From Manish Malhotra to Sabyasachi, from very short kurtas to statement pants, check out the latest Indian suit trends for 2021!
For this trend forecast, we analysed the latest collections of more than 25 top designers, Instagram and celeb trends. If you haven’t built your suit collection yet, worry not! Because we have compiled a list of the latest Indian suit trends for 2021 and we would like to share them with you! So, without wasting any time, let’s dive right in to check out the top 11 Indian suit trends for this season!
Indian Suit Trends for 2021
1. Shararas & Ghararas
Shararas & ghararas are iconic Indian ethnic staples. Similar to last year, these Mughal-inspired garments have secured #1 spot in our list of Indian suit trends for 2021. Shararas are long, loose fitted and flared trousers. They give the look of a long flowy skirt. A gharara, however, is fitted from the waist to the knee. They are ruched at the knee line with decorative laces or any other embellishments so that they can flare out substantially.
These modern ethnic wear pieces find a regular spot in almost every woman’s closet. In addition to creating a great silhouette, they are also flattering on all body types. This year, we are seeing shararas heavily embellished with pearls, sequins, zari, resham and gotta patti works. On the flip side, we are spotting ghararas beautified with intricate hand embroideries. Bollywood divas like Richa Chadda and Gauhar Khan have been rocking these modern outfits in chic and stylish ways.
Richa Chadda wears a short soft golden-hued full-sleeved kurta with a sharara and a sheer dupatta by Tarun Tahiliani. Gauhar Khan, on the other hand, stuns in a pistachio green sharara set by Reynu Taandon for one of her pre-wedding shoots.
2. Very Short Kurtas
Suits paired with very short kurtas are one of the chicest trends this season. If you are not a fan of long kurtas, then this trend is a must-have! These kurtas are so short that they end at the upper thigh. Many top designers like Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Manish Malhotra, Jayanti Reddy and more are coming up with such kurtas this year.
This season we are noticing short kurtas embellished with metallic sequins, intricate hand embroideries, and Mughal, floral embroidered motifs. Printed short kurta suit with an embroidered border by Sabyasachi Mukherjee has my heart. These suits look great when paired with matching palazzos or shararas. For head to toe perfection, team them with tinted sunnies, matching juttis and embroidered potli bag.
3. Ankle-Length Anarkali
Trends keep coming and going, but anarkalis have stayed, and it’s no wonder why. Even after decades, anarkalis remain a favorite choice among fashionistas because of their iconic, stylish and elegant look. In this season as well, it is the ankle-length anarkali that is ruling the runway.
This year, we are seeing ankle-length anarkali suits in bold floral prints, solid colors, embroidered and embellished ones in top designer collections. Also, we are seeing a lot of anarkali suits paired with matching and contrasting dupattas. B-town celebrities such as Kriti Sanon and Dia Mirza were spotted wearing these anarkali suits.
This trend looks like a perfect idea for low-key home ceremonies and virtual functions. Pair these suits with matching churidar or palazzos. You can also complete your look with a pair of heavy jhumkas and a patchwork potli bag to emanate desi feels like no other!
4. Non-Matching Dupatta
Gone are the days when suits were only paired with matching dupattas. This season, the designer suit collections of some of the top designers are all about non-matching dupattas. We are seeing trendsetters coming up with printed, tie-dyed, and embellished ones in their latest collections. These unusual dupatta color combinations give you the freedom to mix and match your outfit, as well as explore a range of colors and prints.
This season we are noticing some odd and some really new color palettes. Sabyasachi’s bandhani printed chiffon dupatta, paired with a hand-painted and printed textured kurta, gives a cool twist to her print-on-print outfit. Anju Modi’s ankle-length anarkali suit, teamed with a red bandhani dupatta, adds a playful twist and a modest look to her attire. On the other hand, peach pink silk kalidar kurta, paired with a matching sharara and an embroidered mustard hued tulle dupatta by Rimple and Harpreet, adds a simple yet elegant look to her overall appearance.
Suits paired with these dupattas won’t just flatter your overall attire but will also make you stand out in the crowd. In case you’re attending your BFF’s wedding in a suit, pick these dupatta styles to leave everybody drooling!
5. New Sleeve Cuts & Styles
Tired of the age-old bell and balloon sleeves? Wanna try something new? Well then, this trend may be perfect for you! These stylish sleeves are very much in vogue and are here to take the ethnic fashion world by storm. This year, we are noticing varieties of sleeves like slit sleeves, floor-touching sequin embellished winged sleeves, sleeves that work just like a dupatta and what not!
We are seeing these stylish sleeves making huge appearances in top designer collections. As a result, these designer sleeves rank as the #5 trend in our latest Indian suit trends for 2021. Suits with these awe-inspiring sleeves are great for a Zoom-meet, lunches and dinner parties. My favorite is the pastel yellow suit by Shyamal & Bhumika with undulating layered sleeves and attached tassels.
