A good kurta needs very little. That is its quiet strength, and it is also why men get the accessories wrong: they add too much, or nothing at all. At our counter, the question comes before every wedding and every festival: what goes with this kurta?
This is the short guide, and the starting point for the rest. It covers shoes, the dupatta, the safa, jewellery, a jacket and a shawl, and tells you when to leave each one out. We do not sell shoes, dupattas, safas or jewellery, so this is plain advice, not a catalogue.
The rule of one
Choose one accessory to carry the outfit and keep the rest plain. If the kurta has rich work, let it do the talking and add only a watch. If the kurta is plain, add a stole or a jacket to bring it up. Never layer three loud things on one man. The Navy Blue Solid, ₹1,950, is a good example of a plain kurta that takes one accessory well, such as a cream stole or a quiet jacket.
Shoes
Flat, simple and comfortable. Tan or brown suits pastels, and a rich embroidered pair suits a sangeet. Mojaris, juttis and kolhapuris each have a place, and we explain the difference in which shoe goes with which kurta. A new pair should be worn at home for a few days first.
The dupatta or stole
A stole turns a plain kurta into a dressed one. Choose a colour that contrasts with the kurta and sits in the same warm or cool family. A cream or gold stole suits navy, maroon and green. A deeper stole suits a pastel. Keep it plain if the kurta has work. Our guide to how to wear a dupatta with a kurta shows three ways to drape it.
The safa or pagdi
The safa is mainly for the groom and the men of his side at the baraat, and for some families, at the wedding itself. Choose one that picks up a colour from the kurta, not an exact match. A rich kurta with a plain safa looks cleaner than two rich pieces. If you are in the groom's family, see our groom's family collection.
Jewellery: kada, watch, mala
Keep it to one or two pieces. A kada looks right with a kurta, a plain watch suits a day function, and a thin chain or a mala suits a puja. Leave the heavy rings and the big chains for the groom. For the puja, a simple kada is enough.
Jacket, pocket square and brooch
A jacket over a plain kurta is a good look for the baraat and the reception, and a pocket square or a brooch belongs with a jacket, not on its own. We do not sell jackets online yet, so this is advice for now. Keep the jacket plain and choose it in a colour from the kurta.
A shawl in winter
For a November or December wedding in Delhi, a plain shawl in a rich colour looks better than a heavy coat over a kurta. Drape it over both shoulders or one, and take it off for photographs.
Match the accessory to the occasion
For a puja: nothing at the feet, a kada, and no jacket. For a haldi: old chappals and no watch. For a mehendi: juttis and a plain stole. For a sangeet: embroidered mojaris and a plain jacket if it is cold. For the wedding: mojaris, a safa if the family wears one, and a stole. Our haldi, mehendi and sangeet guide gives the full order.
Online sizes run 38 to 44. Both our shops also carry plus sizes up to 6XL and kurtas for boys and babies, coming online soon. For help putting a full outfit together, message us on WhatsApp. See also our embroidered kurtas.
Questions we hear at the counter
What accessories go with a kurta pajama?
Flat shoes, a plain watch or a kada and, for dressier occasions, a stole or a jacket. Choose one accessory to carry the outfit.
Do I need a stole with every kurta?
No. A stole helps a plain kurta look dressed. A kurta with rich work usually looks better without one.
Can I wear a watch with a kurta?
Yes, a plain one suits a day function. Leave it at home for a haldi or a puja.
What colour stole goes with a navy kurta?
Cream, ivory or gold looks clean. A deep maroon is another good choice for a wedding evening.
Also see: white and off-white kurtas.