Apart from the traditional saris, another most sought after Indian ethnic wear is the salwar kameez. While men exclusive to Pakistan and Afghanistan are prone to wear ‘shalwar’, ‘salwar’ or ‘shalvar’ as it is commonly termed in other countries, in India it is favored by a large section of the Indian women population. A choicest and comfort wear among women visitors from abroad alike, ‘salwar kameez’ has become exclusive in the closet of the fairer sex.

A salwar kameez consist of three parts. The top is known as the kameez and the pants are known as the salwar. These two are accompanied by a piece of long cloth known as ‘dupatta’. While cross dressing Indo-Western attire has added new dimensions to the world of salwar suits, the real essence and importance of it remains to be same. With time, new styles have been introduced. The loose, big kameez has been replaced by sleeker cut, long, tight fittings, three quartered, full sleeve or sleeveless kameez. The salwar on the other hand are now available as narrow, patiala or semi patialas, or slim fits known as ‘churidar’.

A salwar kameez can be plain, casual, formal or gaudy depending upon the amount of work present on it. It is an essential daily wear for most of the Indian women, both homemakers and the working professionals. An accepted formal wear at work places, the modern women of today favor churidaar suits, cotton salwar kameez, salwar kameez, salwar suit, salwar kurta in all available prints and hues.

For more formal occasions like weddings and other family functions, women nowadays have a great range of selection to choose from. If purely traditional wear is your pick, then you can go for bandhej or lehariya or anarkali salwar kameez. If you select by embroidery work, the varieties available are Sitara work, Chikankari, Kundan work, Gota Patti, Zardosi work, Mirror work, etc.

You can also go for unstitched salwar kameez pieces buying it straight from salwar kameez shops. Another easy way out is to visit the various websites and buy online salwar kameez suitable for all occasions and festivities. Online shopping has opened new avenues for shopping with ease. Often good quality things are available at discount rates on such sites and they can be referred as a guide while buying something costly as a designer salwar kameez. It is time saving as well as one can go through a huge selection based on work, fabric and occasion without any hurry.

However, buying things online has its own advantages and disadvantages since there is no direct interaction. Hence, it is always better to stay on the safe side if you want to avoid frauds. Whether it is a cotton salwar kameez, salwar kurta or a costly designer salwar kameez be sure that it is a genuine piece. For this reason, sticking to some tips always prove useful.

• Take a closer look at the unstitched salwar kameez or designer salwar kameez that you are going to purchase. If a larger view is not available, drop in a mail and request them for one. Photos can be deceitful.

• Cross check whether the price they are quoting for a chosen salwar kurta or a designer salwar kameez is perfect or not.

• Check whether the site is legal or not.

• Ask for guarantee about the embroidery work, color and material. If possible request them for a sample.

• Make sure that they can replace the piece if any problem occurs.

• Ask them about how much cloth is available if you are purchasing unstitched material for a salwar suit.

• Before purchasing, ask them whether they accept cash or card, whether there is cash back guarantee or not, whether the same piece is available for bulk purchase or not, whether discounts are available or not and within how much time can they deliver it.

Also ask them about the time limit for returning a piece.