A man’s guide to dressing up for a virtual wedding as a guest
Remember what big, fat Indian weddings used to be? The bachelor nights, the sangeet, dancing till you dropped. All of this at some fancy venue/destination with an open bar! Le sigh! Right now, it feels like it’s 2020 all over again. If you’ve managed to score an e-invite for a friend’s nuptials, you may feel like people will not be able to see you when you become one of the many in a tiny square on Zoom! For goodness sake, and that of the bride and the groom, DO NOT show up in loungewear.
Celebrity stylist and owner of sustainable clothing brand, Chotto Golpo, Jayati Bose, says, “If the couple has given you any wardrobe guidelines, stick to those. Try and avoid your standard work attire and dip into your special occasion assortment. Use it as an occasion to play dress up.” Here are six ways to nail that at-home-wedding-attendee look.
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While athleisure has been a big trend, it’s quite disrespectful to show up with a messy mop of hair or cool gym wear. So, put in a bit of effort. “A simple sherwani in a beautiful pastel hue or whatever you have in your wardrobe is a decent waist-up look for attending a virtual wedding,” says Bose. Just comb your hair, use some concealer for dark circles (if any) and show up.
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Save your chinos and shirt combination strictly for work calls. Invest in a nice silk, satin or a brocade kurta in a bold colour to stand out. “Pair it with a silk pyjama that comes with the kurta or a nice pair of dark, slim-fit denims,” recommends Bose. You can always wear it later in a post-COVID world!
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If you totally forgot to set a reminder about the wedding and don’t have any Indian outfits in your wardrobe, borrow your mother’s or partner’s brocade or silk shawl/dupatta. “This is a beautiful and easy way to polish up a basic mandarin-collared shirt or even a tee. Just drape a brocade/silk shawl over the shirt with just a bit of your neckline/collar and arms showing.” Just so that you don’t like the thakur from Sholay! Also, make sure to choose a vibrant colour like red or blue.
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Ace your style game and stand out in a crowd on screen—after all, screenshots and recordings are a definite possibility as wedding keepsakes. Borrow your mom’s Banarasi or Kancheepuram/silk saree and drape it as a dhoti! “Pick a bold colour or a muted golden one, and pair it with a slim-fit, well-tailored shirt in a contrasting shade.”
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Statement jewellery has always been a part of the wardrobes of Indian kings, princes and other royals. Today, there’s a revival in men wearing neckpieces and other bling thanks to actors like Ranveer Singh and international stars like Harry Styles. The recent campaign of designer Sabyasachi had men wearing brilliant chokers. Bose revealed that she herself had done a similar shoot last summer. She says, “A choker/neckpiece over a simple linen shirt will grab eyeballs without you even having to do too much.” Dig through your girlfriend’s or sister’s jewellery stash.
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This is a no-brainer and perhaps the laziest way of attending a Zoom wedding. Ironing your own suit doesn’t count as effort. Just saying. Wear a nice formal shirt and throw in on the jacket of your suit or tux. Wear denims or pyjamas waist-below if it can’t be seen!
The best thing about dressing up for a virtual wedding is that you can forgo shoes. Just wear sandals or slides and you’d still look damn good waist-above with these expert tips. Smile and raise a toast for your pal!
[Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock]
Eva Pavithran
Vertical Head - Lifestyle