23 Ways To Give Your Ethnic Outfit A Western Spin for Women

We girls, we're fickle-minded. At least when it comes to fashion. I for one, don't enjoy sticking to a cookie-cutter style stereotype for too long. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love my basic tee and denim combos, but there's no denying that the urge to experiment and get comfortably quirky with my outfit choices, does strike every now and then. That being said, I am not daring enough to don an entirely eccentric look and waltz out of the house with the confidence of a super-model either. So for people like me with oscillating yet wary fashion preferences, the trend of Indo-Western has been a total godsend.  

 

I'm not implying that I don't love an elegant all-traditional saree by itself. Or for that matter, wearing a sleek formal suit. But it's the prospect of combining these two seemingly opposite ends of the fashion spectrum, that appeals to my creativity and style sensibilities. I mean, there's just so much you can do here, so many ways you can fuse together two distinct trends! So as the self-proclaimed expert on Indo-Western looks, I do have some tips to share with someone looking for fusion inspiration. And here, I've jotted down 23 ideas to give a Western spin, to your ethnic outfit! 

 

1. Long Open-Front Shrug & Silver Choker With Cami & Distressed Denims 

If there's one undefeated queen of channelling the trend of Indo-Western to perfection, Aditi Rao Hydari is the one with the crown. We absolutely adore this colourful outfit combo, with the simplicity of a basic lowrise boyfriend jeans and cami top getting enhanced by this vibrant prink and orange open-front shrug. Tying the whole look together is that chunky oxidised silver choker sitting around her neck. Pulled back hair with a few loose tendrils and a barely-there face of makeup, are all the additions you need. 

Image Courtesy - Pinterest

 

 

2. Wrap Around Blouse With A Solid Saree

Now this look right here, is how you effortlessly make a modern fusion statement. It's also the perfect saree look to go for, when you're looking to quirk up your ethnic outfit, without getting too close to the edge. All you need is an embellished wrap around crop-top and a solid black saree, preferably in black 'cause let's face it, nothing is ever the new black. 

Image Courtesy - Pinterest

 

 

3. Strappy Ruffle Dress With White Palazzo & Dupatta 

Got a summery strappy dress lying around the house, that you can't, or don't want to wear all by itself? Well, throw in a set of solid-coloured palazzo and dupatta, and you've got yourself the ideal Indo-Western suit! A pair of tiered jhumkis and pulled-back locks will seal the deal beautifully. You can also stack up some bangles, and don a pretty Bindi like our favourite influencer Komal did in this gorgeous fusion outfit. 

Image Courtesy - Pinterest

 

4. White Button-Down With Printed Palazzos 

In all seriousness, we can't stop fawning over this look by Masoom. The high-waisted palazzo pants featuring a vibrant pink hue and a subtle play of prints, thrown in with a classic slightly loose white button-down makes for a head-turner fashion moment in itself. But our eyes and heart have been set on that beautiful chained maang-teeka! Special shoutout to that beautiful floral clutch as well, that ties the whole outfit seamlessly. 

Image Courtesy - Pinterest

 

 

5. Cape & Dhoti Pants Set With Chunky Silver Earrings 

Ever had to pick just one from the two difficult choices of looking pretty in ethnic wear, and being ultra-comfy? Well, Diana here shows us that you can have the best of both worlds! This forest-green dhoti pants and cape set is the perfect straddling point between Indian and Western, and the addition of those chunky silver earrings only makes matters more fashionable! Strappy stilettos and beachy waves will complement this fusion outfit idea without a hitch. 

Image Courtesy - Pinterest

 

Also Read: 30 Outfit Ideas To Dazzle In A Skirt

 

6. Embroidered Cropped Jacket With Long T-Shirt & Ripped Skinny Jeans 

I can shout it from the rooftops if you'd want me to but I've fallen in love, and my object of affection is this stunning embroidered cropped jacket. The light mirror-work, bright neon colour mixes and open-front are the three bold cherries on this beautiful fusion cake. With outerwear that dazzling, a basic pair of distressed skinny jeans and a long tank top under it, will suffice to grab eyeballs! 

