How to Buy the Perfect Sherwani for Men

The modern groom needs to showcase elegance, power and status when leading his baraat to the wedding ceremony and into the mandap, or onto the stage.

For those few moments before the bride makes her grand entrance to steal the limelight for the rest of the day, all eyes are focused on the groom and his attire.

There can be many pitfalls for a groom in picking the right garments for his wedding.

But fear not as DESIblitz is on hand with a must-read guide to picking the perfect sherwani to impress your guests, your bride and most importantly, those dreaded in-laws!

Colour

First and foremost have a ‘conversation’ about colours with your fiancée before you venture out on your own.

Your sherwani will need to complement the bridal dress, not the other way around.

Be in no doubt that your bride-to-be will already have thought through colour schemes in great detail before she ever laid eyes on you.

The good news is that it has never been a better time for wearing colours away from the traditional white and red.

Turquoise, which was once considered to be a bold colour for a groom, is not considered so daring these days and can be quite a fashionable choice.

Deep purples, oranges and chocolate browns have come onto the scene from India and Pakistan adding to the spectrum of colourful groom outfits.

Basically, anything goes. So be as bold as you can within your ‘agreed’ brief.

Style

You should have total control over this one, and there are plenty of suave styles available thanks to cutting edge designers like Junaid Jamshed, Manish Malhotra and Rohit Bal.

Have some fun and try out different styles to discover what best ‘suits’ you, and be sure to pick something that will make you stand out from the crowd.

Looking to outshine you is that ‘pretty-boy’ overseas cousin looking to attract a bride of his own.

He’ll be flirting with party wear styles like the modern cravat and Indo-western fusion cuts.

These are all worth considering, but be aware that guests can get away with experimenting and not getting it right – you can’t!

The words ‘regal’, ‘royal’ and ‘class’ should always be in the forefront of your mind.

Design

Design will make-or-break your image.

A dynamic range of designs exist, from immersive prints, embossed patterns to various levels of embroidery.

If you are tall and slender, then a lightly coloured sherwani with a larger print will work well.

On the other hand, if that crash diet isn’t going so well and you’re still looking a little tubby, stick with darker colours with smaller patterns to conceal those love handles.

The collar is where everyone’s eyes will immediately gaze to, so make sure to get plenty of bling here.

Don’t forget the pockets, sleeves and back for embroidery if nowhere else. Fashion designer Haré Dhami from Sharons Couture tells DESIblitz:

“Grooms generally don’t like the bling but will have an element of it to complement the bride. The bride always come to us first, then the groom, so most issues are sorted by the time he turns up.”

Remember this is not just your wedding; it is a photoshoot that will forever live in digital HD clouds and will be zoomed in on and shown to your grandchildren.

Material

Invest your hard earned cash in high grade luxury fabrics like premium silks and cottons and velvet.

No matter how cool the patterns and embroideries are, your look will be tainted if the materials are flimsy and crease easily.

Velvet sherwanis are very current but the most expensive. They will, however, provide a powerfully rich and regal look.

It is a misconception that velvet sherwanis cause heat and perspiration even in warmer climates. Most micro-velvet materials are no thicker than a normal suit.

Silk sherwanis are the most comfortable to the extent you may not even need to wear a kurta underneath.

Cotton is the most popular choice allowing for greater embroidery than silk if this is the look you want to pursue.

Fitting

The length of your sherwani will play a big role in your overall look.

Try lengths which finish both above and below the knee taking advice from friends and showroom assistants.

Use shoulder pads if you are tall and slim to fill you out. Above all, stay comfortable as it’s going to be a long day.

Whilst browsing always ask if adjustments can be made. If the length is perfect but the sleeves are too long there may be a resolution.

Wear your sherwani for a full day around the house for a genuine evaluation. Does your sherwani maintain a good shape when you are seated?

This really is your big day to shine so don’t look to play it too simple.

Many guests will be seeing you for the first time so aim to make a good first impression with your new family members.

If you succeed in complimenting each other through your outfits, you will look much better as a harmonised unit than you ever would wearing what’s best only for you.

Choosing a sherwani is a groom’s first step out of bachelorhood.

Express your identity with the consideration of your life partner and you will be ready for the exciting new chapter you are about to embark upon. Good luck grooms!

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