Femme-ous bandhgala

The neckline remains this Autumn/Winter’s persistent attention-seeker. And since the season demands a highly covered session with fashion, here’s a rousing welcome to the bandhgalas.

While searching for regal elegance in matters of the wardrobe, we turn to, who else but Raghavendra Rathore and his beautiful bandhgalas for some design inspiration.

Through his ‘Bandhgala for Women’, Rathore has lured women to explore yet another male terrain. “Jodhpuri bandhgalas make a classic cut. The tailored look is essential to a bandhgala and I am basically exploring the options on a modified version of the sherwani,” says Raghavendra.

The bandhgala tops meet their match in cigarette and pencil pants. They go on to create another stellar style when teamed with the elegance of a saree. “Bandhgalas can make a smooth entry into the bridal trousseau provided you are a bride who is looking for some subtle sophistication. Wear it with a lehenga for that fantastic structured to flowy transformation. Keep things strictly formal yet lucid with narrow trousers giving stylish company to the bandhgala story,” he points out.

Classic and traditional are the two words that aptly define bandhgalas, mentions designer Pawan Sachdeva. “To make it more Western, pair the bandhgalas with ankle-length pencil pants. You can also wear a sheer bandhgala cape over your trousers and a sleeveless top to add more style and glamour to it. And how about pairing a bandhgala with ankle-length parallels in rich colours and fabrics? Sounds good to me,” declares Pawan.

While endorsing bandhgalas keep the sensuality alive, advises designer Gautam Gupta. “Since it has the ‘for men’ tag to it, bringing it in the feminine fold requires cutouts in the front or the back. Even use of sheer fabrics such as net or Chantilly on the yoke portion or sleeves of the bandhgala can enhance the appeal. Since bandhgala is more of a cropped silhouette, having flares on the lowers make it look balanced. Drop crotch trousers and harem trousers ideally fit the bill. They make a fine impression with flared skirts. For that vintage touch, wear breeches with it,” he adds.

For that structured look, stiff fabrics such as brocade, silk, velvet are the perfect choice for bandhgalas. “Earthy shades such as brown, red, ochre, greyish green along with black, maroon are some of the best choices. Ideally prints are not something which one associates with bandhgalas but if someone wants to use them for an international look, then one can go for abstract, animal, geometrical and floral prints,” adds Gautam.