Frequently Asked Questions
Planning a visit? Start with appointments, fit, and outfit guidance below. We’ll help you try a few styles and choose with confidence. Book a styling visit or walk in.
Visiting the store
Do I need an appointment, or can I walk in?
Walk-ins welcome. Prefer a planned visit? Book a styling appointment so we can help you compare outfits, fit, and colours for your event.
What should I wear to come shopping?
Wear something easy to change out of. Bring the shoes you plan to wear if you’d like us to check the hem. Your usual colours are a helpful starting point; we’ll help you explore options you feel comfortable in.
Where are you located?
18507 Pioneer Boulevard, Artesia, California 90701 — on Pioneer Blvd in Artesia's Little India district, the largest South Asian shopping district in Southern California.
Where do I park?
Three options, in the order you'd want them:
- Our free lot, directly behind the store. Free, closest, and what most people use.
- The public lot behind that one. Sometimes metered.
- Street parking on Pioneer. Metered.
The free lot fills up on weekends and through wedding season. If it's full when you arrive, keep going — the public lot is immediately behind it.
What are your hours?
Open Tuesday through Sunday until 6:45 PM. Closed Mondays.
How long does a visit take?
Allow time to try a few outfits and check the fit. A simple visit may be quick; multiple events or group shopping can take longer. Tell us if you’re on a tight schedule.
Is there anything I should bring?
Three things help, none are required:
- The invitation, or just the date and type of event
- A photo of anything you've been sent or seen that you liked
- The shoes you plan to wear, if the length matters to you
If you're coordinating with other people, bring a photo of what they're wearing.
What languages do you speak?
English, Spanish, Hindi, Punjabi and Gujarati.
If English isn't the language you'd rather do this in, it doesn't have to be. We can handle the whole visit in any of them.
Fit, alterations and care
Do you do alterations?
Ready-to-wear outfits that fit can be taken home the same day. If alterations are needed, we’ll confirm the cost and completion time before you purchase. During the Diwali rush, shopping earlier gives you more time for adjustments. We only tailor what you buy from us.
Are blouses ready to wear, or do they need stitching?
Both, and it's worth knowing the difference before you come in.
- Ready to wear — finished blouses you can try on and take home the same day.
- Unstitched — blouse fabric you have made up to whatever shape and neckline you want. Slower, but it's how you get exactly the cut you had in mind.
If you're not sure which you want, come in and try the ready-to-wear ones first. It's the fastest way to work out what shape actually suits you.
I don't know my size in Indian clothing. Is that a problem?
No problem. Indian sizing varies by garment and does not always match US labels. Try a few outfits in our fitting rooms and we’ll help check the fit, movement, and length before you decide.
How do I care for these clothes once I've bought them?
Carefully, and mostly not in a washing machine. Delicate fabrics and hand-embroidery each want something different, and the storage mistakes are what actually ruin outfits over time. Full care and storage guide.
Groomsmen and wedding parties
Do you dress entire wedding parties?
Yes. We help coordinate groomsmen, bridesmaids, family members, and children. Compare kurta pajama sets, vests, and other outfits, then choose colours and a style that work for your group. Start your groomsmen order or book a group styling visit.
How far ahead should a bride or wedding party come in?
For custom wedding-party orders, plan about two months ahead and confirm the lead time with us. Ready-to-wear outfits that fit can go home the same day; alterations need extra time. Shop earlier for Diwali or a group event so you have room for adjustments.
Can you help coordinate colors across a group?
Yes. We’ll help you compare colours and styles for a coordinated group. Inspiration photos, the event details, and any palette from the couple are useful. See wedding-party outfit ideas.
Do you carry red bridal lehengas?
Our selection of traditional red, maroon, and burgundy bridal lehengas is limited. Message us before travelling if you’re looking for a specific bridal style.
Budget
What should I expect to spend on a guest outfit?
Salwar kameez sets start around $100, sarees around $150, and lehengas around $200. Prices vary by style. Accessories, draping, and alterations may cost extra; we’ll explain what’s included before you decide.
