There are namely two kinds of people in this world – the ones who decide a night before about what they’ll wear to work the next day and others, who like to take the risk of running late and take their own time to mix and match the outfits. And no matter which category we belong to, we have *I don’t have anything to wear* breakdowns at least 10000 times a week!
When it comes to choosing appropriate clothes for work, we are often torn between choosing either an H2T traditional look or a corporate-friendly look that doesn’t speak boring, right? While we do love wearing dresses, pants or even denims to work but you gotta admit, ethnic wear has its own charm that spares no one!
Vibrant prints, (sometimes) heavy embellishments, bright and bold colours; there’s so much scope to experiment with ethnic wear. And not every office has a relaxed vibe allowing you to wear anything you please! Therefore, it can be a tad difficult to pull off a crazy outfit for a muted office environment.
But, don’t you worry…don’t you worry child…We are here to help ya with the best Indian office wear ideas!
There are numerous ways you can style your Indian office wear. Here are some stylish tips you can try next time you decide to add an ethnic touch.
Table of Contents
How To Choose The Perfect Indian Formals For Office?
Not just your regular suit or kurti sets, you can totally rock ethnic wear to the office in more ways than one, either by accessorizing your western outfit or by playing it safe with a simple traditional skirt!
Here are some stylish ways you can incorporate the charm of Indian wear to office:
- Choose The Right Kind Of Fabric
- Replace The Dupatta
- Accessorizing Is The Key
- Wear Ethnic Jackets Over Kurtis
- Pick The Right Saree And Blouse
- Work With Fusion
Choose The Right Kind Of Fabric
Before choosing your outfit, pay attention to the kind of fabric for Indian wear you’ll be wearing. Cotton, rayon, khadi, lawn cloth, fresco, linen are a few fabrics that feel oh-so-cool on the skin during summers and are super comfortable to wear too. In winters, you can opt for wool, knitted fabric, faux fur, fleece, and cotton too.
Ethnic friendly fabrics like silk, brocade, and jute silk are also loved by fashion enthusiasts as they look so elegant.
Replace The Dupatta
While the dupatta helps pull off your ethnic outfit together, you can totally opt to not wear it! Ditch the dupatta and wear a jacket or a shrug instead. You can also wear a stylish belt to keep that dupatta in place and it will add the perfect modern touch to your overall look.
Wearing kurtis with heavy work in front (or no work at all) is also a fun alternative to spice up your office fashion game. Just pair it with a corporate blazer for a sharp, crisp look.
Accessorizing Is The Key
You can add *chaar chaand* to any outfit by accessorizing it with traditional jewellery. Be it western or Indian wear, pairing your outfit with jhumkis, bangles, a choker, or some stacked rings to add the perfect amount of bling your outfit might need. The traditional Jhumkas and neckpieces are often adorned with multiple layers of metal or beads. Choose small earrings or studs that do not attract a lot of attention. If you are already wearing an outfit that has prints or a lot of details, a simple boho neckpiece can do the trick for you.
Wear Ethnic Jackets Over Kurtis
A traditional Bandhgala jacket is the perfect way to upgrade your traditional look. Wear it over a kurti or a long kurta to add some structure to your desired ensemble. You can choose from different styles such as quarter sleeves, full-length sleeves or even a sleeveless one. They come in longer lengths which are best suited if you want to wear ethnic in winter. Opt for neutral tones if you are going for a longer Bandhgala jacket for work.
Pick The Right Saree And Blouse
Nothing looks as elegant as a saree when it comes to wearing traditional Indian wear. It can, however, be a little hard to manage if you have a long day at the office. if you are inclining towards wearing saree to work, a georgette or a crepe saree is a safe bet as they are lightweight and do not wrinkle easily. You can replace your heavy blouse with a tunic top a kurti for a more, advanced look. For a playful look, replace your blouse with a funky crop top or wear a saree with quirky prints to stand out from the crowd!
Work With Fusion
The best thing about wearing ethnic Indian wear is that you can mix it up with your western wear and still look desi AF. Pair a kurti with cigarette pants or palazzos and pumps or throw on a sleek blazer on top of your saree. Indian wear blends beautifully with formal western wear. Experiment away and you will have a number of Indian outfit ideas to choose from.
Celebrity Inspired Traditional Wear
When our fave Bollywood celebs are not busy shooting for films or commercials, they are often engaged in other promotional activities…and slaying their fab outfits. Just a quick glance at their feed and you’ll see variants of traditional Indian wear.
Let’s have a looksie, shall we?
Monotone Magic
If you are not a big fan of the immense colour palette, wearing the same colour H2T would be a great fit for you. Choose a colour that’s work-appropriate and enhance your look further by styling your hair differently than your everyday fave and add another pop of colour with loud accessories.
This will not only look so elegant but you can basically wear all the suits that you have previously tossed out for being too *boring*. The idea is to have fun!
