12 Cool ways to style the Long kurta

Comfortable and chic, that is what the traditional kurti is to me. I love my kurtis and reach out a lot to these elegant and versatile indian clothing. I love how my tummy fat stays hidden in those kurtas and how I can wear them in all seasons and style them in a variety of ways. I have already written about edgy ways to style kurtis and today Iam going to talk about styling the long kurta in detail.

Kurtis come in a lot of styles these days. The shorter version of the kurta is actually called kurti while the longer counterpart is called a kurta which is also an ethnic style of clothing for men. Most Long kurtas end about two inches below your knee and can be straight cut or have flare(Anarkali type). I love the anarkali kurti style most which is followed by asymmetric hemlines but these kurti styles are reserved for special occasions and on a daily basis I reach out to straight cut kurtas mostly. The long kurta style is a recent trend inspired from pakistani desi fashion. I love the pairing of a long side slit kurta with palazzos but there are more cool ways to style long kurta and in this post I will talk about these styling ideas to help you make a fashion statement

A little mix and match, a wee bit of experimenting and you can create unique stylish looks with a simple long kurta.

12 Cool ways to style the Long kurta to up your desi fashion game

#1 Denim Love (Jeans and long kurta)

This fusion pairing of your favourite pair of jeans and a long kurta is the safest and breeziest way to go about it. This pairing works well for college girls or if you are planning an outdoor trips or even a day out shopping. Plain blue denims go with a lot of kurti colours and blend beautifully with cotton kurtas. Skinny jeans and long straight cut kurtas look best and you can pair with jootis for a more indian touch. Straight cut kurtas work best with denims

#2 Go festive with Lehenga or skirt

For a more dressed up look you can pair your long kurta with a flared out plain lehenga. The combination of long kurta with lehenga is a rage at present and I have spotted many bollywood celebrities also go this route. For a breezy summer wedding look pair a nice chikan long kurta with light weight lehenga. If you want to wear lehenga kurta combo for sangeet or cocktail then pair a silk long kurta with brocade lehenga (in contrasting colour) and skip the dupatta. Dont forget to add a bit of height with heels or wedges to balance out the volume.

#3 Pair with Palazzo

Comfortable palazzo pants are in trend these days and you can flaunt this trend the desi way by pairing with long kurta. Palazzos can add a wee bit of drama to your casual outfits and they look great on all body types so more reasons to pair them with your long kurtas. When trying the palazzo and long kurta combo contrasting is the way to go.

#4 Wear like a dress

Kurtas which are long can be worn without bottoms like a indo western fusion dress. To style a long kurta like a dress choose one without slits on the side and pair with boots, gladiators or sneakers. This is best for summers where you can just skip bottoms and add a pair of flats and tada you are ready to head out.

#5 Layer with a long jacket

Long flowy cape style jackets are in trend these days and you can wear this trend with long kurtas as well. Play with colours by pairing a contrast coloured georgette long cape jacket with a kurta or go for an ornate embroidered long jacket with kurta for modern ethnic look.

#6 Cigarette pants with long kurta

For a office look pair your cigarette pants with kurti and skip the dupatta. A tight top  knot and a statement long neckpiece can complete your look. If you dont want to wear a necklace then go for simple stud earrings to complete this contemporary ethnic look.

#7 Go chic with leggings

For a comfortable look you can turn to leggings which can be paired easily with long kurtas. If you are slim then leggings are your best option as bottoms with too much volume can overwhelm you. Even with leggings you can try new styles like lether leggings for glam look or printed leggings for a funky look. Sheer paneled leggings are also quiete in these days, you can pair then with you asymmetric long kurtas of long kurtas which have high slit in the middle.

#8 Add a short jacket

A sleeveless vest jacket with long kurtas will look fun and fresh. For a more glam look pair quirky printed jackets with plain long kurtas

#9 Experiment with dupatta drapes

When wearing a kurti you can change the look just by draping the dupatta differently. Try new dupatta drape styles like v drape, criss cross drape etc or switch up the dupatta and opt for new colour combinations. When you are wearing a long kurta you also have the comfort of skipping the dupatta completely for a casual look.

#10 Team with a Patiala bottom

For summer it is best to opt for breezy bottoms like patialas and harem pants which are super comfortable. Patialas have lots of pleats and volume which look good when paired with short kurtas but you can even pair them with long kurtas which have high slits on the side for an uber traditional summer look.

#11 Belt it

Style is all about thinking out of box so I had this idea of adding a belt to a kurti look and it actually looked great. Long kurtas cinched at the waist will look great especially if your kurta has a defined waist line. go for broad belts for a rugged look or embellished ones for a more dressed up look. You can even use the kamarbands you wear with sarees for festive look. 

#12 Scarves add colour

Wear scarves in contrasting colours or prints around your neck for  a vibrant winter look. You can try this look in places like bangalore where it cold in morning and baking hot in afternoon. Tir the scarf around neck in morning and in afternoon remove it and put in your hand bag or tie it over your head if you are travelling to protect your hair from sun.

Fashion tips and tricks to style your everyday boring kurta

-If you are on the heavier side stay away from fabrics which cling to skin. Cotton is a good option for all body types as they dont hug body and are comfortable too

- Short women should go for vertical stripes or elongated motifs. Also look for small prints which are easier to carry off

- Contrasting is always a great idea when styling outfits but it is also good to pair same colour kurta with bottoms and add a pop of different hue via accessories, makeup or even a stole.

- Most women prefer printed kurtas paired with plain bottoms which makes the mix and match easier but it is nice to experiment with printed bottoms once in a while. Try printed palazzos or leggings with lace borders for a change.

- For formal wear you can try kurtis in light colours with a collared neck and pair them with solid cigarette pants or leggings. Wear heels or pumps for more office appropriate professional look.

- When shopping kurtas be open to trying new styles and silhouettes . Asymmetric hemlines, long kurtas with a slit in middle down from waist line or belted kurtis look very contemporary.

-Accessorizing an ethnic look with jewelry is important. Go for delicate jewelry for office wear and for more casual events experiment with statement neck pieces and ear cuffs. Oxidized silver jewellery look great with solid kurtas.

-Print on print can look very crowded butif you mix subtle prints with bolder ones it can actually work well. We normally pair a plain kurta with printed bottoms or printed kurta with plain bottoms but try the print on print combination for a jazzy funk look. 

Have more ideas to style long kurtas? Share them with me in comments below.

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