Ethnic Wear for Girls: Your Guide to Traditional & Fusion Styles

Clothing is an excellent way to introduce young children to their heritage and culture. It allows them to learn about traditional artistry, how materials can represent a region and its history, and how the styles and ways of that culture have changed and evolved. It even allows little ones to match mom and dad for those holidays, festivals, and family events. 

Introduce your little girl to the styles of home with our growing collection of children’s clothes available here at Lashkaraa, where we pride ourselves on carrying special clothes for special occasions. 

The Best Ethnic Wear for Girls: Styles & Traditions

What’s more fun than dressing up the little ones in beautiful and elegant pieces that really shine? With Lashkaraa, you’ll find traditional pieces made for kids, all designed with comfort, style, and utility in mind. We have pieces for the whole family, all imbued with a sense of lineage, and below are a few of our favorite styles for little girls available in our kids' collection.

Lehenga 

The lehenga is such an important piece of clothing that it is often worn for weddings, both by the bride and honored guests. Lehengas are typically made up of three separate pieces, an ankle-length skirt, a blouse, also known as a choli, and the dupatta, or long scarf. 

They are also one of the most versatile pieces, which makes them an excellent option for little girls who love to customize and style their outfits. A lehenga is playful yet elegant, allowing children to enjoy the best of both comfort and creativity. From festive family gatherings to school functions or cultural events, it brings a sense of joy and confidence to every occasion.

The skirt itself can be found in a range of silhouettes, including A-line, mermaid, flared, and straight cuts. Each offers its own charm, whether it’s the princess-like fullness of a flared lehenga or the sleek sophistication of a straight style. These designs allow your child to explore how movement, texture, and drape can transform a look.

When it comes to colors and fabrics, the possibilities are endless. Young girls can choose from soft pastels like blush pink and mint green for daytime festivities, or deeper hues like emerald, maroon, and navy for evening celebrations. Fabrics such as net, satin, silk, organza, and georgette create stunning visual effects, from delicate shimmer to graceful flow.

Accessorizing adds to the fun; a light dupatta, floral hair adornments, or tiny jhumkas can complete the look beautifully. Lehengas not only make dressing up exciting but also teach children about the elegance of Indian craftsmanship and the joy of self-expression through traditional attire.

Anarkali 

Anarkalis have great mythos and cultural significance surrounding their use and have the essence of softness and beauty. The Anarkali is a type of salwar suit, a style worn by Indian women that typically features a pair of looser pants and a long tunic top. 

Like the lehenga, the Anarkali is a classic Indian outfit that blends elegance with ease. It usually features a fitted bodice and a flared skirt, creating a flowy and graceful look that little girls love to wear. Comfortable yet dressy, it’s perfect for weddings, festive gatherings, and family celebrations.

There are many styles of Anarkalis to choose from, each offering something special. Some are long and floor-length for a princess-like feel, while shorter frock-style versions are light and playful. Modern designs may also include capes, jackets, or layered details that add a fun, stylish touch.

Anarkalis come in a wide range of fabrics and colors, from soft cottons and georgettes for daytime events to silks and velvets for grand occasions. They can be simple and elegant or decorated with embroidery, sequins, or lace for a more festive look. Easy to wear and full of charm, the Anarkali helps young girls look and feel their best while celebrating the beauty of Indian tradition.

Little girls are sure to love the high-low style of Anarkali, which allows for more bead and threadwork along the hem. Explore color and material options for Anarkalis like blush, light pink, red and gold, and silk and satin. 

Punjabi 

The Punjabi suit is a lively and traditional outfit that belongs to the salwar suit family. It is known for being both comfortable and stylish, making it perfect for all kinds of occasions from daily wear to weddings, holidays, and family gatherings. It allows young girls to enjoy the freedom to move while still looking festive and put together.

A Punjabi suit usually includes two main pieces: the salwar and the kameez. The salwar are the trousers, loose at the top and narrower at the ankle, while the kameez is a long top with slits on the sides for easy movement. This simple yet elegant design makes it a favorite for children and adults alike.

