Groom Tips
Get Dressed for Engagement Party
The engagement is a big day for you, the groom. A significant
step towards the big day. You and your fiancée-to-be
are going to be the cynosure of all eyes. There won't
be as many invitees present as on your wedding day.
But want to give the occasion the importance it deserves.
So plan your attire for the day and look your charming
best.
You may want to speak to you fiancée-to-be and find
out what she's going to wear so that you can co-ordinate
your outfits. For instance, if she's wearing traditional
attire, you might want to create the complete traditional
look by doing the same. You could wear a western suit,
too. But it won't look as interesting unless she's wearing
a fusion dress or a gown.
Ethnic Wear
Ethnic outfits look elegant and add an air of
mystique. An open Sherwani adds just the right
touch. Or even just a traditional silk kurta and
churidar in ivory or cream with mojri for your
feet. You could opt for Kurtas of varying lengths-
knee length kurtas are very popular now if you
wish to be unconventional, but calf length is
safe if you are not the kurta wearing kinds. A
Churidar should cut longer in length than required
with the excess cuffing at the bottom. The straight
and parallel Pyjamas stiched in a rich fabric
also look very regal.
A classic Sherwani can be worn with jodhpur pants,
pyjamas/ aligadhis or a churidar. Or even a straight
parallel cut pair or trousers. The Bandhgala is
now being considered as a fusion wear thanks to
the popularity of the Guru Suit. Quite similar
in style to the Sherwani, the difference being
that the Bandhgala is of the normal jacket length
with five buttons instead of seven and is worn
with formal western trousers.
Now you are ready to look truly dashing for your
fiancée.
Western Wear
If it's western attire for you and it's not too formal
a ceremony, then you could wear formal shirt and trousers
with maybe, an interesting tie thrown in for effect.
For a more formal do, you could wear a suit and make
it a black-tie affair. Make sure that you are in cool
environs, you don't want your sweat to drip all over
the floor!
Groom Fashion
What is the nattily dressed
groom wearing these days?
The new rule is that there is no rule. Every wedding
is unique, and every groom goes with what he finds most
appealing. The suit, fortunately or unfortunately, is
still the strongest contender for groom wear, but the
colours chosen are what brings the suit to modern times.
According to Kaushik Srimanker, designer, Studio Sinitta,
"Most grooms to be today go for suits with unusual
detailing like round necked, or wide lapelled coats,
to bring an element of uniqueness to the outfit."
Of course, for those who prefer the tried and the tested,
colours like navy and brown will never go out of fashion.
But for those who would rather die than be seen in
these colours, newer alternatives like rust, moss, earth
tones and even for the adventurous, patterned fabrics
in brocade are the choice available. At Zegna, the Italian
suit label, you can custom design your suit in fabrics
straight out of Italy and have a master cutter in Italy
cut your suit. That way, you get the great cut that
distinguishes your suit from the off-the-rack versions
in the malls and the economy of costs that the stitching
in India brings. But it still doesn't come cheap, expect
an average suit to cost around Rs 50,000.
Along with the suit, you need to ensure that your
accessories are eyecatching and not eyesores. Pure silk
or brocade ties with sober yet elegant motifs are the
safest bet. If you need to be a little more flamboyant,
you could go in for a cravat, with a complementary handkerchief
folded appropriately and tucked into your coat breast
pocket. Do get a suit with intricate buttons on the
cuff and the front, they look very elegant and dressy.
If need be you could always ensure that these are buttons
that can be replaced with ordinary brass ones for everyday
use.
If a suit is not your cup of tea, go ethnic. Bandhgalas,
Angarkhas, Kurta Pyjamas, Sherwanis, they're all part
of the look the sartorially inclined groom is sporting
these days. With the advent of the wedding as an indulgence,
most grooms are going all out to look as resplendent
as a prince on their wedding day. At Studio Sinitta,
Kaushik has a selection of bandhgalas with subdued embroidery
down the neck and front for the discretely elegant groom
to sport. Designers this year are predicting the return
to good taste after the sudden splurge towards unbridled
ornamentation. Consequently most designs for the groom
use classic cuts and fits, accentuated with traditional
motifs like the paisley and buti. Most accessories to
this look include a traditional jamevar shawl, a decorated
turban, a bandhni scarf or a traditional patterned scarf,
draped on one shoulder. Do team this look with embroidered
mojris and a bright streak of tilak on the forehead.
