Office-wear kurtas for women: cuts, fabrics and details for work

Cuts that look polished

• Straight cut: the most versatile office shape, especially at knee length with cigarette pants or straight trousers. See A-line vs straight kameez.
• Gentle A-line: slightly flared from the chest or waist, comfortable to sit in and flattering on most figures.
• Long shirt or tunic: a collared, buttoned tunic that reads as smart in any office. See made-to-measure tunics and long shirts.
• Kurta co-ord: kurta and trousers in the same fabric, which looks like a suit without the structure. Our co-ord sets guide has more.
• Western separates: made-to-measure trousers, shirts and skirts, for workplaces where Western clothes are the norm or for days when you want to mix the two.

Necklines, sleeves and pockets

Band collars, shirt collars, keyhole necks and neat round necks all look professional and need no adjusting through the day. They also sit well with a lanyard or a scarf. Our collar styles guide and neckline guide show the options.

For sleeves, three-quarter or full length with a cuff are the usual office choices. They stay clear of the keyboard and can be pushed up when you need to. Very wide bell sleeves look lovely but catch on desks and bag straps.

Pockets are the detail people most often wish they had asked for. Side-seam pockets in a kurta or trousers hold a phone, a security pass or keys, and they can usually be added without spoiling the line. See adding pockets to kurtas.

Fabrics for work

• Cambric and cotton: crisp, opaque and easy to wash. The workhorse fabrics for most of the year.
• Dobby and textured cottons: a subtle woven pattern that looks smart and hides minor creases.
• Lawn: fine for summer if it is not too sheer; a half lining helps pale colours.
• Linen blends: smart in warm months, if you do not mind some creasing.
• Karandi and khaddar: structured and warm for winter. Karandi in particular holds its shape through a long day.

Colour and a small work wardrobe

Solid colours and small prints look more formal than large florals. Navy, charcoal, olive, burgundy, cream and soft pastels mix easily with office coats and cardigans. Our guide to choosing an unstitched suit for work helps if you are buying fabric specifically for the office.

Three or four kurtas that share a colour family, with two pairs of trousers that go with all of them, cover most working weeks. Because everything is cut from one set of measurements, you can ask for one quote for all the pieces. If you already own ready-made kurtas that are nearly right, a local tailor can often take them in or shorten them; for the pieces that never quite work, a kurta cut to your measurements is the simpler answer.

Start on the stitching quote form, mention that the pieces are for work, and tell us about your commute and dress code. Our work and campus page has more ideas.