The groom’s real investment piece is the jacket

The new groom dresses from the top down. Arjan Dugal’s latest collection confirms what the past few seasons have hinted at: the kurta is no longer the main act. The jacket has officially taken over. Dugal’s outerwear lineup proves that craftsmanship and flair don’t need to sit on opposite sides of the wedding aisle. His silhouettes balance structure with surface organza embroidered like filigree, brocade woven in soft metallic tones, lace and threadwork. Each jacket turns the wearer into the focal point without ever feeling overwrought. Worn over pared-back kurtas or tonal separates, these pieces build a modern vocabulary for festive dressing: considered, layered, and a head-turner.

Outerwear, here, is a strategic piece of your wardrobe. The kind of investment that carries beyond one celebration, slipping easily into cocktail wardrobes or destination weddings. Dugal makes a persuasive case for the jacket as both anchor and accent, the single piece that can shift a groom’s look from standard issue to statement.

The see-through statement

The sheer embroidered overlay defines Dugal’s lightest mood. Crafted in organza or fine net, the jacket is embroidered with delicate threadwork that mimics lace geometry. The effect is sculptural but soft, a play between visibility and veil. The straight, elongated cut falls below the hip, bridging sherwani proportions with the looseness of a modern coat. Worn open over an ivory or pastel kurta, it frames the body without hard lines. Paired with slim churidars or cropped trousers, the result is fluid in every aspect.

Structure finds its swagger

For those seeking more structured finishes, Dugal’s brocade and jacquard bandhgalas are the collection’s anchor. One of the sharpest looks pairs a champagne brocade jacket with tonal trousers. The fabric adds visual depth through subtle woven patterns. It’s a clear nod to classic tailoring, reworked through an Indian textile lens. Another standout revisits the Jodhpuri silhouette. The short, fitted jacket in floral brocade captures that perfect midpoint between tradition and new-age royalty. The shoulders are clean, the collar banded, the fit decisive.

The power of one layer

Dugal’s embroidered vests extend the conversation beyond sleeves. Cut from raw silk and finished with dense threadwork and zari vines, the sadri-style jackets function as instant upgrades to monochrome kurtas. They’re the easy armour of the minimal groom, one layer that elevates a minimalistic fit. The look sharpens further in deeper tones like the midnight-blue brocade jacket, tailored close with tone-on-tone patterning, which reads as eveningwear without losing its Indian cadence. Dugal’s jackets make a simple point—men’s occasion wear doesn’t need a reinvention, just better tailoring.