How to Dress in India — Clothing Tips for Women
Traveling to India? It's important to realize that many of
the clothes that we wear at home are not appropriate for India, either in terms
of the climate or in terms of the culture. As far as the culture is concerned,
India is simply not a country where one can safely go around dressed as most of
us do in the West, so it’s important to be familiar with the Indian dress code
and the reasons behind it. Moreover, many styles of dress that are perfectly
acceptable in the West are downright offensive to most Indians. For this
reason, you may be better off buying clothes once you arrive. A great excuse to
go shopping - and clothes are so much cheaper than back home.
Whether you believe it
should or not, how you dress profoundly affects how people respond to you (this
is even more the case in India than in most other countries). Women who dress
and act modestly are much more highly regarded than those who flout the cultural
norms, and they are safer from sexual harassment. Wearing clothing that is
indecent by Indian standards is insulting to the culture, and it also gives men
the idea that you are available for sexual favors to anyone who wants you -
even if your behavior emphatically indicates the opposite.
It’s true that many girls and women - especially in Mumbai
and Delhi and other places that see a lot of tourists, as well as on college
campuses - have taken to wearing jeans with short tops, etc. However, as a visitor,
you are already at a disadvantage due to common preconceptions, so it is much
safer to dress a bit more conservatively. And don’t look to Bollywood or
fashion magazines for cues on how to dress; they have nothing to do with real
life.
While it’s OK to wear
Western clothes most places, it’s essential to wear them in a manner that is
respectful to the very modest Indian culture. Virtually every Indian, including
both men and women (not to mention several foreigners), to whom I mentioned my
book (Enjoying India: The Essential Handbook) told me, “I hope you are going to
tell the women how to dress!” Most Indians are much too polite to tell you to
your face if you are inappropriately dressed, but they certainly notice.
Basic standards of modesty all over India require that you
cover your knees, upper arms, shoulders, cleavage and midriff. It’s acceptable
for your midriff to be exposed when wearing a sari, but not otherwise. Shorts
and short skirts are not acceptable. Underwear should always be worn discreetly
under your clothes where it belongs, and it should not show at all; moreover, a
bra is essential unless you are as flat-chested as an eight-year old.
When wearing pants, go
for loose, tunic-style tops that cover your crotch and buttocks. At home, many
of us like to wear our blouses neatly tucked into jeans or slacks, but here,
it’s better to let them hang out. One great advantage of wearing long tops is
that they hide the fact that your underwear is visible through thin fabric so
you can wear lightweight pants in hot weather.
If you bring a swimsuit, it should be a conservative one,
no matter where you plan to wear it; a one-piece is preferable. On the way to
or from the beach or pool, or whenever you are interacting with locals, put
something modest on over your swimsuit. Bikinis are not acceptable, even in
Goa, where many women wear them anyway. In certain conservative locations and in many places of
worship, you will also need to cover your head. Observe what the local women
do, and do likewise.
Traditional Indian
clothes are more comfortable than Western clothes, especially in the heat. Even
in extremely hot weather, having your arms and legs covered with very light
cotton actually keeps you cooler than shorts and halter tops can. And most
Indians love it when you wear Indian dress because it shows your appreciation
of their culture. Wearing traditional clothing also serves as a great
ice-breaker; many people will comment on it, and you will find that the
comments are generally very appreciative.
If you’d like to try Indian clothes, you’ll probably want
to start with one of the two basic varieties of ladies’ pantsuits: the
salwar-kameez (a.k.a. Punjabi suit), which consists of a long tunic top
(kameez) over baggy pants (salwar) which are banded at the bottom, or the
churidhar-kameez, which has the kameez over skinny straight pants (churidhar)
that are worn bunched around the calf and ankle. Incidentally, churidhars are mainly
worn by young women and teens, and not so much by older women in most places. A
scarf draped across the front completes the outfit; the scarf (chunni or
dupatta) is an essential part of the ensemble, without which you may be
regarded as an immoral woman, especially in small towns and villages.
In many parts of South India, as well as a few other
places, ankle-length skirts (lehngas) worn with an over blouse and a large
scarf are common. However, do pay attention to which styles of dress are worn
by women of your own age to avoid unwittingly parading around in something
considered childish or inappropriate. Long dresses are not traditional; the
ankle-length dresses you see for sale everywhere are really nightgowns. While
it’s OK wear one, say, to the corner market for some milk, or while having
morning chai with friends on the veranda, it’s not acceptable to wear one all
day.
The sari, which is arguably the most beautiful style of
dress in the world, is the most common form of women’s clothing; it’s worn almost
everywhere in India, although it’s wrapped in different ways according to local
custom. Saris are comfortable and easy to wear once you get used to them. It’s
fun to learn to wrap one, and any Indian woman will be happy to show you how to
do it.
Incidentally, those long, plain cotton ‘skirts’ that you
see for sale are actually sari petticoats. They may look like long skirts, but
they are undergarments that are worn under saris. If you wear one as a skirt,
people will stare at you mercilessly. Only an extremely poor woman who had
nothing else would ever wear one as a skirt.
A conservative Western-style dress or business suit (i.e.,
below knee length and not too tight or low-cut) is appropriate for doing
business in India. If you prefer a pantsuit, it should cover your buttocks and
crotch.
For social meetings with business associates, you can wear
conservative dresses, or nice pantsuits, either Indian or Western style. Long
pants and modest tops are the norm for sports activities; shorts are not acceptable
except in some exclusive health clubs (but you would normally change their
rather than wearing the shorts en route). See what the Indian women you are
working with wear for casual attire and follow their example - as long as it is
reasonably modest, of course. Evening attire may be extremely fancy, depending
on the occasion; saris can be worn for many celebrations.
Even if you are a budget traveler, you’ll need at least one
nice outfit to dress up in if the occasion calls for it. Whenever you go
somewhere that requires getting dressed up, ask your friends what is
appropriate. If you are invited to a wedding or other fancy event, ask an
Indian friend or acquaintance to take you shopping for clothes. You might also
be able to borrow something for the occasion. Incidentally, Indians are
generally much too polite to tell guests that they are dressed inappropriately
even when asked directly, so you have to figure out in advance what is the
right thing to wear.
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