What do I wear as a non-Indian guest to an Indian wedding or event?

Choose a modest, colorful outfit — a sari, lehenga, salwar kameez, sharara, or gharara. For weddings, avoid white and black (mourning colors) and avoid red unless you are the bride. For Diwali or garba, brighter and bolder is welcome. Come in, tell us the event, and you are out the door in 20 minutes.

Do you carry red bridal lehengas?

Not many. Traditional bridal red, maroon and burgundy is not what we stock deeply. What we do have: bridal lehengas in plum, emerald, navy, ivory and gold, and sarees in red with unstitched blouses you can have made to any shape you want.

What's a reasonable budget for a wedding-guest outfit?

Most guests spend $150 to $250 on a complete outfit — sarees, salwar kameez and lehengas all sit in that range, with the simpler pieces at the lower end. Individually: sarees from $150, salwar kameez from $100, lehengas from $200. Kids outfits are $50 to $125. No pressure, no upselling.

How long does a fitting take?

Many customers walk out in 20 minutes, brides included. You come in with a problem, we solve it that day. We are an efficient in-and-out store, not a two-hour bridal appointment atelier. Made-to-measure wedding party orders are the exception — those are placed online and take about three months.

Do you carry kids' and menswear?

Yes to both. Kids outfits for boys and girls run $50 to $125, with most between $50 and $75. Menswear: kurta pajamas $75 to $125, sherwanis from $250, jodhpuri suits and Indo-western outfits $250 to $350, vests from $100, bridal stoles around $100, and shoes $75 to $100.

Can I buy just a dupatta, blouse, petticoat, or accessory on its own?

Yes — we sell almost everything a la carte. Petticoats are $15, sari falls are $3, and turban cloth (pagri) is about $3.50 a yard. We also sell dupattas, skirts, blouses fitted individually, fabric for tailoring, artificial jewelry, bangles, tikkas, and other accessories. Come in whether you need a whole outfit or just one missing piece.

Where are you located and when are you open?

18507 Pioneer Boulevard, Artesia, California 90701 — in Little India. Free rear-lot parking. Open Tuesday through Sunday until 6:45 PM. Closed Mondays.

Do you ship or offer virtual fittings?

For everyday shopping we are an in-person store — the point of visiting is trying things on, and you can DM us on Instagram beforehand so we set options aside. Wedding parties are different: bridesmaid and groomsmen outfits are made to measure and ordered online through our order forms, with about three months of lead time.

How much do mens Indian outfits cost?

Kurta pajamas are $75 to $125. Sherwanis start at $250. Jodhpuri suits and Indo-western outfits are $250 to $350. Vests start at $100, bridal stoles are around $100, and mens shoes are $75 to $100. Come in and try things on — most men are dressed in about 20 minutes.

Can you dress my whole bridal party — bridesmaids and groomsmen?

Yes. Bridesmaids choose a pre-draped sari or a pant suit, $150 to $200 each. Groomsmen get a kurta pajama with a vest, or just the vest. Everything is made to measure in one colour picked from our 294-thread card, so the whole party matches. You order online through our wedding party order forms and we confirm every line with you before anything is made.

How far ahead do I need to order bridesmaid and groomsmen outfits?

About three months. These are made to order and come from our supplier in India, so we will not promise a wedding date we cannot hit. If your date is closer than that, come into the store — we carry saris, lehengas and menswear in stock and have dressed whole parties off the floor in an afternoon.

Sari, Lehenga, Salwar or Sharara? Six Silhouettes Decoded

August 30, 2023

Six silhouettes, six very different experiences of wearing them. 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.

The 30-second version:

Most comfortable: salwar kameez or anarkali.
Most formal: lehenga.
Most classic: sari — but it needs pinning and practice.
Best for dancing: sharara, gharara, or chaniya choli.
Most modest for a ceremony: anarkali or a full-sleeve sharara set.

The three you hear most

Three womens silhouettes with labeled parts: a sari (1 choli blouse, 2 sari body, 3 pallu), a lehenga (4 choli, 5 lehenga skirt), and a salwar kameez (6 kameez tunic, 7 salwar trousers)

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.

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.

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

Three more womens silhouettes with labeled parts: a sharara (1 wide-flared pants), a gharara (2 fitted knee, 3 flare below), and an anarkali (4 floor-length flowy tunic)

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.
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.
Reception or sangeet? Lehenga, or a sari with a statement blouse.

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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