When In Doubt, Belt It Out
One of the most annoying things about wearing a salwar kameez is the dupatta. It just keeps on wandering its way about everywhere. Wear a nice belt, cinched to your waist to keep your dupatta from flowing in every direction.
This hack is perfect to wear dupatta to work every day. Not only with your traditional attires, but you can also try this with your regular tee and jeans combo and it will still look bomb AF.
Choke-r Me (Fashionably) Hard
Never underestimate the power of a choker. The 90’s super trend is back with a bang for all the right reasons. A choker is something you should opt for if accessorizing your outfit is your plan for the day, but that dupatta is making is hard for everyone to see your beautiful necklace.
Wear a striking choker and let all the eyes be on you. Not just an ethnic outfit, you can wear a traditional choker with your western outfit and add all the right amount of sexiness to it.
Add The Charm Of Desi Accesosires To Your Western Outfit
Accessories and outfits go hand in hand. You can never go wrong with accessories and Bollywood babes agree! A simple silver jewellery piece can do wonders for your look. Just wearing a silver necklace with matching jhumkis with your suit set or a power suit can elevate your look. Don’t believe us, allow Sonam to prove you otherwise.
We love how she paired her Indigo-hued outfit with simple jewellery, kept her hair loose and still managed to look like a million bucks.
Style queen, Bebo knows how to turn heads around with her *good looks, good looks and good looks*. Wearing traditional brooches with a power suit- why is this not a popular fashion trend already?!
Nail That Indo-Western Outfit Like A Pro
If you believe in K.I.S.S; Keeping It Simple, Silly, you’ll love this effortless fashion hack by Miss Advani. Wearing a simple white blouson, she paired it with a printed skirt, a collar brooch, black boots and we just fell in love with the outcome! Don’t forget the black belt!
If you have suits that you do not wear anymore, get the top part removed and turn ’em into fancy skirts or re-use your mom’s old saree and slay like a Kween!
Never Underestimate The Power Of A Great Updo
If you’re pretty content with your OOTD, choosing a pretty hairstyle for your ethnic wear should be your next step. A fancy braid, fishtail braids, floral bun- there’s so much scope! Keep your makeup light for the day if you wish your mane should be in the spotlight for the day.
Basic? Never Heard Of Her!
I know this is a tad too much, but hear me out! Just wearing salwar kameez is not the only way to slay ethnic wear. You can totally pull off an entire western outfit with Indian elements. A fancy blazer with palazzos can never go out of style.
Saree, Not Sorry
Who says that a saree cannot be worn on a daily basis.
It’s time to put back the fun in saree and experiment with various styles and prints. Just like Shilpa, you can add a fun twist to our traditional fave. Polka dots, ruffles, lavallière- who knew you can totally rock a B&W saree?!
Quirk It Up
This is a fun way to repeat your clothes twice a week, without anyone noticing a thing! Pair your desired kurti with a long, traditional jacket, statement jewellery pieces and experiment with a fresh hairdo. Play with colours, prints and make a loud statement.
Don’t forget to pose for the ‘Gram!
Keep ‘Em Guessing
Is it a dress? A loose kurti perhaps or is it a dress with an attached, long cape?
That’s the beauty of wearing a fusion outfit, my gorgeous friends- you can rock it however way you wish too. Do not play by the rules, instead make your own. Pair it with a traditional choker and call it Indo-western or a pair of snazzy heels for a nighttime look!
Add These To Your Cart STAT And Make That Look *WORK*
If you’re totally on board with *wearing ethnic wear to work* mode, check out our wardrobe must-haves that are perfect if you’re thinking about making the desi transition.
Make an unusual desi statement in this stunning number that exudes the perfect amount of sexiness with the perfect dash of desi prints. If your wardrobe lacks the likes of traditional wear, this outfit can be a good start!
Golden jhumkis are a perfect choice if *desi* is on your mind. Pair it with your suit or even a dress and we bet you’ll look nothing short of stunning.
Ditch your denims and opt for a traditional skirt instead. This easy-breezy hack is perfect for a lazy day. Just pair it with a white shirt, the right accessories and be ready to slay the day.
Add a much-needed pop of colour to your look with this stunning neckpiece. This can also be paired with a boring combo of a simple tee and denims.
Pair this lovely piece with a saree or even a pair of boyfriend jeans for a casual look. Wear your fave pair of sunglasses and speak cool all day long.
Amp up a boring outfit with a kundan choker set that looks so sexy. Before you step out of the house, just tie your hair in a bun, kiss your mirror goodbye as a badass babe is on her way!
You must be familiar with this- a kurti. You can never go wrong with a kurti. Pair it with palazzos, jeans, a long skirt and you are bound to look stunning. Wear traditional bangles on one hand to further upgrade your look.
You go girl. Slay Indian wear to work today!
Featured Image: Instagram
