Table of Contents

S. No. Particulars Page no.

1. Introduction 1
1.1. Sherwani: The Outfit of the Elite
1.2. What is a Sherwani? 2

2. Evolution Through the Eras

2.1. Origin and History
2.2. Satavahana Period
2.2.1 Historical and Social Life
2.2.2 Male's Attire
2.3. Late Satavahana Period
2.3.1 Male's Attire
2.3.2 Textiles and Dyes
2.4. Kushan Period
2.4.1 Historical and Social Life
2.4.2 Upper Garments
2.4.3 Style and Design
2.4.4 Textiles and Dyes
2.5. Gupta Period
2.5.1 Historical and Social Life
2.5.2 Attire
2.5.3 Hairstyles and headgears
2.6. Mughal Period
2.6.1 Historical and Social Life
2.6.2 Attire
2.7. British Period
2.7.1 Historical and Social Life
2.7.2 Attire
2.8. Sixth Nizam of Hyderabad
2.8.1 Historical and Social Life
2.8.2 Attire

3. Influence on Sherwani 12
3.1. Cultural Influences
3.2. Economic Influences
3.3. Political Influences

4. Types of Sherwani 13

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5. Innovative ways of wearing a Sherwani 15

5.1. The Clash of Royalty with Modernity
5.2. The Active Ethnic Revival
5.3. The Minimalistic Outlook
5.4. The Dramatic Approach
5.5. The Bold Foot Forward
5.6. The Pull of Traditionality

6. What to pair below a Sherwani 20

6.1. Pajamas
6.2. The Every-Elegant Dhoti
6.3. Corduroys
6.4. Jodhpuri pants

7. Accessories along with a Sherwani

7.1. Jewels
7.2. Pagri
7.3. Juttis
7.4. Stole
7.4.1 How to style a Sherwani Dupatta or Stole?

8. Sherwani Suits for Women 27

8.1. Origin
8.2. Sources of Inspiration
8.3. Style and Variety
8.4. Wearing the Outfit
8.5. Choosing the right Footwear
8.6. Choosing the right Bottom wear
8.7. Choosing the right Jewellery
8.8. Innovations

9. Future of Sherwani 29
9.1. How Communities and Cultures will continue to
grow
9.2. New Styles
9.3.New Designs
9.4. Innovation
9.5. Global Presence

10. Conclusion 30
11. Interesting facts and trivia 32
12. Glossary 35
References 38

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 List of Figures
Figure No. Particulars Page No.

1. Sherwani- The Outfit of the Elite 1

2. Jawaharlal Nehru (right) and Muhammad Ali Jinnah (left) 3
can be seen in Sherwani
3. Tunic with round neckline 4
4. Kayabandh tied by hunter 4
5. Kunchuka having gathered neckline with Uttariya draped 4
across the chest
6. Different types of Turbans and Headgears 5
7. Tunic with long ruched sleeves 5
8. Fully quilted knee-length Tunic 6
9. Chugha (long coat) 6
10. Mauli decorated with clasps and ring 6
11. Kanchuka with front opening 7
12. Kanchuka with V-neck 7
13. Tiara with pearl 8
14. Twisted turban with gems and brooch 8
15. The Jama 9
16. The Chak-Daar-Jama 9
17. The Sherwani Style at the time of Independence 10
18. British frock coats worn by East India Officials 10
19. First glimpse of the sherwani when Mahbub Ali Khan 11
(right) wore it and sat down with Archduke Franz
Ferdinand of Austria (left)
20. Angarkha in 18th century, Deccan with Tash border 12
21. A velvet sherwani paired with a cotton silk kurta and 18
brocade churidar
22. A brocade Sherwani paired with black denim and a neck 18
scarf
23. Tussar silk sherwani paired with chikankari kurta and a 19
churidar
24. Embellished Silk Sherwani paired with a flared kurta and 19
jooti
25. Bold Printed Sherwani and straight cut pants 19
26. Plain Silk straight cut kurta paired with a dhoti 20
27. Plain sherwani paired with a cowl kurta, churidar and a 20
turban

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Figure No. Particulars Page
No.

31. Stole draped on one shoulder and carried by the opposite 26

arm
32. Long coat like sherwani paired with churidar pants 27
33. Heavy Embroidery Sherwani suits for women 27
34. Dhoti pants paired with short lenth sherwani 28
35. Meenakari sets paired with women sherwani 28
36. A. R. Rahman in black sherwani designed by Sabyasachi 32
Mukherjee
37. Sherwanis for the British Airways designed by Rohit Bal 32
38. Sherwani like variant worn by Pedro Pascal in Game of 33
Thrones
39. Jawaharlal Nehru used the sherwani as the style statement 33
40. Actor, Hrithik Roshan, who played Emperor Akbar, wore 34
Mughal sherwani designed by Neeta Lulla

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