I’ve been in Jodhpur, India for The Rake this past week at a Royal Salute polo event.
Polo, of course, has given us more iconic pieces of menswear than any other sport, from the polo shirt to the polo neck, the polo collar to the polo coat. There are the jodhpurs named after this city, as well as the jodhpur boot and the chukka boot. Plus, what we know as the ‘Nehru’ jacket was invented in Jodhpur for wearing after polo matches.
Certainly all the polo players, their family and associated supporters wear the look very well. Drill cotton breeches, sharp polo shirts and well-worn boots (knee-high, with zipped fronts to hide the laces, rather than the ankle boots we know as jodhpur boots). And after the match, the bandhgala (Nehru) jacket goes from pitchside to evening gala, worn with an ascot and a pocket handkerchief.
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| With my wife Maria, and one of the Maharaja’s vintage cars |
Posts on the state of tailoring and general craft in India to come, plus seeing how bespoke jodhpurs are made.
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| As well as wearing jodhpurs, some of the Umaid Bahwan Palace guards have this interesting buttoned-in chest section to their uniforms |
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| Making bangles from melted tree resin on the streets of Jodhpur |
I’m really looking forward to this series of posts Simon. Hopefully you might have some tips about which the best suit tailors in India are.
It will hardly be comprehensive I’m afraid – just based on experiences and interviews in Jodhpur
Look forward to this series. A smashing combination from you in the photo with your wife, by the way.
Thanks. It was colder out here than we expected but the Caliendo jacket and A&S gabardine trousers did sterling work
Looking forward to future articles on “Sartorial India”. Hopefully you get to travel the nation (atleast the major cities)to both, explore and write about the state of fashion, or rather a fashionable state!
PS: Can we expect a Bandhgala on you anytime soon? Seen a few houses (Canali, Paul Smith) come out with one, but when in India get one made.
I’m afraid it’s just a trip to Jodhpur, but I have visited other parts of the country before.
I don’t really like bandhgala jackets – the lack of collar and lapel, and high closure, is not that flattering.
I am going out to Jodhpur in a few weeks (staying at the Raas hotel which I have been to many times before and is by far the most elegant accommodation option in and around the city, true luxury)and would love to know a few tailors that offer quality and yet affordability to visit. Looking forward to these posts and hoping they are published before my visit!
I’m afraid the report is not good – even the best local tailors use a lot of fusing and don’t compare to Hong Kong, for example. Decent jodhpur making if that interests you though
Looking forward to the rest of your reports. I was in Jodhpur about a month ago. I actually looked into having some jodhpurs made, but the tailors were all heavily backlogged with work for the Indian wedding season. Hopefully you had more luck.
Dear Simon
Different and interesting work as always.
Previously i have mentioned that if you felt inclined to do so, many of your readers would appreciated a little information under each photograph of what you wear. For example, the photograph with your wife clearly shows some lovely trousers, and had you not mentioned this in a reply to another reader’s question, we would never have known what they were.
Take for example the excellent website for The Armoury in Hong Kong. Their photographic site is nothing less than inspirational (though some kind of search engine would be incredibly helpful) and it is so helpfuly in knowing what is being worn, the cloth and whom it was made by.
So in essence the request is – more information please on the clothes you wear and on others where possible.
Belated happy new year
Regards
Bradley
Noted, thanks Bradley. Shirt by Satriano Cinque by the way