As Indian as it can get...

Style Quotient

However, with the numbers of brands and designs emerging today, men probably have as much variety in fashion as women. Popular designer Sharbari Datta, who specialises in designing for men, elaborates on the current trends in the contemporary ethnic wear for men.

“Contemporary Indian wear can be Western, Oriental or fusion in style,” says Sharbari. “Men wear Western clothes most of the time for professional and personal reasons.

Though Western clothes are smart, comfortable, convenient and business-like, men must have a good collection of ethnic wear as well. Their wardrobe should have a good collection of sherwanis, silk/cotton ‘kurtas’, churidaar pajamas/dhotis, sarongs, salwar, loose pajamas, bandh-galas for special and suitable occasions,” she adds.

According to Sharbari, more than any fabric or garment, the current trend lies in the will to dress up. “Men should be ready to wear all cuts and styles with confidence. They should be bold enough to experiment with everything.” As far as the colours are concerned, she feels there are absolutely no restrictions. “Look at the number of colours in which all the branded shirts are available in the market,” she exclaims.

Underlining the importance of Western and ethnic wear for men, she says, “Of course men must have formal, casual, sports-wear, party-wear etc in their wardrobe. However, ethnic wear is equally important. One should keep in mind for whom, which occasion, what time of the day and year he is dressing up,” she advises. “We are very rich in textile and fabric production in India. We have a vast choice of fabrics — silk, tussar, matka, cotton silk, rayon silk, synthetic fabrics, raw silk, jute, linen and so on. But due to the hot Indian climate, I feel the most comfortable fabric is cotton. One can opt for silk for evening wear and on days when it is not that hot.”

And who says ethnic wear is meant only for festivals and special occasions? “You can look rocking in a party by donning ethnic wear. Sport jackets and tops with florescent colours, flashy and bold designs, brocade bandh-galas, colourful sarongs, silk kurtas with scarfs and shawls, vests and jackets in Banaras silk.”

Men have a variety of accessories to choose from as well. “Tattoos, tribal neck piece, big metal locket, earrings, wrist-band, bandanas, mujris, scarfs, shawls and belts with bold metal buckles look good with Indian clothes.” From the local markets to the malls, Indian outfits are available everywhere. However, Sharbari feels contemporary Indian wear should have a personal touch to it. “It could be colourful, flamboyant or totally understated and muted according to the taste and temperament of the particular person,” she reveals.

Of class and comfort 

Ashok Vasudevan, an engineer and theatre artiste, simply loves Indian clothes and wears them as often as possible. “Firstly, they are very comfortable and secondly, they suit me,” he says. “Besides, the kind of variety that you get in ‘kurtas’ and pajamas, you rarely get in Western outfits,” he adds. In Bangalore, Ashok says ethnic wear is available in a number of stores like Fab India, Khadi Bhandar and Megamart. His love for politics and theatre also makes him opt for Indian wear. “Most of my wardrobe is filled with long, short and super short ‘kurtas’. I also have loose fitting pajamas, ‘churidar’ type pajamas, khadi, sleeveless overcoat and stoles.”