In many Pakistani homes, men's shopping happens the night before jumma or a week before a barat, and by then the right size is often gone. This November there is a better window. Alkaram's 11.11 sale in Pakistan has been live since 6 November, and the 11.11 sale men's clothing edit has more than 130 pieces at 20% to 45% off. Here is what is worth buying, how the fits differ and which sizes are already running short.
11.11 Sale Men's Clothing: What Is in the Edit
On 6 November, the men's side of the sale on alkaramstudio.com had 126 stitched pieces and 13 unstitched suit lengths. Here is how most of it breaks down, with sale prices from that day:
- Kurtas: 38, from PKR 1,370 to PKR 3,493
- Kurta shalwar sets: 28, from PKR 3,594 to PKR 8,994
- Kameez shalwar sets: 23, from PKR 3,894 to PKR 10,794
- Waistcoats: 14, from PKR 3,020 to PKR 4,554
- Kurta trouser sets: 10, from PKR 3,594 to PKR 4,794
- Trousers: 7, from PKR 1,254
More than half of the stitched pieces are 40% off, and about 30 are 45% off. Blended fabric leads, followed by cotton, with a few raw silk, jacquard and karandi pieces for dressier days. Everything is listed in the Alkaram 11.11 men's sale.
Kurta or Kameez: Which One for Which Day
The two can look alike on a hanger, but the details differ. Every kurta in the sale has a band collar and an easy, relaxed cut, which makes it the natural choice for jumma, family visits and dawats. More than half of the kameez shalwar sets have a shirt collar, which looks neat at the office and at formal dinners, while the rest come with a band collar. The collar style is listed in each product description, so check it before you order.
Blended kurta shalwar sets in the sale start at PKR 3,594 and typically cost around PKR 4,700. Blended kameez shalwar sets start at PKR 4,193 and typically cost around PKR 4,800. For a lighter look at work, single kurtas start at PKR 1,370 and pair well with a plain trouser.
Blended or Cotton: Choose by How You Live
Blended fabric usually mixes cotton with polyester. It resists creases, dries quickly and holds its color, so it suits long office days and frequent washing. Cotton breathes better and feels softer against the skin, which helps in heated rooms and crowded halls. Raw silk and jacquard have a richer texture and look right at weddings.
About 70 of the stitched pieces are blended and close to 30 are cotton. If one man in the family always feels warm and another feels the cold, buy each the fabric that suits him rather than matching sets.
Waistcoats: The Quickest Way to Dress Up
A waistcoat turns a plain kurta into a wedding outfit in seconds. The sale has 14 waistcoats in raw silk, blended fabric, jacquard, cotton, cotton silk and khaddar, priced from PKR 3,020 to PKR 4,554 and mostly 40% to 45% off. Raw silk is the largest group, with a soft sheen that suits evening functions.
Pick a waistcoat a few shades darker or lighter than the kurta, or go for a clear contrast, such as a dark waistcoat over a light kurta. Keep the kurta plain when the waistcoat has texture, so the outfit looks finished rather than busy. Waistcoats are one of the smaller groups in the sale, so pick yours early.
Basic, Regular or Slim: Get the Fit Right
Men's stitched pieces in the sale come in three main fits. Basic fit is the most common, with around 80 pieces, followed by slim fit and regular fit. Basic and regular fits leave room through the chest and waist for an easy, traditional shape. Slim fit is cut closer to the body for a sharper look.
Every stitched piece comes in sizes S to XL, about half also come in XS, and about 50 come in XXL. On 6 November, sizes S, M and L were still available in most designs. XL was already sold out in more than 40% of them, and XXL in more than 60%. If you wear the larger sizes, shop first.
Sale items cannot be exchanged, according to Alkaram's FAQ page. If you are buying for your father, brother or husband, measure a kurta he wears often and compare it with the size chart on the product page.
A Three Outfit Plan for the Season
Most men need just three looks to get through November and December. Here is one way to cover them with sale prices from 6 November:
- For the office: a blended kameez shalwar at around PKR 4,800.
- For jumma: a cotton kurta at about PKR 2,500 with a plain trouser from PKR 1,254.
- For the barat: a blended kurta shalwar at about PKR 4,700 with a raw silk waistcoat at about PKR 3,600.
That comes to just under PKR 17,000 for a full season of key outfits. Swap the kameez shalwar for a second kurta if his office is casual, and the total drops further.
Prefer Your Own Tailor?
Thirteen unstitched kameez shalwar lengths are part of the sale, all 30% off and priced from PKR 3,073 to PKR 4,753. Each is 4.5 meters, a full suit length for most men, and almost all are blended. Stitching slots shrink as the wedding season builds, so hand the fabric over early and ask for a trial fitting.
Shopping for the Whole Family?
Most families shop together in November, and the same 11.11 sale covers women's unstitched suits, women's ready to wear and bed sheets as well. Women's ready to wear carries the deepest cuts, with most pieces at 45% or 50% off, while unstitched suits are mostly 20% to 35% off. One order can dress the whole family.
Dress Him Before the Rush
The best men's pieces in any sale go early, especially in the larger sizes. Decide what each man in the family needs, check the fit and the size, and order before the wedding calendar fills up.
Pick his kurtas and waistcoats today, while his size is still in stock.
