Shalwar kameez, like the sari, chuni or dupatta, is considered an integral part of the wardrobe of an Indian girl. Comparing Indian outfits with European ones, it should be noted that the clothes listed above can be called such familiar words as a suit, cape, dress, scarf. But European names cannot convey all the originality and splendor of Indian clothing.
Fashion from India
This costume is considered a traditional Indian dress for women. Comfortable attire is most popular in the Punjab region, so the costume is often referred to as punjabi, in addition, you can hear such a pronunciation as salwar kameez.
Since the Middle Ages, Punjabi costumes have attracted Indian girls, because they give dignity and grace to the appearance. Over time, these clothes have been transformed, designs and styles have changed. The main highlights of the suit are convenience and versatility. Shalwar kameez will be appropriate both in everyday life and at a celebration.
Clothing history
Salwar kameez is traditionalclothes worn by men and women of South and Central Asia. Also, the attire is considered national in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
And although the costume is very popular and widespread among girls in Bangladesh and India, however, there is no real information about how the shalwar kameez ended up in India. Studies show that these clothes appeared during the Mongol invasion. But truly shalwar kameez costumes spread in the 16th century after the arrival of the state of Islam.
What is the costume made of?
Classic Punjabi is a combination of three parts:
- Salwar (shalwar) are wide pants. Often they are spacious at the top and narrower at the bottom. At the waist, the salwar is pulled together with a soft belt or lace. In addition to spacious pants, there are tight tight-fitting models, they are called churidar.
- Kamiz is a long tunic worn with shalwars. There are high slits on the sides, which allow the girls to move freely.
- This outfit must be complemented by a cape. She is called dhupatta.
Varieties of styles of traditional Indian clothes
Today, designers come up with a large number of innovative models and styles. Nowadays, the kameez has a wide variety of necklines. In the manufacture of costumes, various decorative elements are used - sequins, beads, embroideries and much more. And although the traditional kameez should reach the knees, this is not so important, because modern robes have long bypassed everythingexisting frameworks and limitations.
Common Indian three-piece shalwar kameez has many varieties.
Churidar. The costume consists of tight trousers, they can be much longer than the legs and gather in numerous folds. In this case, the tunic is often below the knee, and the scarf is put on the head.
Patiala style. Trousers-harem pants on a wide yoke with folds at the bottom can hide figure flaws. They are complemented by a short tunic and a head scarf. According to legend, this costume came into fashion thanks to the Maharaja of Patial.
Anarkali. The bright attire consists of narrowed trousers and a tunic in the form of a sundress, it is narrow on top, and flared from the chest.
Parallel Indian costume. The three-piece suit consists of a straight tunic, straight trousers and a classic scarf.
Sharara. The attire consists of flared trousers, a short tunic with or without short sleeves and a classic shawl.
Why do Indian women choose shalwar kameez?
With the development of freedom, love for the Punjabi spread throughout India. And today, the suit, along with the sari, is considered national. Salwar kameez is very popular among Indian women for a number of reasons:
- Convenience. In this outfit, the girl always feels comfortable, Punjabi will be appropriate in any weather. Moreover, this attire can be called both a dress and trousers at the same time.
- Great selection of designs and styles. According to the type of Punjabi design, there are designer, embroidered or printed patterns. For making costumesuse a variety of fabrics. For everyday wear, cotton is chosen, for evening dresses, silk, organza or chiffon are best suited.
- By choosing a shalwar kameez in style and size, you can hide all the flaws of your figure and emphasize its advantages.
- Versatility and elegance. In such clothes, you can go to work or walk, while the suit will make the image more feminine and romantic.
Decoration of Indian clothes
Punjabi conquers at first sight. But it's not just a variety of styles, models and fabrics, a large selection of jewelry plays a significant role. And this is not only embroidery and rhinestones, the costume is decorated with various ornaments and even mirrors.
As for shoes, stiletto heeled sandals or embroidered slippers are best suited for such clothes. Indian style bracelets on the arms and legs will complete the look.
Like other clothes, Punjabi can be purchased in specialized stores, but if you want to become the owner of a high-quality elegant outfit, then it is best to sew a shalwar kameez in accordance with the individual characteristics of your figure.
Sewing Indian clothes
And although today there are many designs of costumes, however, there are two main differences, according to which salwar kameez are divided into two groups: models with wide-cut trousers and trousers that fit the legs (churidar). Their main difference is that the churidars are very narrow at the bottom, and there are many folds in the ankle area, and the more of them, the more beautiful it will look.outfit. Punjabi with bloomers will be an excellent option for dancing, in such a suit any girl will feel as comfortable as possible.
If we talk about kameez, the variety of models is simply amazing. They can be sewn from various materials such as cotton, silk, chiffon, tulle and more. All this is decorated with rhinestones, sequins, appliqués, embroidery, etc. The length can be short, reach the knees or ankles.
Pattern: Shalwar Kameez
Drawing bloomers at first glance may seem rather complicated, but in fact, not everything is so scary. The main thing is to follow all the steps described in the instructions with which you are working. For pants, it is best to choose an elastic material - jersey, lycra or stretch cotton will do.
Before you start building, you should clearly measure everything: the length from the waist to the ankles, the volume of the hips, the length from the waist to the knees and from the waist to the lower leg. In addition, you need to measure the volume of the knees, shins and ankles.
The first step is to draw a straight line corresponding to the desired length of the product (the length from the waist to the ankles). Next, the line must be stretched down another 20 cm and marked as a border. After that, on the drawing from above, you need to measure the intermediate line, it is considered as follows: divide the volume of the hips by three and add 5 cm.
Also, the line of the knee and the line of the lower leg should be noted on the drawing, they must correspond to the measurements that were previously made. At an intermediate mark, you need to draw a perpendicular line, it is equal to 1/3hips plus 9 cm. A perpendicular line should also be drawn at knee level: 1/2 knee plus 2.5 cm.
Continuing the drawing, draw perpendicular lines at the level of the lower leg and ankle. Each of the volumes is divided in half and 2.5 cm are added. The border line is also equal to half the volume of the ankle plus 2.5 cm.
The end of the intermediate line is marked with point O. You also need to mark the second point from point O, it is equal to 1/12 of the volume of the hips plus 2.5 cm. At this point, you need to draw a perpendicular line and connect it to the waist line. Next, connect all the dots as shown in the drawing, and the pattern is ready.
For sewing a kameez, you can use the basic pattern of any dress or tunic, changing the shape of the neckline or the length of the sleeve, thereby creating different models.
It is possible to achieve the desired aesthetic effect, but for this it is important to choose the right fabric, Punjabi silhouette, its length and style. The shalwar kameez suits, the photos of which are presented above, will help you make the right choice.
