Not really, but I do have a fair bit of trouble with it. The shirt is long and the pants are W I D E, so it can be a bit cumbersome. It's hard to know what's in fashion and I fear that no matter what, everything my mother-in-law sends me is actually way way out of fashion. People are always looking at me to see if I'm wearing American clothes or Shalwar Kameez, like it's some party trick to show up in shalwar kameez (at which point I'll have to endure questions about how I like it...)
LuckyFatima asked me (back on this post when I shamelessly solicited for blog ideas) about my experiences with shalwar kameez, "shopping, tailoring, choosing a design, wearing, etc."
First up I guess would be wearing. I don't really mind shalwar kameez, which literally translates to "pants shirt." It's wide, billowy pants that cinch around the waist with a rope (or elastic if you Pakistani mother in law thinks you might not be able to handle the zarban) and a long tunic with slits halfway up the sides. The length and width and cut of the material varies as fashion dictates. Apparently when my mother in law was a young newlywed in the 70's, kameez, or shirts, where not really that long. As with all fashion, that shorter-shirt style has come back into fashion just recently. But I've seen some where the shirt reached way past the knees, too!
I don't mind the shirt at all, and in fact I love to wear it paired with jeans. I've never been a fan on the shalwar, or billowy pants, though. It's just too much material, and it's insubstantial compared to the jeans I wear every day. Plus, when I'm wearing jeans & a kameez (or kurta, which is similar) I feel like it represents my 1/2 of both identities. And people always stop me to say what a pretty top I'm wearing.
The last component of the shalwar kameez outfit for women is the dupatta. It's a scarf that women wear, and shalwar kameez is sold as a 3-piece set just for that reason. Sometimes women use the scarf as a hijab to cover their hair, sometimes they just drape it over their bodies, and sometimes they drape it over and wear a different hair-cover. Now THAT thing is a pain in the butt. It's long, sometimes four feet, and it's always in the way, or stuck in the door, or getting splashed near the sink! In the early years I would not even use it, but it's like - scandalous! - to be without a dupatta when we're in Pakistan, so I'd take it along when we left the house.
When you're a mother, though, you realize the wonder that is the dupatta! Imagine having an always-accesible baby wipe! Need to clean some hands or wipe a nose? Dupatta! Need to dry out a baby's bottle? Dupatta! (use a different corner than the nose-wipe one, though. Ick!)
Really, it's just time that helps one deal with the dupatta, and eventually you'll be as adept with it as the desi girls are, whipping it around into all sorts of positions and fashions. Except for that one crazy fabric that's always poufy. I still look like a fool when I wear shalwar kameez made out of that fabric.
Ladies, if you struggle with your dupatta, I like this site for the basic styles to wear a dupatta. (Oh yes, there are ADVANCED ones out there too!) Just practice in your mirror, and safety-pin it in various positions so that you're not constantly fussing with it. But remember not to safety-pin too much, or you'll have to find someone to help you go to the bathroom. (Hypothetically.....speaking.....of course.)
Next up: Tailors! Fabric! Designs! Oh my!
9 comments:
I agree with using the duputta as a napkin. My husband was so used to doing it to his mom, that he sometimes does it to me.
I have worn salwar kameez all my life, and throughout school. I used to look traditional with the flower patterns or sequins, but now I wear modern looking kameez's. I get solid colors, mostly neutrals, and trousers not salwars made instead.
It is a lot easier now to not have to worry about finding the right material for suits when finding kurtas and baby doll dresses are so much easier. Being Desi these days is the latest fashion trend.
Nothing beats shopping in Pakistan though. My MIL was a great bargainer for the ready made suits.
I always have a waistband done instead of a zaarband, and so do my ILs. It is just a matter of convenience.
The shorter qameez with tang shalwar (slimmer leg instead of wide leg pantaloon) is evergreen and very slimming, though the qameez length was very high just a few summers ago. To be safe, right above the knees is classic.
Right now, it is a long qameez, a few inches past the knee, paired with a tight above ankle trouser. Or if you are a modren type girl you can do capris, but this won't go over well in conservative families. I remember this hilarious blog post of Sobia's (she may have deleted her archive) in which her ILs wouldn't show her around in their ancestral village because she was wearing trouser-qameez and that would make them seem be-sharm to have a modren trouser bahu who would make there naak get kataai-ed for the people who work on their farm! Umm, yes, I know, English pleeaze. But it was really too funny! Her SILs wear trousers in the city, but it is all about keeping up appearances in front of their indentured peasant farmers!
For my ILs, even my MIL wears the trouser look sometimes, though. Though she is conscious of not wearing clothing or colors that she feels are too youthful. But they are all "dupatta on the shoulder" girlz, and sometimes they wear off-sleeves. Scandalous, I know...tsk tsk!
I have seen wide-leg pants or "flappers" in some of the newest fashion mags like Libas and She, so I suspect that will be in next season.
I always feel frumpy because my SILs are into the latest fashion and I end up with very plain stuff and always go for that same "evergreen" cut. We only go to PK once or twice a year, and the fashion changes so fast, so I can't keep up. But one way I learned to predict the fashion: what you see in style this Spring/Summer in the US mags, you will see the next season in Pk. Like the wide-leg pants trend is the "flappers." The Skinny Jeans is the "tight trouser," etc.
I love the shalwars! ... okay well I wear my kameezes with jeans.. but the shalwars are so comfy to sleep in or just to wear around the home if you dont feel like looking all pretty haha. they're so roomy and the cotton is so soft.. if you get the right kind. i only wear shalwar kamees if the pants are bootcut styled
Hey i accidently stumble upon your blog and so far loving it. So you are talking about shalwar kameez. My mom just returned from karachi and i can tell you that Anarkali are the in fashion. This mean shirts will be going way passed the knees and you can wear Anarkali with shalwar, trouser, capri and chori daar payjama.
Again excellent blog.
Huma
Desi is so much in honestly.
my blog name could speak volumes about it :D
but tell you what i love shalwars... and patyaalis are the ultimate.
cant get over the fact that a fashion freak like me doesnt like capri pants or something ... but then i have a lil of self which i prefer to hide from public eye :P
this most knocked my americanising out :P
So glad I don't have to deal with dupattas. Those things can be a pain-in-the-arse.
your blog is very nice. You have a nice collection.
Please visit my site if you have a time.
http://shijifashion.blogspot.com
Thanks
I finally want an Anarkali suit. My friend has all types of suits, but she prefers the traditional punjabi shalwar(not patiala style though). I guess it depends one each one's taste...if I travel to India this year inshallah I'll get myself enough nice ones :P
First of all, I really love your way of writing. As a western Swedish/Danish woman engaged to a Pakistani man (he has just told his father that he has someone he likes, and wants to marry...) this blog is really just immensely helpful in every single way (and entertaining). It really makes me realise how clueless I really am, and how much I have to learn.
Secondly...the dupatta. I really love this part of the Pakistani/Indian dress since I've actually always worn one of sorts, even way before I met my fiancé. It is just so practical to have one that functions both as an elegant wrap and an impromptu blanket for long bus rides. :)
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