Your big day’s coming up and you’re a 100 percent clueless about what to wear? You’re not alone. A lot of men face the same dilemma when they feel pressured to dress right for a wedding or a special occasion.

Don’t be the sidelined groom at your wedding! While the bride deserves all the attention, carve a little niche for yourself as well. Make sure your outfit is well-tailored and fit to size. For something as important as your wedding day, off-the-rack outfits just don’t cut it. It is absolutely crucial to pick the right fabric and the right colour if you’re getting your suit or sherwani tailored. Here are a few handy guidelines:

A Pre-Wedding Function deserves as much attention as the wedding itself. Nehru jackets are a classic choice to be worn over kurtas and pyjamas, while slightly more casual suits are appropriate as well. Go for light, easy-on-the-eyes colours while making your darker accessories (such as a pocket square or socks) pop.

Wool and Super Wool are the two most popular choices for suit fabrics. (See Suited Booted.) The lighter the fabric, the more expensive it is likely to be. Wool is lightweight and easy to maintain at the same time and, most importantly, it is likely to last you years. The great thing about wool-blended fabrics is that they are springy and tend to regain their shape when hung in a closet. A well-tailored suit is the mark of a refined man, so make sure your suits, shirts and pants fit you well, whatever the fabric may be.

Sherwanis Get Complicated when compared to suits as there are a number of fabrics and styles to choose from. Some of the most popular styles include the achkan sherwani, the royal Mughal-inspired chipkan sherwani, the Jodhpuri sherwani (with its horse-ridingpants- style bottoms) and the more modern Indo-Western sherwani (with a trench-coat style jacket that pairs with churidar bottoms).

You may pick between a wool blend, brocade, silk or velvet lining for your sherwanis. Polyester or rayon too may be chosen—at a pinch. Just make sure you pick a lining that is soft and durable.

For the wedding, pick a sherwani or suit in a rich fabric such as silk, super wool or velvet.

Pick your suit or sherwani in a colour that suits your skin tone best. Usually, lighter skin tones tend to take well to darker colours, while wheatish or darker skin tones work well with pastels and lighter shades. If you’re still not sure, while buying a fabric hold it up against your wrist. It helps you imagine what the suit will look like once you’re wearing it. Still confused? Ask for a few swatches to take home and get the opinion of a best friend or your fiancé.

Most Indian skin tones have an orange or yellow undertone and thus, reds, oranges, maroons, blacks and navy blues go very well with them. Once you’ve zeroed in on a colour for outfits for your favourite men, make sure you note down their preferences. It is important to have your groomsmen comfortable at the wedding (they will be running around doing your chores, remember?). While their suits or sherwanis can be tailored to fit them, the fabric needs to be such that it lets them breathe and move freely.
For such occasions, “Super” wool has no rival. It is lightweight, makes movement easy and it does not crease easily. As a result, you have a bunch of sharp men standing by you as you take the vows.

If you’re scrimping on budgets, even cotton sherwanis and suits are a great option. Throw on sleeveless jackets and matching pocket squares, and you have well groomed men to back you.

With autumn and winter come a flurry of festivals. And with the big Indian family and friend circles that all of us are part of, looking good may get a mite stressful but it’s imperative! However, festive dressing doesn’t have to be limited to done to death usuals, and those couldn’t-think-of-anything-better suits. And no, it’s
not the same as dressing for a wedding. Festival time is the best to experiment with your look and to ditch the idea of playing it safe. Go ahead, mix, match, try new things. Pull out the stops!

Experiment with colours and cuts if you will, but keep in mind what suits you and how you can up your style game a notch. You’ve got to pick the right fit for your body type. No one wants to look like they’ve put on a suit, pants or a shirt that is one size too big or a couple of sizes too small. If you’re of a lean build, go for fitted pants and experiment with double breasted blazers. You can even do a bandgala if you’re looking for a more ethnic style. Wool blends work really well with Indian ethnic wear and can be trimmed with satin on the edges as well. If you’re more on the bulkier side, pick suits that are tailored well but avoid skinny fits and always go for darker colours. Opt for straighter cuts and fabrics that stretch (wool blends again).
A printed blazer sets you

Add a little drama to your look by introducing pops of colour here and there. Pastels are also great for a Diwali cards party; a bow-tie, suspenders or pocket square with your sherwani can be vital for a ‘different’ look. And you can’t go wrong in this printed ensemble (left) paired with a plain bandi. For Diwali, make sure your ‘shawl’ contrasts the colours on your sherwani. Or experiment by adding a printed blazer over your plain, white cotton kurta and pyjama. A classic Christmas look that all body types can pull off is a long trench-style blazer thrown over a shirt, tie and jacket.
art and makes a sartorial

Festive dressing is more easy to experiment with. So go ahead, indulge yourself—have fun… Mix up Indian and Western ensembles, wear prints, let yourself go!