Shantnu & Nikhil’s Metropolis Was The Ultimate Menswear Masterclass At India Couture Week

You just had to be there!

The music was groovy, the models walked like perfection and the front row was packed with all kinds of cool. And the clothes were, simply put, menswear extraordinaire. Shatnu and Nikhil’s couture showcase at India Couture Week was everything you’d want a show to be, and everything more.

Titled Metropolis, the collection should find its way on everyone’s menswear mood board pronto. The jackets, trousers, bandhgalas and more were the memo that this fall/winter season, men just can’t dress boring. It’s time to embrace full-on glamour while also staying true to one’s heritage – it makes for a potent combination, and you just have to try it to believe it.

The collection drew inspiration from military archives, desert traditions, and the grandeur of India’s regal past. As a result, the jackets were cropped (it’s a big trend coming out from ICW, mind you!) and the tops were either sequined or ruffled. So were the trousers, shiny and superb. Structured sherwanis and closed-ruffle necklines, sequinned (yet subtle) accents – what's not to love?

A special mention is deserving of those overcoat sherwanis and cinched bandhgalas – a finer example of tailoring hasn’t been seen in a while. There was also a version of Shantnu and Nikhil’s iconic draped kurta, mind you, and how good was that!

But those clothes weren’t the only thing shining bright at the show. When you’ve got a front row stacked with dapper men and delightful women, it’s bound to make some noise.

Rajkummar Rao, Arjun Rampal, Rahul Khanna, Jim Sarbh, Randeep Hooda, Vihaan Samat and Zahan Kapoor sat front row, alongside Shalini Passi, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Manushi Chillar and Shreya Pilgaonkar (among others) and in a surprising twist, none of them actually walked the ramp. Which was quite refreshing considering fashion shows rarely go the no-showstopper route these days. To see these celebrities looking like perfection and happily supporting the designer-duo was truly quite a vibe.

‘Vibe’ is perhaps the best word to describe the show as well. I’d also say ‘masterclass’, so men, do take note and revamp your wardrobe.