Vicky Kaushal, Varun Dhawan, Veer Pahariya and More: The Best-Dressed Men at Manish Malhotra's Diwali Party
Two garments ran the room at Manish Malhotra's Diwali party. One was velvet, which needs no introduction. The other was the bandhgala, a garment defined by what it refuses to show, which may explain why it has become the default uniform of men who want to look formal without looking like they are attending a board meeting.
Here is how the men read the brief.
Vicky Kaushal: burgundy, and confident about it
A burgundy velvet kurta set with fine embroidery all over, a full beard and a pair of sunglasses. Velvet in a deep red is not a quiet choice, and Kaushal did not try to make it one. The sunglasses are the sort of detail that only works if you commit, and he committed.
Veer Pahariya: geometry and shine
A deep blue velvet kurta with criss-cross geometric patterns and a fully embellished low neckline, paired with deep-hued flared trousers and glossy black shoes. The flare is the interesting part. Indian menswear has spent years tapering everything; a wider leg suggests the pendulum may be swinging.
Vedang Raina: the brooch
A midnight blue suit finished with a maximalist brooch. Of everyone here, Raina took the biggest risk with the least fabric. A single statement piece on an otherwise clean suit is how a younger actor signals that he has opinions about clothes.
Ibrahim Ali Khan: white, and regal
A white bandhgala with sharply tailored black trousers and black shoes. The simplest look on the list, and possibly the most traditional. White on a festival night demands perfect tailoring, and the sharpness of the trousers did the work.
Aditya Roy Kapur: texture over colour
A rich, textured bandhgala with loose-fit trousers and glossy black shoes. Kapur's approach was to let the fabric carry the interest rather than the cut, and the relaxed trousers kept it from feeling stiff.
What the night told us
Three trends were hard to miss:
Velvet is the festive fabric of the season, worn by Kaushal, Dhawan and Pahariya in three very different ways
Jewel tones beat pastels: burgundy, deep blue and midnight blue led the room
The bandhgala remains the safest route to looking regal, as Khan and Kapur showed
For more Indian menswear on the runway, see our look at Shrey Singh at Bombay Times Fashion Week.
Frequently asked questions
What did Vicky Kaushal wear to Manish Malhotra's Diwali party?
A burgundy velvet kurta set with fine embroidery, which he wore with sunglasses.
What did Varun Dhawan wear?
A light grey short kurta with a matching jacket, black velvet trousers and black shoes.
Who else attended Manish Malhotra's Diwali party?
Among the men were Veer Pahariya, Vedang Raina, Ibrahim Ali Khan and Aditya Roy Kapur.
What was the big trend among the men?
Velvet, rich jewel tones and structured bandhgalas.
Kenneth Hopkins is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of AltBollywood. Indofuturist, posthumanist and unapologetically Indocentric, he describes himself as an epimemeticist, a swaraji, a freakonomist, a lexicographer and a cartochronicler, mapping the ideas, words and quiet shifts that shape Indian entertainment. Follow him on Instagram at @kennethhopkins.
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