The Ultimate Guide to Styling Short Kurtis Like a Pro!

Hii there! I’m back, Komal (co-founder at Desi Hart), and your unasked fashion advisor. I’m not a fashion designer, nor am I a fashion influencer.  But what I am, is your simple girl next door. And no, I don’t mean it in a bad way—I mean it in a real, girl-to-girl, relatable way.

Do you know how many times I’ve switched away from a fashion reel because it starts with “5 ways to wear a scarf as a top” or “4 ways to style a jacket in summer?” I mean, I’m all for creativity, but honestly, I would really like for fashion to be more realistic and approachable, you know what I mean? It’s not possible for me, or I believe most people outside of the fashion/entertainment industry, to be able to follow through with a lot of these tips simply because they tend to miss what often can be the common person’s reality.

What do I mean by reality? It means accounting for train travels for work, getting sweaty outside, having days when you just wanna ditch that denim, wanting to look rich without breaking the bank, being able to repeat festive items, and lots more. It means being able to pair things without having to feel the most commonly felt emotion amongst girls, the “I have nothing to wear” feeling. This version of “reality” could be different for all of us, depending on where we’re from, what our day to day life looks like. Honestly, it would be so interesting to hear from you guys what those differences are in your lives.

Keeping in mind most people’s day to day lives, we’re discussing the topic which lives up to it and comes in super handy - “What to pair my short kurtis with?” To be honest, short kurtis for women are the easiest to pair up with, in fact, to such an extent that I reconsidered if this topic should even make it to a blog. So if you’re looking for a quick, easy guide on styling your short kurtis or short tops, continue reading. If you don't wear short kurtis or short tops, you definitely want to consider them given how accessible and still fun it can be styling them on a regular basis. Don't believe me? read below.

Easy Ways to Style Women’s Short Kurtis

1. Denim Jeans For The Win
   Yes, I told you this was going to be easy! A good pair of denim jeans looks great with a short kurti, whether it's a block print short kurti or chikankari short kurti. You can wear this combo to work, shopping, or just chilling out. Try different styles of jeans—my go-to is wide-leg denims, but ripped jeans, skinny jeans and most other variations in jeans work equally well. Pick what’s comfortable and flatters your body type.

         (source: Pinterest)

2. Absolute Classics: Trousers/Pants
   I didn’t realise how absolutely fabulous these pants look with everyday cotton short kurtis or even dressy short kurtis until we used them in our shoot. You’ll see them on our website. Simple cream, off-white, white, or beige pants for women pair perfectly with all straight fit short kurtis, flared fit short kurtis and chikankari short kurtis. They give such a sophisticated, rich look while being super comfy. Bonus: these pants aren’t fitted; they have a slightly Italian look, making them great for office wear, casual stopovers or lighter festivities.  

          Insiya Purple Chikankari Flared Muslin Short Kurti

Side note: We used my sister’s pants for the shoot, but I bought the same ones for myself from Zara right after—in two colours! They’re a great investment and go well with Western tops too. You could also check out similar ones at H&M, Ajio, or Myntra.

3. God Sent White Cotton Palazzos
   If I could live in any one pair of bottoms for life, it would be these! A good white chikankari palazzo pants goes a long way and is incredibly comfortable. For a casual look, pair them with lighter plain short kurtis or printed mul or modal short chikankari kurtis, it's sure to shake up your bollywood side. For a heavier look, pair them with crepe or chanderi short chikankari kurtis. The white thread used in chikankari embroidery pairs well with white bottoms, so no matter the kurti colour, it’ll always pair well. Plus, they give a straighter look without making your bottom area look too wide. Win-win.

4. Rich Lady Linen Pants
   I can’t express how versatile and stylish linen pants for women are. Do yourself a favour and get yourself a white and cream pair of linen pants— trust me, you won’t regret it. They pair well with all kinds of short tops and casual short kurtis, giving a rich look to any outfit without much effort. Stick with straight fit or wide-leg linen pants for maximum versatility and comfort.  

      (source: Pinterest)

You can find these easily online on Ajio, Myntra. My personal go-to ones are the M&S high waist women’s linen pants, they make for a great investment. 

5. Chic Denim Shorts or any Short Skirt
   No, I’m not adding this just to make a list. Short kurtis and short tops look adorably cute with denim shorts, provided you pick the right length. Dont believe me? Checkout Alia Bhatt’s look from the movie “Two States”. These kurtis should be on the shorter end of the spectrum to look good with denim shorts. Short tops, tunics, ponchos, kaftans for women—all go perfectly with denim shorts or denim skirts, making for a great road trip outfit or small getaway, keeping it light, breezy, and vacation-y. 

       (source: Pinterest)

Things to Avoid

Leggings
Gone are the days of wearing leggings under short kurtis. They may be comfortable, but given the length of a short kurti, the fit of leggings will not flatter your body—it will add weight in the wrong areas and look less sophisticated. If you’re comfortable with them and it works for your body shape, by all means, continue.

With this, we’ve come to an end. Jhappis and pappis for everyone who’s made it till here! Until next time, lots of love :)