Is Shalwar Kameez a formal attire?

[Major]

Alot of discussion going on regarding Sarfraz wearing the Shalwar Kameez when meeting the Queen.

I dont have any issues with it, but it makes you think whether this form of dressing is considered under formal or not.

Why do i ask this?

Because this form of dressing isn't commonly allowed in offices and universities in Pakistan.

For example, at my university, male students are not allowed to wear shalwar qameez from monday to thursday and only allowed to wear it on Fridays. WHile female students have to wear shalwar qameez and wearing western dress is frowned upon.

Even for presentations, when the orders are formal or semi formal dressing, then shalwar kameez isn't allowed.

Even in some offices, shalwar kameez is only allowed on friday

So this makes me ask the question that is this dress a formal one or not?

And if its not formal, then does the criticism on Sarfraz become valid? Because at the end of the day he was required to be formal when meeting the queen. Now that could either mean wear a sherwani or shalwar kameez.

 

[shaz619]

He wasn't going for a job interview or some type of function; you're there to meet the queen and represent your culture why be a suck up like typical Indians with inferior complex; plus he looked smart, not OTT, some are going on like he showed up in a tracksuit

 

[Major]

He wasn't going for a job interview or some type of function; you're there to meet the queen and represent your culture why be a suck up like typical Indians with inferior complex; plus he looked smart, not OTT, some are going on like he showed up in a tracksuit

bhai, the question is, is it a formal attire or not?

If it comes under informal, then it was a bad decision to make him wear that

 

[Ronaldo7]

Firstly, the management asked him to wear him. He wasn't the one to come up with the idea. In Pak it is not seen as informal. Even modi wore it when he met the queen. Compare the stature of modi to sarfaraz. I didn't hear anyone say anything about modi

Secondly, it doesn't even matter if he wore it. It's people like Tarek Fatah who talk smack. No need to listen to them.

 

[shaz619]

bhai, the question is, is it a formal attire or not?

If it comes under informal, then it was a bad decision to make him wear that

It is Pakistani formal attire

 

[Pakistanian]

Yes, it's formal in Pakistani culture. Of course colonialism and white supremacists will tell otherwise.

 

[Major]

It is Pakistani formal attire

now here is the funny part, in pakistan some institutions dont consider it a formal dress, thus its allowed in some unversities

 

[shaz619]

now here is the funny part, in pakistan some institutions dont consider it a formal dress, thus its allowed in some unversities

Regardless of how it is classified, it is smart; I was made to wear it quite often at an army school in Pak, it's the national dress code not some ninja pyjama bro

 

[Major]

Regardless of how it is classified, it is smart; I was made to wear it quite often at an army school in Pak, it's the national dress code not some ninja pyjama bro

classification does matter.

 

[amvbfm]

Of course it is formal, it is the national dress, it is worn by the highest office bearers of the country on formal occasions. The social media age has led to everything being nitpicked needlessly. Would have been fine had he worn a suit but is equally fine that he wore shalwar kameez. Had Morgan come to Pakistan and met the President or PM would we have expected him to wear shalwar kameez? Of course not. No one would have said anything had he worn a suit and everybody would have gone gaga had he worn shalwar kameez. So nothing more than colonial hangover.

 

[shaz619]

classification does matter.

Mate am from the UK, it's not a big deal. If he looked like a junglee I would agree with you

 

[Suleiman]

You’re representing your country at a world tournament. Wearing your national attire shows your pride in your culture. A suit while yes it is the definition of “formal”, it was standardized by the West. PMs of Pakistan and India both current and past have gone to formal occasions and to international forums in shalwar kameez and it is fine.

You see Arab, African leaders at the UN wearing their traditional clothes at times. Arabs in the gulf commonly wear their thobe and headdress (ghutra) to business meetings with Europeans in suits. Whenever we had a formal in high school in Qatar, most of us international kids would be wearing suits but the Qataris almost always wore their national dress.

That’s my take on it.

 

[srh]

bhai, the question is, is it a formal attire or not?

If it comes under informal, then it was a bad decision to make him wear that

for me it is a formal attire; i wear it on special occasions

 

[Major]

Of course it is formal, it is the national dress, it is worn by the highest office bearers of the country on formal occasions. The social media age has led to everything being nitpicked needlessly. Would have been fine had he worn a suit but is equally fine that he wore shalwar kameez. Had Morgan come to Pakistan and met the President or PM would we have expected him to wear shalwar kameez? Of course not. No one would have said anything had he worn a suit and everybody would have gone gaga had he worn shalwar kameez. So nothing more than colonial hangover.

bro your not understanding.

I dont know why you guys having to make it everything a colonial thing.

