Add a Touch of Glitz and Glamour to Your Traditional Wardrobe

When it comes to extravagant colors, textures, and boundary-pushing designs, South Asian cultures are a step ahead of the rest!

03:02 01 August 2022

When you think of traditional clothing, you might not picture the flashiest or most exciting garments available. You might want to add some spice to your traditional attire, if only to keep things interesting when you’re at family events and formal functions.

 

That’s why the choli is a perfect addition to your wardrobe, rooted in tradition and offering some excitement as well. It’s the best way to stay respectful to the occasion and the people around you while still bringing some originality to the mix.

 

After all, wearing traditional clothing should be a form of celebration, and that means enjoying how you look and having some fun while you’re at it. Let’s take a closer look at traditional dress and see how the choli can add some much-needed glitz and glamour to your repertoire. 

 

Indian Tradition: Background

When it comes to extravagant colors, textures, and boundary-pushing designs, South Asian cultures are a step ahead of the rest! India is at the center of it all, and has been for thousands of years.

 

From the valleys of the Indus and Ganges rivers, spreading across vast regions in every direction, the natural richness of the terrain gives way to so many creative cultural expressions, including clothes.

 

With many subcultures and unique communities, it’s impossible to summarize this clothing in a tidy manner. However, we can see some common trends across the board that help us make sense of traditional clothing and inspire us to explore the full range of options.

 

It’s here that we see the sari and other wrapped garments, long skirts known as the lenga, and flowing scarves called the dupatta. Each piece has limitless color schemes and styles to explore, including various lengths that match the occasion and desired comfort level.

 

All About the Choli

With Indian traditional clothing, you’ve got so much to choose from, and a surprising amount of flexibility in terms of how to assemble these looks. In fact, there are more than 100 different ways to wrap the sari, so you have no shortage of choices in that regard!

 

But when it comes time to add some flavor to your traditional garb, the choli is a clear choice, specifically the beautifully printed cholis that are so popular nowadays.

 

What exactly do we mean by choli? We’re referring to the upper portion of a traditional Indian outfit, with two possible pieces worn as the bottom half: lehenga and ghaghra.

 

Those lower-half garments tend to be similar in terms of how they’re wrapped and draped, and typically don’t offer a lot of variation or excitement. This isn’t to say that the lehenga or ghaghra styles are boring, but they are somewhat predictable with familiar formulas and dimensions.

 

This is where the choli can make all the difference in your look and add inspiration where it’s needed most!

 

Advantages of the Choli

We know that the choli represents the top half of a traditional ensemble, but what are the advantages of this clothing category?

 

First of all, the choli is versatile in terms of shape and coverage. You can find cholis that cover the entire chest and both arms with long sleeves, or offer a single-arm veil for a refreshing asymmetrical look.

 

There are also full-coverage cholis for more traditional occasions, and minimal fabrics for when you want to make a more aggressive fashion statement! Keep in mind that you have access to a complete range of colors and fabrics here, putting the full customization potential at your fingertips. 

 

Speaking of colors, we urge you to explore some of the latest choli patterns that offer a mix of modern and traditional rolled into one. Everything from periwinkle floral prints to coral, teal, and emerald embroidered patterns - these are pieces that must be seen to be believed. 

 

Match or Contrast? How to Wear Your Choli

Here’s the most exciting part of the choli that sets it apart from other components of traditional garb: you get to choose how to mix and match it. Top vendors offer the option of a matching choli and skirt, but you can also choose to contrast those pieces for extra pop!

 

Don’t worry about veering outside the lines of tradition or what’s appropriate. As long as you keep your look cohesive and tasteful, you have a lot of room to roam with your choli choices.

 

Ultimately, you can develop a wardrobe filled with choli options and various lehengas and ghaghras, letting you cycle through different outfits with ease.

 

Develop Your Style with a Choli

To put things in modern terms, think of the choli as the t-shirt and wraps as the jeans. The shirt is where you express your style and even take some risks! That’s how you add some glamour to the mix while honoring tradition and having some fun along the way.