In India, while the kurta tends to cross over from workwear to traditional ceremonial wear and more casual outings, it’s now finally embracing humour and lightness. Say hello to the quirky kurta, or q-urta, if you will.
While classic chikankari and block prints will always have a place in our wardrobes, we’re all on board this new iteration we are seeing in stores and on women we love. The q-urta can have one of the following: flirty, cute detailing (a few months ago, Nicobar did a striped style with embroidered red hearts that I now wear on repeat), a painterly version of an animal print at Yam (leopard on a kurta? Sign us up!) or boho patchwork and embellished bird detailing, like at Jodi. We’re definitely not in your mama’s kurta territory any longer.
The silhouette’s ease and capacity for quick transitions are what make the kurta such a wardrobe MVP in Indian women’s closets. What the q-urta does is add that dose of personality, or a cheeky nod to your individuality, to a look that, let’s face it, had become somewhat staid.
On how to style it, look no further than our two favourite q-urta wearers—Karisma Kapoor and Mira Kapoor. Both work their versions in diametrically opposite ways, again showcasing how a quirky kurta can work for your needs. While Karisma tends to lean hipster (think Converse high-tops, flat sandals, and cloth bags), Mira glosses it up a notch, with heels and dainty accessories. Look to them for cues or choose your own lane, but going forward there’s simply no excuse to don a boring kurta.
