Chikankari is a type of traditional Indian embroidery that originates from Lucknow. Both delicate and elegant, chikankari is done on silk, muslin, and cotton. Chikankari outfits are popular all year long but now since the festive season is near, they’re more in demand than ever! Read on for my recommendations of the best chikankari outfits for the season!
History of Chikankari
According to legend, a Greek traveler making his way through a village in Lucknow comes across a poor peasant and asks him for water. Due to the peasant’s hospitality, the traveler teaches him the art of chikankari, so that he may never go hungry again. Other stories say that this embroidery was first introduced by Noor Jahan, the wife of Emperor Jahangir.
Chikankari Fashion
Due to the material used for Chikankari outfits, their popularity is no surprise during the hot summers in Mumbai. Therefore, these outfits will not stick to your body, instead, they allow your body to breathe. The materials are also soft and thin, making them the best option to wear during the summer and spring.
I have many of these tunics and tunic sets and my favorite thing about them is versatility. These outfits are so elegant, mainly due to the Moghul motifs used in the embroidery, that you can dress them up, or dress them down even with a pair of jeans and sandals!
Also, you can buy the long tunics alone and pair them with some ankle-cut skinny jeans (my favorite). Or you can pair them with palazzo pants! If you want to jazz up the look, accessorize with silver jhumkas and custom-made juttis from Fushia–you’re set!
Although Chikankari outfits can be expensive, the festive season is the perfect time to do some shopping! Buy more, Save more!
The Best Place for Chikankari Outfits
House of Chikankari is an online shop based in Delhi. This is my favorite shop to order from because their international delivery service is unmatched. Most of my orders, if not all of them arrive in NY in about 7 days or less. They come very well packaged and with a free little gift bag, made of cotton with chikankari embroidery on it.
The finishing of their pieces, and the quality of their materials are like anything you would purchase at Macy’s (at a fraction of the price). In addition to great prices, they offer amazing customer service! I purchased a few pieces while in Mumbai that happened to sell out immediately. Not to my surprise, most of my choices were sold out as I placed my order. A customer service representative called me immediately and offered me alternatives to the pieces I missed out on.
With Navratri just around the corner, here are my 9 picks for the 9 days of festivities!
My 9 Chikankari Outfit Picks!
This long tunic has beautiful pink colored chikankari embroidery on the sleeves and the chest piece as well as a motif on the back. The pants are sold separately. Both run $37. So, if you purchase both pieces, that runs about $74, and trust me, for an ethnic outfit, that’s a steal!
This beautiful cotton kurta is perfect for any occasion. It comes in a few pastel colors. Pair this with a white Chikankari palazzo or jeans! Jazz it up with a pair of earrings and a few bangles and it’s the perfect day look!
This is one of my favorite chikankari outfits! It’s all cotton but the embroidery makes it a bit heavy. But don’t worry, because it adds to the flow of the gharara. This comes as a set for $99. I’d say that’s a steal! I’ve seen similar tunics made with cheap polyester, running for $50! This is a set! Grab it!
This beautiful set comes in a few colors and is made of Rayon. Personally, I’d wear this for an evening event and with the whole set priced at just over $50, you can’t go wrong! Imagine this with a simple clutch and sandals! The model is wearing juttis, which is a great look too. Comfortable and elegant!
Another set! And guess what? This one comes for just under $67. They offer a set of colors and what I love about this one is that the kurta is a straight fit. So this set will make you look a little taller. So, pair this with a cute set of high heels, and uff! To die for!
This long tunic would pair perfectly with the suggested palazzos. If you have leggings, especially chudiddar, I feel those would complete the look. The embroidery here is a bit more typical, a bit more authentic to the ancient art form. Also, if paired with a chudiddar, I’d wear the matching duppatta.
This is another set piece, coming in at $37! Can you beat that?! I love their sets because they’re such great value for money! This set is made of Rayon so I would wear this one in the evening. Embroidery here is a bit lighter but still elegant. I wouldn’t necessarily pair it with the model’s choice of handbag but rather with a clutch or a smaller bag. Comfy and classy!
Another set! Yes! This one is about $66. Made of Rayon, this would make a beautiful evening outfit. I’d pair this with heels, not the sandals the model is wearing per se.
Keep in mind most of these pieces come in various colors, but due to demand, they sell out fast!
This beautiful Rayon set runs for $62. Although it’s similar to the set I mentioned earlier, this one is heavier, and meant for special occasions. I would wear the tunic paired with other pants, maybe even skinny trousers! Get creative!
These were just a few of the beautiful pieces the House of Chikankari has to offer. While I do like to buy from various sites, I feel with House of Chikankari, you don’t need to visit any other site. This one is a one-stop shop! They sell pants, tunics, and accessories. I love the price point and the quality is very good. Remember to either hand wash or wash these outfits on the delicate cycle so you don’t ruin the embroidery. Check out House of Chikankari and grab your favorites because once they sell out, you might not see them again!
