Women have plenty of options when it comes to ethnic wear…from sarees to anarkali to lehengas, they are spoilt for choice.
Women have plenty of options when it comes to ethnic wear…from sarees to anarkali to lehengas, they are spoilt for choice. But their male counterparts have to resort to the tried and tested for most traditional event. That’s just not fair, is it? We have drummed up a list of the hottest ethnic trends for men this season to wear to a wedding, sangeet, reception or celebrations. Take a look:
Angrakha:
From the cultural melting point of Rajasthan comes this ancient Indian cut called the ‘Angrakha’. It’s an elegant mesh of Mughal designs and Rajashtani craftsmanship where a long-sleeved V-neck kurta is worn with overlapping panels. You can choose an Angrakha style with bejewelled piping and motifs for a wedding, while you can keep it classy in a dark colour for simple occasions. While this style looks grand in almost every colour, try it out in antique gold with purple churidar and copper-purple piping on the sleeves for that Maharaja-esque feel!
Tip: Go for a sombre angrakha and bring out the pop via your churidar, collar lapels or mojris. Opt for in-trend colours like purple, coral, maroon, midnight blue and so on.
Bandhgala:
You just can’t go wrong with a classic Bandhgala paired with a Jodhpurs. If the fall of the top is flattering then you have the sexiest piece of clothing in your wardrobe! Bandhgalas or kurtas with a closed top and fine detailing on the collar is one of the most popular ethnic wear trends this season. Also known as the prince suit, these can be worn with churidar, Jodhpurs and dhoti-pants. While the rule has always been to match the kurta with the bottom, more and more men are experimenting with contrasts and colour blocking.
Tip: Wear a Bandhgala kurta in black and pair it with a Jodhpur of the same colour. Break the monotony of the dark tone by wearing shoes and pocket square in daring colours that will complement your otherwise dull colours well. If you’re the groom, go for muted gold mojris with bright red beads and orange-gold pocket square. Yes, get set to give your wife-to-be a bit of a complex!
Achkan:
One of the most elegant sherwani types from the North is this Persian-Indi style called the ‘Achkan’. It’s basically a long-sleeved coat-like kurta that’s without a lining. It falls just at the knees and is a fusion of the British frock and Persian Chapkan, mainly worn by the royals of the North. Unlike a traditional Sherwani that’s accompanied by a stole, the achkan comes with fierce collars and a stiff coat-like kurta, so it doesn’t require a chunni on it.
Tip: Since the Achkan are made of a light fabric, go for hand-made designs and embroidery so that they look classy at occasions. Pair your embroidered Achkan with a plain churidar and Punjabi jutis.
Indo-Western :
As the name rightly says, this style combines the elegance of western wear with the beauty of Indian aesthetics. Short, coat-like kurtas with a quirky collar is paired with traditional dhoti-pants, balloon churidars for a stylish outing. Men who are not much into traditional wear can go for this style when attending a wedding. If you’re the groom, opt for a beige kurta that’s short, almost like your suit coat and pair it with printed dhoti pants in gold and brown. The colourful pants will offset the dullness of your beige kurta like no other! But choose your footwear from the same colour family, else it’ll tunr out to be a case of ‘too much’.
Tip: Wear a black coat-like kurta that falls well above your knees and pair it with a mahogany or brown dhoti-pants. These two rich shades will make you the highlight of the evening for sure.
Readymade Dhoti-Kurta
You need not worry about your dhoti falling off when wear this fun combination to wedding and events. As the ready-made dhoti is just like dhoti-pants with a more traditional fall and look. A long kurta is paired with traditional dhoti and sometimes, a simple stole. If you want to give this a quirky twist, opt for a kurta that has no side-cuts. The fit of the kurta will be more snug and it will look chic against your flowing dhoti.
Tip: You have to play up your dhoti more than your kurta, so keep the latter simple and classy. But opt for intricate and exquisite designs while choosing the dhoti and make sure to try daring colours like magenta, deep purple, leaf green and silver to make your look pop.
It’s important to feel good to carry off these outfits. So, be happy and confidently strut your stuff in these!
