What are the trends that grooms can try out in winter weddings?

Winter weddings are all the more fun. Have fun with layering, while keeping it classy. Keep the silhouettes classic and elegant with a great fit, and carry a Kani shawl or a Jamawar to complete the look. No broaches or shiny objects, less is always more.

I want to wear darker shades for my wedding. What would you recommend?

Black is a classic, always has been, and always will be. Experiment with textures, self on self, bits of black zari, and always have something that keeps elegant and understated.

For my friend’s wedding, I wish to wear printed kurtas. In what ways should I style them?

No way is better than the classic, but you can have fun with the kurta lengths. Get some height but shorten the kurta. Play around with fabrics. Something cool, something different. Also, flower power is in, big time. Use that.

Would you recommend embossed prints for the wedding season? If yes, in what ways can it be included?

I don’t recommend embossed prints. Less is more — embossing and then printing on the embossed lines is a no-no.

According to you, how can men include western jewellery while wearing festive looks?

I’m a jewellery fanatic. I love wearing a simple yet easy elegant bracelet, maybe in a neutral colour. Also, I’m a big fan of cufflinks, so incorporate cuff links with your kurta cuffs. It looks fly.

I wish to invest in a good pair of wedding footwear that will go for all occasions. What would you recommend?

I wouldn’t recommend a single pair, but maybe two. Split it between a pair for the day and a pair for the night. Nice black shoes with a heel (not driving shoes) and maybe a pair of modern mojris for the day in a light shade.

Sneakers with kurtas/sherwanis are trending. How can I wear them without overdoing it or looking out of place?

It’s a trend, it’s cool and I like it. Why not? Let’s keep things fun. Don’t overdo it with too many colours and if your sneakers do have colour, try complimenting it with a part of your outfit.

For my pre-wedding celebrations, I wish to do something different than the usual. As a designer, what would you recommend?

I would recommend finding something that resonates with you. It could be a colour, a fabric, or even where you’re from. Amalgamate it for you. There’s no one more original than one’s self, and then come sit with me, and we’ll design something fun.

As groomsmen, what colours can be opted to match with the groom?

I think you need to compliment the groom, not match. I have been a fan of ivory my whole life. It’s so understated, and makes everyone look like a million bucks. Just keep it classy with a simple handloom chanderi or a geometric banarasi weave.

In what ways are grooms making an effort to dress up compared to two decades ago?

In certain areas, tradition is paramount, so it hasn’t changed much. But now it’s all about creating a story for the function. It’s definitely more adventurous and fun, and men now are okay with experimenting. So, from silhouettes like Indo-western to a fun pocket square. It’s all fair game now.

Images: Arjan Dugal