India has been a sartorial Petri dish of draping experiments since ages. Needless to say that our forefathers sheathed themselves in draped ensembles. However, today draping in the cutting edge and evolving menswear scene has become avant-garde. At the recently concluded couture week, designer Anju Modi paired an evening jacket with a dhoti. Is it okay for a guy to wear draped separates from head to toe? Should you balance the draped pieces with structures?
Warm up to new silhouettes
Designer Nikhil Mehra of label Shantanu and Nikhil says, "Today most men are happy to experiment with newer silhouettes. We try to make a classic base. A draped kurta works great for a mehendi and once you put a waistcoat and you see the fading of the drape underneath, it looks contemporary. Men who are experimental can opt for draped kurtas in jersey fabric which have a nice fitted flow while classic men can opt for georgette and tussar. There is no rule of wearing drapes but visually drape with structure looks better."
Not a draping contest
Designer Nikhil Thampi who wears a lot of draped ensembles says, "I think drapes fall better on men who are broad and tall as opposed to short, lean and petite ones. You need to focus only on the drape while putting together the ensemble so that the USP of the drape can be highlighted. Don't overdo it like wearing a shawl with a dhoti as you come across as someone trying too hard."
Flowy complements lean
Designer Lalit Sengar says, "Drapes offset lean and gym-toned men better. The flowy silhouette complements the lean body. Play with more solid colours than prints. In an ensemble, the entire garment has to follow the drapes which includes separates and accessories and not the other way round. Go subtle on other things as drape is already statement making."
Balance drape with structure
Designer Dhruv Kapur of label DRVV says, "I think it's very easy to pull off drapes. While putting together a look just pick one thing which is draped and let the rest be structured. For instance, pick a shirt and a pair of trousers and layer it with a one-shoulder draped jacket. In my last LFW outing, I had paired a pair of trouser which had a skirt back with a butch biker jacket."
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