THE WEDDING GUIDE

Six Indian outfit silhouettes

Six silhouettes, six very different experiences of wearing them.

LOVELEEN SARI PALACE · ARTESIA · SINCE 1990

Indian women’s clothing comes in more shapes than most people expect. If you’re shopping for an Indian wedding, Diwali , or a garba and the words are blurring together, this is the plain-English version — what each one actually is, how it feels to move in, and which occasion it suits.

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Browse a few looks for color, silhouette and styling ideas. What is in store changes often, so visit us to see current options.

Swipe or use the arrows to browse. Photos show outfit ideas; available sizes and colors vary.

What if I don’t want to wear a sari?

You do not have to. A sari is one beautiful option, not the entry requirement. Start with the shape you normally feel good in: pants, a dress-like silhouette, or a skirt-and-top set.

If you prefer pants

Palazzo suits and shararas give you the ease of pants while still looking celebratory. A palazzo suit has wide trousers under a tunic; a sharara has wide, flared pants that move almost like a skirt. Pants can absolutely be dressed up for a wedding: fabric, embellishment, styling and the event’s dress code determine how formal they feel.

Rose pink palazzo suit, shown with a sage dupatta.

Turquoise embroidered sharara set: tunic with wide, flared pants.

If you prefer a dress-like silhouette

Anarkalis and gowns are a natural starting point when you usually reach for a dress. They give you one long, flowing line and are easy to move in; choose the individual neckline, sleeves and length that feel right for you.

Crimson printed anarkali gown: a dress-like, flowing silhouette.

If you prefer a skirt and top

A lehenga is the skirt-and-top option. It has the most dramatic movement of the three, and the blouse, skirt and any accompanying dupatta can be styled to the level of the event. A small pair of earrings or a bangle stack is often enough; you do not need to over-accessorize.

Match the coverage and the occasion

For more coverage, look at the specific outfit rather than assuming every style offers the same thing. A full-sleeve sharara set or a higher-neck anarkali can be a good starting point for a ceremony, while another sharara or gown may be cut quite differently. For ceremony expectations, see our guides to Sikh weddings, Hindu weddings and Muslim weddings.

For a sangeet, a lighter sharara, a more embellished palazzo suit or a lehenga can work well when you want room to dance. For a reception, an anarkali, gown, sari or lehenga can make sense depending on the invitation; let the formality lead rather than treating one outfit as right for every event.

Tell us what you usually feel comfortable wearing—pants, dresses or skirts—and we’ll help you find an outfit that feels like you. Book a visit; walk-ins are welcome.

The three you hear most

Sari

One continuous six-yard length of fabric, pleated at the waist and draped over the shoulder, worn with a fitted blouse (choli) and a petticoat underneath.

• Feels like: elegant, but it needs pinning. First-timers should have it draped for them.
• Best for: receptions, temple ceremonies, formal evenings.
• Note: a pre-draped sari is stitched into a ready-to-wear shape — same look, no pinning. Great if you’ve never worn one, and it is what most bridesmaid parties end up choosing. You can order one for a whole party through the bridesmaid outfit order form — pre-draped sari or pant suit, made to measure, $150 to $200 each, one color across the group, about three months ahead.

Lehenga

A two-piece: a cropped fitted blouse plus a long flared skirt, usually with a dupatta (long scarf).

• Feels like: a ballgown. Heavy at the hem, dramatic when you move.
• Best for: sangeet, reception, the dressiest events. Bridal lehengas are the most elaborate version.

Floral pink lehenga
For a bright sangeet or reception.

Emerald green lehenga
For a formal wedding event.

Salwar kameez

A tunic (kameez) worn over loose trousers (salwar), with a dupatta.

• Feels like: the most relaxed of all of them. You can sit cross-legged on the floor without adjusting anything.
• Best for: daytime functions, gurdwara ceremonies, mehndi, or any long event.

Three more worth knowing

Sharara

A tunic worn over wide, flared, floor-length pants that fall straight from the waist. Reads almost like a skirt when you walk.

• Best for: anything. Ceremony-appropriate with full sleeves, festive enough for a reception.

Gharara

Similar to a sharara, but the pants are fitted through the thigh and knee, then flare dramatically from the knee down. Traditionally Lucknawi.

• Best for: nikah ceremonies, walimas, and anyone who wants something a little less common.

Anarkali

A floor-length flowy tunic, fitted at the bust then flaring out, worn over slim trousers or churidar.

• Best for: honestly, almost everything. It’s the most forgiving cut, the most modest, and the easiest to wear if you’ve never worn Indian formalwear.

Which should you pick?

• First time in Indian clothes? Anarkali or salwar kameez. And if you are not Indian and wondering whether any of this is yours to wear, the short answer is yes. Planning several wedding events? Start with our first-time wedding guest checklist.
• Want the classic look? Sari — come in and let us drape it so you can see how it sits.
• Going to be dancing? Sharara, gharara, or a lighter lehenga.
• Ceremony at a gurdwara, mosque, or temple? Long sleeves, high neckline, floor length. Anarkali or sharara set. For setting-specific expectations, see Sikh weddings, Hindu weddings and Muslim weddings.
• Reception or sangeet? Lehenga, or a sari with a statement blouse.

You do not need a different outfit for every event. If both dress codes work, the same look can take you through the day; changing a blouse or dupatta, or your jewelry, is optional rather than another purchase you need to make. See the fuller checklist advice for planning several wedding events.

The invitation says pastels. Which outfit should I choose?

Pastel Indian dresses and outfits can take several forms. A soft pink sharara gives you the ease of pants, a pale lehenga gives you a skirt-and-top silhouette, and a mint or sage pre-draped sari gives you a draped look. An anarkali can work when you prefer a dress-like shape. Choose the silhouette you feel comfortable in, then find a soft shade within the requested palette.

Pastel does not automatically mean casual: embroidery, cut and styling still determine how dressy an outfit feels. Check the event’s coverage requirements as well as its colors. Explore pastel wedding guest looks, or show us the invitation when you visit and we will help you choose.

A note on sizing

Most of these are adjustable in ways Western clothing isn’t — sari blouses are fitted, lehenga waists have drawstrings, anarkalis are cut generously. We size most people on the floor in a few minutes. Don’t let a size chart talk you out of coming in.

Come try them on

Reading about the difference between a sharara and a gharara only gets you so far. Put three of them on and you’ll know in five minutes which one is you.

Most guests are in and out in 20 minutes. Walk-ins welcome. Free parking in the rear lot. 18507 Pioneer Blvd, Artesia, CA. Tue–Sun, until 6:45 PM. Closed Mondays.

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Related guides

• What to wear to a Sikh wedding
• What to wear to a Hindu wedding
• What to wear to a Muslim wedding
• Mens outfit guide to an Indian wedding
• How to clean and store Indian clothes
• Coordinating as a couple — how to match without matching
• Going while pregnant? — the silhouettes that work, and when to shop