The summer wedding season is already here. And before you know it, the festive season will be followed by the big, Indian wedding season. So, if you have many events to attend in the upcoming months, you’d better start selecting your outfits now. This article is mainly focused on the ultimate guide to men’s ethnic and traditional wear.
Guide to Men’s Ethnic and Traditional Wear
When it comes to traditional outfits, specially kurta sets for men, India has a lot to offer. From the silk veshti-mundu in the South to handloom dhoti-kurta in the East and sherwani-kurta in the North, there are immense possibilities with traditional Indian outfits for men as there are for women.
And if you’re someone who loves to dress for the occasion and not just show up in a basic jeans-and-tee everywhere, this article is for you. Read on to know the beautiful variety of Indian traditional wear that you can incorporate into your wardrobe and ace your traditional avatars with ease.
A Handcrafted Chikankari Kurta
Whenever you think of an elegant kurta-pajama set for men, the first thing that comes to mind is a pristine white handcrafted Chikankari kurta. An embroidery technique believed to have come to India during the Mughal era from Persia, the Chikankari embroidery is symbolic of royalty and a luxurious piece of clothing to own as a part of your kurta collection.
The best thing about a Chikankari kurta is that you can wear it to any occasion— be it a morning puja at home or your best friend’s Haldi party, a regal Chikankari kurta promises to shine everywhere. You can also team it up with a pair of jeans for a more casual look.
A Smart Achkan Sherwani
An understated but elegant achkan is perhaps every man’s favorite, who loves to keep it simple yet striking and fashionable. An achkan is a type of bandhgala knee-length jacket that once again traveled from Persia to India in the late 18th century. You can go for a regal and bejeweled zardosi achkan in rich and dark hues or may choose to keep it subtle in pastel shades with hand embroidery all over for a more understated look.
A Sherwani for the Bollywood Buff
If you live and breathe Bollywood, your traditional wardrobe can never be complete without a sherwani kurta set for men, can it? Bejeweled and woven in the finest of silks, sherwani as a garment was popularized by Muslim lords and nobles from the Persian and Turk origins in the Delhi Sultanate. Later, it was adopted as a European-style courtroom dress in the early 19th century. Sherwanis are, till today, looked upon as royal wear and are worn mostly by Indian grooms (especially from Northern India) with a churidar or silk dhotis.
If you have your BFF’s wedding to attend, you can go for a striking sherwani in offbeat grey or black, teaming it up with a dhoti and mojaris.
Mundu and Silk Shirt for the Win
All set to attend your friend’s wedding in Tamil Nadu or Kerala? Why don’t you surprise your friend by wearing the traditional mundu or veshti with a smart handloom shirt? Both mundu and veshti are similar types of unstitched cloth (akin to a dhoti) worn on the lower part of the body. They are generally white (though orange and black are also prevalent but for regular use) and come with borders of varied colors. However, a veshti/mundu with traditional golden borders might be more apt if you’re wearing it for a wedding or a puja. You can team the garment with short-sleeved solid handloom cotton or silk shirts for a more relaxed and traditional look.
A Nehru Jacket for a More Formal Look
If you’re someone whose work demands traditional outfits often or don’t like full-on traditional looks for occasions and events, having a smart indo-western jacket in your wardrobe may do the trick. You don’t have to invest in pajamas or dhotis and can elegantly wear these with your formal pleated trousers and polished oxfords. Adding an elegant pocket square will enhance the appeal of your entire look.
Wrapping up
So, there it is. Your ultimate guide to crack the kurta-pajama code for the upcoming festive and wedding seasons. While you know about all the must-have kurtas and bottoms, make sure you always have at least a pair each of leather flats, ornate moccasins, and smart oxfords to keep your entire look prim and proper. An elegant pocket square, a smartwatch (and not a smartwatch), and brooches (optional) are also great add-ons to keep your look regal and elegant.
Always remember that in the case of outfits, it’s not how much you own but how elegantly and differently you can style your outfits to give them a new definition each time.