Dressing Trends

The dressing trends of Gujarat have adapted the fashion in vogue without compromising on the ethnicity and culture. The revolution in the fashion world in the last decade had its influence on costumes of Gujarat as well.

The traditional dresses of Gujarat include the chorno, kediyu for men and Chaniya-Choli for women. The fine thread work with embellished mirror work or embroidery or the beads are some of the add-up to the otherwise normal traditional clothing for the Gujarati families. With the adaption of fashion in Gujarat, people are opting for pants and shirts instead of traditional outfits. Some brands of clothes have gone a step further by offering 1-minute dhoti, which gives a look of Dhoti on the outer side, but can be worn like a pant (without having the trouble of wrapping around the cotton cloth with frills and pleats). Even saree for women are designed to simply wearing of these traditional looking dresses with modernized ease.

Apart from clothing, the people in Gujarat pride in wearing other accessories that brighten up the atmosphere with its glossy shades.

Traditional Outfits

The traditional rural men of Gujarat sport a turban or the head gear known as phento which comes in thick layered cloth in layers. They usually wear cotton clothes to bear the scorching temperatures. The men wear Chorno and a short angrakhu is carelessly thrown over the shoulder. This covers the upper part of the body.

Ladies wear a long skirt also known as Lehenga and a blouse known as Choli. The two pieces are either contrasting in colors or matching with each other and these are embedded with a number of glass pieces. Gujarati women sport huge number of bangles, large ear rings and a dot on forehead (Bindi) as part of their traditional attire. The women wear a veil running from the waist over their head so that their faces are completely covered except the chin portion. Married women among other jewellery, compulsorily wear mangalsutra made of black beads around their neck and sprinkle lots of Kumkum in the partition of hair (maang).

Festival Costumes

Gujarat celebrates festivals like Deepavali, Krishnashtami and so on. Festivals in this state are celebrated with grandeur and Navratri is the main festival that goes on for Nine days at a stretch. The young generation and the older ones alike prefer to buy new clothes on these occasions. The enthusiasm of Gujaratis needs no special mention during these nine nights of dance and celebration. It is believed that the devotion of goddess Amba who exists in nine forms during the Navratri bestows good luck and prosperity to the families. The group dance includes Garbha and dandiya which requires traditional outfits. While performing the dance, men wear short coat like costume called as Keviya and frilled pleated pants. The tailor made costumes enable free movement of dance positions and also give an elegant look to the participants. The dresses are also embroidered at various places with mirrors to enhance the beauty. Ladies wear Ghaghra choli with additional embroidery during these dances. The otherwise plain duppatta is slipped over their neck to face, which is heavily designed with beads and mirrors to give festive look.