PATIALA SALWAR KAMEEZ

One of the more traditional forms of salwar kameez is the Patiala salwar kameez. This type has some interesting history behind it. The garment is named after Patiala, a city in the North Indian state of Punjab. The dress was so called because in ancient times the king of Patiala used to wear baggy pants and tops that were full sleeved. The trend became so popular that women started copying it in their daily wear resulting in what is now known as patiala salwars. Just like the king’s pants, the patiala salwars are very loose and pleated. In fact the more baggy the pant is the better it looks.

The fall of the pleats is such as to give a beautiful draping effect. There is a lot of fluidity in the salwar’s look and women wear it with short and tight tops. The salwar has drawstring waist just like other salwars. For women with heavier bottom half, this design could do wonders as the extra weight is well hidden under the scores of drapes and pleats. This type is also very comfortable, especially in summer months when the loose fit allows one to keep cool. The patialas are more common among the women of North India, but they are definitely gaining in popularity throughout the country too due to their lovely look.Women with short height can do especially well with this garment, particularly if they wear a kurta that hits above the knee. The kurtas could be long too for this type of salwat kameez, but to really show off the beauty of the bottom’s design, it is better to wear tops that are shorter. Also, the slits at the sides of the kurtas have to be long, sometimes up to the waist. The fabric, color and embroidery can be of varied types and depends upon the wearer’s style.