Men's Party Wear

What do you wear to a friend's engagement dinner, a Diwali party at a colleague's house, or an anniversary evening where jeans will not do?

Ethnic party wear that is not wedding wear

Lighter jackets, printed kurtas, bandhgala shirts, indo western sets and pathani suits. Enough presence for a photograph, not so much that you look like part of the wedding party.

The three most useful pieces

1. A dark solid kurta with subtle texture, which works at almost any evening function
2. An indo western jacket set that can be split and worn separately
3. A printed shirt kurta for casual house parties and daytime events

Colour and fabric by setting

Indoor evening events favour deeper tones with a slight sheen. Daytime events read better in pastels and lighter linens. Velvet and heavy silk suit winter parties in colder US states, while cotton silk and viscose blends are the sensible pick for anything in summer.

Re wearability is worth paying for

The sets here that separate cleanly give more use per purchase. A jacket over a plain white shirt is a completely different look from the same jacket over its matching kurta.

Footwear and finishing

An ethnic party outfit is usually let down by the shoes. Loafers or mojaris work with kurtas and bandi sets, while indo western jackets sit better with formal derbies. Keep the jewellery to a brooch or nothing at all, since a busy chest detail competes with the embroidery already on the jacket.

Sizes span chest measurements from slim to plus fits, with shoulder, sleeve and length listed. Where a style can be stitched to your measurements, the option shows at the size dropdown. Compare your best fitting shirt against the chart if you are ordering to the US and cannot try anything on first.