While women in India have several choices for what to wear when they get married, men typically choose between two different garments: sherwanis or jodhpuri suits. They are distinctly different garments, with jodhpuri suits being a bit more “westernized,” similar to the sari-gown for women. Let’s take a look at the differences as well as what some current trends are.

Sherwanis

A sherwani is a long, coat-like garment made with heavy suiting fabrics and lined. It is typically worn in India for formal occasions in winter, especially by those of North Indian descent.  When used as wedding attire—this is common for many Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi grooms—the coats feature very details embroidery and patterns. When men wear them, they may also choose to accompany them with turbans and almost always do so for wedding attire.

Jodhpuri Suits

Jodhpuri suits are a blend of Indian and western styling, and are also known as “prince suits.” It differs from a sherwani in that it is a coat and pair of pants, accompanied by a vest. Typically, these are only worn for special occasions such as weddings and other formal gatherings, making them perfect for both grooms and friends of the bride and groom. The material these are made of can be silk or any other traditional suit material, and the material is lined at the collar and buttons with intricate embroidery, sometimes metallic embroidery. The material can be plain, or it can be jacquard or jamewari. Jodhpuri suits have become a favorite among younger men, as they give a rather royal look to the wearer.

Trends

Currently, the trends for with jodhpuri suits buck tradition. Traditionally with these suits, the trousers match the color of the coat, while the current trend is to wear contrasting-colored trousers. The jackets may also feature more elaborate embellishments such as chains. As for sherwani trends, it’s important not to upstage the bride—while these garments feature embellishments such as embroidery, sequins, beads, and mirrors, men should take care not to look like they are competing with their bride’s elegance.

Indian bridal wear for women presents many options. One popular choice for women to wear is the lehenga choli. The lehenga choli combines a lehenga, which is a long skirt that is embroidered and pleated, with a choli, a midriff-baring top that is tight with a low-cut neckline. In addition to being a wedding favorite, the lehenga choli is popular for other special events as well as festivals.

Traditions

One of the reasons this style of outfit is so frequently chosen for wedding is due to tradition. It is a popular traditional dress in North India and is also the traditional outfit worn for Garba, the most famous festival of Gujarat. Traditional dress is embraced for special events such as these, and because the lehenga choli looks so visually beautiful on whomever wears it, it’s unsurprising that it’s a popular choice for Indian wedding clothing. For women who do not want to wear a wedding sari—either due to the potential difficulty with putting one on or simply due to personal preference, the lehenga choli is a perfect choice that looks stunning and beautiful.

Variety of Style Choices

In addition to the lehenga choli being a traditional dress option for festivals and weddings, many women choose it for its versatility and for how many fabric, style, and color options they are afforded.  From sultry, rich jewel tones to bright lime greens and corals, metallics to subdued black, practically every color of the rainbow is available for a woman looking to wear a lehenga choli.  There is also the option to wear garments that feature sheer panels or a dupatta, a long, multi-purpose scarf that is traditionally worn across both shoulders as an accessory to the outfit. Whether for bridal wear or for festival, the lehenga choli is popular for many reasons, but perhaps most popular due to the options it offers to the women who wear it.

Sridevi, who was recently voted “India’s Greatest Actress in 100 Years” in a CNN-IBN poll conducted on the Centenary of Indian Cinema, is often cited as the first female superstar of Hindi cinema. For that reason, it’s not surprising that her style and elegance are often used as inspiration for other women’s style and clothing choices. In 2013, she was awarded Hindustan Times Mumbai’s Most Stylish Award. Here are some tips to emulate this megastar’s megastyle.

Simple Yet Sexy

One of Sridevi’s most famous looks is from the film “Mr. India,” in which she dances to a sexy rain song in a stunning blue sari. Though body-hugging and gorgeous, the sari was relatively plain in comparison to some other Indian boutique clothing, which is incredibly intricate with its embroidery and different fabrics. Adapt this style to your own wardrobe by choosing women’s Indian clothing that is both form-flattering and simple, drawing attention to your curves without being too revealing.

Sleek and Seductive

Though she was playfully nicknamed “thunder thighs” early in her career, Sridevi appeared at the Society Interiors supplement launch in 2012 in a tight, bright blue dress that emphasized yet again how lovely the actress looks in bold colors. Bring this element of style to your closet by looking for dresses that hug your body with bright, rich jewel tones.

Show-stopping Elegance

Sridevi is known for being a fashion icon in addition to a renowned actress, and shows off looks that turn heads no matter where she goes. She’s no stranger to traditional saris in bright colors like magenta and coral or metallics like copper and gold, but she’s also a stunner when she dresses down. Sridevi keeps on trend, sporting right-off-the-runway looks and dark denim right alongside those intricately designed festival saris. Copycat her style on your own dime by purchasing and wearing clothes in colors and shapes that look great on you, but don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone every now and then.

There’s no question that brides, and Indian brides especially, have a lot of choice when it comes to what to wear when they get married. And now, there’s another choice—an emerging trend in Indian bridal wear is the sari-gown. There are a few reasons why these are becoming more and more popular.

Easier to Wear

Saris can be difficult to put on, and if not done correctly and tucked in properly, they can fall off when you walk or dance—both things you’ll be doing when you get married. Women obviously don’t want to get caught with their wedding attire falling off, so gowns fashioned to have the appearance of saris or that look inspired by saris are growing in popularity. They are easier to wear and perhaps more comfortable for brides who will be busy throughout wedding festivities.

Less Intricate Detailing

Generally speaking, sari-gowns are less detailed than traditional wedding saris. Because sari-gowns are made to look a little bit more “Western,” they do not have as much of the intricate embroidery details, which makes them an appealing choice for women who want to strike a balance between traditional bridal saris and western wedding gowns.

Why Choose Saris Over Sari Gowns?

Even though the trend toward wearing sari gowns is growing, many brides still choose to wear traditional wedding saris for their nuptials. Traditional bridal saris are, of course, still exceptionally beautiful, and many brides would rather wear the traditional wedding attire. While red is the traditional color for Indian brides, trends toward other colors are growing—colors such as gold, pink, orange, yellow, brown, and dark maroon are more popular these days, and while the traditional fabric to use is silk, other fabrics like crepe and satin are increasing in use. Some Indian brides choose white or cream colored saris with gold embroidery for their weddings, as well. Bridal saris offer women a chance to embrace their culture and wear a truly elegant and beautiful garment for one of the most important events in their lives.