We know that the LBD is a staple for the western wardrobe…just like a well-tailored pant-suit and a smartly fitted pair of jeans.
What do you believe are staples for a desi wardrobe? Let’s share our essentials…
Men’s and Women’s…
Re: Basic Essentials for a Desi Wardrobe
“finis” balls or sandal wood 
Re: Basic Essentials for a Desi Wardrobe
For me, my essentials for a desi wardrobe are these classic, timeless pieces:
-elegant chiffon kamdani sari (i've been through a few different colors, right now, I have a gorgeous, dark bottle green)
-an a line shirt and chooridar outfit in all white, with minimal kaam (this was my ammi's signature look (all white)..either in chikan, lawn or even lace...it's always crisp and clean looking...must have in my book!)
-something in chundri/bandhni (the epitome of classic wedding wear....be it a mehndi, dholki, mayoun or shaadi, this never goes out of style!)
Re: Basic Essentials for a Desi Wardrobe
net dresses cant get enough of them............
Re: Basic Essentials for a Desi Wardrobe
but net dresses are faddy, no?
Re: Basic Essentials for a Desi Wardrobe
White cotton/lawn outfit with white chooridar and colored dupatta. Chunri dupattas look great. And kola puris. Silver Bali earrings or jhumkas and kajal to complete the look!
White shalwars and more recently trousers to go with printed shirts
black/cream/fawn/brown pashmina shawl
peshwaz/anarkali with chooridar for formal wear
Re: Basic Essentials for a Desi Wardrobe
Put one samosa in one pocket of each dress....
Re: Basic Essentials for a Desi Wardrobe
but net dresses are faddy, no?
no i dont think so it always work in every season, i always make white net for summers n balck for winters :)
Re: Basic Essentials for a Desi Wardrobe
How about a fancy chaadar (shawl) ?
Re: Basic Essentials for a Desi Wardrobe
One nice black outfit - karhai preferably that can be dressed up or down according to the occasion at hand
One go to sari - well fitted blouse and a color you love wearing
Churidaar pajamas - lovvvvvvvvvve them these days
Re: Basic Essentials for a Desi Wardrobe
White pyjama, or shalwar or chooridar pyjama to wear under any kameez.
A few white shameez to wear under lawn kameez that are slightly see through.
A pair of plain leather khussay with gold embroidery to wear with any outfit.
Re: Basic Essentials for a Desi Wardrobe
White, off white and black chooridars to go with different outfits. Ditto with leggings.
Lawn suits for summer barbeques/ kurtis for jeans or ethnic looking tops if you don't like kutis
Formal dresses for parties
And some somber outfits. Believe it or not people are at a loss because they don't have anything informal enough for a funeral.
Re: Basic Essentials for a Desi Wardrobe
And some somber outfits. Believe it or not people are at a loss because they don't have anything informal enough for a funeral.
I had just this problem in the past few years.....ended up making a couple of outfits particularly for this purpose and also added a few more abayas to the mix for the mosque events.
Re: Basic Essentials for a Desi Wardrobe
I’m glad someone brought this up (love hte whole thread btw!)
It seems so silly to think about clothing at a time like that but since it’s out there…what kind of outfits are there? 
It does seem strange and awkward to mention it. 
Re: Basic Essentials for a Desi Wardrobe
White shalwar kamiz for men, a black kurta and lotsa white shalwars again.
Re: Basic Essentials for a Desi Wardrobe
How about some pics?
Re: Basic Essentials for a Desi Wardrobe
yeah…I kinda felt sheepish but would have felt worse if I had nothing to wear to a soyem that was “appropriate”. I would hate to show up in bright colours with a silk dupatta.
Re: Basic Essentials for a Desi Wardrobe
Definitely need somber outfits for sad occasions...my newly married cousin ran into the dilemma of having nothing to wear because she had only fancy suits from her jahez and bhari...
I just want my wardrobe filled with frocks more than anything else...
Re: Basic Essentials for a Desi Wardrobe
For funerals and other sad occasions-I would stick to colors like black, brown, gray, white, blue, green. Nothing showy like red or yellow. No kaam is a must. I dont think type of fabric matters so it could be chiffon or cotton. I know some designers make a collection specifically for Muhurram and those clothes could be used for funerals and other sad events as well.
Ladies staple, katthai shuttlecock burqa.