6. Asymmetric or High-Low Suits
Asymmetric or high-low suits hadn’t even gone out of fashion and they’re making an even bigger comeback this year. Be it short front with long back or undulating asymmetrical hemlines, these suits are surely going to make a lasting impression on everyone. Top designers are constantly working to add extra flamboyance and modish appeal to these suit styles. This year, we’re seeing a lot of styles with longer sides, short in the front.
We spotted these suits in different prints and patterns. In addition, suits adorned with sequins and intricate embroideries are in abundance this season. Ritu Kumar’s high-low kurta set is printed with their signature motifs and is great for kitty parties and intimate festivities! The best thing about these suits is that they are available in so many varieties, giving us endless options to choose from.
7. Plunging V-Necklines
If wearing a turtle neck or bandgala is not your style, then a plunging V-neckline suit is all you need! These necklines create a sharp V shape and show more of your cleavage. We have already seen celebrities sashaying down in plunging necklines at many red carpet events. However, these peek-a-boo necklines, when added to an Indian suit, give it a subtle yet sophisticated appearance. Top designers are showcasing their own unique versions of deep V’s in their collections. They are glamorous, alluring, sexy and modern.
This year, we are witnessing suits with deep V-neck adorned with floral prints, gotta patti works and sequins. These necklines flatter almost all body types – pear or apple-shaped, they are for all! Also, they work best for women with broad shoulders and short necks. If you are planning to wear a dupatta, go for sheer ones. Opt for a choker necklace, stoned bindi, and dark shade of lipstick to add extra glamour to your outfit.
8. Strappy Kurta Suits
Strappy kurta suits have been making a statement. Be it thin or thick straps, the beauty of these suit styles have made it to our list of Indian suit trends for 2021. Strappy kurta suits with floral and botanical prints, solid colors & embroidered ones are some of the hottest styles we are seeing this season.
Shilpa Shetty Kundra looks really gorgeous in Anita Dongre’s three-piece peachy pink floral printed suit, paired with matching flared pants and a dupatta. The green embroidered anarkali set by Tarun Tahiliani is my personal favorite. It is embellished with resham and badla embroidery and paired with a matching churidar and pre-attached dupatta. These suit styles are ideal for hot summer days and rainy seasons. Also, they are a great alternative if you wanna wear something ethnic but with a contemporary touch.
9. Multi-Colored Borders
Sure, we have already seen many suits with monochromatic or dichromatic embellished borders, but suits with multi-colored borders are very much in trend this season. These colorful borders won’t just give you a break from regular suit styles, but can also uplift the look of a plain suit with their splash of colors. Besides kurtas, we have also seen these multi-colored borders on shararas, palazzos, and dupattas.
Leading designers are experimenting with these borders to create new styles and designs. We are seeing these multi-colored borders in the form of vertical, horizontal, zig-zag stripes and bright colorful tassels. I’m loving the black sleeveless suit by Sabyasachi Mukherjee with a broad multi-colored border. The border of the suit is embellished with metal sequins. Furthermore, the Sabyasachi belt added to the outfit gives it a trendy & stylish look.
10. Scalloped Dupatta
Last year, we saw scalloped or cloud hem dupattas making real statements and yet again it made it to our list of Indian suit trends for 2021. This year, we are seeing these dupattas with semi-circular hems in many designer collections. We spotted these big and small cloud hem dupattas both in light and dark colors. They are intricately cut and embellished with delicate thread work and sequin embroidery.
Among all the Indian suit trends for 2021, scalloped dupattas are one trend that has my heart. You can pick these for any occasion, whether it is a day out or an official meeting. I absolutely adore the black embellished suit, teamed with an elegant contrasting maroon scalloped dupatta by Rimple & Harpreet.
11. Statement Pants
Our list of Indian suit trends for 2021 will be incomplete without mentioning suits paired with statement pants. If you are looking for something different than regular bottoms, then these designer pants are a must-try! This season some of the most noteworthy statement pants we spotted include layered sharara pants, cropped palazzos and sheer bottoms embellished with sequins. We also saw salwars embellished with hand-cut metal sequins and pearls.
I personally like the olive green short kurta by Manish Malhotra, paired with shaded salmon pink gota embroidered salwar. Considering that our ace designers have given us an array of choices, let’s make the most of it. You can wear designer pants with a short or asymmetric kurta and opt for a pair of stilettos. And voilà, you’ll be the talk of the town!
So, I hope you liked our roundup of the latest Indian suit trends for 2021. Do let us know which is your favorite and least favorite suit trend by tweeting us @shilpa1ahuja. And if you try any of these trends, show us your gorgeous look by tagging us @shilpaahujadotcom on Instagram!
Read next: Latest Lehenga Trends for 2021 from Top Designer Collections
Sailee Iyer is a Fashion Journalist Intern at ShilpaAhuja.com. She is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design from Amity University, Mumbai. She is originally from Navi Mumbai. Her interest in fashion grew at a very young age. Her urge to learn something new every day and passion to keep herself up to date with the latest trends inspired her to opt for a career in fashion.