With temperatures rising and nature in full bloom, summer has announced its arrival. With summer comes weddings and celebrations. Celebrity weddings and their mood boards only add to the vibe, and it’s not just the grooms that are setting #ootdgoals; the wedding party is equally on board the style wagon. Designer Kunal Rawal feels it is important to dress for the occasion, so it is crucial that you keep the theme and the timing of the event to help determine the colour, cut, hem, and embroidery of your look.
“I think it’s important to have fun with your silhouettes. I personally take versatile separates that I then put together to create a look that helps me express myself; so I would recommend not going for a mannequin look, and instead, buying different pieces that you can style yourself with to amplify your personality. This will help you create more fun shapes,and will help you stand out from the rest. I think it’s important to pick pieces that are versatile so you can multipurpose them for occasion wear as well as for a night out. So pick transitional looks, they always offer you a bang for your buck,” he explains.
So how does one go about putting this together? Here’s a style guide to help you out:
PRE-WEDDING FESTIVITIES
Occasion: Sangeet
What to wear: “After a long period of gloom, weddings are finally back, and the mood for men’s fashion this wedding season is fun, experimental, and colourful. Bright colours like emerald, purple, navy blue, and yellow will be trending. Print on print for men’s bundi sets and kurta pyjamas also work. Bandhgalas with jodhpuri pants or even a simple linen kurta pyjama works. Men should definitely try experimenting with jewellery — a broach or a neckpiece would stand out. Footwear like sneakers, roman sandals, brogues, and moccasins could work instead of traditional formal shoes or juttis. Scarves could be a nice touch too, for example, pairing kurtas or sherwanis with dupattas as they did in the early 2000s. Even a really cool cross-body or men’s wristlet could be interesting, especially since it also doubles as utility wear and is a more convenient way to store their money and other items,” recommends designer Payal Singhal.
Occasion: Mehendi
What to wear: “For the mehendi, one should opt for well-fitted corsets, drape cowl pants, and kalamkari-printed kurtas that are currently a trend for the season. My favourite colour hues to try for a summer wedding would be shades of ivory, mustard, and the hues of dry henna. Another trend that can be experimented with is metallics. When paired with the right silhouettes, worn as a jacket, or well- fitted sherwani, metallics are an effortless style statement. That said, you can also opt for a basic white kurta, which has a versatility of its own. It can act as casual day wear for an afternoon sit-down, and, when paired with a well-draped shawl or printed Nehru jacket, transform into an ethnic evening ensemble,” suggests designer Punit Balana.
PARTIES
Occasion: Cocktail party
What to wear: “Keeping in mind, as a best man you will be doing some of the heavy lifting, and your best friend’s cocktail is one event where we feel comfort is at the forefront of every decision. Since the function involves a lot of movement and dance, we highly recommend a deconstructed sherwani because it offers a higher level of comfort. For an evening cocktail event, the suggestion would be to play with colours like midnight blue, aubergine, purple, and mushroom. I personally love playing with military tones for an evening embellished look such as charcoal and olive. You can finish your look with slim breech pants and a comfortable pair of low-top lace ups,” suggests Rawal.
THE BIG DAY
Occasion: Wedding
What to wear: “Go for a smart classic insignia-buttoned bandhgala, paired with tapered dark denim or pants in the same fabric, a dash of Hermès Eau Intense, and a crisp contrasting shirt and charcoal colour shoes. Go for colours that you are comfortable in with minimum fuss, and those that are a good cut can be highlighted,” opines designer Raghavendra Rathore. Another option would be to opt for a deconstructed sherwani. It works well because they look like sherwanis, but offer you the comfort of a sleeveless jacket, as there is a break at the armhole, offering you a wider range of movement. About accessories, Rawal says, “If you want to add another element, I would recommend taking the help of the designer so they can help pick pieces that will complement your look rather than take away from it. You can finish the look with a clean and sharp piece of footwear, which is the best accessory one can add to an Indian look.”
THE AFTER-PARTY
Occasion: Reception
What to wear: “Something subtle and sober to blend in rather than stick out, like a classic bandhgala jacket or a suit. If you wish to opt for an indo-western look, a classic bandhgala paired with the jodhpuri breeches will do the job,” opines Rathore.
Rawal adds, “Go for colours that you won’t usually find on occasion wear. Play with slightly unexpected colours. Choose texture like embroidery and micro motifs. I think micro motifs are easily repeatable and can be multi-purposed easily, so go for micro motifs so that you can repeat a look by styling it a different way.”
