Changing face of men’s fashion

Fashion stylist SHAGUN GANDHI traces the evolution in men’s fashion, inspired by Hindi films

Bollywood films have always had a lot of influence on the people across the country, as the actors set trends and fans follow them religiously. Borrowing ideas and taking inspiration from other cultures is something that happens frequently in fashion. This is how Bollywood trends have influenced men’s fashion over the last 60 years.

Formal touches 1940s & 1950s

In the era of World War II and Independence, Bollywood fashion was formal and understated. Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand were the most stylish actors of that era. Dev Anand had a unique style of combining high collar floral shirts with colourful scarves and Raj Kapoor encapsulated the Charlie Chaplin influence on fashion. Many films were shot in rural areas, with the men in dhotis.

The few films featuring urban characters were inspired by European fashion, with dapper suits for the men. The hairstyle was quite clean

and sharp.

Dramatic notes 1960s & 1970s

During this period, colour films were introduced. Bellbottoms, dark shades, tight blazers and broad ties were the trends of the decade and men’s hairstyles grew

longer while sideburns were very much in. Iconic films were created like Mughal-E-Azam and Mother India, which are still popular today. On-screen fashion saw an abundance of shades, prints and experimental styles. Memorable trends include bell-bottoms, oversized glasses and a mix of prints. It was an era when Dev Anand (inspired by Gregory Peck) draped a sweater over his shoulders, a trend that was replicated years later by Shah Rukh Khan in Mohabbatein.

Extravagant era 1980s & 1990s

This was an era that witnessed some life changing moments for one and all. With bright coloured outfits and overly weird hairdos, Bollywood had its own style that ruled over their entire nation. Men’s fashion can be split into three segments – some wore disco outfits along with accessories, others preferred denim, while others went for the rugged look. Mithun Chakraborty epitomised the colour trend with his bold and flashy style in Disco Dancer back in the ’80s, while we also see actors like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar rocking the denim trend.

Experimental times 2000 & beyond

In the new millennium, actors became more upgraded and stylish. New stylish hairdos, tattoos and designer labels are introduced almost daily and actors such as Ranveer Singh, Sidharth Malhotra and Varun Dhavan woo audiences with their everchanging styles. Ranveer continues to be the next trendsetter as he is creating ripples on the Bollywood scene with his good looks and edgy fashion style.