14 kurta sets under Rs 10,000 so both you and your wallet can shine on
Suit up sensibly, this festive season
‘What are you going to wear for Diwali this year?’, my mum asked very earnestly earlier this week. My response, “I don’t know? Pants?”, elicited a variety of ‘what have I given birth to’ expressions, but considering I’ve only worn shorts, leggings, and torn pyjamas over the last seven months of WFH, she should have been impressed.
My mother belongs to the ‘dressing up is the first tenet of the Indian festive season’ category of people. While I fall squarely in the ‘yay! it’s binge-eat mithai’ season. But after making her peace with the lack of pujas and parties to dress up for, she slipped back into the frenzy of looking for affordable kurta sets and saris for the season.
She reminded me of a very important lesson, as mummies tend to do, unknowingly. Coronavirus may have robbed us of pandal hopping, over-crowded taash parties, and frenetically shopping for affordable Indian jewellery to zhuzh up our ensembles — but it has reminded us that we still have something to celebrate. Life.
Festivals in essence, are a time for the family, to count your blessings and to give thanks.
So maybe the festive season is the right time to move past the denial, and anger stages of pandemic grief, and transition to acceptance and hope. Psychology does tell us that clothes play a part in making us feel better, smarter, and more empowered.
Whether you’re planning on social bubble soirees, settling down for a sustainable season with your family or Zoom calling your way through taash parties, this edit of kurta sets under Rs 10,000 is for all the lazy girls like me who want to stir out of their stupor, but can’t be bothered to go the whole nine yards. (And have mistakenly promised to put on pants).
From delicately embroidered versions, to pretty patterned styles and even cheat outfits for the lazy girl, we have you covered with these kurta sets under Rs 10,000.
You can’t really wear those dal-stained pyjamas for Laxmi puja, can you? Log kya kahenge Zoom par!?
Kurta sets under Rs 10,000 to add to your festive wardrobe
Photo credit: Globaldesi.in
Pink suit from Global Desi
It’s pink, it shimmers and the dupatta is glitzy and gauzy enough for you to be your dramatic self. You will be tempted to play out your own version of chunari chunari in this gold-dotted suit. Trust us.
Photo credit: Shrinkhla.in
Narangi Potli suit set from Shrinkhla
Other than the fact that it’s so deliciously titled, we love the fresh colour of the printed cotton set that consists of a twirl-friendly kurti with gheras, comfy printed palazzos and a matching Chanderi dupatta.
Photo credit: Aachho.com
Organza hand-painted suit set from Aachho
This pastel hand-painted organza satin silk set is for those subtle Simrans who believe that bold colours and shimmery zari work are not the only way to be a patakha this festive season.
Photo credit: Moonbowindia.com
Leheriya kurta set from Moonbow
The sky blue leheriya set is perfect for those celebrating the festive season in the hotter parts of the country — the soft muslin means you can get close to the havan fires without feeling like you’re actually in the fire. The kurta comes with elastic waistband pants, and you can pick from a mulmul or cotton silk dupatta.
Photo credit: Fabindia.com
Kurta set from Fabindia
This cotton-silk boat neck kurta, with a gold-piped sharara, (and matching mask!) is exactly what you need to keep the blues and the ‘rona away, this festive season.
Photo credit: Theloom.in
Gota work salwar kameez from The Loom
Honestly, we picked this for its eye-catching colour palette and pretty gota work, as much as we did for its oversized silhouette and drawstring pants that will allow us to eat and drink while on the endless Skype call with extended family, comfortably.
Photo credit: Silaistudio.com
Turtle tunic and skirt from Silai Studio
If waving a white flag is a sign of calling a truce, then wearing a turtle (a symbol of good luck in many cultures) motif, is you asking the universe to be kind. An earnest request we’re all making this year.
We love the pretty pink flared tunic with its long churidar sleeves, turtles embroidered in dull gold zardozi and the very boomerang-worthy pink cotton gathered skirt. The pop of green in the lining is just the je ne sais quoi your festive look needs.
Photo credit: Thejodilife.com
Bindi Chanderi silk dress from The Jodi Life
Okay, fine, we’re cheating — this is a dress, but pull on your black leggings, steal a dupatta from nani, and you have a quintessentially Indian outfit that pleases your own sensibilities, and hers.
Made from hand dyed Chanderi, in colours inspired by the class Indian bindi, we’re stuck to it… like a bindi on your forehead.
Photo credit: Kalkifashion.com
Dhoti Suit with jacket from Kalki Fashion
The only thing we love more than an affordable ready-to-wear outfit for the Indian festive season? An outfit with separates that we’re already pairing with our existing wardrobe pieces.
The sun yellow crop in this cotton-silk set will complement the comfy work trousers we’ve been hoarding and the jacket goes with just about anything — for those grappling with an arm fat obsession.
Photo credit: Vintageloom.com
Embroidered Chanderi kurta with matching pants from Vintage Loom
A deliciously deep hue counts as festive, and this brown cotton (70%)-silk(30%) mix with gold embroidered bootis is fuss-free and shiny enough to make it look like you tried. The pants are elasticated, which means more room to over eat. Win-win!
Photo credit: Okhai.org
Moonstone set from Okhai
An outfit that allows you to unleash your inner revenge shopper, and patronise Indian artisans is one that’s high on our good karma list. Choose the silk-blend set from Okhai, embroidered in traditional Indian techniques, featuring dramatic gharara pants.
Photo credit: Tokreeshop.com
Chaand set from Tokree
Since Diwali is all about the shine, bring it on your clothes with the Chaand set which features resham thread crescent moons on a pista green kurta and matching pants.
Pair them with a dupatta that matches the embroidery to ace the colour block trend. The brand offers an oxblood-hued mulmul dupatta, which you have to buy separately.
Photo credit: Kharakapas.com
Saaj jumpsuit from Khara Kapas
Don’t burst a patakha, be one, taken quite literally — the gorgeous rust of a flaming diya comes to life on this jumpsuit featuring delicate zari work on the pockets.
Pair it with larger-than-motichoor-laddoos chaand balis or giant jhumkas, and mojris, and you have yourself a lazy girl’s pseudo Indian outfit. Throw on an embroidered vest if you want to add a more distinctly ethnic touch.
Photo credit: Naazbynoor.com
Oatmeal kurta set from Naaz by Noor
This muted gold Chanderi kurta set is our version of paying tribute to our sona chandi obsession without going OTT. The embroidered kurta, paired with comfortable sharara pants, even has pockets. For you to hide your mithai in (obviously).
Dress it up with a gauzy gold dupatta, or wear as is if you want to keep things casual.