While you are right that this form of attire is worn by the highest office bearers, but this kind of attire is banned in alot of unviersities.

Universities like bahria and Air do not allow this form of attire to be worn, only on fridays it is allowed. IN some offices you are not allowed to wear this and only allowed to wear it on Friday which they call it Casual Friday.


We are not even sure whether this form of dressing is even a formal attire or not.

 

[rockyboy2018]

When the nation is beggars they definitenly do not know about their roots.

It is not a big issue unless sarfraz has a Paan ki Laali on his kameez shalwar. LOL

 

[Major]

You’re representing your country at a world tournament. Wearing your national attire shows your pride in your culture. A suit while yes it is the definition of “formal”, it was standardized by the West. PMs of Pakistan and India both current and past have gone to formal occasions and to international forums in shalwar kameez and it is fine.

You see Arab, African leaders at the UN wearing their traditional clothes at times. Arabs in the gulf commonly wear their thobe and headdress (ghutra) to business meetings with Europeans in suits. Whenever we had a formal in high school in Qatar, most of us international kids would be wearing suits but the Qataris almost always wore their national dress.

That’s my take on it.

yet this same dress is banned in some institutions in Pakistan.

 

[Fahdi]

Alot of discussion going on regarding Sarfraz wearing the Shalwar Kameez when meeting the Queen.

I dont have any issues with it, but it makes you think whether this form of dressing is considered under formal or not.

Why do i ask this?

Because this form of dressing isn't commonly allowed in offices and universities in Pakistan.

For example, at my university, male students are not allowed to wear shalwar qameez from monday to thursday and only allowed to wear it on Fridays. WHile female students have to wear shalwar qameez and wearing western dress is frowned upon.

Even for presentations, when the orders are formal or semi formal dressing, then shalwar kameez isn't allowed.

Even in some offices, shalwar kameez is only allowed on friday

So this makes me ask the question that is this dress a formal one or not?

And if its not formal, then does the criticism on Sarfraz become valid? Because at the end of the day he was required to be formal when meeting the queen. Now that could either mean wear a sherwani or shalwar kameez.

Shalwar Kameez with waist coat or a simple coat is considered formal. I have seen a number of official guidelines, both civil and military, which define formal dress as: Suit or Shalwar Kameez with waist coat/sherwani

 

[slipcatch]

bro your not understanding.

I dont know why you guys having to make it everything a colonial thing.

While you are right that this form of attire is worn by the highest office bearers, but this kind of attire is banned in alot of unviersities.

Universities like bahria and Air do not allow this form of attire to be worn, only on fridays it is allowed. IN some offices you are not allowed to wear this and only allowed to wear it on Friday which they call it Casual Friday.


We are not even sure whether this form of dressing is even a formal attire or not.

It is formal.

If a university or any other institution decided on a dress code then they can.

 

[slipcatch]

yet this same dress is banned in some institutions in Pakistan.

That does not make informal, does it?

I’ve failed to understand your concern?

If you asked it is formal then you have your answer.

Whatever an institution place as a dress code then they can.

 

[Pakistanian]

bro your not understanding.

I dont know why you guys having to make it everything a colonial thing.

While you are right that this form of attire is worn by the highest office bearers, but this kind of attire is banned in alot of unviersities.

Universities like bahria and Air do not allow this form of attire to be worn, only on fridays it is allowed. IN some offices you are not allowed to wear this and only allowed to wear it on Friday which they call it Casual Friday.


We are not even sure whether this form of dressing is even a formal attire or not.

The whole "casual"-"formal" binary is a western social construct.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

The whole "casual"-"formal" binary is a western social construct.

Agree. I can understand formal/casual from a western POV as there is a dress code in those countries for such occasions, but I have no idea what the Pakistani version would be. As far as I know the only difference is for important occasions they wear smart shalwar kameez with maybe a nice waistcoat or jacket over the top.

 

[shaykh]

He wasn't going for a job interview or some type of function; you're there to meet the queen and represent your culture why be a suck up like typical Indians with inferior complex; plus he looked smart, not OTT, some are going on like he showed up in a tracksuit

I kinda get where Major is coming from...

Isn't wearing a salwar kameeze casual wear?...he might have been better off wearing a sherwani...

 

[Junaid_ahmed]

bro your not understanding.

I dont know why you guys having to make it everything a colonial thing.

While you are right that this form of attire is worn by the highest office bearers, but this kind of attire is banned in alot of unviersities.

Universities like bahria and Air do not allow this form of attire to be worn, only on fridays it is allowed. IN some offices you are not allowed to wear this and only allowed to wear it on Friday which they call it Casual Friday.


We are not even sure whether this form of dressing is even a formal attire or not.

Kamiz Shalwar is formal attire.

