Short Kurtis and Kurti Tops

Kurti tops, short kurtas and tunics

Indian shops call them kurti tops or short kurtas, and American stores would call them tunic tops. Whatever the name, the length is the point: these pieces run from 31 inches for the peplum top to 36 inches, so they finish around the hip on most women instead of at the knee. That makes them the easiest kurtis to wear with Western clothes.

How to wear them with jeans

Straight or skinny jeans are the classic pairing, and a hip-length kurti covers the waistband without swallowing your legs. Slim trousers work for the office, and white cotton pants or a tulip shalwar give a more traditional look. Palazzos balance the shorter length nicely. The guide to wearing a kurti with jeans has more ideas, shoes included.

Everyday to dressy

The navy cotton kurti has a self print with embroidery and suits work or errands, and the cotton peplum top flares at the waist for a more Western shape. The black viscose kurti, with sequin work, is the dressy one for a dinner or a dawat. The yellow silk kurtis are light and bright for a haldi, and the pink georgette kurti is soft and already stitched.

Sizes and ordering

Most of these kurtis are size M, with chests of about 40 to 42 inches, and the pink georgette is a size S. Check the chest and length on each listing against a top that fits you; the size guide shows how. Tap Order on WhatsApp, or add a pair of pants or a shalwar from the trousers section to your bag and send everything to Shagufta in one message.

Length and your height

Where a kurti ends depends on you as much as on the inches. On a petite woman a 36-inch kurti falls a little lower, toward the upper thigh; on a tall woman it can sit right at the hip bone. Measure from the top of your shoulder down to where you want the hem to stop, and compare that number with the length on the listing before you order.