Well-groomed

Manpriya Singh 

Who says grooms have to trail behind? Or be under the shadow of the bride? Amidst much ado about Anushka Sharma and what she wore for her wedding, someone was paying attention to Virat. And his grey socks! Was it to avoid any blisters that his new juttis might give or was it to keep his feet warm in Tuscany weather? After the beautiful bride, finally a few conversations on the dapper groom! At the recently concluded Van Heusen + GQ Fashion Nights, one of the talking points happened to be the modern Indian groom. 

Balancing act

Gaurav Gupta 

Men, take note. He gave the ladies, the saree as we know it. Designer Gaurav Gupta can take a bow for what we call, ‘Saree gown, pre-draped saree or the lehenga saree.’ Having recently launched menswear, there are definitely a lot of things that he’d like to share with the grooms-to-be. 

Talking about trends: We don’t follow any trends, but we hope that what we do catches on as a trend.  But yeah, talking about outfit ideas, men can consider embroidered tuxedos, quilted jackets, very stark white and black looks, a lot of construction detailing; at the same time very subtle, sophisticated yet statement looks. 

Grooms, this is where you go wrong: They tend to either under-dress or over-dress. Either they get too scared of all the women around in their family and everyone’s opinions or they just go for the simplest thing possible. On the other hand there are others who want to do something because they are more vivacious personalities; they end up with a fuchsia sherwani with gold bootis on it! Both the extremes are a bit odd. 

It would be nice if there is a balance of sophisticated construction and intelligent detailing in menswear. 

Some tips to the rescue: Try new looks, gel your hair; grooms can wear a three-piece suit which could go with a white shirt, wear a fitted trouser with the sherwani. Dress up a bit more, dress up at least comparably to how much your bride is dressing up. 

Less is more

Shantanu and Nikhil 

Almost two decades in the industry, the designer duo knows fashion like the back of their hand. Their success goes beyond the countless seasons and several memorable collections they have presented so far. So do their creations. 

Talking about trends: Choose minimalistic color palettes, which allow the ensembles to be more silhouette-centric! Structured trench coat inspired-bandhgalas and long sherwanis teamed with asymmetric drapes, for both men and women, have paved the way for gender queer luxury. For the upcoming season, layered pleating, bold colour-blocking, long-line cape structures, reinterpreted drapes, relaxed silhouettes, aged textures and surface ornamentation techniques are some of the trends to watch out for.

Grooms, this is where you go wrong: Being overtly opulent should be avoided. Remember ‘less is more’. Keep it simple while also experimenting with unique cuts and silhouettes that suit your body type. 

Some style tips to the rescue: Keep your style staples subtle, focus on the accessories— brooches and pocket squares are the right ingredients to add to an otherwise classic ensemble. Avoid over-layering and always team up with a pair of handcrafted shoes. 

Wear for a lifetime

Rajesh Pratap Singh 

Designers’ designer, the Greta Garbo of fashion industry, the man behind the opulence of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Saawariya…there are many ways to introduce Rajesh Pratap Singh. He is known to be quite reticent when it comes to clichéd questions on fashion. But if it his craft you are talking about, he is happy to oblige.  

Talking about trends: Indian weddings are not based on trends; however, new fabric innovations and varied fits of the classic styles are interesting to look at.  Shoulders have to be constructed for classic sherwanis. Unlike global trends, it should be more fitted at the waist. We have seen a trend of shorter sherwanis. However, I predict it’s temporary.

Grooms, this is where you go wrong: They end up looking dressed up in costumes like magicians of yesteryears.  In an attempt to stand out, sometimes it goes horribly wrong.  Excessive embellishments end up looking like the tapestries and ornamentation that were used on royal elephants. It is also environmentally and ethically not correct to wear a garment just once.  Make something that you can wear and enjoy for a lifetime.

Some style tips to the rescue: A unique fabric, a good cut that in particular works for your body type, and lastly comfort is the most important. As for accessories and jewellery, kalgi and buttons look perfect with a turban. 

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