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.
