Divya (Anaheim, California)

There’s nothing like wearing a salwar kameez or a lehenga to an event. The rich silks, the intricate embroidery–they feel magical. I wore a bright yellow lehenga to my high school graduation, and my friends kept calling me “princess.” It was sweet, but I wished they knew that so many Indian girls dress like this for special occasions–it’s not rare, just beautiful. I think a lot of people don’t realise how many types of special wear we have. The first thing anyone thinks of is the saree. Most younger women don’t even wear those! The hardest part is finding the perfect outfit here in the U.S. Tailoring is expensive, so we usually wait until we visit India to stock up.