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A Sherwani is One Intriguing & Versatile Piece of Clothing!

Source shutterstock.com l Wedding sherwani

Sherwani, a sort of a flared long coat, is the ethnic dress of choice for men across the entire Indian sub-continent. It is worn on formal occasions and reflects a sense of royalty, elegance and masculine style. A sherwani is the most popular wedding dress in India. It is typically worn over a kurta and teamed up with a churidar pyjama, salwar, dhoti or breeches as the lower garment. A set of matching mojris (jootis or embroidered ethnic shoes), a safa (turban) and a scarf draped on one shoulder completes the wedding look of a groom.

The sherwani has its origins in central Asia, more specifically Turkey and Persia. It was first seen in the princely state of Awadh in the early 19th century. Before that, Indian men chose to wear an angarkha as a formal dress which evolved into two ethnic dresses with time – the sherwani and the achkan. The main difference between the two is that an achkan is a knee-length coat sporting a tighter fit whereas a sherwani is a long coat with a more relaxed flared fit from the waist down.

A sherwani is not everyday wear and adorns the Indian male magnificently on special occasions like a wedding, festivals, family get-togethers, cultural events, religious functions and ceremonies, etc. It comes in a variety of fabrics, colours and designs. The sherwani meant for a groom is crafted from silk, brocade, terry wool, velvet and features intricate artwork elements like beads, mirrors, sequins and embroidery. The most popular forms of embroidery used are – Chikankari, Kashidakari, Kashmiri, Zardozi, Phulkari, Jaal and Kantha.

Points to Consider While Buying a Sherwani

Quality of the Fabric

Source shutterstock.com l Fabric quality

This is one of the essential aspects that you need to consider. When you are selecting a sherwani for your wedding, you might hear a lot of suggestions – you will wear the sherwani very rarely, you can spend the money elsewhere, everyone only looks at the bride in a marriage, etc. Don’t listen to any of it. It is your marriage (a once in a lifetime occasion), and you need to look as radiant as the bride. You should choose a sherwani with a high-quality fabric (preferably brocade or silk) with heavy embroidery and embellishments. Your sherwani should be stylish, elegant, classy, and something that makes you stand out in the crowd so that all the guests can identify the groom from afar. You should not end up looking like the groom’s brother because of a cheap low-quality sherwani and feel miserable throughout your own wedding!

Fitting of the Sherwani

Source shutterstock.com l Fitting the sherwani

Once you have finalised the quality of the sherwani, you need to take great care about its fitting. An Indian wedding is not a single ceremony affair; there are several ceremonies and a lot of movement involved – you need to ride a horse, stand on the stage, sit on the throne, sit on the ground in the mandap, have dinner on the table, play games with the bride and sometimes, even dance. Consequently, the fit of your sherwani should be such that it should neither be too tight which creates discomfort in the movement of your limbs nor should it be loose and ill-fitting which does not do justice to your well-toned muscular body achieved after spending so many hours in the gym. Your sherwani needs to be just the right fit which accentuates your height and body.

The Bottom and Other Accessories

Source shutterstock.com l Sherwani accesories

Once you have decided on the sherwani, you need to pick up the right lower garment and other accessories. You can go in for a churidar pyjama or a dhoti or Jodhpur breeches. The colour of the lower garment should complement the sherwani. You also need to choose and select the right footwear (jooti or mojris), turban (safa), scarf and any other accessories (like a sword, necklace, brooch, etc.) which highlight your masculinity. All the accessories should be in complete synchronisation and compliment each other. You need to look like a prince, and your elegance should not be compromised by a poorly chosen accessory. At the same time, your accessories and lower garment should not make you feel uncomfortable during the wedding, after all, you will be wearing it for a long time.

Pattern and Colour

Source shutterstock.com l Sherwani pattern and color

Sherwanis come in various designs, patterns, colours and trends. You should do meticulous research of the latest trends in sherwanis and only then decide which design and pattern would suit your skin tone and body type the best. For example, if you are short and thin, you should go with padded shoulders which will give you a more well-built appearance. If your skin tone is dark, avoid brighter shades. If you are healthy, you should avoid large patterns. It is always prudent to seek the advice of a professional when deciding the style and pattern of the sherwani. A classic colour which never goes out of fashion is always a safe choice.

