Oh, don't you just love Indian fashion? With all the intricate surface work, glittering sequins, rich fabrics, and delicate silhouettes, who wouldn't? No Indian woman's wardrobe is ever complete without desi dresses. Lehengas, salwar suits, and sarees - we need at least a couple, even if we wear them just at weddings and special occasions.
Latest Indian Fashion Trends for 2020
Gone are the days when Indian wear was just limited to traditional designs. Modern Indian fashion is all about mixing practicality with modern styling. In 2020, wearing Indian fashion trends is all about finding a way to show your unique, modern outlook and personal style.
So if you're looking to learn about Indian fashion trends, then here you go! I have gone through all the new collections of all the top designers in India. Plus, I've done research on the latest Indian ethnic fashion trends from Lakme Fashion Week and India Couture Week for this year.
With so many new things in store for us, let's waste no time and check out the hottest Indian wear trends in sarees, suits, gowns, and lehengas that every Indian fashionista is gonna be trying this year.
1. Built-in or Pre-Draped Dupatta
2020's Indian fashion is all about being dupatta-less-ness and pre-draped silhouettes. Wondering what India's most fashionable trend right now is? This is it! We're seeing pre-draped sarees, cholis, and kurtas with built-in dupattas.
We're seeing so many styles and designs in this trend. Some cholis have loose fabrics attached in the front that go over each shoulder like a semi-dupatta. While some have long pieces of fabric attached at the back to give the illusion of the dupatta length.
Some have extended sleeve-like fabrics attached at the sides of the shoulders that flow down like cape-dupattas-or-something. And others have fabrics wrapped around the choli or kurti to look like there's some sheer coverage. All of this in an attempt to reduce the dupatta headache.
All these designs look very chic and elegantly Indo-western, so they're perfect for girls who, like me, hate to rearrange the dupatta throughout the event. Perfect for formal wear as well as your own engagement.
2. Belts
From sarees to lehengas to anarkalis to suits, belts are everywhere on the Indian fashion scene in 2020. In fact, we started seeing belted sarees back in 2016, and come this year, they're still the #2 trend. So belts are here to stay.
Go for metallic belts over your loose kurtas and pair them with matching robes. Or add an embellished belt to hold your dupatta with your lehenga or anarkali. Or get your dressmaker to stitch a wide belt in the same fabric as your lehenga or saree. You can also go for belted kurtis like peplum blouses to wear with long skirts or trousers.
You can choose a belt style that suits your body type, such as skinny belts work best for petite women and pear-shaped girls. Broad belts look good on tall and rectangle shapes. Belts add structure to the entire outfit and are definitely an essential statement accessory in your trousseau or Indian wardrobe.
3. Built-in-Bra
We've been seeing this trend go big since last year, and 2020 will be all about built-in bras in lehenga cholis, saree blouses, and gowns. Corsets, bustiers, and bikini-style blouses are also still trendy.
Some designers just call all styles corseted cholis. However, a corset is different than a built-in bra since the job of the corset is really to cinch the waist in. Whereas blouses with built-in bras are padded or lined blouses that shape the upper torso and design the décolletage. They can be strapless, off-the-shoulder, or even sleeved.
What's interesting about the built-in-bra trend is that it not only removes the need for the bra to be worn inside but also shows the bra-like shape on the outside of the choli, making it a very bold option. It says that your girls don't need to be hidden behind a dupatta - they need to be talking to the world! Wonder if I'll want to be that bold.
4. Draped Silhouettes
Again, this is not an entirely new trend. Draped outfits were also #1 among the Indian fashion trends in 2018, but they're still going stronger than ever. Draped outfits are those in which the fabric is not just cut and stitched but also draped in a unique way to give the look of a scarf or pleats.
Personally, draped outfits are one of my favorite Indian fashion trends for 2020. Designers are coming up with so many different draping styles this year. And we're seeing draping in all sorts of ethnic dresses like lehengas, sarees, gowns, and kurtas. Go for asymmetric gowns or draped suits. Or try a saree with western-inspired drapes. Or you can try a lehenga choli with a draped dupatta that's sewn to it.
5. Peplum
Peplum tops are those that have a belted structure and flare out at the waist. I love peplums because they make the waist seem narrower by adding volume at the hips. With their unique look, peplum tops have taken their rightful place among the latest fashion trends in India. Peplums look feminine without showing any skin, so they work perfectly for Indian occasions when you want to be dressed more modestly.
Go for a peplum choli with your lehenga for your BFF or cousin's wedding. To make your look more classy and royal, go for a peplum blouse with your saree. Or wear a peplum kurta with a lehenga skirt or dhoti pants.
