I am a newly-married woman, and I don't see the point stepping out wearing my marital status on my dupatta

Why should I start dressing up like a Christmas tree just because I am married?

Sarwat Fatima
मई 23, 2017

Seriously, what's with this constant fashion tips? Why should my clothes define my marital status? Photo Courtesy: YouTube/ ShowbizIndia

So, exactly a week after I got hitched, my husband and I met up with some old friends who couldn't make it to our wedding. After all the pleasantries were exchanged, my girl gang took me aside to barrage me with a crapload of questions and some most obvious observations.

For instance, dressed in a plain blue jeans and a plaid shirt, I didn't look like a newly-wed bride to them, and they grudgingly pointed it out. Not to mention, some of my well-meaning friends reprimanded me for the lack of jewels adorning my body.

Since I was really excited to see them after a very long time, I kept my opinions to myself and just nodded through the entire conversation.

A couple of days after the incident, a neighbourhood aunty came to our house to pay us a visit. After she saw me dressed in grungy track pants and a t-shirt, she twisted her mouth in distaste and pointed out that I should dress more elaborately--now that I am married. However, she had no fashion advice for my husband, who was dressed in shorts and a gunjee.

Also read: My parlour aunty wanted me to look like Snow White on my wedding day. The problem was, I didn't

After the same thing happened thrice, when an acquaintance commented that I am a disgrace to all the newly-wedded brides, I lost my cool.

Seriously, what's with this constant fashion tips? Why should my clothes define my marital status?

I have never been a fan of elaborate clothing. I would rather wear a faded jeans and a shirt than a glamorous floor length maxi to a party. Not that I have any problem with people who love getting all dolled up, but I am clearly not one of them. I don't have the patience or the skills to match my top with my bottoms and I often end up pulling out clothes from the wardrobe that are nearest to me.

So, to assume that I would magically transform after marriage is an outlandish idea. In fact, I would rather put my energy into thousands other things and responsibilities that come along with a new relationship rather than investing all the hard work picking out ensembles.

My problem here is: why do people expect women to start dressing differently after getting married, whereas men can continue to wear the same jeans, trousers, shirts, and t-shirts that they used to? No one expects them to be dressed in a dhoti kurta or a sherwani all the time. However, for women, things are not so simple. It's a sin, if they continue to wear the same clothes they used to before getting married.

And I clearly don't agree with it. So, call me a disgrace, an oddity, or a freak. But, I will continue to live in my old pajamas and jeans because I don't like to wear my marital status on my dupatta.