On Karva Chauth, she fasts from sunrise and you wait with her for the moon. It is one of the evenings of the year when a husband is most photographed, and most unsure what to wear. The answer is simple: dress to stand beside her, not to match her, and look like you made an effort for the evening.
Karva Chauth comes in the run-up to Diwali, so the same kurta can often do both. Here is how to choose it.
Start with what she is wearing
Ask her, or look at the saree or lehenga hanging in the cupboard. Most women wear red, maroon, pink or gold on Karva Chauth, often with heavy jewellery. Your job is to complement that, not compete. Pick a colour that sits beside hers in the photograph. Navy and cream both work with red. Deep green works with maroon. Soft blue works with pink.
Colours that work beside red and maroon
If she is in red, the Navy Blue Solid, ₹1,950, is the safest pick and looks sharp in every photograph. The Royal Blue Solid, ₹1,850, is brighter and works if the setting is dark, as most terraces are at moonrise. For a more dressed look, the Bottle Green Chikankari-Style, ₹3,499, looks rich beside a maroon saree.
If she is in pink or a pastel
Soft colours call for soft partners. The Sky Blue Chikankari-Style, ₹3,499, sits well beside blush and rose. The Blush Pink Solid, ₹1,850, is a choice for a couple who wants to coordinate softly without wearing the same colour.
Matching without matching
Some couples like to match, and the best way is to stay in the same colour family. If she is in maroon, you wear a deeper or lighter shade of the same colour, or a gold or cream in the same tone. The Maroon Dobby Loop-Button, ₹3,999, is one for a couple who wants the match to be obvious. Identical colours in the same photograph can look flat, so we usually suggest a step apart.
What the evening asks of the kurta
You will be on a terrace or in a courtyard, standing for a long time while the moon is awaited, then sitting for the puja and the first sip of water. The kurta should be comfortable, and a regular fit works best. Choose a shade that holds up under a phone flash. Keep the pajama white or off-white. Our guide to the five days of Diwali shows how to reuse the same kurta a week later.
A small gesture that counts
The kurta need not be new, but a fresh, well-pressed one tells her you took the evening seriously. If you want to give her a gift on the day, many husbands do, and a kurta for yourself does not replace it. Our gift for him collection also helps the wife who is choosing the kurta for her husband.
Online sizes run 38 to 44, and every size lists the real chest, length, shoulder and sleeve. Both our shops also carry plus sizes up to 6XL, coming online soon. Message us on WhatsApp if you want help choosing.
Questions we hear at the counter
What should a husband wear on Karva Chauth?
A clean, well-fitted kurta in a colour that complements his wife's outfit, such as navy, cream or deep green beside red or maroon.
Should the husband wear red on Karva Chauth?
There is no rule. Many husbands avoid red so that she stands out, and choose navy, cream or green instead.
Can I wear the same kurta for Diwali?
Yes. A navy or royal blue kurta is right for both, and a week apart nobody notices.
Can my wife choose the kurta for me?
Of course. Send us the size, or a kurta you already own, and the colour of her outfit, and we will suggest options on WhatsApp.
Also see: blue kurtas and Diwali party kurtas.