Holiday in India - what should I wear?

[highlandcoo]

I feel very lucky to be going on a trip to India to celebrate my birthday next January. I won't be just in the usual cities but will also be spending some time in rural areas and visiting temples etc so dress needs to be fairly modest and appropriately respectful.

I'm thinking ahead about what to wear because I guess summer clothes won't be available in shops nearer the time.

I've realised that my existing summer wardrobe, although not at all short and revealing, probably isn't suitable because most of my stuff is knee length and sleeveless and while not figure-hugging it isn't loose either.

Any suggestions for what would be appropriate? Would it be realistic to only take a few things and buy stuff there maybe?

Any advice much appreciated

It depends where in India you are going? We’ve been to northern India in January and it was quite cold. Even snow in places. I wore jeans, tshirts and jackets when it was cooler and linen trousers (M&S and Next have them in now) for warmer places. I had a scarf in my bag for visiting temples.

Get a couple of sets of Indian style clothes in Rusholme but personally, I would be finding a tailor in the first city I visited and buying something locally made.

Linen trousers and a tunic are comfortable and will keep you cool.

Hi all I've been working today and it's so excellent to find all your advice on returning home! Thanks so much for all the useful links which I will explore carefully.

Broken, you asked where I'd be going in India. I'm starting with a tour of Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur partly staying in hotels in the city but also a couple of country places in between. Then going down to Kerala for a few days on an organic farm and a couple of nights on a rice boat, finishing up in Cochin. So I think the temperatures will vary between the north and the south quite a bit.

It's interesting to hear the opinions on whether to wear authentic Indian clothes or not. Good point by thesaurusgirl that the Indian clothing may not be flattering - I have typical pale Celtic colouring and agree that strong patterns in vibrant colours probably wouldn't be the best. Although I don't specially want to look like some of the elderly travellers I've seen in pictures with baggy beige chinos and t-shirts either.

I like the suggestion of hippy-type dresses made by Lifeaback at the top of the thread. That would fit pretty well with my normal style (or how I dressed years ago as a student anyway!) and adding a lovely scarf would be a great look I think.

Lagenlook also looks excellent; thanks for the recommendation Big. I'm a size ten with quite skinny arms and sometimes one-size clothes can be a bit too generous but it's given me inspiration for another look to aim for.

Sorry not to be able to thank everyone individually but I really appreciate the advice from you all

The North and South are very different, you will have an amazing time. Kerala is just beautiful.

Lots of good advice already given clothing wise, make sure you have comfortable shoes as well!

I am just back from Goa, Delhi, Mumbai, Agra and Jaipur. I bought some lovely thin cotton trousers in Fab India - I struggle with their tops but I struggle with tops not from bravissimo in the UK... they have muted as well as bright colours. Also what's big in India at the moment is palazzo trousers I bought 3 pairs when I was there. I wouldn't spend ages buying stuff in the UK as it's not difficult to find lovely cotton and cotton/silk clothes there. I also wore vest tops, with thick straps, and it was not an issue. What attracted the attention was my blondish hair... got many selfie requests in the north which I politely declined as they can get bothersome.

Definitely find a Fab India shop, they are amazing!

When I went for india loose yoga / hareem pants, a loose tshirt / tunic or shirt and a big scarf. I would caution against a playsuit or similar as you may have to use less than ideal toilets at speed...

Also lovely through Indian clothes are, I, dumpy pale Celt, always feel a bit like I am in fancy dress and prefer neutral linen stuff instead.

Fab India do sell a lot of neutral clothes - I bought plain white with some silver beading at the bottom and plain black trousers - some of their stores are massive with incredible choice.

Fab India looks brilliant! We fly into Delhi early morning and have a hotel room for a few hours sleep, then a free day before we begin the tour properly the following morning. I now know where I'll be going with my friends that first afternoon!

Thanks all

Fab India definitely.

You can also get things made to measure in less than a day... Depending where you are, some shop owners do have a Westernised style - I have several long tops I wear in the UK in summer too.

I've heard that LordEmsworth .. how would I go about finding somewhere good do you think? Maybe the hotel would advise us?

I wore jersey harem trousers and a loose shirt with a vest top underneath, cullottes, maxi dresses on nights out / restaurants and linen trousers and tops. I took one of those warm jackets that scrunch down into a little bag and took pashminas although buying scarves waseasy out there. I am sure some of the bazaars are cheap but anywhere else I did not find to be that cheap. The two things I found hardest in India was the hawking up and spitting... constantly vom and the staring, blatent staring, all the time. great country though, the trains are an interesting experience!

The hotel might advise you; I went to a place recommended by someone who'd been there before for most of my tunics but I also got a Punjabi suit / salwar kameez made up. You go to a fabric shop - and there are a lot of them - to choose your fabric, which has fabric for the tunic, for leggings, and has a dupatta scarf that co-ordinates. That takes about, erm, 6 hours to look at everything, which is a joy in itself... They can then recommend you a tailor nearby, so you go there and they measure you and take your instructions (what sort of neckline; length; loose fit or tighter Western-style fit; length of slits; sleeve length etc.). They tell you the price and time, and you go away then come back, try it on and they adjust it while you wait.

Getting clothes made is one of my favourite reasons to go to India...

If you are getting things made to measure agree a price before its made.. Also be very firm when you are leaving, maybe say the day before - a bad tailor can be last minute.

I'm places like Fab India I find things like tops fine in the body but my arms are too fat for the sleeves.

If you do go somewhere in U.K. take a photo of the style you like or if it's cheap buy one and you can get them to use it as a template. In smaller places you can try to haggle but in places like Fab that is the price.