Shopping for Indian Ethnic Clothes presents a unique challenge to all Cross Dressers because Indian Males are typically disinterested in the clothes that women wear. Further, the specifications of Female Indian Clothes are so precise, that it is very difficult to explain them to the salespersons in the shops. If you become too specific, the salesperson is instantly suspicious how you can be. If you are too generalised, you are in danger of getting what you don't want. The secret is in trying to be vague but at the same time mentally precisely estimating / reviewing whether you are in effect getting what you want.
To give you an example: Assume that you are purchasing a bra to be worn under a saree blouse. You would want to consider whether the material of the blouse is tranparent or not. If it is, then is the back pattern of the bra very conservative or a little daring. Realise that Indian women are mostly very conservative. Only in the bigger cities which are not in South India, are the women a little daring. It is almost impossible to see the pattern of the bra on the back of a woman in South India. But in Western India, in cities like Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad and so on, women go to great extents to get really exotic back patterns for their bras and wear them under sheer and nearly transparent blouses made out of 2 by 2 material. Further they do not bother to cover their backs with their pallus so the bra pattern under the blouse is there for all to see.
To come back to our topic of discussion, you can get exactly what you want by asking the sales person but you do need to be careful.
The role you need to play when you purchase women's clothes in India - flustered / confused husband.
I have personally bought women's clothes in India in many cities - Delhi, Bombay, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Madras and each time the salesperson has not looked at me suspiciously. I put on an act of the flustered but very affectionate husband / brother from out of state. Believe me this works!
I just walk up confidently to one of the sales persons and ask if they sell sarees - knowing fully well that they do. It helps to ask stupid questions because any further stupid (from the sales person's point of view) questions are enthusiastically answered! They ask what material. You say "I don't know!". For someone who has had to purge Indian clothes worth thousands of rupees in the past, I have to restrict myself to a very tight budget. I tell them, I would like to spend about 200 to 250 rupees. (If you want to reduce the price further, say that the saree is for your family maid servant who is going to get married next week! If your are purchasing Salwaar Khameezes, the servant can be a Muslim Girl!). Then they will ask you what material. Counter question them as to what material can be purchased given your budget constraints. You are then given choices. Choose what you like most.
Now comes the interesting bit. If you have already said that you are purchasing the saree for your maid servant, then make no further purchases in this shop. Go to a few shops down the street and purchase the other accessories like bra, blouse, saree petticoat.
Sarees and their accessories
Sarees
Blouses
Readymade Blouses
Blouse Pieces and stitching
Saree Petticoats
Bras
Salwar Khameezes
Salwar
Khameez
Accessories
Jewellery
Neck
Ears
Hands
Feet
Bindis
Readymade
Others
Nail Polish