Hi everyone. I will be traveling to Pakistan later this month, and was wondering what clothes would be best to wear when arriving there. Would I look out of place in jeans and a long shirt, or should I stick to shalwaar kameez?
I won’t really have much time to change in between, so I don’t have an option to change during the middle of the trip.
Help please!! 
Re: What to wear for international travel
i guess if u wanna keep it balanced a kurta +jeans is best....since i hate kurtas i stick to shalwar kamiz (georgette cloth since it wont wrinkle) but i know it kinda looks weird to wear SK to the airport but the men in pakistan still STARE like crazy if u show up wearing jeans and a regular tee...
Re: What to wear for international travel
Men in Pak will stare like crazy no matter what. I dont think jeans and a modest pair of jeans would be bad to travel from the airport to your hotel. Some of my cousins wear jeans in public like a lot of other folks in karachi so I am guessing you should be fine.
Or like shweets suggested, just wear a kurta on jeans.
Re: What to wear for international travel
Keeping in mind that it is winter u could wear jeans with a sweater coat too. Get one of those narrow shawls that are very popular and cross it over ur shoulder or wear it on the side with a medium length top and jeans. The people ogling at the airport disgust me so I dress modestly.
Re: What to wear for international travel
Thanks ladies--I have some long kurtas that I can wear over pants. I'm also planning on keeping a shalwaar kameez suit just in case there is a flight delay or layover.
Btw, how do I judge if my jeans and pants (which are not tight according to western standards) are too tight for Pakistan? Do I also need to cover my head while going out...I want as little staring as possible!
Re: What to wear for international travel
no u dont need to cover your head while going out. where are u headed in pak anyways? khi?lhr?......
Re: What to wear for international travel
Aww thas so funny… sorry creme brulee, but uc ud be covered in nikaab, and ppl will still stare at you… i think its just a natural thing, somethin u gotta get used to 
Re: What to wear for international travel
I'll be traveling to Karachi... this is the first time that I will be able to remember (last time I went I was a baby), and just don't want to do things that will make me look like a fresh foreigner! :)
Re: What to wear for international travel
Trust me Creme, clothing is not the only thing that can you give your foriegner status away. When I was recently there in summer, me and mom had the habit of saying Thank You, Please to everyone, and people would be like, "why do you do that so much?". The look on the shopkeeper's face would also be priceless when we would say thank you or shukria after purchasing something. :D
Re: What to wear for international travel
no worries then. i would advise u not to wear jeans to the airport since the crowd there is of all kinds but u can freely wear jeans and regular shirts in defence, zamzama and restaurants . its quite a norm. however stick to shalwar kamiz when going shopping to places like tariq road, zaneb market…as far as SK is concerned…it can be as revealing as u want lolz…sleeveless is pretty common. see-thru(though tacky…is also common).
anyways take your regular stuff there and when u go out a few times u’ll see how everyone dresses and u can decide on your own.
also …speaking of foreign status…beware of the coolies (the bag-carrier men) they will try to charge u outrageous prices for carrying the bag…if u cant carry your own bag let a relative (pakistani) pay them in rupees when u get outside…hehe
have a good trip and break the bank on zamzama boulevard!
Re: What to wear for international travel
What city are you going to?
I arrived in Karachi last year in my back packing pants and t-shirt with a big back pack...i don't look very desi so all the guys were pretty nice, stared alot and thought i was a backpacker.
The worst part of getting into karachi is going thru immigration control. IT"S crazy for a girl. tons of guys with beads, shilwar kameez from the middle east....no one stands in the right line and a nice guys in line told me that i should go to the diplomats line which was much easier and they got me through.
IMO the men in Pakistan were INCREDIBLY nice, polite and chivalrous to a desi women once I was wearing a shilwar kamez.
However, my friends all told me is that no matter if i dress desi or not, the way i behave, act, polite thank you, excuse me and letting people go ahead etc...give you a way and the guys were extra nice because of that.
Re: What to wear for international travel
Yes nothing compares to good manners and what i love about pakistan is the shopkeepers who address you as baaji- it just feels so decent.
I travel in jeans with a kurti and shawl, no one stares unless i arrive in hajj season where entire villages are at the airport to receive one fellow villager returning from hajj!
Re: What to wear for international travel
I travelled in jeans n polo shirt and had no problem any where had a stop in Europe then Middle East then Lahore. Pakistan is very much westernized now- no one will really stare at you; dont worry. Just wear comfortable shoes thats all. have fun