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Karnataka dresses portray elegance of South Indian clothing. The dresses of Karnataka show grace and decency which are integral to the cultural spirit of the state. The men wear shirts or kurtas along with a lungi on the upper and lower body respectively. Although there is not much of a variation of the men’s dresses in Karnataka, yet the dresses follow strict codes of custom laid down by tradition since the ancient times. Sarees have been the traditional dress for women in Karnataka.

Karnataka, particularly Bangalore and Mysore, is the silk hub of India and Karnataka silk sarees are its traditional costume. However, the different style of wearing a saree make them unique. The Coorgi style of draping a saree in Karnataka involves tying the pleats on the back instead of the front and a small portion of the pallu is placed over the shoulder. Mysore silk sarees are made with lustrous zari and rich silk. The extraordinary sheen of the fabric and the purity of the zari make these saree an elegant women dress. The Kornadu saris are a mix of cotton and silk. The Konrad sarees are woven with a blue cotton yarn and silk yarn in several colors other than blue. The motifs at border are varied and the body of the sari has checks or stripes. They are mostly used as daily casual wear outfit. The handloom Irkal saris have the beautiful Kasuti embroidery on them. Kasuti embroidery is a special craft practiced mainly in Uttara Kanara district or North Kanara district of Karnataka. The motifs on Irkal saris include architectural designs, cradle, elephant, squirrel among others. The Mysore crepe silk sarees are used as office wear sarees due to their light-weight, and easy to care nature.

The Kodavas or the people of Kodagu have their own distinct dresses. The men wear their native costume with pride, resplendent with ornamental sashes, swords and daggers, black robes or tunics and gold trimmed turbans for festivals or weddings.
Kodava women drape the saree in reverse, with the pleats at the back, `pallu` pinned on the shoulder, the fringe to the front. Decorative headscarves are worn on formal occasions.

It is mentionworthy that the recent developments of Karnataka have given rise to many cosmopolitan cities where people come from every parts of the country. Thus western wears are gaining popularity because of their added convenience. However, the traditional Karnataka dresses still continue to be heartily cherished by the Kannadas.