After all, when else could you get all out ethnic and
be the star attraction of a gathering?
Male Accessories
As a sartorially inclined groom, you would want to make
sure that every aspect of your look is carefully put together.
Therefore, this quick primer on what your accessories
should be to ensure you look totally coordinated.
- Make sure you keep everything in complementary
colours. Therefore, if your suit is brown, donot
wear a tie that clashes. Keeping shoes, ties
and cravats in coordinated shades makes you
look immediately put together with a great deal
of thought.
- You can always add a dash of colour with your
tie or a shawl (if you're wearing ethnic). Make
sure these don't contrast too loudly with what
your bride will be wearing. Remember there will
be photographs, so you don't want to look like
a patch of sudden colour.
- Do invest in a good pair of cufflinks-preferably
ones with diamante or diamonds (if you can afford
them).
- Your handkerchiefs should be monogrammed with
your initials, it always adds a touch of class.
- Your belt should be a pure leather belt, and
avoid the flashy buckle. Save it for your honeymoon.
Tonight you need to look suave and polished.
- Do get a dress watch. You may not go for the
full gold or diamond number, but a dress watch
will automatically upgrade your look. As a sartorially
inclined groom, you would want to make sure
that every aspect of your look is carefully
put together. Therefore, this quick primer on
what your accessories should be to ensure you
look totally coordinated.
- Do not wear loafers or casuals to your own
wedding reception. Do invest in a pair of formal
oxfords or wingtips if you must. Black is the
safest colour you could chose.
Watches
Every groom becomes a clock-watcher on his wedding
day. Waiting, one presumes, for the moment when
he can bid adieu to the last guest and be with
his new bride. So watch that watch you will be
sporting. It's going to be on display, so be sure
it does not clash with your attire. No sporty,
chunky ones please! You would do well to wear
an elegant watch for the evening. Choose from
a polished stainless steel or gold case, a face
in white may go with your attire better than the
more fashionable blue or black ones. For the strap,
leather may look more sophisticated than steel.
But, some skins are allergic to leather, so be
sensitive to your skin by wearing what suits it
best.
Parlour treatment for men
It's a big day in your life, and you need
to look great too. These days with the trends
moving towards unisex beauty treatments for men
and women, men can also get themselves pampered.
So what do you go in for to ensure that you look
your dashing best? Here's a primer:
- A facial is your must have. Most men neglect
this essential facial treatment, but it is the
one thing that can soothe skin exposed to the
sun. Another important must do is to get blackhead
removals done on the nose.
- A bleach is a great way to instantly get rid
of a tan.
- Tame unruly eyebrows with a natural looking
threading. Don't let the beautician go into
the natural line of the eyebrow as this will
look unnatural.
- Do go in for a manicure and a pedicure. Nothing
is worse than untidy hands and feet. A man is
judged by his well kept hands.
- Regular oil massages can make your hair lustrous
and shiny for the wedding day.
- Do get nose hair trimmed.
- A haircut a week before the wedding, will
allow your new hairstyle to set well in time
for the wedding. And if you hate it, you still
have time to rectify it.
How to ensure your hair behaves?
Managing that unrecalcitrant cowlick can be a
nightmare for most men, especially on the day
when you really want to look your best. And then,
god forbid, you could always have a bad hair day,
just on the day when the entire world and the
photographers decide to make you the focus of
their attention. What can you do to get through
the nightmarish experience and still look smooth
as chocolate in your photographs? Little tricks
and products will get you through.
Do get a haircut atleast a week before the wedding.
This will give your hair time to settle down before
the wedding and in the holy smokes unlikely event
that you hate your cut, you can always do some
damage control before the big day
Get your dandruff under control or don't wear
a dark colour. You don't want flakes on your shoulders
distracting those hugging you on the podium !!!
If your hair is naturally unruly and likely to have a
life of its own, tame it with some great styling products
- L'oreal's Studio Line wet look gel will set the most
disobedient hair and make you look sleek and model like.
The advantage of wet look gelling your hair, is that it
sets your face into focus and makes you look rugged and
masculine. Use this look if you have a square jaw or chiselled
features.
If you would just like to have your
hair behave, use a styling mousse after you wash your
hair and while it is still damp and then blowdry as
normal.
Do not under any circumstances wet gel your hair if
your hair is thinning on the top. You don't want to
look like a grease scalp.
And lastly, this is not the time to go for that golf
ball haircut you've always wanted.
Be classic and simple.
