The traditional costumes for Indian men have always been dhoti and kurta made of hand woven cloth, however there were variations with the regional diversification.
The costumes for the traditional men include sherwanis, Churidar Kurtas, Dhotis, Jodhpuris, Angarakhas, Angavastram and Turbans. These traditional costumes have always been a distinct part of India. And everyone identified each other from the costumes they used to wear. The same trend yet continues, the style of dressing up and donning oneself with the traditional attire makes a person stand out in the crowd. At a Rajasthani wedding, it is very common to see the hosts and the men donning typical traditional turbans and heavily embroidered sherwanis.
With the passage of time, the handloom fabric, plain look and simple dressing styles of men have changed vastly. Today men are becoming very fashion conscious especially in urban areas. To adorn their personality there is a fabulous range of formal wear encompassing sherwani suit, jodhpuri, kurta pajama, achkans etc. In rural and semi urban areas men are still adhered to the custom of Dhotis. Nowadays, in order to look stylish and at the same time wish to maintain that cool dude image, men attire the kurta with trendy jeans.
A churidar is a baggy drawstring trouser that bunches up tightly along the lower calf. Worn traditionally with Kameez or Kurta, its name comes from the word Choori meaning bangles. The bunched folds along the bottom half of the calf gives the effect of several bangles worn together. Churidar is a long fitting pyjama worn by the North Indian groom. Churidars are usually fine muslins or cottons, in white color. The traditional churidar is tied with a nara at the waist. A churidar is a perfect accompaniment to long kurtas and sherwanis. According to ladies apparel exporters/wholesalers the short kurtas, cotton churidars and broad salwaar is very much in demand. The short kurta and churidar, and two scarves (one around the neck another on the shoulder) also looks very elegant is in fashion too.
The dhoti is a style of Indian men`s wear. A rectangular piece of cloth, it is wrapped in a complex manner about the waist and legs and is usually white or cream in color, though black and darker hues are often used to create more vivid ensembles. There are more than 60 different ways of wearing it. In northern India, it is worn with a Kurta on top, the combination known simply as "Dhoti Kurta". The dhoti has status as formal wear in most of India, but is less and less popular among men in major metropolises. Nowadays, as opposed to recent decades, for the most part, men shall be dressed in the former style soon.
Angavastram are also pieces of cloth worn during festivals and auspicious events by men in India. This piece, however, was generally wrapped round the waist, more or less in the manner observed on the sculptures of Sanchi, Amaravati, or Nagarjunikonda, by Brahmanic classes when within temple or when actually bowing to the deities therein installed. They are a very ideal gift for elderly people and gift during weddings for bridegrooms etc. Angavastram is available in pure silk as well itself, or along with the matching angavastram draped over the shoulder can wear the cotton handloom dhoti with a zari border.
Jodhpuris are one of the most elegant of Indian men swear. The traditional men swear are designed with lot of embroidery work like phulkari, zardoji and other heavy embroidery works, which are different styles of Indian embroidery that have been handed down from generation to generation. Today, embroidery cannot be looked upon just as a tool of woman`s expression. It has now entered men`s arena also. Sherwani has the timeless appeal, revealing its elegance as wedding attire and attains perfection with the superb fits and rich fabrics, embellished with embroidery inspired by the diverse cultures of India. Sherwani is a long coat-like garment worn by men, very similar to an achkan. It is worn over the Shalwar Kameez. The sherwani coat fits close to the body, fastened in the front with buttons, and extends to slightly below knee-length. Sherwanis are usually embroidered or detailed in some way.
Angharakhas is a variation of the kurta, which ties in the front and is worn with a churidar kurta. Fashion in India has evolved from the over-used angrakhas, choghas, ghaghra-cholis, achkan, sherwani and much more. Indian fashion is alive and vibrant amongst classes and masses; whatever the decade or the century, it is here to stay. Its comfortable, practical and aesthetically beautiful approach has changed with time now to remain modernized in every aspect. Anghrakhas is a variation of the kurta, which ties in the front and is worn with a churidar kurta. There are Angrakhas with hand embroidery too.
In Hindi, an Indian Language, a turban is called a pagdi. The turban is a headdress, of Asian origin, consisting of a long scarf wound round the head or an inner hat. The turban comes in many shapes and sizes and color of turbans vary, with the cloth`s length being up to 45 meters. Early Persians wore a conical cap sometimes encircled by bands of cloth, which may be considered one of the origins of the modern turban.
