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The ultimate Indian menswear glossary

Image: Tarun Tahiliani

Image: Tarun Tahiliani

Indian menswear has come a long way. From being being limited to basic kurta sets to fashion-forward styles today, the millennial Indian man is just as stylish as his female counterpart. And if terminology has you confused every now and then, we break down key silhouettes and what they mean!

Image: SVA

Image: SVA

Bandi: A sleeveless jacket, usually donned on a kurta. It is also popularly known as the Nehru jacket, owing to Jawaharlal Nehru’s penchant for them. Bandis can spruce a casual outfit with flair, and are apt for pre wedding events like the haldi, mehendi and sangeet. You can even throw them on over a kurta shirt and denims.

Image: SS Homme

Image: SS Homme

Bandhgala: Tracing its roots to Rajasthan, the bandhgala literally means ‘closed neck’. The Indian counterpart of formal black-tie, this homegrown silhouette has also found its way into the line-ups of international brands like Ermenegildo Zegna.

Image: Raghavendra Rathore

Image: Raghavendra Rathore

Sherwani: The centuries-old sherwani has been popular in Turkish, Persian and Mughal cultures all through history. The simple yet elegant construction is a knee-length coat buttoning up to the neck, worn with churidaars or salwars. It’s often the choice of the groom, but a solid-coloured sherwani will not be amiss on a groomsman either.

Image: Anita Dongre

Image: Anita Dongre

Jodhpuri pants: Jodhpuris, as the name suggests, originated in Jodhpur, and were popularised during the British Raj. Jodhpuri breeches start with a flare and taper towards the bottom. These trousers can be paired with a shirt, kurta and bandi or a bandhgala.

Cowl kurtas: Making the traditional kurta suave are cowl kurtas which add a dose of draped drama to a same ol’ look. Style your cowl kurta with slim trousers or churidaars. Depending on the drape, it can be worn with a bandi or a statement brooch.

Image: Shantanu & Nikhil

Image: Shantanu & Nikhil

Shop traditional wear essentials here