Salwar kameez

sleeveless/short/tight SK is fine in cities or Goa, but frankly I made the mistake of wearing my sleeveless and short-cut SK top (with the baggy pants, but still the tunic ended above the knee) somewhere in rural Maharashtra and got stared at and pinched far more than times when I'd worn a more traditionally cut SK.

You could wear loose, decent-looking, covering Western clothes too, but I've found SKs and saris really do deflect harrassment. Maybe not stares, but certainly harassment.

I've heard of SK tops with capris but since I look awful in capris no matter what, I'm not tempted to try it. Ever.

I really think we are talking about the same thing - just different degrees of what is socially acceptable wear for women in different cultures forms a wide spectrum, and the ideas of "formality and standards" are often societal constructs to "manage" sexuality.
You have the absolute extreme in some Arabic countries where women are expected to be completely covered from head to foot any time they are outside the family home; India's idea of socially acceptable wear for women seems far more relaxed in comparison. There are many countries with even more relaxed ideas, and Australia falls down this spectrum, though by no means at the extreme end. There are countries which are less conservative than Australia when it comes to "public undress". Even though where I live is a resort town, it's interesting how many local people get offended when (mostly European) tourists wander around in the beach carpark in their underwear, or strip naked to get changed. (Don't even mention nude or semi-nude bathing!)

As time passes and as the world (regrettably) becomes more homogeneous, dress standards are changing in many countries across the world. It really wasn't THAT long ago that women in Australia wore neck-to-knee bathing costumes, or worse, weren't allowed to bathe publicly at all during daylight hours.

But yeah, lets give it up.

hell, even as an American I was a bit taken aback a few months ago when my friend from Austria, while we were splitting a room with a Singaporean Chinese (a guy - we're female, but we all needed a room and found a triple), stripped to her thong undies to sleep.

Was totally normal for her. I changed in the bathroom and wore long PJ bottoms and a t-shirt. No thongs or undies around men who aren't my boyfriend.

shudder I grew up in north east Victoria, then as a teenager, Bellingen on the NSW north coast, and for the last 20 years, Brisbane. Never heard of any dress codes other than not being able to get into nightclubs in the early 90's if you were a guy wearing a flannelette shirt. These days it seems to be more acceptable to be wearing whatever you can that's as close as possible to a birthday suit. Personally, I wish somebody would bring back a little more modesty, especially to this part of the country.

I'm travelling to India in November/December and plan to head to Dharamsala and Darjeeling. I had planned to don something more "local", but y'all have made me somewhat self-conscious about wearing hiking boots with a SK. I'm not a fashion follower at he best of times but will do whatever I have to do to make my travellinge experience more pleasant and bearable. I can't imagine that "court shoes" would be very practical walking several kms a day, especially in freezing temperatures. Besides, I don't think my bright purple thick explorer socks would fit into a court shoe.

Have enjoyed reading the debate though, certainly food for thought. I might just see what I can get for above the waist that's also going to keep me warm.

Elinor

yes fotosnapper i am afraid i can't quite see the SK looking too chic in coldweather even if you are not a trendoid. Even a cardigan would ruin the look if you ask me. To my mind, its definitely a more warmer weather dress style. Unfortunately certain locals don't always have any choice. In Leh, there were some ladies who I saw wearing really beautiful plain grey wool shawls. The seemed ok with the SK but i am not sure it would have been enough in Winter (i saw this in late september). But i agree about the court shoes.

I think it would be easier to stick with western dress at that time of year. Even the monks would have a heavier woollen costume.