Trend alert: Draping in menswear is having a moment

When you think of an Indian groom, the image that comes to mind is a classic sherwani, immaculately tailored and finished with a regal stole casually resting on one shoulder. But the modern Indian groom is quietly rewriting this long-held visual code. Moving beyond convention, he is embracing drapes and fluid layers—using them to bring individuality, movement, and a contemporary sensibility to wedding dressing. Forget the predictable one-sided toss or cape-style drape. Today’s grooms are seeking innovative ways to wear the stole, transforming it from a mere appendage into a defining design element. And Indian couturiers are enthusiastically responding to this shift, drawing inspiration from the royal wardrobes of the past to reimagine menswear for the present.

The stole, once secondary, is now central—used to create drama, narrative, and presence. History offers rich precedent. Maharaja Duleep Singh, the last King of the Sikh Empire, was known for his flamboyant personal style and experimental draping. Often seen in dhoti-style wraps—pleated, tucked, and layered to create volume and movement—his clothing was a powerful expression of status and evolving identity.

Fast forward to 2026, and designers such as Heena Kochhar, Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla, Divyam Mehta, and Jayanti Reddy are revisiting this royal language of drape, translating it into contemporary sherwanis and bandhgalas. Inspired by the opulence of the Nizami courts of Hyderabad, Jayanti Reddy introduced the khada dupatta into menswear—an element traditionally reserved for women. Draped over a sherwani, it reflected her brand’s signature balance of heritage craftsmanship and modern restraint. While Heena Kochhar reimagined the silk stole on a velvet choga, wrapping it diagonally across the torso like a shawl-sari hybrid, creating a fluid, sculptural silhouette that challenged conventional menswear proportions.

Drapes, of course, are not new to men’s wardrobes. Fabric has been wrapped, pleated, knotted, and tucked to flatter the human form for thousands of years. In India, men have long used drapes and stoles as markers of status and ceremony. Sculptural evidence from the Indus Valley Civilization depicts men wearing shawl-like garments draped over the shoulder, offering some of the earliest visual records of draping techniques. What has changed is the spirit of experimentation. Drapes have evolved to refashion themselves within modern menswear, becoming increasingly playful and expressive—particularly in occasionwear. “Indian menswear has always understood drape—dupattas, chadors, dhotis, angavastrams—with each ceremony guided by a different flow,” says designer Shruti Sancheti. “The modern groom revives this legacy not only for tradition, but for ease, movement, and symbolism. As rigid tailoring softens, wedding wear becomes fluid, layered, and experiential.” In this new era, the stole is no longer an accessory. It is a narrative tool—one that allows the groom to articulate identity, heritage, and personal style with confidence.

“Traditionally, men’s occasionwear relied heavily on structured silhouettes like sherwanis, bandhgalas, achkans paired with a simple stole,” explains Ateev Anand, founder of Re-Ceremonial. “What’s changed is not the garment itself, but the way it is worn. Designers are now treating drapes as central to the look, not decorative afterthoughts,” he adds. These draped elements often become the visual anchor of an ensemble, commanding attention while enhancing the overall silhouette. For grooms keen to experiment, stylists recommend rethinking placement and proportion.

“Instead of resting the stole neatly on the shoulders, try wrapping it diagonally across the torso, cinching it at the waist, or letting it cascade asymmetrically for a sculptural effect,” suggests celebrity stylist Isha Bhansali, adding, “Pairing fluid drapes with structured kurtas or bandhgalas creates a striking balance between softness and strength.” Ultimately, draping in menswear has emerged as a quiet rebellion…one that allows the modern groom to explore a new visual identity while remaining deeply rooted in cultural heritage. In doing so, he doesn’t just wear tradition; he reshapes it.