JOIN USA collarless shirt in the Persian language is called kurta. With the coming of the Mughals to India, the kurta was adopted by the locals. Initially worn by men, with time its variant — the kurti — became very popular with women.
Kurtas are a nod to fashion, tradition and culture. They look elegant and can be teamed with everything from trousers to salwars to jeans to make a fashion statement.
“The length variations in kurtas are many. From short to long to really long ones that almost touch the floor, kurtas are always in vogue,” says designer Anuradha Ramam.
If you watch fashion trends closely, you will have noticed that kurtas have become asymmetrical with drooping sides that give the illusion of the garment floating on the wearer’s body. “Such kurtas can be paired with not just jeans but also shararas, ghagras, straight pants and palazzos,” adds Anuradha.
Long kurtas in georgette and cotton are perfect for summer. Those tailored from fabric like kota, linen, woven ikhat, khadi and Maheshwari work well for daily wear.
A kurta can also be worn as evening wear. “Rayon is used to bring sheen or lustre on predominantly cotton kurtas which make them perfect as party wear,” says Sreyasee Halder, head of design at a fashion studio.
Careful use of sequins and elegant embellishment can turn a kurta into a showstopping outfit.