Noor-e-Banaras Lichi Silk Brocade Weaving Peach Suit (T+B+D)

What does (T+B+D) in the name mean?

It stands for Top, Bottom and Dupatta, the three pieces in the set. All three come as unstitched fabric: 2.5 to 3.0 metres for the kurta, 2.4 to 2.5 metres for the bottom, and a dupatta of 2.4 to 2.5 metres. You'll need a tailor for the kurta and the bottom.

What shawl colours go with peach?

Warm neutrals suit peach: cream, camel, beige or ivory. For contrast, a teal, sage or bottle-green shawl looks rich. Grey or black can make peach look dull, so use them sparingly. A light embroidered stole works well over a straight kurta on cooler evenings without hiding the brocade.

How does the dupatta finish at the ends?

With a gold zari border of large teardrop, or paisley, motifs, finished with tassels. The motif border is the dressiest part of the dupatta, so let it fall in front when you drape it over one shoulder, and pin it from the inside so the silk stays put.

What's the main motif?

Large gold teardrop, or mango-shaped, motifs run along the gold zari border, with small gold leaf butis scattered across the rest of the soft peach fabric. It's all gold on peach, with no other colours in the weave, so the look stays light and pastel while the zari gives it a festive sheen.

What style of bottom can I get from the bottom piece?

With 2.4 to 2.5 metres, most tailors can make straight pants, cigarette pants or a regular salwar for most sizes. A very full patiala or a wide palazzo may need more, so check with your tailor. Straight pants keep the look sleek for an evening dinner; a salwar feels more traditional for festive days.

Will a silk dupatta keep slipping off my shoulder?

Silk is smooth, so it can slide. Pin it at the shoulder from the inside with a small safety pin or a brooch, or fold it into pleats before pinning for more grip. At 2.4 to 2.5 metres it's long enough to go across both shoulders, which also helps it stay put.

How should I store and iron it?

Store it folded in a muslin or cotton cloth, away from moisture and direct sunlight, and refold it now and then so creases don't set along the same lines. Iron on low heat with a pressing cloth on top. Keep perfume and deodorant away from the silk; spray them before you dress.