Wearing clothes from outside your culture

[OddBoots]

I feel slightly silly asking this but what do you think to dressing in things not normally worn in your culture?

I'm about as British as they come but I live in a very multi-cultural area and I love a lot of the clothing I see about. I have bought a couple of kurtis and think they are great with jeans but I don't know if I could get away with a whole suit.

I wish I could be brave enough to get some of the gorgeous African print dresses and suits too, I'd love also to wear Chinese tops and dresses but I know my figure wouldn't suit them.

I would go for it if you want to. Be prepared for some stares, I am white and wore a Salwar Kameez (sp) to a wedding this part was fine, but it was the travel across London which was a surprise, had one women tut me and look me up and down. Once I reached East Ham had curious looks but no issues. DH is Sri Lankan and I also recently went to a family function in a sari, had to walk to venue through a very culturally mixed area, again lots of looks but not out and out disapproval like that one experience in the tube more surprise and interest.

I'm as northern European looking as they come, but I have a gorgeous sari that I wear on every available occasion (it's navy with golden thread, works brilliantly for formal dinners).
I don't think I've had weird looks but I'm not very observant.

Pandygirl that sounds gorgeous.

Kurtis with jeans is biggest fashion no no for south asians. So on you - even biggest NO.

Long dresses for eveing wear yes yes yes

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pandygirl that would look stunning!!

I'm dying to wear a sari! They look so cool, comfortable and flattering but I feel like it would be offensive somehow (WASP).

I'm Asian and would never be offended! In fact I think caucasianwomen look stunning in saris

south asia is full of girls and women wearing kurtis with jeans....maybe south asians in britain don't like it? is that what you mean? I'm interested, just come back after 6 years of wearing kurtis with jeans in south india....

I think saris are so feminine and the fabrics are stunning. I would love to own one and have someone show me how to put it on, as it looks really complicated!

My friend (British Asian) tried to persuade me to wear a sari to her wedding, but I wasn't brave enough- all her friends and family looked amazing though (I am very English Rose colouring and would be washed out by all the vibrant colours tbh)

And I know plenty of women here that wear kurtis with jeans!

Thank you for your comments everyone, it sounds like it is simply a matter of confidence and finding the right colours so as not to look washed out.

I'm surprised that kurtis with jeans might be a no-no as I see that a lot around town and that is how some of the the models on the websites wear them.

I feel similarly OP. I'm whiter than white with a pakistani husband and mixed race kids. I have to cover up when I visit my inlaws, and my MIL brings me over garments from pakistan. I worry about looking like the shop-keeper's wife from Shameless! I've always loved clothes from other cultures though, and it seems harsh to feel unable to wear something you think is beautiful just because you're outside the culture where it originated. I tend to only wear the asian garments to see my inlaws even though I like them, because I feel too self conscious otherwise. I should probably grow a pair and wear what I want

i would wear any of those things if i liked the look. I dont believe in fashion no-nos unless i personally dont like it.

My white British friend has a shalwar kameez, it's beautiful. It's only clothes.