Styles of Salwar-Kameez

From time to time, new names and styles were introduced in the Indian salwar-kameez market. Salwar kameez seems to present unlimited design possibilities. Though, the traditional version is still most popular, variations in styles have always persisted. The length, cut, or name of both salwar and kameez changes each year and even in every season.

Traditional Indian Salwar Kameez has specific design. Kameez is normally found long up to knee, lengthy sleeves, medium neck and low back depth. Salwar is normally wide from top with pleats and with drawstring. Salwar has big room at thigh and calf area for easy wearing. It has big bottom area for ease. Further the style and shapes of Indian Salwar Kameez varies as –

• Short kameez length with short sleeves
• Short Kameez with sleeveless
• Different neck styles
• Different back designs and back depth

Salwar Kameez comes in many different styles such as

• Traditional style salwar kameez which has innumerable variations.
• Parallel/Trouser style salwar suits with a short Kurta style top,
• Churidar style salwar kameez, pajamas and
• Afghani style salwar kameez

Types of some of the most in-vogue salwar kameez:

1. Traditional salwar kameez: Traditional Salwar Kameez or ‘Punjabi suit’ as it is popularly called is the usual combination of a salwar, a kameez and a corresponding long scarf. The kameez of this suit comes below the knees and generally it is fitted in the bust area but gradually looses from the hips down to the knee. As traditional salwar kameez is very suitable for casual wear, it's also known as the casual wear salwar kameez.
2. Party Wear salwar kameez: To make the suit fit for any celebration or festival, party wear salwar kameez uses gorgeous fabrics - silk, crepe, georgette, satin etc. Decorated (both in dupatta and kameez) with heavy embroidery, needlework, mirrors and even precious stones and using festive colors, party wear salwar kameez looks elegant and wonderful.
3. Churidar salwar kameez: Traditional Churidar salwar kameez name is very popular and famous amongst the Indian community. Traditional churidar salwar is the bottom part as the other option of the traditional salwar keeping different style. It is sleek in look and has leg shape fitting with lesser amount of thigh and upper space as compared to Indian traditional salwar. At bottom it has small hole with hooks or thread to close the bottom at the ankle. A churidar type salwar is comparatively more tight-fitting at the hips and thighs and also has a good deal of extra length so that it can be wrinkled up around the ankles. These creases resemble churis and the salwar is thus named after it. Indian traditional churidar is longer than traditional salwar for spiral shape look at the bottom.
4. Patiala Salwar kameez: Patiala Salwar kameez is similar to Indian traditional Salwar kameez except that Patiala salwar has more pleats and big fall comes on wearing at back. Kameez is same as it is for Indian traditional salwar. Patiala has big room at top with too many pleats for comfort and different look. Patiala salwar comes with drawstring same as that in a traditional salwar.
5. Parallel salwar kameez: Parallel Salwar Kameez is an important part of Indian Kameez Salwar & is very popular amongst the teenagers not only in India but in the whole world. Parallel is like pant with narrow front belt, back elastic and side chain or full elastic depending upon clients requirements. Parallel Salwar kameez has wide room at upper and wide bottom like pant.
6. Boot Cut: Boot-cut salwar has a slightly different shape, it is like parallel pant but at knee portion it has tight fitting from knee to bottom as compared to Indian salwar and parallel pant. Kameez with boot cut can also be made that has the wide shape from waist area and upper part is similar to the traditional kameez.
7. Printed salwar kameez: Sundry printing is done on different fabrics like chiffon, georgette, cotton etc which gives printed salwar kameez a bright, vibrant look. Most of the time the kameez and the dupatta are printed and the salwar is either in contrast or matching color. The entire set may be printed as well. A variation of the Printed Salwar Kameez is the ‘Embroidered Salwar Kameez’ wherein Embroidery is done on the fabric.
8. Indo-Western salwar kameez: Indo-Western Salwar kameez is the upshot of the fusion of Indian tradition and international trends aiming to give this oriental garment a universal flavor. This suit may have three pieces or can be found without dupatta as well. The kurta is usually short - above the knee or just below the hips. It can be sleeveless or with thin straps or with short sleeves. The salwar of this suit is like a parallel loose trouser with a slightly flared look.
9. Short Kurta pant: The latest innovation is short Kurta pant, is a variant of the Indo-western salwar kameez which combines very short Kurta and parallel pant instead of salwar, this suit is preferable as an office or formal wear.