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7 new ways to dress for Indian men, by Brit designer Simon Carter
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Carter styles two Indian men in seven different and fashionable styles
Double or nothing
The look: This is a very casual outfit. But the moment you put the double-breasted jacket on, it’s dressed up. Not everyone can carry off this style of jacket, it is an outfit you need confidence to wear.
Who can wear it: Indian men can carry this off because of their skin tone, and also because the younger Indian guys I see are a lot slimmer than young British men.
Where to wear it: To formal occasions with the jacket, from a film premiere to a party. Without the jacket, wear this to a movie, to a barbecue or to just to the beach.
Remember: A double-breasted jacket is flattering for a guy who spends time in the gym as it shows off body shape.
Fine Friday dressing
The look: A bridge between formal and casual; a Friday look. Wear with chinos and dress shoes for work, change into denims for a club.
Who can wear it: Everybody! There is an inner dandy in every man in India and my mission is to get Indian men to express themselves through colour, design and pattern. Indian men play it a little safe, but secretly everyone wants to take it up a notch and replace that plain shirt with a printed one. I want everyone to be an Indian dandy!
Personalise it: Wear a great belt in any colour, and add a pocket square. Don’t be afraid to accessorise further if the occasion calls for it. Go for a lapel pin, dress it up or dress it down the way you like.
Wear it to: A creative meeting, a bar in the evening, on a Sunday to see the mother-in-law (though, maybe not for the first meeting. The second meeting, yes).
Change is constant
The look: It is versatile. If you pull the sleeves down, slip into formal shoes and put on a tie, it becomes a meeting look.
This is the outfit to meet a bank manager for a loan. And after you seal the deal, you head to a bar, take off the tie, roll the sleeves up and undo your shirt a bit.
Going from formal to informal: Just a change in accessories, even a single change like shoes, can take you from the most formal meeting to the coolest party. This is a go-to-outfit for boys and men alike, since it has a lot of focal interest, with a mix of textures on the shirt and the pants, making it a fresh and modern take on the classic black- and-white outfit.
Personalise it: If you want to stand out further from black- and-white outfits, add a bright pocket square. A shocking pink pocket square for a very unique look.
Spot the difference
The look: While the grey ensemble is a completely printed yet sophisticated outfit that’s versatile enough to be worn to a club, a Diwali or New Year party and even a wedding, the other look has a contrast of print on print, which makes it more quirky.
Who can wear it: If you’re wearing the grey jacket, make sure you follow the one rule of only buttoning up the top button!
Wear it to: The grey ensemble can be worn to work with formal lace up shoes, though maybe not on a Monday, but for a casual Friday. The print-on-print look works best for a family lunch. If you want to strike a balance between formal and casual, and also need something right for an outdoor event, you can try this look.
Remember: You need to find the right fit in polo shirts, or it will not flatter a body that is not in good shape. Pick a shirt that can hide any flab.
Material boys
The look: The material of the grey jacket allows the fit to be snug, while the blue jacket is a nice modern take on the traditional bird’s eye.
The easy way to style: This formal look is paired with denims to show how multi-purpose these non-traditional formals can be, and how they flatter men of all age groups.
Wear it to: While the grey jacket would be great for a movie date or office party outfit, you can be bold with blue. Wear blue to work and add accessories to make it work as a party-ready outfit
Remember: Grey is a good canvas to build on. You can transform this look from semi-formal and casual to super preppy by throwing on a colourful tie or a pocket square. So if grey is your background hue, you can go as bold as you want to with the accessories. At the same time, there is little or no chance of making mistakes with the colour blue.
From HT Brunch, October 8, 2017
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