Image Courtesy - Pinterest

 

7. Flared Tunic With White Cropped Pants 

We've found the perfect Indo-Western casual day-look for you, and you're very welcome! Here we see a flared-hem printed tunic kurti being put together with a breezy pair of white cotton cropped pants, and honestly, it doesn't get more summer-ready than this! Especially if you'd been on the hunt for indo-western outfit ideas for work, this look is where your search officially ends!.A pair of sliders, juttis or some pretty Kohlapuris will add just the right hint of glam.

Image Courtesy - Pinterest

 

8. Brocade Flared-Hem Trousers With Silk Blouse & Silver Cuff Bracelet

If you're the less-is-more kind, you can blindly fall back on this charming Indo-Western outfit as your look for the next wedding you're invited to. A beautiful purple silk blouse is tucked into a pair of vivid-blue Brocade pants to make for a total stunner of a fusion look. For the accessorising bit, a silver cuff bracelet on one hand and a pair of leather Juttis on the feet will be enough to make you the show-stopper wedding guest! 

Image Courtesy - Pinterest

 

 

9. Light-Wash Denim Jacket With White Saree

Can we just...admire this look for a moment? It's so simple yet so alluring, I'm personally going to try putting it together, the first chance I get! A boatneck blouse and beautiful cotton saree, both in white and lightly dusted with pink embroidery, go under a classic light-wash denim jacket to create the quintessential modern boss-woman saree outfit. Pull your hair back in a bun, preferably with some dainty braid details, and add on a statement cocktail ring. 

Image Courtesy - Pinterest

 

10. Wrap Around Top & Broad Belt With Saree 

Komal Pandey is a lot of things. A perpetual source of fashion inspiration and a forever-runway-ready style icon, are just two of them. Here we see her once again putting that impressive creativity to good use, and bringing to us this incredible Indo-Western saree look idea. She's put together a wrap around flared-sleeved top with a pink cotton saree, but really under that broad belt, any open-front shrug would work. Simple silver earrings and sleek straight hair are all the finishing touch this outfit needs! 

Image Courtesy - Pinterest

 

11. Front-Slit Kurti With Skinny Jeans & Sneakers 

Sometimes the most eye-catching things in life are also the ones with the most minimalism, and that statement certainly rings true in the case of this casual-chic fusion look idea. Looking particularly at all you college-goers, this outfit right here is super-easy to create with a pretty front-slit Kurti. Throw it on top of a pair of classic skinny jeans and some white sneakers, and you're all set to steal the show without even trying. 

Image Courtesy - Pinterest

 

Also Read: 20 Celebrity Outfits You Can Recreate On A Budget

 

12. Printed Front-Tie Gathered Shrug With Solid Crop Top & Palazzo 

I have just three words. Actually just one word repeated thrice. Pretty, pretty and pretty! I might be short of adjectives while describing this Indo-Western look, but that's definitely not true for its trend quotient. Another ideal fusion day-look for work or for college in equal measure, all this one needs is a printed front-knot shrug. Don it on top of a solid crop top and palazzo pair, or any pants and top set in similar shades, and add a pair of silver hoops into the mix. 

Image Courtesy - Pinterest

 

13. Block-Print Gathered-Hem Jacket With Strapless Top & Jeans

As you might have noticed, printed outerwear featuring ethnic motifs is the simplest and most effective way to add an Indian touch to an otherwise Western outfit. And we see exactly that in this easy-going fusion look. Sported with a basic white strapless top and a pair of low-rise denims, is a beguiling cropped jacket with raised collar details and a light floral print in peach and yellow. Leave everything else as-is, and let the jacket take the centre stage in this fusion look. 

Image Courtesy - The Loom

 

14. Printed Saree With Solid Kurta 

In a strange turn of events, here we see two ethnic pieces coming together to create a gorgeous fusion look. We honestly can't get enough of this quirky Indo-Western outfit idea and how wonderfully the plainness of that white tunic works with the bright printed saree. When it comes to fusion looks, oxidised silver jewellery is your best bet at accessorising, and this look is all the evidence you need to believe that statement! 

Image Courtesy - Pinterest

 

 

15. Black Spaghetti Tunic With Military-Green Baggy Pants & Ankle Boots

An Indo-Western outfit with just the right touch of grunge? Who woulda thought! If edgier fusion looks are more up your alley, this would make for an ideal outfit choice. Just whip out a strappy tunic or Kurta lying around, and pair it on top of some baggy cropped pants. We particularly love the black and military green combination here, but any colour mix that suits your taste will work just as well. A pair of leather ankle-length boots and a silver choker around the neck complete this uber-cool fusion look.  

