Between dressing for extremes, layering offers that sweet spot for dressing up for weather that fluctuates in the greys. Western-wear might seem like it offers more options to layer up in, especially for men, but Indian-wear options are just as versatile. Cue in ethnic jackets. While clothes like bundi jackets, achkans, bandhagalas and sherwanis and traditional and classic staples, they are technically ethnic layers. And with the evolution of Indian festive-wear to bring the best of traditional styles and modern aesthetics, layers have become quite the norm. There’s a new sense of finesse and dimension that helps the style look polished, especially with the right combination of fabrics, textiles and structures.:
While noticeably, most men don’t experiment with layering, it’s a sureshot way to make your wardrobe more multitasking, flexible and dynamic. Now, there are some simple rules to keep in mind while layering. Since India is primarily a tropical country, think of layers in light fabrics, such as cotton silk, organza or mulmul. For cold weather, opt for fabrics such as heavy silks and wool. Plan your look out before wearing it, so you know if you might end up looking too bulky, you can shed some layers or even try other combinations.When layering, move from the lightest to the heaviest fabrics. If you’re a layering novice, take it easy on the prints and colours. Go ahead from monochromes, to tone-on-tone, to colour-blocking, to introducing a single print, till you’re confident about matching different prints. And pay attention to which fabrics and textiles complement your style, the other fabrics and the silhouette you’re trying to don.:
Below, we list down some combinations in which you can pair and layer ethnic jackets for men:
Bundi Jacket
The easiest ethnic jacket for men to layer, Bundis have the freedom to be just as versatile. Since they simply wrap around the torso, they can be designed in multiple combinations, depending on your outfit, of course. From absolutely plain and simple ones with standard collar designs to bold prints and asymmetrical angles and fastenings that add that special zing.
Achkan
While the Achkan and Sherwani look seemingly similar, the main difference between them is in length and flare. The Sherwani is little longer than Achkan and is more flared from the waist till the hemline, but the Achkan is more trimmed and fitted to give a compact, masculine look. Achkans too, can be layered in very asymmetrical and graphic ways, given their length. You can play around with other techniques to add subtle drama, like using a textured fabric or panels.
Bandhgala
Also known as the Jodhpuri suit, Bandhgalas can be considered India’s answer to the formal western suit. They can be short or long, but it’s their smart and relatively modern tailoring that sets them apart from the Achkan or Sherwani. Depending on the length of your Bandhgala, you can layer it in several combinations, such as long kurtas, dhotis and trousers that can all seemingly cascade from under one another.
Sherwani
The aforementioned facts about the Sherwani, mentioning how it has more length and flair compared to the other jackets, lend the garment a lot of space to play around while layering it. Beyond asymmetric accents and hemlines, and longer kurtas underneath it, a matching dupatta is usually the best layer for the ultimate regal look.