Synchronising the Colours with Your Bride's Lehenga

Source zohaibali.co.uk l Bride couple

In the 21st century when everyone aspires to have “The Big Fat Wedding”, where even the smallest of ceremonies are rehearsed and choreographed under the expert guidance of professional event managers and wedding planners, to make them look perfect, you cannot take chances with the actual wedding ceremony. The groom and the bride should look magnificent together, like a match made in heaven, not only in the actual ceremony but also in the images and videos which you will be sharing in your social circle for a long, long time. You can speak to the bride about the colour and pattern of her bridal lehenga and then decide the sherwani which will suit best. You can also choose to do your marriage shopping together so that you get the advantage of each other’s opinion on what will look glorious on both of you.

Top-10 Sherwani Designs for the Groom in 2020

1. Midnight Blue Heavy Embroidered Sherwani

Source manyavar.com l Midnight Blue Heavy Embroidered Sherwani

Manyavar has created a name for itself as one of the topmost ethnic menswear brands in the country featuring some of the biggest names in Bollywood as its brand ambassadors. This exquisite heavily embroidered sherwani in deep blue will make you stand out in the crowd. The sherwani is crafted of self-design jacquard material with heavy all-over embroidery with gold thread. The neck and sleeves are embellished with intricate zari work and beads. The looks of awe and delight from your guests are assured once you dawn this sherwani on your marriage. This designer sherwani comes with a glazed blue churidar bottom for only ₹ 16,999 on Manyavar. To complete your look, you can pair this sherwani with a yellow brooch (₹ 1,499.00), a necklace (₹ 1,999.00), a fawn bandana/scarf (₹ 1,999.00) and a pair of blue jootis (₹ 1,299.00).

2. Hand Embroidered Art Silk Sherwani in Beige

Source utsavfashion.com l Hand Embroidered Art Silk Sherwani in Beige

Utsav Fashion has been creating high-quality and trendy ethnic menswear and womenswear for two decades. This magnificent princely sherwani is of beige colour, made from art silk jacquard material. The neck and sleeves feature exquisite hand embroidery using beads, zari, stones and patch border work. It is accompanied by a velvet maroon coloured dhoti pants and is available on Utsav Fashion for ₹ 19,160. This sherwani is undoubtedly going to make you look like a prince at your wedding.

3. Lucknowi Sherwani - Pista Green

Source azafashions.com l Lucknowi Sherwani - Pista Green

Aza is a fashion brand which works with top established fashion designers like Manish Malhotra, Anita Dongre, etc. as well as nurtures new and upcoming talent. Founded in 2005, Aza has six boutique stores across Mumbai and Delhi, in addition to its online presence. This beautiful Lucknowi Sherwani in pista green is a creation of designer Arihant Rai Sinha. The material used is poly silk, and the sherwani features a mandarin collar, a buttoned front and intricate Lucknowi floral motif work all-over in white. The sherwani is accompanied by gold dhoti pants and an embroidered dupatta. You can buy this unique set from azafashions.com for ₹ 39,500.

4. Silk Sherwani in Red and Maroon

Source indianweddingsaree.com l Silk Sherwani in Red and Maroon

For those of you who love vibrant colours, this red and maroon sherwani from Indian Wedding Saree is undoubtedly going to delight you. Crafted from silk, this red and maroon sherwani with a mandarin collar features heavy all-over embroidery, zardozi and zari work in gold, giving it a regal look fit for a groom. The sherwani is accompanied with a matching pyjama in gold, and you can order the complete set online on Indian Wedding Saree for ₹ 33,943.

