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What to Wear as a Black Woman in India: Introduction
What to wear as a Black Woman in India? When I was planning my trip to India, recently I already knew I’d need to dress conservatively and modestly. And not to mention that I also had long braids from my trip to Nigeria. So I knew I would get more attention than I needed. I travelled solo and met other solo travellers with the company GoJolley, and they gave us colours that we should wear each day.
To be fair, travelling as a Black woman in India brings attention, and in countries like India, I would say you have to honestly amp the attention just x50, so here is everything I wore as a Black woman in India.
India is hot, vibrant, and diverse, but travelling as a Black woman in India also means being mindful of the extra attention you might receive. Dressing with intention helped me feel more comfortable, avoid too many unwanted stares, and also showed respect for the culture and religion.
Everywhere I travel, I believe it’s important to honour local traditions. In India, that meant choosing breathable fabrics, modest styles, and outfits that worked for everything from palaces to temples. And let’s be real, I also wanted looks that photographed beautifully against forts, city streets, and colourful backdrops.
You may have lots of questions, like what can a Black woman wear in India, or can females wear shorts in India? In this post, I’ll share exactly what to wear as a Black woman in India: from retailers I bought from to seasonal packing tips to the accessories and shoes that kept me comfortable. I’ll also sprinkle in a few travel recommendations on what to see, eat and experience because dressing well is just one part of the travelling process. I have also done a What to Wear in Morocco as a Woman: A Useful Guide From Someone Who Lived There so have a read.
Related – India Travel Guide: 7 Great Days in India New Delhi, Agar & Jaipur
What to Pack for the Seasons in India
India is huge, and I mean huge! It has a total area of 3,287,263 square kilometres (1,269,219 sq mi) and 1.451 billion according to the World Bank in 2024. You can imagine that the climate in the country will vary too. Depending on where and when you go, the climate can vary drastically. Below is a quick guide:
- Winter (Nov-Feb): Northern India can get surprisingly chilly, especially in Delhi, Agra, and Rajasthan. Bring layers, a light jacket, and long-sleeved dresses.
- Summer (Mar-Jun): Expect intense heat; sticking to lightweight cotton or linen is essential, along with sun hats, sunglasses, and breathable sandals.
- Monsoon (Jul-Sep): Rain is frequent and heavy. Pack quick-dry fabrics, a light rain jacket, and waterproof sandals or trainers.
- Autumn (Oct): Warm but comfortable flowy maxi dresses and skirts are perfect for sightseeing.
Culture and Traditions in India
As a Black woman in India, I found that dressing modestly not only helped me blend in more but also made me feel more confident and secure.
- Temples & Mosques: Shoulders and sometimes heads should be covered. Bring a scarf or shawl to cover your head.
- Festivals & Ceremonies: Bright colours and traditional outfits are celebrated (like a sari or salwar kameez). I loved wearing my green sari. More details on this later.
- Cities vs. Villages: Cities like Mumbai or New Delhi are a little more relaxed, and if you are in higher-end hotels, you may actually be ok in showing shoulders. Just a little though. But in rural areas, they are usually more conservative, so be mindful of what you are wearing.
Outfit Ideas: What to Wear as a Black Woman in India
We went to around 3 to 4 destinations and spent some time at our hotels, which were picked out perfectly. Below are a few of the outfits I wore and where I purchased them from.
Rust Maxi Dresses
We were asked to wear orange, and I got this number from ASOS. I would say this would be great for exploring cities like Delhi or Jaipur. It was light, breathable, modest and perfect for long sightseeing days.
Long Sleeves & Khaftans
You may want to wear long-sleeve cotton silk dresses. I wore both of these two outfits in our days in Agar. The silk brown one on the left is from TikTok shop, and the khaftan on the right is from Seamstress Lagos. Both outfits were ideal for temples and religious sites, while still being light enough for hot weather.
Bright Colours & Prints
India is vibrant. The colours and bold prints stretch all over the country, and it’s so beautiful to see. While in Jaipur, we were asked to wear white, and I loved the suggestion because it worked perfectly in the city painted pink. This was another steal from ASOS. If you are visiting here, don’t shy away from bold, vibrant colours, as I think they photograph beautifully against forts and palaces.
Traditional Styles
Wearing a sari or salwar kameez isn’t just stylish, it’s respectful and a way to immerse yourself in Indian culture. I loved going to the market to buy my sari. Despite being so indecisive, I chose green and loved it. This was perfect for the Taj Mahal World Wonder.
Accessories and Other Items to Pack
There may be a few accessories outside the usual jewellery you have for your trips. You may want to add the following items to be sure you are always comfortable and also being respectful at all times:
- Scarves: To cover your head and shoulders, you can purchase these there, but good to pack from Mango, Zara and ASOS.
- Comfy sandals, flats and trainers: This is obvious, you will be walking around a lot, and you will want to be comfortable.
- Extra clothing: Two-set pieces, modest dresses, t-shirts, midi and maxi skirts and other modest outfits for other trips around India. And then warm cotton clothing for daytime and a light coat/jacket for the evening, as it can get cold in India at nighttime.
- Personal items: like toothbrush, razors, shampoo, deodorants, sanitary products, etc.
- Nightwear, you should also make this modest.
- A hat, sunscreen and sunglasses are non-negotiables.
What to Wear as a Black Woman in India: Final Views
India doesn’t mean you have to compromise on style. In fact, I think this was the most stylish I looked on my trips in a long time, outside of being here in Morocco, of course. I have come to learnt that sticking to breathable fabrics, covering shoulders and knees when needed, and embracing bold colours can actually be a lot of fun!
Did this post help you? I am thinking of starting a series on what to wear as a Black woman in India and I think the obvious next one has to be Morocco. What do you think? Let me know in the comments. And if you are looking for a travel guide for India, then read – Indian Cooking Class in Jaipur: 4 Amazing Dishes I Made
Speak soon,
MBV X
