Kurta, kameez or kurti: what’s the difference?

Tops

• Kurta: a long, straight-cut shirt, usually to the knee, with side slits. Worn by boys and girls; boys’ kurtas usually have a mandarin collar and a button placket.
• Kameez: the girls’ version of the long shirt, often with more shaping, embroidery and a wider neckline. A shalwar kameez is a kameez with a shalwar.
• Kurti: a shorter kameez, ending at the hip, worn with trousers or a pyjami for everyday.
• Choli: the short, fitted blouse worn with a lehenga.

Bottoms

• Shalwar: loose trousers gathered into a cuff (the paincha) at the ankle.
• Pajama: straight, narrower trousers. A kurta pajama is the everyday boys’ set.
• Churidar: narrow trousers, longer than the leg, that gather into rings at the ankle. Worn under frocks and sherwanis.
• Pyjami: the girls’ narrow trouser worn under a frock or kurti.
• Gharara: wide trousers fitted to the knee, then gathered into a flowing flare.
• Sharara: trousers flared from the waist, like a divided skirt.
• Lehenga: a full, flared skirt worn with a choli and dupatta.

Layers and extras

• Dupatta: a long scarf draped over the shoulders or head, in net, chiffon, organza or cotton.
• Waistcoat: a sleeveless jacket worn over a kurta, often embroidered.
• Sherwani: a long, fitted coat with a stand-up (bandhgala) collar, worn over a kurta and churidar for weddings.
• Prince coat: a shorter version of the sherwani, worn over a kurta shalwar.
• Anarkali: a frock with a fitted bodice and a full, flared skirt.

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