Travelin' man and I were scheduled to attend an all-day, Indian wedding on Sunday, and the day before I asked him what I was supposed to wear. He pulls out the schedule of activities and reads off "Semi-formal or Indian." Hmmmm...we called up a couple of our Indian friends to make sure we wouldn't be offending anyone if we showed up decked out in traditional garb and, once we got the thumbs up, ventured out to see what we could come up with!
My mother actually recommended this shop - she loves the colors and sparkles of Indian clothing - that is found next to Chat Patti near the N. Druid Hills and Briarcliff Target. I had initially planned to get a sari, but the saleswoman steered me toward a salwaar kameez (dress with matching pants) after warning me that attempting to wrap the sari on my own could prove to be more challenging than understanding the Lost finale. Clothing sizes vary from US clothes, so be sure to grab a wide range to try on and get the feel for the sizing before you get your heart set on any specific outfit. With some assistance, I started out with a few that made me look like a dowdy mother of the bride, followed by a few that were cut so skimpily in the front that they were practically obscene. Eventually I found the perfect fit in a gorgeous purple/fuschia number with elaborate beading on the bust.
Inspired by my clear affinity for wearing Indian clothing (or perhaps the realization that wider range of options = greater potential for sales), my saleslady relented on the sari issue, picked out a gorgeous burgundy and gold number, and showed me twice (I assisted the second time) how to wrap it. I almost remembered how to do it myself (many thanks to Youtube for thre refresher course!) later! The people in the store assured me that if I was really in a bind, anyone at the wedding would be happy to assist me, although I imagine it would have caused an interesting stir if I had marched into the reception with my sari half-wrapped...
I ended up getting both outfits - salwar kameez for the morning ceremony and lunch and the sari for the evening reception, and travelin' man got a traditional outfit for the morning as well. We even got a discount, although I am sure our price was still twice as much as what would have been offered to Desi customers.
Although I felt somewhat self-conscious when I first arrived and started poking around, being the only non-Indian in the store, by the time I left I felt like part of the family. So don't be afraid to ask for help! And give yourself time to really dig around - there are so many colors, patterns, beading, etc. that every outfit in the store is truly unique. You'll want to be able to take your time as you sort through all of the different options. read more