Punjabi suits come in many fabrics, colors, and patterns. They can be bright and playful with floral prints or rich and festive with embroidery and mirror work. Pairing them with a matching dupatta, colorful bangles, or cute hair accessories makes the outfit even more special.

For little girls, Punjabi suits are a wonderful way to celebrate tradition in a fun, comfortable, and beautiful way. Explore suits in enchanting colors and styles for your little girl, including navy blue and gold embroidery, golden ivory, a multi-colored print pattern, and more.

Sharara Suit 

Like the lehenga, the sharara suit is made up of three pieces - a dupatta, a kurti (a long tunic without a collar), and a loose pair of pants. This traditional outfit is known for its elegant look and flowy silhouette, making it a favorite choice for festive occasions and celebrations.

The sharara pants are what make this style stand out. They are fitted at the waist and flare out dramatically, giving the illusion of a wide skirt when worn with a longer kurti. Because of this flared design, they are sometimes called trumpet pants. The result is a graceful and stylish outfit that combines comfort with movement, allowing young girls to dance and play with ease while still looking beautifully dressed.

Shararas come in many colors, fabrics, and designs from light pastel organzas and nets for daytime events to richly embroidered silks and georgettes for weddings and festive nights. The outfit can be accessorized with a light dupatta, delicate jewelry, and pretty hair clips to complete the look. It’s a lovely way for little girls to experience the beauty and charm of traditional Indian fashion in a fun and modern way.

Sharara suits can be styled up for formal occasions and are available in stunning cuts and designs. Due to their loose and comfortable fit, they’re a good option for busy girls on the go. 

Gharara Suit

The Gharara is a special type of sharara suit that offers a unique and elegant twist on the traditional style. Like shararas, Ghararas come in a wide range of colors, fabrics, and designs, making them fun and exciting choices for festive occasions.

The main difference lies in the cut of the pants. While sharara pants flare out from the waist, Gharara pants are fitted at the knee and then flare dramatically outward, creating a fuller, skirt-like effect. This design gives the outfit a distinctive silhouette that is both graceful and playful.

Ghararas can be paired with long kurtis or tunics, a dupatta, and simple accessories to complete the look. They are perfect for little girls who want to twirl, play, and celebrate in style, while still wearing something traditional and culturally rich. With their flowing flare and charming details, Ghararas are a beautiful way to introduce children to classic Indian fashion.

Your little one is sure to love picking out a unique Gharara suit style, like emerald green and gold or light dusty green. No matter how she styles and designs it, you’ll definitely want to frame that picture!

Straight Suits & Palazzo Suits

Other suit options are the straight suit and the palazzo suit, both of which little girls will enjoy wearing and showing off. As the name would indicate, the straight suit has a long, straight kameez that may fall at the knee or lower. 

The style is striking yet simple but updated with beautiful beadwork and mirror work, and you’ll find different types of embroidery around the hem to really fit her style. A pair of fitted bottoms goes below the kameez for a complete and comfortable look. 

With palazzo pants, you’ll have a similar style of dress, but the pants flare out at the sides for a unique silhouette with a much looser cut. 

Growing Up With Traditions

Sharing cultural traditions with the next generation can be very meaningful. It’s an opportunity to pass on knowledge, bond over history, and embrace elements of art, creativity, and beauty in clothing form. Passing down traditions provides children with a sense of security and feelings of belonging to something larger than themselves. 

Lashkaraa strives to bring Southeast Asian traditions to people all over the globe. We unite families with their country of origin with traditional garments made in India and inspected by hand. 

Guiding your family and passing on traditions can be a truly special experience, and our team is here to help. We carry a vast inventory of ethnic wear for children, as well as for mom and dad, so you can begin teaching her about her family’s history and the culture she’ll be sure to embrace.

For little girls, clothing is available in a wide range of bright colors, designs, and various materials. It all depends on her preferences and what she likes best. She has options for both casual and formal attire, which means it’s easy for mom and dad to get her out of the house on busy days and run and play with friends without worry. 

The only question is—what will she try on first? 

Sources:

Brides, here's how you can build a timeless wedding wardrobe | Vogue India

Everything you need to know about the ancient craft of mirror work | Vogue India

How Family Traditions Help Form Stronger Bonds | Verywell Family