The kameez (or shirt) is usually long with slits up the sides. These shirts are commonly called kurtis in Bengaluru. The salwar (or pants) can come in a variety of styles. Some areas prefer very loose and baggy salwar pants. In southern India, where I am, tight pants that are like leggings are preferred.
In addition to these common styles of traditional dress, many women in Bengaluru often wear Western-style clothing, like what we wear in the U.S. My fellow female students wear jeans and t-shirts most of the time. Sometimes the clothes are a fusion of Indian and Western clothing, like kurti style shirts that are not much longer than a typical Western t-shirt.
Men’s clothing, in contrast, is much less diverse. Most men in India wear Western-style clothing all the time. On special occasions, they might wear male versions of kurtis. These look similar to female kurtis, but are generally looser fitting and less brightly patterned. Some men in southern India wear a type of clothing called a lungi. Lungis are long pieces of cloth that are wrapped around the waist, kind of like a skirt. The lungi either hangs to the ground or can be picked up and tucked into the waist so it’s knee length. Much like saris, lungis are mostly worn by older men.
Most of the traditional clothing in India is very lightweight and loose. It also tends to cover most of the skin. These characteristics help people stay cool in the hot Indian weather and protect their skin from being burned by the sun. The traditional clothing of India is a part of their cultural heritage.