What does everything else cost?
Rough ranges, so you can plan before you come in. Everything below is off the rack unless it says made to measure, and none of it includes tailoring, which is charged separately.
Men
- Kurta pajama — $75 to $125
- Vest — from $100
- Sherwani — from $250
- Jodhpuri suit or Indo-western — $250 to $350
- Bridal stole — around $100
- Shoes — $75 to $100
Kids
- Boys and girls — $50 to $125, with most between $50 and $75
Single pieces and fabric
- Petticoat — $15
- Sari fall — $3
- Turban cloth (pagri), by the yard — about $3.50 a yard
Made to measure, for wedding parties
- Bridesmaid pre-draped sari or pant suit — $150 to $200 each
- Groomsmen kurta pajama — $100 to $110, vest — $100
These are ranges rather than fixed prices — what you pay depends on the fabric and how much work is in it. If something you want isn't here, ask us.
What does a bridal or reception lehenga cost?
Many of our dressier lehengas are around $300–$500, with prices varying by style and detail. Ask about current options before travelling for a specific bridal look; traditional red, maroon, and burgundy selection is limited.
What payment methods do you take?
All major cards — Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover — and cash.
What we carry
What's the difference between a sari, lehenga, gown, salwar kameez, sharara and gharara?
- Sari — a single draped length of fabric worn over a fitted blouse and petticoat.
- Lehenga — two pieces: a fitted blouse and a long skirt, usually with a dupatta.
- Salwar kameez — a tunic over loose trousers. The most comfortable of the five, and the easiest if you've never worn Indian clothing before.
- Sharara — a tunic over wide, flared, floor-length pants.
- Gharara — similar, but the pants are fitted to the knee and flare out from there.
We have a longer illustrated guide: Sari, lehenga, salwar or sharara? Six silhouettes decoded.
Can you drape my sari or dupatta for me?
Yes. Come in before your event and we will drape it properly — $20 per person, per drape. Bring your own sari or dupatta; it does not matter where you bought it or whether you bought it from us at all.
Message us on Instagram first so we can time it, because draping takes proper attention and we cannot always do it on the spot on a busy afternoon. Bring the blouse, the petticoat and the shoes you plan to wear — length is set from the shoe.
If you would rather learn to do it yourself, we will show you how to pleat and pin, and that is free. Full details on the draping page.
Do you carry gowns?
Yes. Gowns are a dress-style option, and anarkalis have a fitted upper section with a flowing shape below, often worn with trousers or leggings. Try the actual outfit to check its lining, sleeves, and coverage. See easy-to-wear options.
Do you carry menswear?
Yes: kurta pajama sets, vests, sherwanis, jodhpuri suits, and Indo-western styles. We’ll help match the level of dressiness to your event. Coordinating a group? Start the groomsmen order form.
Do you carry children's outfits?
Yes, boys and girls. Kids' outfits run $50 to $125, with most between $50 and $75.
What sizes do you carry?
We carry styles in sizes XS through 5XL for women and men, with availability varying by garment. Try a few options in our fitting rooms so we can help assess the fit. More on sizes and fit.
Can I buy just one piece — a dupatta, a blouse, a petticoat?
Yes. Almost everything is sold à la carte:
- Petticoats ($15) and sari falls ($3)
- Dupattas and chunnis
- Skirts
- Blouses, ready to wear in a range of sizes
- Fabric for custom tailoring and turbans
- Artificial jewelry, bangles, tikkas and accessories
No minimum purchase. Come in for one missing piece if that's all you need — that's a normal visit, not an imposition.
Do you sell fabric by the yard?
Yes — fabric and material for custom tailoring, and turban cloth (pagri) at about $3.50 a yard.
Do you carry white outfits for funerals?
Yes, year-round. White and off-white salwar kameez, plain sarees, white kurta pajama for men, plain white dupattas for covering your head, and children's white outfits. Nothing embellished — deliberately.
