These trousers are made of fine striped silk fabric, and are cut loose around the waist and thighs, but taper to a close-fitting lower section that is typical of the Indian subcontinent. This narrow section would often be wrinkled up to the knee in a style called chiridar, which means 'with bangles'. In more recent times, this narrow leg section would be bias-cut to give a more clinging effect, but surviving nineteenth-century trousers all seem to have straight-cut legs. On this pair, the decorative effect is concentrated on the simple but elegant embroidered cuff. The trousers would be worn with a long, straight shirt, probably also with embroidered decoration. Silk striped woman's trousers, Pakistan, mid 19th century. Purple silk trousers with white stripes and white embroidery at the cuffs