Dress like a desi boy

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It’s time to rock the Indian look! Take your pick from sherwani suits, kurta-pajamas, or if you are adventurous enough, a dhoti/veshti/lungi. The modern Indian man may love his denims, but there’s nothing like a traditional outfit to transform you.

Musician Raghu Dixit is well-known for his colourful costumes. “My lungi is part of my on-stage persona,” says the singer. But his colourful lungis, worn under short kurtas, are not just a costume. “What we wear represents who we are and where we come from. My own bandmates protested initially, but once they got to know the comfort of cotton lungis, they were converted. It also represents our vibrant, happy folk music.”
Commenting on the perception of traditional clothes, Raghu says, “I think youngsters today are realising that their culture is cool. I was made fun of in college for my clothes. Jeans were the coolest thing back then but now, more youngsters are wearing Indian clothes in khadi, cotton and silks.”
Model Karan Ambardar seconds Raghu, saying, “I don’t find Indian clothes uncomfortable at all. I’m most comfortable in a kurta-pajama and I like to dress up in traditional dhoti-kurta for festivals, especially Diwali.” Among his favourite designers for ethnic wear, he names Raghavendra Rathore and Sabyasachi Mukherjee.
Actor Aamir Ali admits he finds ethnic attire a little troublesome. “I’m more of a jeans and T-shirt kind of guy. I wear traditional clothes once in a while, but I prefer simple outfits like a pathan suit.”
For those who are apprehensive about ethnic outfits, designer Anand Kabra has a solution: “The only reason why some outfits like the dhoti are becoming obsolete is because it’s cumbersome to drape, pleat, tuck etc. But Indian designers have modernised it and created trousers inspired by the silhouette.”
Raghu reveals that even his lungis are fastened with velcro and a belt, so there’s no chance of a wardrobe malfunction.
Anand adds, “I think if Indian women can wear the sari with such effortless grace, then we can surely wear our traditional clothes as well.”