Hide the thin layers, show the top one
A saree or a thin kurta is not made for the cold. A saree leaves your waist and back open. A thin kurta has wide sleeves that let the air in. But you do not have to hide your outfit under a big coat. Here is where the warmth goes.
- Under the outfit. A thermal is a thin, warm layer worn next to the skin. Because it is thin, the outfit still sits flat over it.
- Over the outfit. A cardigan, a jacket, a coat or a shawl. Pick one in a color from the outfit, so that it still looks finished when you wrap up.
- On your feet. Closed shoes and socks. Open sandals leave your feet and ankles out in the cold.
India's weather office says the same thing in its cold-wave advice: "Multiple layers of clothing are also useful." Thin layers can come off one at a time, and a thick coat is either on or off.
How much you need at each temperature
Use the number for the hours you will be outside, not the day's high.
| Temperature | Under | On top |
|---|---|---|
| 20 to 25°C | Nothing extra | A light shawl at night |
| 15 to 20°C | Nothing extra | Cardigan or light jacket |
| 10 to 15°C | Thermal top | Sweater and jacket |
| 5 to 10°C | Thermal top and leggings | Sweater and warm coat |
| Below 5°C | Thermal top and leggings | Sweater, winter coat, hat, scarf |
With a saree, read sweater as a full-sleeve blouse or an open cardigan. Under a low blouse, skip the thermal top. A thick wool shawl can take the place of a jacket or coat.
This table follows our chart of what to wear at each temperature, with one change: the thermal comes in sooner, because a saree blouse or a thin kurta is less warm than a shirt. If you feel the cold more than most people, go one row down.
A saree in the cold
- Legs. Wear thermal leggings under the petticoat. One saree shop's guide says to swap the petticoat for thermal leggings, but we would keep it: the saree tucks into its waist, and that is what holds the pleats.
- Arms. A full-sleeve blouse is the easiest fix, and nobody will think of it as a winter layer. If you do not have one, a thin fitted sweater worn in place of the blouse works for a day out or the office. Keep it for less formal days.
- Back and waist. A thin thermal top can go under a blouse with a high neck and back. Under a low one it will show, so skip it and use a warm layer on top.
- On top. Pin the loose end of the saree, the pallu, at the shoulder first. Then add an open cardigan, a short jacket or a long coat. A shawl goes over one shoulder, so that some of the saree still shows.
- Shoes. Drape the saree with your closed shoes or low boots already on, because they change where the hem should fall.
Silk and thick cotton are warmer than chiffon or organza. But the fabric alone will not get you through an hour on an open lawn at night, so keep the layers.
A kurta or a salwar suit
- Under the kurta. A thin thermal top with a round or V neck. Check it against the kurta's neck in the mirror before you leave.
- On your legs. Thermal leggings fit under a salwar, palazzos or straight pants. Tight churidars (pants that gather at the ankle) and leggings leave no room for a second pair, so wear a warmer pair instead.
- On top. A cardigan or a short jacket is simple. A long coat should reach below the kurta, so that the kurta does not hang out underneath.
- The dupatta. On a cold day, wear a wool shawl in place of the dupatta, the long scarf worn with a suit. Two loose pieces are hard to manage.
A kurta for men
- Under the kurta. A full-sleeve thermal top. Choose a V neck if the kurta's collar is open, so it stays hidden.
- A sweater. A full sweater over a kurta is fine at home or on a casual day, with the collar out. But it bunches under a jacket. For a neater look, wear a thin sleeveless sweater with a jacket over it.
- A jacket. A Nehru jacket, which is short and has no sleeves, warms your chest but leaves your arms uncovered. For a long time outside, wear a bandhgala, a jacket with a closed stand-up collar, or a long coat.
- A shawl. A wool shawl over one shoulder looks right with almost any kurta, and it comes off easily.
- Pants and shoes. Straight pants and pajamas leave room for thermal leggings. Juttis, flat embroidered shoes, leave the top of the foot open, so wear closed shoes for a long night outside.
Inside, outside and on the road
A cold lawn and a warm hall. A wedding can move from one to the other. Choose a top layer that comes off easily and is easy to carry, and put the rest of your warmth under the outfit, where it can stay. Our guide to wedding guest outfits in India has what to wear to each event.
A cold home or office. Many homes in north India have little or no heating, so you may need the same layers inside. See what to wear in Delhi in winter. At work, keep a cardigan or shawl at your desk.
A temple or gurdwara. Your shoes come off, and so your feet get cold first. At the Golden Temple your socks come off too: see what to wear to the Golden Temple in winter.
A scooter or a bike. Wind goes through a wool shawl, so wear a jacket on the ride. Tuck in the ends of any shawl, dupatta or saree, so they cannot catch in the wheels.
Start with what you own
Before you buy anything, try your outfit with each warm thing you already have: a cardigan, a blazer, a denim jacket, a plain coat, a shawl. A blazer or denim jacket goes well over a kurta. Then walk, sit down and lift your arms, to check that nothing pulls.
If you do buy one thing, buy thin thermals. Nobody sees them, and they work under most of what you own.
An app that knows your closet
Ukti is our app. You take photos of your clothes, shawls and jackets too, and each morning it picks one outfit from them. If you share your location, it picks for the weather where you are. There is also a setting for people who feel colder than the forecast. You can talk to its stylist as well: say that you have an outdoor wedding tonight, answer a few short questions, and it makes an outfit.
Most of this page is our own general advice. The temperature rows follow our chart. "Multiple layers": the India Meteorological Department's "Dos and Don'ts for Cold Wave", read on 31 October 2026. Swapping the petticoat: Mavuri (27 October 2025), a saree shop, read on 31 October 2026. Homes with little or no heating: Al Jazeera, "Northern India shivers as winter arrives", 22 December 2014, read on 31 October 2026.