Institutions can make their own dress code too, if some universities dont allow then similarly mosques dont allow their imams to wear suit tie too while imamat.

 

[Mueez]

Yes, it is a Pakistani formal attire.

 

[Plumb]

Enough discussing his dress people... Now can we focus on cricket

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I kinda get where Major is coming from...

Isn't wearing a salwar kameeze casual wear?...he might have been better off wearing a sherwani...

Only ever really see sherwanis at a wedding, although I suppose meeting the queen might qualify as a special enough occasion.

 

[ahmedzee]

It is a formal attire. Specially when you combine it with a sherwani/coat/waistcoat. I myself wore simple shalwar kameez with a waistcoat for my Shadi. How much formal can that be?

 

[Lonewarrior]

 

[shaykh]

Only ever really see sherwanis at a wedding, although I suppose meeting the queen might qualify as a special enough occasion.

Didn't Jinnah wear it all the time?

 

[Lonewarrior]

 

[Slim]

Alot of discussion going on regarding Sarfraz wearing the Shalwar Kameez when meeting the Queen.

I dont have any issues with it, but it makes you think whether this form of dressing is considered under formal or not.

Why do i ask this?

Because this form of dressing isn't commonly allowed in offices and universities in Pakistan.

For example, at my university, male students are not allowed to wear shalwar qameez from monday to thursday and only allowed to wear it on Fridays. WHile female students have to wear shalwar qameez and wearing western dress is frowned upon.

Even for presentations, when the orders are formal or semi formal dressing, then shalwar kameez isn't allowed.

Even in some offices, shalwar kameez is only allowed on friday

So this makes me ask the question that is this dress a formal one or not?

And if its not formal, then does the criticism on Sarfraz become valid? Because at the end of the day he was required to be formal when meeting the queen. Now that could either mean wear a sherwani or shalwar kameez.

I think you have been clearly told that your university is a poor example of a Pakistani university.

Top schools like LUMS, NUST dont follow any dress codes.

I used to wear shalwar kameez in LUMS when i felt the desire.

 

[Lonewarrior]

also, some officers from IB/FIA etc wears white shalwar kameez, its considers as official dress code for work.

 

[shaykh]

An interesting read on the history of sherwanis...

Pakistan: governments may have come and gone (without completing their terms) but the one thing that remained consistent through seven tumultuous decades is the premium choice of clothing for heads of state. There’s one specific garment that remained centerstage no matter how quickly everything else changed. In the spotlight, celebrating all styles Pakistani, could be none other than the sherwani. The minute Muhammad Ali Jinnah stepped in as leader of a Muslim state did he trade in his suits for this regal garment. And the rest is sartorial history. At parallels with the loose-fitted shalwar kameez, which officially is Pakistan’s national dress, the sherwani’s semi-structured fitting became the epitome of haute couture in the country through its growing popularity and its preference by the head of states of the country.



We sat down with the master of menswear in Pakistan, Amir Adnan, for a history of the most favoured sartorial clothing for men in Pakistan.

“At the beginning, the subcontinent had Quaid-e-Azam and Gandhi to look up to,” Adnan began right at the beginning. “India didn’t follow what Gandhi wore obviously because it wasn’t fashion. But Quaid-e-Azam was a well-dressed man. The moment he became a leader of a Muslim country, he chose to wear a sherwani. It was distinctly different from the British and the Hindus, and it had its own identity and easily became ‘power-clothing,” Adnan said.

Finding its roots in a mix of histories and clashes of culture, the sherwani could be considered a distant cousin of European clothing, which through their years of rule across the world, mixed with ethnic origins, changed what the public wore. In that same sense, Pakistan’s preferred choice of luxury clothing can also find its origins in the Mamluk dynasty of Egypt, who for a brief period of time ruled the subcontinent.

“In many European designs, you see jackets or layers, so the sherwani is also a derivative of those jackets, which would be akin to a trench coat. It definitely is European,” the designer added.

Defined by its distinctive design and its similarities with European fashion, the Sherwani’s knee-length design, complete with its seven buttons, particularly drew attention when it became the preferred choice for not only Muhammad Ali Jinnah, but Liaquat Ali Khan and then subsequently, the identity of the ‘migrated’ Muslim. However, this connection alone made the head of states – who gained power through the military or after a coup – weary of the garment, who then looked for further derivatives of it.

“Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was the first leader who picked up awaami clothing and made it fashionable. He had the short-length kameez with open sleeves, and he made the common man feel comfortable, as he wore something that the common man would wear. That and his formal outfit of a short-jacket had a major inspiration. His formal wear, which was basically a shortened sherwani, was less formal. I would like to call it a short sherwani,” Adnan said, defying the fact that many people refer to Bhutto’s sherwani as a Nehru jacket.