5. Rohit Bal Wedding Sherwani 2020 - Ivory

Source rohitbal.com l Rohit Bal Wedding Sherwani 2020 - Ivory

Rohit Bal is an institution in fashion design and a world-renowned fashion designer for almost three decades. His designs are known for meticulous attention to detail, handcrafted perfection and an uncommon sense of aesthetics. He has launched his Wedding Sherwani 2020 Collection which showcases the top sherwani designs keeping the latest trends in mind. This sherwani from the same collection is created from Chanderi silk in a light beige colour with intricate embroidery, the likes of which you would have never seen before. The sherwani also features ivory silk lining on the neck and the sleeves. Priced at ₹ 2,75,000, the sherwani it is available on rohitbal.com. This breath-taking sherwani is going to be a showstopper on your wedding day and leave everyone impressed with your impeccable taste.

6. Benzer Raw Silk - Green

Source benzerworld.com l Benzer Raw Silk - Green

Benzer opened its first store in 1982 and is considered the oldest fashion retail store in the country. The brand is known for exquisite ethnic, indo-western formal, casual menswear and bridalwear. This beautiful raw silk sherwani is crafted in a unique bottle green colour and features a buttoned front and heavy gold embroidery detailing all-over. The sherwani is sure to make you stand out in the crowd. Priced at ₹ 59,900, you can order this creation from Benzer.

7. Diwan Saheb Embroidered Sherwani - Light Peach

Source diwansaheb.com l Diwan Saheb Embroidered Sherwani - Light Peach

Diwan Saheb is another premium menswear brand in India. Founded in 1957 it is known for superior quality fabric, intricate finish and designs which are truly classic and timeless. They have been outfitting corporate honchos and celebrities for decades, and their name is synonymous with high-class luxury haute couture. This light peach sherwani features intricate all-over embroidery. It is worn with its matching kurta, churidar pyjama, jootis and a velvet stole in a different colour which complements the sherwani. You can order the entire package from diwansaheb.com for ₹ 79,850.

8. Samyakk Velvet Zari Embroidered Sherwani - Maroon & Gold

Source samyakk.com l Samyakk Velvet Zari Embroidered Sherwani - Maroon & Gold

Samyakk is a fashion brand based out of Bengaluru. Founded in 2006, it started operations with premium womenswear and gradually diversified into premium menswear. It is known for its high-quality, sophistication and timeless designs. This is a maroon velvet sherwani (the only velvet sherwani in our collection) with intricate zari work using gold thread. The sherwani features a mandarin collar with slits at the side and front. It is accompanied with colour contrasted beige churidar crafted from cotton silk to complete the regal look. You can buy this sherwani set from Samyakk for ₹ 31,900.

9. Traditional Sherwani with Stone Work - Beige

Source manyavar.com l Traditional Sherwani with Stone Work - Beige

Another beautiful creation from Manyavar, this self-design brocade sherwani comes in a fawn shade with maroon detailing. The neck and a patch on both the sleeves feature exquisite stonework further enhancing the richness of the sherwani. The sherwani is accompanied with a maroon colour churidar, and you can order it for ₹ 16,999 on Manyavar. To complete your look, you can also contemplate buying cream and gold coloured jootis (₹ 899.00), a yellow brooch (₹ 1,499.00), a beige pocket square (₹ 399.00) and a round neck cream colour kurta (₹ 999.00).

10. Tarun Tahiliani Embroidered Sherwani - Peach

Source azafashions.com l Tarun Tahiliani Embroidered Sherwani - Peach

Tarun Tahiliani is another fashion designer of international repute. Founded in 1995, Tarun Tahiliani Design Studio creations are known to highlight India’s deep-rooted cultural heritage, creativity and impeccable craftsmanship. This rust coloured sherwani set includes a sleeveless sherwani with all-over jaal work: a matching full sleeves kurta and dhoti pants. The sherwani features a mandarin collar, side slits and is created from Katan silk. The front has a concealed placket design. You can order this sherwani set from azafashions.com for ₹ 1,24,900.

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From our editorial team

Choosing the Right Accessories Go a Long Way in Enhancing Your Overall Looks!

Once you have decided to wear a sherwani at your wedding, there are certain factors that you should keep in mind when buying a sherwani for yourself such as getting the right accessories including shoes (jooti), turban, among other things. After all, you don’t get married every day, and even a small oversight can create a disaster on that most important day of your life.