurti sets are effortlessly ideal. Go for lighter fabrics like chiffon, georgette and organza to avoid overdoing it, and pair with the trendiest handheld structures and statement jewellery to slay the look.
4. Grand affairs
To make it simple, we’ve narrowed it down to three occasions.
The festive outfit
A dhoti kurti hits different — in the best way. A piping-hot trend, it makes a significant difference to your collection: body-hugging up top and flared from the waist down, it flatters women of all sizes, while the dhoti adds comfort and style. You know what to count on for those extra compliments.
The wedding outfit
Any kurti in luxurious fabric with embellishments makes a lovely wedding outfit — go for contrasting colours to stand out. A translucent long-line kurti with an inner blouse and wide-leg trousers is something you don’t see often and would be a showstopper. Bling it with pearls, silver or gold jewellery and a designer clutch or potli.
Cocktail kurti
Whether it’s an office party or an anniversary, cocktail kurtis are your go-to. Heavily embellished and mostly in darker colours, they’re a party on their own. Just remember: if the kurti is heavily embellished, keep accessories minimal — otherwise, let that inner diva have her spotlight.
Do let us know in the comments if we’ve missed anything. Meanwhile, explore YourLibaas for more such outfit ideas.
