He says gone are the days when men were least bothered what they carried on and it used to be only women who defined fashion. Like elsewhere, Nepali studs have also endorsed the idea of looking smart and elegant, adopting the metrosexual mode.
Take for example Rishab Acharya, a resident of Anamnagar. Till a few years ago, he had no clue he could also go for designer wears. At formal parties all he put on was a common tailor-made three-piece suit.“I looked no different than others at parties wearing suits. I used to feel bad that men could not show up in unique dresses like women and get noticed and be complimented by many,” Acharya said.
When he saw a man wearing sherwani, he made up his mind to get himself one also. When he tried it on with pointed slippers at a party for the first time, he was surprised to see so many noticing him. Many complimented him but some gave him an annoying stare.
“Even men want to look and feel good. It’s just that some show it to the world, some keep it within,” he added.
Like Rishab Acharya, many men have started visiting the boutiques mushrooming in the capital.
Even if it’s just about wearing a common suit, there are a dozen ways to drape and shape it, said Tarunika Mahato, a fashion designer who runs her own label through her boutique Tarunika’s Creation at Kupondol.
“In urban areas of Nepal, men have turned out to be equally costume-conscious. At weddings they want to try Indo-Nepali style and European designs. They have equally accepted embroideries and other creative work for what they wear. Besides, when a normal tailor-made suit can cost up to Rs 5,000 to 10,000, why not go for designer wear that can come in the same range and still make a niche?” Mahato added.
However, she disclosed that the ratio between women and men into designer wear is 80-20 in the capital. “It was 100-0 previously. It’s good to see the scenario changing within a short span.”
Angel Joshi of The Design Studio at Durbar Marg finds men adorable when they flaunt something unique. She said, “Designer wears show your class and personality. During the first impression, you’re always known by what you wear. We also have men clients who come here to see what new designs are available for the season.”
Filmmaker and music video director Alok Nembang is a big fan of boutique wears. “I simply love sherwani, salwar-kameez and kurti.”
Nembang further explained that men are slowly adapting to designed costumes.“We’ve always liked branded clothes like Giordano, Calvin & Klein and D&G. Now, we’re opening up to boutique-made designs too. After all who doesn’t want to look presentable?” he said briefly.
Though Raj Ballav Koirala spends more than 30,000 rupees on dresses for every film he shoots, he however is sad that Nepal still doesn’t have a fashion designer who can match international trends and glamour.
“Look at the dresses our film heroines wear. They’re not that striking. Sadly, we don’t have any Tom Ford, Giorgio Armani, Gianni Versace, Ritu Kumar or Manish Malhotra in Nepal. And it’s another piece of bad luck that we’re still not exposed to ultra-glamorous and sophisticated parties where men also can dress up eloquently. Irrespective of what gender are you, you have to dress up to make sure that you meet an event’s requirements through your attire,” Koirala concluded.
Like women have designer-made choices in saris, kurta-salwars, lehenga-s, evening gowns, one piece dresses, corporate suits and backless tops, the boutiques in and around Kathmandu now offer men equal number of choices and designs.
If it’s about attending your best friend’s wedding, a sherwani in fabrics like brocade and raw silk is one of the best choices. The embroidery and the other hand work will be done as per your requirements. If you don’t like sherwani but prefer the traditional-style suit, then a linen-made loose-fitting job can make you look different from those who are in something more common. If it’s attending a glamorous extravaganza then a well-knitted prince-coat or tuxedo made up of Jcard fabric will make you stand out in the evening. For religious activity you can always opt for a fitting salwar-kameez. And, when it’s about going for a get-together with your friends, trying cotton made short-kurti with chicken work and jeans and sandals is not at all a bad idea.
Not to miss is the new way of presenting daura-suruwal for grooms either with unique fabric patches around the collar and sleeves or some stylish embroidery.
So, what are you waiting for boys? It’s time to show you can equally stand out and are no more far from the ladies when it’s about making a fashion statement and adding to the ensemble in your closet.
(All photos by Keshab Thoker.)
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