North Ethnic Wear Styles to Look Your Traditional Best
India is a land of tremendous diversity. Yet people of all cultures, races, and communities thrive harmoniously. They also have much respect for one another's traditions. But despite that, it is easy to observe variations in the style of clothing people wear.
North India consists of states like Punjab, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. You can find a variety of colorful north ethnic wear in these states. Some of the common ones you might be familiar with include saree, salwar kameez, and lehenga.
For men, it typically includes pajama kurta and sherwani. If you are thinking about exploring the beautiful designs in ethnic wear of North India, you've come to the right place. In this article, you'll understand more about traditional north Indian dresses and the latest trends.
What Do Northern Indian People Wear?
North Indian ethnic wear varies much in different states. However, the main outfit types here are saree, Ghaghara choli, and salwar kameez.
Women generally wear colorful kurtas and dupattas. These clothing pieces have beautiful detailing that reflects the rich heritage. In Punjab especially, you can see women wearing the traditional phulkari dress.
The phulkari dupatta features the exquisite folk embroidery of Punjab. It includes a lot of flower motifs.
In the states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, a lehenga is the most loved dress. Today you can find this ethnic wear in a lot of cuts and bold styles. It also features a lot of detail.
You can find many simple and elegant lehengas as well as those with heavy work. Who can forget the iconic north Indian saree? This nine yards of unstitched garment comes in different materials like silk, rayon, cotton, and chiffon.
There's a huge array of North Indian sarees. So, it is easy to find one for a specific occasion.
Is Kurta North Indian?
Kurta is one of the highly popular ethnic wear dress among men in North India. It is a long loose shirt that finishes just above or below the knees. You can see many young and middle-aged men in North India wearing a kurta with a pair of jeans.
It is versatile clothing that people can wear in both formal and informal settings. Depending on one's preference, you can also wear a kurta with a loose-fit salwar or churidar.
Note that today this garment is not only worn by men but also by women. It has become a unisex garment that both males and females can wear.
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Latest Indian North Ethnic Wear Designs
North Indian ethnic wear has evolved a lot in just a matter of a decade. Today, you can find stunning designs in these clothing pieces that are a perfect blend of the east and the west. They reflect the western influence among the younger generation in India. However, the traditional charm is still there.
1. Solid Straight Kurtas
A beige-colored straight kurta is a perfect informal as well as formal attire choice for women in north India. The solid beige-colored kurta with contemporary designs on the neck, borders of the sleeves, and salwars give it a very sophisticated look.
The kurta comes with a bright dupatta whose colors match the design on the kurta. It is made from cotton fabric.
So, it ensures that the wearer remains comfortable throughout the day. It's also a great choice of outfit for working women.
2. Saree North Ethnic Wear
Saree is by far the sexiest women ethnic wear in India. It gives an undeniable charm to the wearer just with its distinct style. So, if you want to look glamourous yet traditional, it's best to opt for it.
Today you can find an endless variety of saree styles. There's a beautiful frilled saree sprinkled with gilded foil motifs or a ruffled tiered saree skirt. You can also find georgette organza ruffled saree with sequin embroidered belts that have their own distinct charm.
Women in India pair these sarees with different cuts of blouses. They can be sleeveless, half sleeves, cropped, and jacket-style.
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3. Lehenga Ethnic Wear for Women
Another popular north ethnic wear is a flared lehenga skirt. Today you can find these skirts in gorgeous shades from light to dark and featuring intricate details.
They are ideal for spending a festive night without feeling the least bit uncomfortable. You can find many designs of this ethnic wear online.
From mesh silk border skirts to lehengas featuring gilded foil work and kalidar maxi skirts, the variety is simply endless. Pair them with suitable styles of choli or blouse, and your traditional north Indian look is complete!
Image Source: Instagram
4. Printed Kurtis
Stitched printed Kurtis come in various sizes. They generally feature a lot of floral print on the borders and the sleeves. The Kurtis extend till the ankle, and you can find various neck styles in boat neck and round neck in them.
You can also experiment with their sleeves. Go in for a sleeveless long Kurti with skirt party wear or one with short sleeves. Today you can also find cold-shouldered party wear Kurtis made of fabric like polyester. These are ideal for any formal or festive occasion.
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5. Patiala Salwar Kameez
It is one of the latest ethnic wear designs 2021 for women. A Patiala salwar kameez is very popular in the north Indian state of Punjab. You can find beautifully printed salwar kameez made of cotton here. They are usually filled with prints either on the salwar or on the kameez.
They come with a matching dupatta, which further makes the whole outfit look quite feminine and lively. The Patiala salwar is loose above the knees and fits at the ankle. So, ladies of every body type can experiment with it.
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6. Ghagra Choli
Ghagra choli is an outfit that has transformed totally. Today, you can find it in modern cuts and styles. Thus, it has become chic ethnic wear for women in north India. A black ghagra choli with a crop top and a net dupatta looks highly gorgeous.
The sequin work throughout the top and the skirt makes the outfit shimmer beautifully. The elegant V-neck cut, along with the full net sleeves, enhances its aesthetic appeal. That's why you can find women wearing this outfit at major wedding events.
Image Source: Instagram
7. Kurta with Palazzo North Ethnic Wear
A black solid and straight shape kurta, when paired with similar solid palazzos, can make any women look modern and elegant. A palazzo pant is a long women's pants. They have a loose and extremely wide legs. It flares out from below the waist.
A plain black kurta with three-quarter sleeves, along with plain black palazzo pants, is a great outfit choice for a formal event. You can also find a dupatta with it. It features more embroidery and lends a good contrast to the otherwise plain kurta and palazzo.
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8. Anarkali Suit Ethnic Wear for Women
Anarkali is a flowing dress-like garment consisting of a long frock-style top. This top creates a lovely flowing silhouette. The bodice of this suit is cinched below the chest, while the rest of the frock flows till the knees.
These are often heavily embroidered. You can find these dresses in eye-catching colors like pink, orange, navy blue, and sea green. The frock can be of varying lengths as per your preferences. You can either opt for one that ends just below the knee or those that extend till the ankle.
You can also find front-open Anarkali and those with button detailing at stores. These are currently very popular Indian ethnic wear online.
Image Source: Instagram
9. Printed A-Line Tunic
Another modern-looking traditional dress of North India is a simple printed tunic. It is a fusion clothing item that ends way above the knees. Women generally wear it with fitted trousers.
You can find a lot of styles and colors of cotton-printed tunics online. They don't come with a dupatta and are shorter in length than Kurtis. They are great casual wear that many young women in India love to wear.
Image Source: Instagram
10. Metallic Print Long Dresses
Long dresses are there in the wardrobe of every north Indian female. The dresses are typically knee-length, but you can find many of them touching the floor as well. Such a north Indian traditional dress female is perfect for practically any event, be it a date, parties, work, or festive occasions.
You can find them in varying colors, glimmering with intricate metallic print. Some of them also have a belt-like structure at the waist, while others come with thick floral print borders. To make your look more dramatic, you can add a heavily worked dupatta.
Image Source: Instagram
Final Words
North ethnic wear is quite comfortable and graceful. Today, with the advent of new styles, you can find a wide variety of these dresses. Right from Ghaghara choli to sarees, and Kurtis, there is much versatility in these dresses.
Moreover, the new designs and styles ensure that you look both modern and traditional at the same time. So, if you have an upcoming event approaching, try one of the north Indian dresses and look your ethnic best.
