Think the traditional kurta can't have a sexier side? Its long slit avatar might make you do a rethink. It originated from the sharara and gharara (divided palazzos) paired with a long kurti, a style that traditionally em­e­rged from Lucknow, and where women have been wearing it for decades, during festivals and weddings. Today, it's been tweaked to make the traditional attire comfortable and practical.

"Usually, a kurta has a simple straight A-line cut; there's no umbrella or flair. But if you are going to wear a gharara under it, which is umbrella-shaped, the flair of your gharara is restricted if your kurta is straight. And he­n­ce, the slit," sa­ys stylist Isha Bhansali. "Indi­a­ns have ma­s­t­ered the art of fusion wh­ere we mix and marry traditional accents with western ones. It can give your look a sexy twist as you show off a bit of your midriff, your legs, and also looks cooler and casual," she says.