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Style & beauty

Indian clothing

(65 Posts)
numberplease Sun 18-May-14 01:05:25

After looking for ages for nice, but not expensive, tunic tops, and not being very successful, I accidentally found myself on a website selling clothes to Indian ladies, and saw some lovely items they called Kurties, but I call tunics, at very reasonable prices, and am tempted to order. Do you think they`d mind an order from a non Indian person, and has anyone on here tried Indian clothes, not saris, obviously?

NfkDumpling Sun 18-May-14 06:19:31

I'm sure they'd take it as flattery - wouldn't they? And how would they know? East used to sell tunics and now sells Kurties - if you can afford them (I wait for the sales), they look like the same thing to me.

Charleygirl Sun 18-May-14 06:37:41

Be careful because with some but obviously not all of the Indian clothing I have seen on sale in London, it lacks quality, looks very flimsy and 2-3 washes would see the end of it.

I would not think they would bother if you bought, money is money.

thatbags Sun 18-May-14 07:03:04

Many Indians wear "western" fashion. Why not return the compliment? Think of it as a mingling of fashion cultures. Gotta be good smile.

JessM Sun 18-May-14 07:38:35

Great idea number . I used to work with some lovely Indian women at one time and they were amazed at the prices charged for Indian clothes in UK shops. I agree though, don't go mad - the fabric may be flimsy.
Can you post the link so that we can all have a browse? Tunics are so easy to wear, and there are not many in the shops at the moment.

Stansgran Sun 18-May-14 08:14:42

East have some short kaftan styles in at the moment. I still have some on the go from East that are 6/7 years old. Which is practically new for me..

numberplease Sun 18-May-14 13:43:30

I`m no good at links, but it`s www.rupalionline.com they`re based in Leicester.

rosequartz Sun 18-May-14 14:03:44

My next door neighbour when we lived in London used to wear the most beautiful saris to work; at home she slobbed around in trousers and t-shirts like the rest of us! (well, most of us.)

I would think the tunic tops would be very cool and comfortable, however, as Charleygirl said, I would be careful about the quality of the cotton, the dye and its washability. If you saw someone wearing one in the street, I'm sure she wouldn't mind if you asked where she bought hers.

JessM Sun 18-May-14 14:30:04

number these days on GN all you have to do is copy them and they automatically work once you have pressed Post Message.

Agus Sun 18-May-14 15:36:03

Are there no Indian dress shops locally numberplease. It might be better to see what you are buying and try it on if you are not sure about the online tunics.

I have been into a fairly local Indian shop to buy silk fabrics and the Lady who owns the shop was very helpful advising me on different qualities. Also bought a 'kaftan'.

jollyg Sun 18-May-14 15:53:26

In India Fabindia is favoured by foreigners, not too garish, and it is connected with EAST.

I did not find the rupali garments appealing, , but that is my taste.

Some Indian women are very slim, and the fashion of chudidars vary from year to year.

glammanana Sun 18-May-14 17:16:43

number Thanks so much for the link the designs are beautiful right up my street for wearing in summer I love the fact a lot have 3/4 sleeves and can be dressed up or down depending on the occassion.
I have a kurtie that I bought a few years ago but it is longer length I wear during summer evenings if out and about its so cool and hides a multitude of sins on fat days.

KatyK Sun 18-May-14 17:18:51

There are a lot of shops selling Asian clothing in some parts of Birmingham. I was going through one of these areas on a bus once and saw some really beautiful tunic style tops hanging outside a shop - lovely bright colours I kept meaning to back but never got round to it. I would definitely wear them.

numberplease Sun 18-May-14 17:24:43

No Agus, nothing like that around here. I`ve picked out 4 tunics that I like from that site, also a couple of necklaces, hubby says he`ll pay for them for my birthday, but I think he`s thinking along the lines of TWO, not FOUR!

KatyK Sun 18-May-14 17:26:33

Number - I've just looked at the site you mention above. They have some lovely tops and tunics and so cheap! smile

Galen Sun 18-May-14 17:34:03

Ooh! Loved the farashas!
Might hey one for evening wear.
Only trouble. Don't think the pearls would go with neckline. But I really love the blue ones

Charleygirl Sun 18-May-14 18:15:09

What a lovely sight. I loved some of the short tops and they look to be well made, not flimsy.

rubysong Sun 18-May-14 18:15:41

Last year, when I was in Yorkshire with my sister, we went to the Bombay Stores in Bradford. It was wonderful, full of fabulous Asian style clothes, fabrics and jewellery. There were also very pretty shoes in lovely colours. The fabrics were very reasonably priced and I bought some to make costumes for belly dancing class but I haven't yet had time to do any sewing.
(Sorry if this sounds like an advert. I have no connection with them. It was just so impressive.)

Mishap Sun 18-May-14 22:54:04

I have bought the kurtis from someone locally who imports them - they are thin, but then they are cheap. They make great summer nighties.

numberplease Sun 18-May-14 23:21:48

Galen, you`re right about the farashas, I hadn`t seen them till you mentioned them, they`re gorgeous, not me, but lovely all the same!
I`m taking the plunge in a little while and ordering some things. I had been thinking of getting a couple of thin Kaftans to replace my warm dressing gowns in summer, so will take a peek at those as well.

Charleygirl Mon 19-May-14 08:02:24

Mishap what a good idea, I never thought of buying a kurtis to wear as a nightie.

kittylester Mon 19-May-14 09:33:45

One of our routes into town is along Leicester's 'Golden Mile' and I love looking at all the fabulous window displays in the clothing shops. I do sometimes think that I will stop and investigate the shops but the parking is absolutely horrendous and I give up. sad

People in Leicester complain about the number of sets of traffic lights along the Golden Mile but they do allow the chance to enjoy all the glorious colours in the windows. smile

Nelliemoser Mon 19-May-14 10:04:23

I have been impressed by the way shalwar kameez and these other Asian clothes seem to come in the most wonderfully colour coordinated sets.

I encountered a group of women at Manchester airport obviously heading for Pakistan or India all dressed in their very best.

They make most Brits look very scruffy.

suebailey1 Mon 19-May-14 11:57:12

I too live near Leicester's Golden Mile and enjoy the window displays and have often said I wonder if they would mind if I went in- my husband is convinced they would be as they always are very polite and encouraging in any shops and restaurants so we are going to do it one day soon. See you there Kitty?

rosesarered Mon 19-May-14 12:13:56

Why would they mind if you go into the shop? They want custom and will not bother who buys what.The problem with some Indian clothes is that they are not designed to be washed in washing machines!I have this info from an Indian friend.Fabrics are delicate, and in India people know where and what to buy [according to their incomes] but vast amounts of cheap stuff is imported over here.Colours often 'run' and seams come apart.That said, if you buy cheaply and handwash the items and don't expect them to last too long, they will be good for hot weather.The main thing I don't like though is the very strong colours, but if you have a dark-ish skin colour you should suit them. All wrong for fair skinned women.