The Most Flattering Indian Wear According To Your Body Type

If there is anything in the fashion world that defines the perfect blend of culture, grace and beauty, it would be our very own Indian ethnic wear. With a myriad of colors, textures, patterns and shapes, there is something for everyone to choose from. From long and flowy Anarkali’s to rich and elegant sarees, Indian wear covers the whole ground when it comes to offering a diverse range of options.

While Indian outfits look absolutely stunning on everybody, it can sometimes be quite challenging to find the perfect one. Let’s say you go out shopping looking for an ethnic outfit that you are to wear for a function. You spend hours looking for the right outfit and finally set your eyes on one. The color is great, the design looks beautiful and you love everything about it, only to find that it does not look quite right once you have worn it.

What could it be? Well, more often than not we tend to buy clothes solely based on how they look as opposed to what might actually suit our body type. Now while it is important for clothes to look good, it is equally if not more important to wear what looks the best on us, tailored for our body type.

Before we begin with outfits, let us have a quick look at the different body types:

Body Shapes And What They Mean

Essentially there are four body types and each one caters to clothing styles differently. It is important to remember that all body types and shapes are unique. Therefore, if you cannot get yourself to choose one specific shape, it is perfectly alright to identify with more than one.

• Apple Shaped: A traditional fuller body type with a broad upper body and narrow lower body.
• Pear Shaped: Narrow upper body, with slim arms and slender shoulders. Fuller lower body, with wide hips and defined waistline.
• Hourglass Shaped: Naturally cinched at the waistline, with hips and bust proportionally equal in size.
• Athletic Shaped: Overall broad and muscular structure, with similar hips and shoulder measurements and undefined waistline.

While body types can be further categorized into more shapes such as diamond, oval, rectangle and more, these are the most common body types and usually women find a combination of two or more as a perfect description for their body shape.

Now that you know what your body type is, let us have a look at which type of Indian outfits will look the best on you.

Indian Outfits Best Suited For Your Body Type

Once you know your body type, it becomes relatively easier to pick Indian outfits that will match your style. This will not only help you cut down on your shopping time, since you will know exactly what you are looking for but will also help you reach for an outfit that is most flattering for your body type.

Indian Outfits for Apple Shaped Body Type

The key is to find outfits that draws attention away from your mid-torso, resulting in a more proportionate looking body. Since people with an apple shaped body tend to have a broader upper body and narrow lower body, it is best to avoid anything that is too tight on the arms or too baggy on the bottom. Try to look for outfits that gather around the waistline.

What to wear: A-line kurtas, dark colored kurtas with a light-colored bottom, small prints, V-necks, fitted leggings/churidars.

What to avoid: High neck kurtas or Chinese collar, salwar’s or wide-legged pants, kurtas with heavy detailing on the top.

Indian Outfits For Pear Shaped Body Type

For women with a pear shaped body, it is essential to look for outfits that highlight your upper body. With pear shaped being the most common body type in our country, you can find a wide variety of outfits that can cater to your body type. Anything that is cinched at the top with a flair at the bottom is perfect for this body type.

What to wear: Long Anarkali suits, Palazzos or Patialas, Light color tops and Dark color bottoms to camouflage the hips, Flair kurtas with heavy prints around the neck.

What to avoid: Leggings or churidars, Plain kurtas, Short kurtis, dresses with heavy detailing around the waist.

Indian Outfits For Hourglass Shaped Body

While it is popularly known to be the ideal body type, it is important to remember that your inner health and body strength is all that matters, as opposed to societal standards of what an ideal woman must look like. If you are someone who has an hourglass body type, steer clear of ill-fitted or baggy clothes and find something that is tailored to flatter your body the correct way.

What to wear: Fitted kurtas, anything that cinches at the waistline, colors that compliment your skin tone.

What to avoid: Baggy kurtas, Loose kurtas paired with palazzos, anything with big prints.

Indian Outfits For Athletic Body Type

Also commonly known as the rectangle body type, women with an athletic body type must look for outfits that make the upper and lower body look proportional in order to take away from the box-like structure.  This can be done by looking for outfits that accentuate your curves and compliment your structure. You can also opt for something that highlights your neck, shoulders and collar bones in order to give that illusion of a slim upper body.

What to wear: Well-fitted kurtas, long Anarkalis, kurtas with straps, bright colors with prints and textures.

What to avoid: Ill-fitted or extremely loose kurtas, wide-legged pants, monochrome colors.

Simply knowing what works for you according to the shape of your body can really help with choosing the most flattering outfit. While it is completely your choice to wear what you want and absolutely rock it, this is simply a guide to make it easy and help those who may need some guidance regarding picking outfits that are best suited for their bodies.