In the past, the Sherwani was a formal garment worn by elite Indian men on special occasions. Today, it is an iconic style that urban communities have widely adopted. The Sherwani is a fusion of Indian and Western styles and has encapsulated all aspects of traditional Indian culture: it is a sartorial symbol of dignity, elegance and respect.
It’s important to wear the right clothes for the occasion – we don’t wear jeans to weddings! Choose your outfit with care, and you’ll look like a pro in no time.
What is the Sherwani?
The Sherwani is a fusion of Indian and Western styles, a sartorial symbol of dignity, elegance and respect. It’s an elegant dress in pure silk with long arms, worn in two pieces: a tunic tucked into the trousers at the waist.
As well as being an iconic style that urban communities have widely adopted, the Sherwani dress is also a formal garment traditionally worn by elite Indian men on special occasions. The Sherwani was originally introduced in the 18th century when the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II commissioned its design from his designer Abdul Hamid Lahori to be worn for his coronation ceremony. The name ‘Sherwani’ comes from Persian, meaning ‘turban’ – referring to its unique headgear.
The History of the Sherwani
The Sherwani has roots in the Mughal era of India. According to legend, the tradition began when Emperor Akbar assembled a diverse group of men to serve as his courtiers. The emperor was not content with the traditional attire of these men, so he commissioned them to create new designs that better reflected their individuality and served as a symbol of their status.
The resulting garment was called the Sherwani after the Persian word for a nobleman (“Shirwan”), which they were given; it is also sometimes referred to as an Indo-Persian dress.
For centuries, the Sherwani was worn by elite Indian men on special occasions only – weddings, formal dinners and banquets, even funerals – but today, it is a style that modern Indians have widely adopted. For marriage occasions, Sherwani for groom is the preferred outfit by men.
Tips to Style with Sherwani Designs
The Sherwani is typically worn with traditional Indian clothing, such as a churidar or kanjeevaram. The front of the Sherwani is traditionally open but can be closed with buttons, hooks and loops, or a zipper.
The most common style is to wear the shirt outside of your trousers. The more formal style is to wear the shirt inside the trousers.
Some people wear a jacket over their Sherwani, known as a Kurta Pashmina. To tie your Sherwani, you will need to use an under-turban (or dupatta) and an over-turban (or rabana). You should never tuck your Sherwani into your trousers!
What to wear with a Sherwani?
The Sherwani is a fusion of Indian and Western styles. It is, traditionally, a long coat worn over a tunic or Patiala. You can wear this dress style with various accessories – from jewelry to a hat. However, for your first time, we recommend trying to keep it simple! Wear a light cotton kurti underneath your Sherwani, and try accessorizing with a necklace and earrings.
Conclusion
The Sherwani is a clothing style for men originating from the Indian subcontinent. It is traditionally worn as a full dress, usually with a long shirt and a pajama. The main Sherwani styles are the Kotiya Sherwani, the Pathani Sherwani and the Bangladeshi Sherwani. The Sherwani is worn without a jacket, but it can be worn with a Nehru jacket or a short coat over it.
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