Lucknowi Chikankari Suits – A perfect outfit for Summer Day Out

As Indians we all love dressing up in our traditional clothes, it’s a part of our culture. From Lehengas, to the elegant 6 yard Sari to a simple Suits we have so many options to choose from. Since summers are upon us, I love wearing light cotton kurti’s and traditional outfits when attending a function. Family events are the best time to adorn colourful Indian outfits.

A kurta is one of the most versatile outfits one can have in the wardrobe. You can style it in multiple ways and pair it with leggings, churidars, salwar, palazzo pants and more. Mix it up with the right accessories and you can take your outfit from formal work wear to an evening wear for an occasion.

For the summer I prefer light summery fabrics like cotton or georgette. One of my favourite styles of Kutras is ‘Chikankari’ Kurtas. Chikankari is a traditional art of embroidery from Lucknow, the City of Nawabs. The embroidery style uses delicate threads to weave detailed patterns with great finesse.

This work is done on an array of materials like cotton, silk, muslin, georgette, chiffon and organza. If you are a fan of all things handcrafted then a Chikankari kurta or a Lucknowi kurta is a must have in your ethnic wardrobe. From floral motifs to the epics and myths surrounding the Indian culture, one can find intricately embroidered details on a Chikankari kurta. 

I love the thread work and the detailing of this work. These kurtas are very popular and can be worn for any event. One can even find this work on other ethnic outfits like Lehengas, Anarkalis, Tunics, Dresses and more apart from kurtas. What’s better is that they are available in beautiful sorbet colours and pastel shades like blue, off-white, pink, peach and more.

I wore a red Chikankari kurta for a small family gathering. You can dress yourself up in cotton kurtas or kurtis adorned with this beautiful art. I teamed up my kurta with black leggings and a wrinkled cotton dupatta. Pairing this with high black heels, a tribal neckpiece and a small embroidered bag, gave it an effortless look for a small family gathering.

The black bag adds an element of freshness in the entire outfit and perfectly colour blocks with the red kurta. You can even pair the kurta with palazzo’s or cigarette pants if you want a modern touch to your overall look. But if you are a true traditionalist then you can pair this combo with colourful juttis or flat sandals which are extremely comfortable.

Outfit Details: Rust Colour Chikankari Kurta from Ada Chikan

Which is your favourite Indian outfit? Let me know how you like to style it in the comments below.

Hair & Makeup by Verdeep Dhillon