The print

The main body is left almost plain in deep blue. The pattern is held back for the dupatta and the sleeve pieces, where small white florals repeat densely and are closed off by decorative bands along the dupatta edges. It is a monochrome set that gets its interest from where the print is, rather than how much of it there is.

Styling

A near-plain deep blue kurta with printed sleeves is about as office-appropriate as ethnic wear gets, and the same set reads formal in the evening with silver. Keep the sleeve print full length rather than cropping it, since that is where the design lives. Stitch a straight kurta and let the dupatta borders show at the front.

The details

Top: 2.5 m, 44 to 45 inches wide
Bottom: 2.5 m, 44 to 45 inches wide
Dupatta: 2.5 m, 35 to 36 inches wide
Weight: 600 to 650 g for all three pieces together
Stitching: tailor it to your exact fit, up to 4XL, with the length customised for larger sizes
Lining: not needed, the fabric is opaque; add one only to elevate the look
Care: dry clean the first wash, then a gentle cold hand wash
Dispatch: next working day, even though every metre is block printed by hand

The small florals vary a touch in weight from one repeat to the next, as hand-stamped prints do.

Deep Blue Katan Silk Suit, White Floral Print | Kinara