Image Courtesy - Pinterest

 

16. White Button-Down With Printed Saree

Sarees are, arguably, the most traditional Indian outfit, and ironically enough also the most versatile piece to base an Indo-Western look around. From blazers to crop-tops we've seen pretty much everything paired with a saree, but your staple white button-down is as classy a blouse as there can be. A pair of silver earrings can be the perfect finishing touch, although we'd also recommend trying a kamar-bandh with this saree fusion look idea. 

Image Courtesy - Pinterest

 

17. Cotton Tank With Printed Culottes 

Simple as simple can be and also effortlessly graceful, this Indo-Western outfit idea should be your go-to choice for when you need to run around and be comfortable while looking pretty as a picture. A cotton textured tank in a solid dark colour, coupled with a pair of high-rise printed culottes will help you channel your best summer fusion look. Dainty danglers or a pair of jhumkis will complement the elegance of this minimal combo. 

Image Courtesy - Fabindia

 

18. Bell-Sleeved Kurti As Dress

 As someone with a peculiar fondness for loose yet flattering silhouettes, wearing a Kurti as a dress appeals to me particularly. Which is why, I wholeheartedly suggest you take a gander at this fusion look idea, the way we see it in the picture. Any flared-sleeved cotton Kurti or tunic can be worn as a dress, and taken a notch higher on the trend factor with something as simple as a pair of contrast tassel earrings. Pull your hair back in a sleek bun, and let your breezy outfit grab all the eyes. 

Image Courtesy - The Secret Label 

 

 

 

19. Printed Peplum-Hem Top With Printed Dhoti & Silver Necklace 

While a solid top with a printed bottom or vice versa, is always a safe fashionable choice to opt for, two contrasting sets of prints can also work beautifully together. In this smart Indo-Western outfit a printed peplum-hem full-sleeved top comes together with a set of printed Dhoti pants for a stunning fusion look. The silver necklace amps up the grace of the outfit, and a pair of Kohlapuris make for a sensible yet lovely footwear choice. 

Image Courtesy - Pinterest

 

20. Printed Long Button-Down Shrug With Tunic Dress & Brogues

As hard as it is to take a favourite pick from this list, this one would probably be the outfit I'd zero in on. Simply because of how hipster this Indo-Western combo looks! A basic white tunic dress and a printed open-front shrug with running buttons are immensely elegant together, but that pair of leather brogues just seals the deal for us! 

Image Courtesy - Pinterest

 

Also Read: We've Listed 40 Ideas For The Perfect Cocktail Outfit!

 

21. Printed Waist Coat With Khadi Dress & Layered Silver Necklaces

Chic and cool, yet gracefully Indian, this fusion look is undeniably simple to pull off and gorgeous to don. We'd highly recommend you go for a Khadi short summer dress to bring out the texture-play, but any solid sleeveless dress will fare well here. A pop of colour in the form of a cute printed high-collared waistcoat and a few layers of silver necklaces will tie the ensemble beautifully. 

Image Courtesy - Pinterest

 

 

 

22. Saree & Belt With Straight-Cut Jeans & Turtle-Neck Top

Masoom shows us how its done, with this show-stopper saree fusion look. Pant sarees have been all the rage in the world of Indo-Western fashion lately, and this look makes for a great reason. Belted at the waist, and draped on top of a simple turtle neck cotton blouse and straight-leg cut-off denims, this pant saree look has arrived just in time for the wedding season! 

Image Courtesy - Pinterest

 

23. Embroidered Kimono With Boyfriend Jeans & Strappy Tank

Let me reiterate, I love baggy silhouettes. So a kimono shrug fits in perfectly with my idea of a beautiful Indo-Western outfit. Get your hands on a Kimono-style Kashida-embroidery shrug, and the rest will just follow. Do remember to include a pair of distressed boyfriend jeans for good measure, though! Also, those loafers. Someone get my wallet, please! 

Image Courtesy - Pinterest

 

---

Ready to rock the ramp (read: office corridor)?