Clothes shopping, Nepali style

Ladies, you don't know what you're missing. The standard Nepali outfit for women is a kurtaa suruwaal. It is comprised of a tunic top, a scarf, and pajama-like pants. It is one of the most comfortable outfits I have ever worn, even more comfortable than scrubs. They are definitely as comfortable as pajamas. They are custom made, tailored specifically to each woman.

After entering the fabric shop, you are faced with three walls of bolts of cloth. You are led to a chair, sat down, given a drink, and are asked about your family and children. Only when this is finished do they proceed. The next step is narrowing down the color you want. This is Asia....bright colors rule! Once you decide on a color, then the staff starts laying out all sorts of bolts in the color that you want and now you have decide which one to choose. About the time you think you have your choice narrowed down, someone plucks down another irresistible pattern. It's best to go into the shop realizing that you're going to end up leaving with more than one outfit. Once the fabric color and pattern have been chosen, you are taken to the tailor. You are then measured in every direction possible: upper arm circumference, sleeve length preference, waist preference, side slit length, pantleg length, leg opening preference, V-neck/square neck/scalloped neck/round neck preference, waist-hip-bust measurements, and trunk measurement. Every stitch is made to fit your body. The tailor uses sewing machines from the early 1900's. I'm sure most of you will remember the old black iron Singer sewing machines with foot pedals and a huge wheel that make them work. Those are the machines that these tailors use. It makes sense because they can run without electricity. The kurtaas cost $17 for the cloth plus $3 for the tailor. $20 for a complete outfit....tunic, pants and scarf.....tailored to fit your body. And the icing on the cake....they are absolutely beautiful!