Ever imagined me wearing hot pink and hot blue together?
Introducing the salwar (pronounced shalwar) kameeze
The salwar kameeze is the local dress here – and what I must wear in public. Essentially it consists of long baggy salwar pants (complete with baggy crutch) and a long half dress/half top thingy – the kameeze. To complete the outfit – and the most important item is the orna – which may be worn in the way I am in the above photo, but in more conservative areas must be worn the other way – as it’s intended purpose is to cover the woman’s chest area – and that is the way I must wear it to work (as you will see in the photos from my workplace). To be seen in public without an orna is highly revealing – I can get away with wearing jeans, and long tops in public (in certain areas) – but definitely not without an orna!
Luckily, part of my in country orientation included clothe shopping with the very stylish Mahmuda – who was able to impart valuable Bangladeshi fashion advice – being that the brighter and bolder the outfit the better! Bright orange, yellow, green, pink, purple, blue, etc are in – and beige is definitely out (to the first kameeze that I picked out of a rack, that I thought was a very stylish beige and brown number, Mahmuda advised that “you could wear that – but it’s rather sober – and people at work may talk about you and laugh at you”). Needless to say, it went back on the rack.
Another piece of advice was that every girl needs a pair of “skinny pants” – which are the latest fashion – and that get scrunched up around the ankles. Such pants, however, are far too raunchy for the area that I work in (reveal way too much leg). I’m actually quite thankful – as they are a bit of a pain in the butt to wear – but thought you would like to see what they look like off – how hilarious!!
Also important is that you wear 5 different salwar kameezes to work each week – it’s a big no-no to repeat an outfit. Hence, I currently have 6 different outfits that I’m circulating through.
At the moment it’s quite fun – wearing styles and colours that I never would at home. I just hope the novelty lasts!
The salwar kameeze is the local dress here – and what I must wear in public. Essentially it consists of long baggy salwar pants (complete with baggy crutch) and a long half dress/half top thingy – the kameeze. To complete the outfit – and the most important item is the orna – which may be worn in the way I am in the above photo, but in more conservative areas must be worn the other way – as it’s intended purpose is to cover the woman’s chest area – and that is the way I must wear it to work (as you will see in the photos from my workplace). To be seen in public without an orna is highly revealing – I can get away with wearing jeans, and long tops in public (in certain areas) – but definitely not without an orna!
Luckily, part of my in country orientation included clothe shopping with the very stylish Mahmuda – who was able to impart valuable Bangladeshi fashion advice – being that the brighter and bolder the outfit the better! Bright orange, yellow, green, pink, purple, blue, etc are in – and beige is definitely out (to the first kameeze that I picked out of a rack, that I thought was a very stylish beige and brown number, Mahmuda advised that “you could wear that – but it’s rather sober – and people at work may talk about you and laugh at you”). Needless to say, it went back on the rack.
Another piece of advice was that every girl needs a pair of “skinny pants” – which are the latest fashion – and that get scrunched up around the ankles. Such pants, however, are far too raunchy for the area that I work in (reveal way too much leg). I’m actually quite thankful – as they are a bit of a pain in the butt to wear – but thought you would like to see what they look like off – how hilarious!!
Also important is that you wear 5 different salwar kameezes to work each week – it’s a big no-no to repeat an outfit. Hence, I currently have 6 different outfits that I’m circulating through.
At the moment it’s quite fun – wearing styles and colours that I never would at home. I just hope the novelty lasts!
1 comment:
Cool! What culture shock eh.
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