According to traditional belief, Indian marriages were not really so much for the bride and groom, being more fun occasions for the whole family. And, as the cameras, with their popping flash bulbs focused more on the bride, her bridal finery, her mehndi , the setting, decorations, et al, the poor bridegroom might have felt somewhat left out. But be that as it may been in the past, times seem to be fast changing, and with it the differences between generations past and present become more sharply defined. This is especially true for the Indian male.
Dressing up:
Decisions, decisions and more decisions, "From having the advantage of clicking on the web, joining a social club, gym, or going to a popular nightspot in search of his life partner... 'To find a wife to share his life'!
The new Indian male can now also choose from a multifaceted range of designer wear catering to his every imaginable whim, passion and desire. This includes everything; from specially handmade turbans, opulent drapes of the finest woolen pashminas and jamevaars to rest on his shoulders, tailored suits, ethnic garb, a throw back to the natty Nehruvian suit, wefts and warps of twill, brocade, slips of silk woven bandhgalas , sensuous sherwanis , elongated kool kurtas in reshmi fabrics etc.
And, of course, not to miss out on the hand-finished designer jootis made from matching or contrasted fabrics studded with sequenced trim. Obviously, this increase in extravagance doesn't come cheap... and can run into lakhs. However, for those who can afford the indulgence, it's just a case of paisa vasool!
Men's formal wear:
It is worth noting that men's formal wear has just made the all-important foray into the multi crore mainstream men's fashion segment of the Indian markets as recently as the last five to ten years. In the process it has been spiking volumes, sales and marketing portfolios. Gearing up for formal occasions and party time hoopla, the suave Indian man now has a plethora of choices. This year, especially, men's formal wear has reached its zenith in comparison to earlier times, with such global fashion icons such as Armani, Roberto Cavelli, Tommy Hilfiger, among others, setting up their own exclusive outlets in major Indian cities. A clear recognition on their part that the upscale Indian male fashion market segment has come of age.
Today the young and old alike have the opportunity to choose from a multi-tier system consisting of luxury attire from such exclusive world class labels as listed above or pick high-end garments from their Indian counterparts: Rohit Bal, Tarun Tahliani and others. The busy high-heeled Indian on the move can pick classic and incisively-cut suits tailored for the discerning available off the shelf at retail giants Raymonds, Provogue, Lifestyle, West-End, Globus. Individual name brands are also available through franchise houses such as Amarsons, Sheetal, etc., small individual ateliers with a loyal clientele, down to the community tailor and fabric retailers where you can do-it-yourself selection of fabric, pattern, design and perfect fit.
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Where to go:
- Sheetal at Crawford Market has a substantial pret line and formal wear available on line
- Raymonds at Breach Candy offers traditional suiting
- Amarsons at Breach Candy and Linking Road
- Millionaire Stores has Five Outlets from Kemps Corner to Juhu
- Ensemble, a family-owned business specifically traditional Men's Formal Wear at Lions Gate
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Variety is the spice of the male wardrobe:
Never before has Indian men's fashion expressed itself with such vibrancy, color, verve and oodles of chutzpah. Ever so recently it was unheard-of to find the latest, original European fashion collections under one roof in India, with increased accessibility for the luxury retail consumer. Although Mumbai and Delhi don't have the traditional 5th Avenue of the Big Apple, the via Spiaga of Rome, or Rodeo Drive of L.A., both Indian cities boast of pockets of enterprising and lavish establishments such as the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai and Hauz Khas in Delhi. In response to the increased demand, many upscale fashion boutiques have expanded their markets and increased their outlets. From Lucknow to Amritsar and from Delhi to Mumbai, the Indian Male can choose his attire from the limitless range of high profile garments carried by different fashion houses. Accordingly, the price may vary, from an affordable Rs 7,000 to several lakhs!
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