6. Flounce Sleeves
When getting any Indian outfit stitched, we always wonder whether we should go with sleeves or sleeveless. However, you don't have to go for saree blouses and lehenga cholis with the boring ol' sleeves. Ethnic Indian outfits with a three-dimensional, flouncy twist are what every celeb is wearing this season.
Flounce sleeves are the perfect statement-making fashion that came from Paris Fashion Week. We've already been wearing flouncy, poufy sleeves in western tops. But in 2020, designers are adding flounce to choli sleeves, blouses, dresses, and gowns.
Outfits with flounce sleeves don't just look glamorous but also give that princessy feel. They look so good in pictures because of that puffiness and look straight out of fashion magazines! Wear these to kitty parties, fashion events, and wedding cocktail nights for a flattering and sexy look.
7. Sharara
Forget salwar suits and palazzos! 2020 is all about the return of the sharara suits from our mom's youth! The shararas are making waves on the runways this year and are one of the hottest, latest Indian fashion trends. From casual, gota-embellished shararas to extremely heavy and can-can-lined ones, this trend is here to stay.
So flaunt those poufy pants before they go out of fashion. This trend is perfect for the modern Indian girl who is busy and finds no time to wear a saree or heavy lehenga to a wedding. Sharara pants are also a great way to re-wear old kameez or kurtas with a whole new look! They're perfect for roka ceremonies, your colleague's wedding, or family functions.
8. Cape
Capes are back from medieval Europe, and designers are making a case for caped lehengas, sarees, and gowns. Even suits with capes. We saw designers on the runways come up with both crop and floor-touching capes paired with all types of ethnic garments. In fact, capes are also one of the latest western fashion trends in India.
We're already seeing soooo much of this trend, especially on Instagram. Inspired by the caped couture dresses at Paris Fashion Week, you can go for this trend for your engagement, your friend's or cousin's wedding, or family party.
The top trend in capes is to try long, floor-sweeping capes with lehengas or sarees. If not, go for a crop-cape jacket with sarees. For more casual outfits, you can go for hip-long capes with trousers. Or try a waist-length cape with dhoti pants or long skirts.
9. Appliqué
Appliquéd dresses are hot and trendy as ever. Appliqué is the type of surface work in which flowers or other patterns are cut and sewn onto a garment. This trend has been in the Indian fashion scene for nearly four years now and still going strong - making statements. That's why this is one of the chicest styles in our Indian fashion forecast 2020.
We saw appliqué in lehenga skirts and cholis, saree pallus, gowns, on crop tops, and dupattas. This style is a great option for cocktail or evening parties since it creates a beautiful 3D appearance with its shadows of flowers, feathers, and whatnot. This design in the bridal gowns and lehengas is so romantic that we can't get enough of this trend.
10. Fringes
Tired of wearing traditional women's wear with boring embroidery or threadwork? Worry not, the fringe trend makes a comeback this year as one of the top latest Indian fashion trends. Beaded and silk thread fringes are one of the hottest Indian fashion trends for 2020 and surely make any outfit more stylish.
We saw fringes on the sleeves and hemlines of cholis, kurtis, and blouses that make you look sexy without revealing too much skin. You can go for shoulder fringes with strapless cholis, fringes at the back with backless saree blouses. Or try a suit with sheer chooridar and fringed kurti to conceal the thigh area.
And the best thing about this trend in designer ethnic wear is that it works well for all body types. Indian dresses like gowns, lehengas, and kurtas look classy and stylish with fringes.
11. Sheer Blouses
Behold the lingerie-inspired ethnic fashion trend - sheer cholis, blouses, and kurtas are taking over the Indian fashion world! If you want to try a sexier and bolder trend, then here you go!
Sheer blouses have certainly earned their place among the latest fashion trends in India for women. Designers are coming up with many styles in this. We saw tops with embellished sheer fabric or appliqued tulle cholis.
Sheer panels in the shoulder or decolletage area are nothing new. But in 2020, we're seeing fully sheer cholis or kurtas that only have coverage in the bosom area. This trend is certainly not for everyone. If you're bold enough to go for it, then it'll certainly be a memorable outfit that makes a statement. A great option for fashion shows, girl night-outs, kitty parties, cocktail or evening parties.
So I hope you enjoyed taking a look at our roundup of the latest Indian fashion trends for 2020. Which ethnic fashion trend is your favorite? And which one did you hate? Let me know on Twitter! Plus, don't forget to show me your own lehenga designs on Instagram by tagging me!
Muaah <3
Read next:
- Types of Lehenga Skirts & How to Choose According to Your Body Type
- 21 Indo-Western Fashion Elements Every Girl Needs to Try