These are not occasions anyone plans for, so we keep them in stock rather than ordering them in. What to wear to an Indian funeral.
Do you sell jewelry?
Artificial jewelry, bangles, tikkas and accessories — the pieces that finish an outfit. We're not a fine jewelry store.
Do you rent outfits?
We sell outfits rather than renting them. Salwar kameez sets start around $100 and lehengas around $200, so compare the full rental cost before deciding. Buying lets you try on, get fit guidance, and wear the outfit again. Compare buying and renting.
What to wear as a guest
I'm not Indian and I've been invited to an Indian wedding. What do I wear?
You don’t need to know the clothing names first. Tell us about the event and your comfort preferences, and we’ll help compare suitable styles. A coordinated top and bottoms can be an easy starting point. Explore simple outfit options.
What colors should I avoid?
Follow the invitation or ask your host about colour restrictions. Red may be reserved for the bride, and some families avoid white or black; customs vary by event and family. Pastels, jewel tones, and other colours can all work when they suit the dress code. We’ll help you compare options.
Do I need to cover my head?
Everyone covers their head at a gurdwara. Mosque and temple requirements vary, so check with your host or venue. Bring a suitable scarf or dupatta when needed; we can help you choose and arrange one.
What should men wear as guests?
A kurta pajama set or a vest with trousers can be a starting point. More formal events may call for a sherwani or Indo-western style. We’ll help you match the outfit to the occasion. Read the men’s guide.
What do I wear to Diwali, or to garba?
Diwali — brighter and more festive than a normal event. Metallics work especially well under candlelight. Diwali guide.
Garba — nine nights of actual dancing, so the outfit has to move. Chaniya choli, mirror work, and something you can spin in. Garba guide.
What do I wear to a Sikh, Hindu or Muslim wedding specifically?
We wrote one for each:
What do I wear to a nikkah?
A nikah, also spelled nikkah, is a Muslim marriage ceremony. Consider sleeves, a higher neckline, and a longer hem, then check the host’s or venue’s specific coverage and head-covering requirements. We’ll help you compare styles and colours. Read our Muslim wedding guide.
I've seen these words spelled different ways. Which one is right?
All of them. These are English spellings of words from other alphabets, so there is no official version and families write them differently.
Nikkah and nikah are the same ceremony. Mehndi, mehendi, mendhi and mendi are the same night — some invitations just say henna. Sangeet, sangeeth and sangit are the same party. Haldi is called pithi in many Gujarati families and gaye holud in Bengali ones. Lehenga, lehanga and lengha are the same garment, as are saree and sari, and salwar and shalwar.
Use whatever your invitation says. We will know what you mean.
What's an appropriate gift?
Our suggested cash ranges are per family: $101–$151 for a coworker or acquaintance, $151–$251 for a friend, and $251–$501 for a close friend or family member. Choose what feels comfortable for your budget. Read the gifting guide.
Online and returns
Can I order online?
A small selection of shawls and phulkari dupattas is available online. Our main outfit collection is shopped in store so you can try on styles and get guidance on fit and your event.
Do you ship?
Not for the main outfit collection. If you’re travelling from out of town, message us with what you’re looking for before your visit.
Do you offer virtual fittings?
We don’t offer virtual fittings. In-store fitting rooms let you compare styles, check movement and length, and get personal guidance.
What's your return policy?
All sales are final; no returns or exchanges. Please try on and check the outfit before buying. If you’re unsure about anything, ask us in the fitting room. Read the full return policy.
Still have a question?
Message us on Instagram @loveleensari — a person answers, usually the same day.
Or come in: 18507 Pioneer Blvd, Artesia, CA 90701. Tuesday through Sunday until 6:45 PM. Free parking in the rear lot.
Come try on the outfits
See the colours, feel the fit, and try a few styles in our Artesia fitting rooms. We’ll help you find an outfit that feels right for you and your event. Walk-ins welcome.