Finding itself in a lull in the later decades of the twentieth century, the sherwani only saw its return, through possibly, the only military leader who chose to wear it – Pervez Musharraf – the only Pakistani head-of-state to be included in the list of top ten best dressed leaders in the world.

“Based on what Musharraf wore to his trip to India, Vajpayee wanted a sherwani made in the same style too, and thus, brought it back into India. So, you see, Quaid-e-Azam then carried it forward, Musharraf made its entry into India, and that’s where I come in because I made his sherwani and he wore it at the United Nations, as well as India,” Adnan reiterated.

Making its way into the 21st Century, the sherwani now sits at the top of sartorial garments in the country, its identity very clearly and strongly Pakistani. The sherwani has, in a sense, become Pakistan’s identity in fashion.

 

[gazza619]

Imran Khan is setting the trend

 

[WebGuru]

If i am not wrong IK was wearing Shalwar Qameez as PM in almost every foreign tour so far? Saw him in Shalwar Qameez during his Saudi, China, Iran, Malaysia and Turkey visit.

 

[Major]

also, some officers from IB/FIA etc wears white shalwar kameez, its considers as official dress code for work.

ib/fia wear it for other reasons as they dont want to disguise themselves with the locals.

 

[Major]

Agree. I can understand formal/casual from a western POV as there is a dress code in those countries for such occasions, but I have no idea what the Pakistani version would be. As far as I know the only difference is for important occasions they wear smart shalwar kameez with maybe a nice waistcoat or jacket over the top.

look, if its a formal attire then good enough

But then why is teh kind of formal wear banned in different instituions due to the label of casual wear while our country's top representatives and figureheads can weat the same attire when going to special occasions(like meeting the queen)

 

[shaz619]

I kinda get where Major is coming from...

Isn't wearing a salwar kameeze casual wear?...he might have been better off wearing a sherwani...

Maybe that would have been a bit OTT as sherwani is for weddings, in Pak what sarfraz wore is a formal dress code for special events and he was just repping the ends, but was also smart in what he had on, if he looked like a chav I would criticise him

 

[Mamoon]

Shalwar kameez itself is informal, but it is formal with a coat/blazer and super formal with a sherwani. It is usually allowed in public offices and public universities.

I personally rarely wear it now. A very comfortable attire but inconvenient and impractical when it comes to using the bathroom.

 

[from_da_lost_dim3nsion]

Shalwar kameez itself is informal, but it is formal with a coat/blazer and super formal with a sherwani. It is usually allowed in public offices and public universities.

I personally rarely wear it now. A very comfortable attire but inconvenient and impractical when it comes to using the bathroom.

Nice , Ladke ke concepts clear hain

 

[Pakistanian]

I kinda get where Major is coming from...

Isn't wearing a salwar kameeze casual wear?...he might have been better off wearing a sherwani...

Shalwar* not "salwar" lol

 

[daytrader]

look, if its a formal attire then good enough

But then why is teh kind of formal wear banned in different instituions due to the label of casual wear while our country's top representatives and figureheads can weat the same attire when going to special occasions(like meeting the queen)

It can be formal, just because those institutions don't allow it doesn't make it informal. Student unions should take up this issue with their institutions

 

[Syed1]

I love wearing it on special occasions.... a good fitting kurta with slimmer style shalwar pajama looks hella classy. If you put a waist coat on it, then girls watch out. I mean wife watch out.

 

[Ronaldo7]

I love wearing it on special occasions.... a good fitting kurta with slimmer style shalwar pajama looks hella classy. If you put a waist coat on it, then girls watch out. I mean wife watch out.

 

[amvbfm]

bro your not understanding.

I dont know why you guys having to make it everything a colonial thing.

While you are right that this form of attire is worn by the highest office bearers, but this kind of attire is banned in alot of unviersities.

Universities like bahria and Air do not allow this form of attire to be worn, only on fridays it is allowed. IN some offices you are not allowed to wear this and only allowed to wear it on Friday which they call it Casual Friday.

We are not even sure whether this form of dressing is even a formal attire or not.

I am not making it colonial but it is a colonial hangover. Why else would universities and offices in Pakistan ban the national dress?

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

look, if its a formal attire then good enough

But then why is teh kind of formal wear banned in different instituions due to the label of casual wear while our country's top representatives and figureheads can weat the same attire when going to special occasions(like meeting the queen)

So what is considered formal attire in these institutions? I assume it must be western clothing such as trousers and shirts/blazers?

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Worn properly, yes.

 

[Saeed]

Yes it looks good as long as you’re not out of shape. But then even tank top with dhoti will look formal as long as you take care of yourself. As shown below, it all has to do with the person wearing it.