Saffron Lane - Tailored Musings

Making Our Clothing Bilingual

2020-06-23T13:04:00-07:00

Whether each of us falls under the label “NRI”, “ABCD”, or some other awkward cultural acronym, we’re collectively all too familiar with the concept of duality. For many American high schoolers, Monday to Friday was spent studying English Literature, but Sundays were devoted to Hindi classes at the Mandir. Scrolling through our music playlists, there is as much Drake as there is AR Rahman. As the world has gotten smaller, our cultural spheres have increasingly overlapped, and it’s only natural (and essential) that our sense of style reflects our personal duality.

The ubiquitously termed “Indo-Western” style has been undergoing a gradual evolution since the ‘90s. However, this fusion of fashion isn’t just about combining cultures, though we’re guessing that’s what Snoop was going for here? Moreso, the style is a manifestation of the duplexity inherent in our identities. Our clothing, like us, is not one dimensional. It might manifest as a classy, sophisticated Nehru jacket with a playful pop of color or the traditionally somber bandhgala with a more contemporary and striking print.

What we see organically inspires what we make. We, the creators of Saffron Lane, grew up in diverse cities around the world with a keen eye for the myriad of styles around us. By taking a specific color, print, or cut from our cultural core, and combining it with modern, global elements we’ve picked up along the way, the result is a visual amalgamation (and fashion piece) representing our dual identity, and that of today’s young Indian-American diaspora.

- Guest post authored by Dr. Paluk Walia

Gentlemen, Here’s How to Dress For that Next Indian Wedding

2019-12-12T19:00:00-08:00

So, you’re invited to an Indian wedding? Maybe it’s your first, or maybe it’s your 10th. Regardless, here are some tips to keep you gentlemen looking fresh.

Traditional Western weddings typically consist of a ceremony followed by a reception. As a guest, you can rock that well-fitted suit for the entire celebration. Comparatively, Indian weddings are a more extravagant affair, generally consisting of three occasions: a pre-wedding Mehndi and/or Sangeet, the wedding ceremony, and the reception (usually requiring a change in attire between the latter two).

Online articles on dressing for an Indian wedding almost exclusively advise a shiny kurta pyjama or ornate sherwani, which, per contemporary Indian fashion, lean on the tacky side. Somehow, for a culture renowned for vivid colors and mesmerizing fabrics, the men’s outfits have been treated as an afterthought. Let’s address that now. For the GQ man in you, below are some tips for a more modern approach.

Mehndi & Sangeet: this is your time to go bold! Embrace color and personality. Be ready to dance and have a little fun. We would recommend an Indowestern look: a white button-down shirt with a colorful Nehru vest (or bandi), and a nice pair of trousers (we are fans of styling with a white pant as it allows the colorful jacket to pop). If you have no Indian clothes in your closet, this requires just a purchase of the vest, which can be quite budget friendly. As an example, check out this dapper dude.
Ceremony: traditional, yet modern would be our recommendation. Feel free to consider the kurta pyjama, but for a more contemporary look consider including: a clean, solid kurta (black, white, or a color) with a more classic Nehru vest (or bandi), and trousers (again, the white pant could be a good fit for a daytime / outdoor ceremony). See here for an example of east meeting west.
Reception: go formal – Western and Indowestern are both suitable (pun intended). While ladies deck out in gowns and jewels, men can (and should) up their game too. We would of course recommend an Indian touch with a Bandhgala (Indian suit jacket), formal trousers, all spiced up with a pocket square. Here’s an example of keeping it clean and classy.

Indian weddings are an explosion of color, food, dance, and revelry. Get ready to have fun, but more importantly, always dress to be remembered, not just noticed (Giorgio Armani...kind of)

Note: Saffron Lane offers a Style Concierge. You can reach out to style@saffronlaneco.com and we’d be happy to help with attire selection, coordination, etc

The Modern Indian Man: Turning Up the Style Dial

2019-09-10T21:01:00-07:00

The modern Indian man is no longer content with fashion refuge in the glamorous shadows of the opposite sex. He is seeking his own spotlight to make a visual statement, and now has more options than ever to make that statement. The excessively ornate and outdated drapes of 80s’ and 90s’ fashion silhouettes have given way to a more minimalist and contemporary aesthetic that elegantly fuses Indian heritage and craftsmanship with western influences. Oversized, almost costume-like kurta pajamas have been replaced by tapered Nehru jackets, fitted pants, and bold and quirky prints, with an impeccable attention to detail on accessories to complete the look (or, “the lewk”).

This fashion evolution has been underway for over a decade in India, but has been slow to migrate across the Atlantic to the U.S. For a growing generation of fashion forward men living outside India, access to and education of Indian fashion has historically been limited to local Indian stores, which have not kept up with the changing times. Racks of clothing remain stagnant for decades, reflecting outfits worn in 90s Bollywood films rather than today’s Indian man. However, with a new wave of young brands emerging to reshape the silhouettes and rock the status quo, it’s time to reconsider our preconceptions of Indian menswear. It’s time to pack away the baggy sherwani and beige dupatta that belong only in our favorite Shah Rukh Khan flick.