E-Paper
How young Indians are dressing at work
Quirky statements of power and fun define how these professionals in positions of authority dress
Solid colours + short hair = Power
Sunetra Choudhury - NDTV anchor
The no-nonsense question expert, Sunetra Choudhury, is known to ask tough questions with a sensitivity few can combine. She is often seen on screen wearing stylish smart casuals like a full-sleeved checked shirt with well-fitted pants accessorised with a personal quirk. Being a TV anchor, she likes working with bright and solid colours that the camera demands, but doesn’t mind flirting with some white every now and then. Her hair is cut short and adds authority to her demeanour, and she prefers wearing a dash of deep-coloured lip gloss.
What you wear to work
Wide-legged pants and crop tops, or a pair of red or green trousers.
If you have an important meeting, you’d wear…
Heels, for certain, a feminine top with no-nonsense pants and bright lipstick!
When going for a job interview, the most appropriate outfit is
Anything that doesn’t look like you’ve worked too hard to arrive at.
The most outrageous outfit for a newsroom is
Outrageous is subjective, but I saw a girl wear a slit dress while on assignment in London!
Colours that work in a corporate set-up
All colours work, as long as you can pull it off and like it, why not wear it?
Pastels can shine bright at work
Rizwan Bachav - Investment banker
Rizwan is the perfect example of how a corporate job doesn’t entail boring greys and blacks. Unlike the fluctuating stock market, Rizwan has quite a set corporate style that he experiments with in terms of colours and cuts. Sleek ties are his signature style and while white is his signature colour, he prefers to choose from a colour palette of pastels. He is hardly seen wearing darker hues and even when it comes to shoes, he prefers tan ones over black!
What you wear to work
A white shirt with a coloured thin tie and dark-hued pants.
If you have an important meeting, you’d wear…
A light shirt that’s pocketless (that’s the trend internationally), tan shoes and maybe coloured socks.
When going for a job interview, the most appropriate outfit is
A plain shirt, steering clear of distracting stripes or checks.
Colours that also work in a corporate set-up
Light colours and pastels, like baby pink or powder-blue, tan, light green etc.
That pocket square, collar pin and tie bar all add confidence
Sandeep Gonsalves - Founder of SS Homme
The founder of a luxury menswear label, Sandeep’s personal choices are similar to those of his brand. With well-set hair and a stubble, he is spotted in dark-hued suits and block-coloured shoes, like tan or orange. Sandeep’s ideal accessory for his suit is a pocket square. He prefers checked or textured worsted wool options to add character to his suits.
What you wear to work
A well-cut suit.
If you have an important meeting, you’d wear…
A light grey suit or a shade of beige if it’s in the day. If it’s corporate, navy or charcoal.
When going for a job interview, the most appropriate outfit is
A sharp suit with a pocket square, and a collar pin or tie bar.
One rule that must not be broken
Your shirt buttons shouldn’t be anywhere close to popping out!
One rule of picking the right suit
The cut of the suit and the right fabric are the principal priorities.
Being vibrant at work works!
Swati Bhargava - founder of Cashkaro
Her smile is her biggest weapon, but this cashback business founder is known to brighten up board rooms with her block-coloured jackets and haute heels. Swati’s colour palette for power is orange, blue, or black and to balance these bright hues, she keeps her make-up basic, with a light eyeshadow and a creamy nude lip colour. And her hair is simply styled in a neat blowdry!
What you wear to work
Dresses with a neckpiece, and flats, arming myself with a pair of heels to step out for a meeting.
If you have an important meeting, you’d wear…
Contemporary formals with one bold element.
When going for a job interview, the most appropriate outfit is
Crisp and formal.
One rule that must not be broken
Ditch the skimpy casuals.
Bending the rules, but not being sloppy
Gautam Sinha - Founder of Nappa Dori
Gautam’s style quotient matches his Nappa Dori collection: cool, casual and bending rules. He doesn’t have a fixed colour palette and goes to work in shorts with a dark-coloured T-shirt and a pair of keds. His most formal choice is a pair of jeans!
What you wear to work
Smart casuals, jeans and keds.
If you have an important meeting, you’d wear…
I hate wearing formals, so I would be dressed in smart casuals.
Colours that work in a corporate set-up
Blue and muted hues.
The girl with the running shoes
Sairee Chahal - Founder of Sheroes
Sairee’s style is fuss-free and minimal. Her quirk lies in her fun socks and shoes that she pulls off well with every outfit. She mostly wears comfortable dresses with her hair preferably tied, minimal make-up and at most, a light gloss.
What you wear to work
Jeans and collared T-shirts, comfortable dresses and sneakers.
If you have an important meeting, you’d wear…
A pair of jeans with a blazer, or a dress.
When going for a job interview, the most appropriate outfit is
Whatever may be the outfit, it should be crisp and ironed.
One rule that shouldn’t be broken
No rainbow colours please, and steer clear of loud make-up.
Sari for Modi, a gown for Obama...
Anisha Singh - Founder of Mydala
Anisha swears by the ‘right attitude’ rule for business, and when it comes to her closet, her versatile choices don’t take a backseat. Her sense of power lies in her block heels that she pairs with bright outfits, which make her stand out in the sea of blacks and blues at meetings and press conferences. Her wardrobe is a fair balance between ripped jeans and smart T-shirts in office and classic-cut dresses with blow-dried hair and statement jewellery at events.
What you wear to work
From skirts to dresses, salwar-kameez to the occasional sari, with a pair of heels to dress it up.
If you have an important meeting, you’d wear…
I dress according to the meeting, like I wore a sari recently for meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then, I wore a gown for the Obama ball.
One rule that shouldn’t be broken
Just wear what is comfortable, it will help you be productive.
Subtle style and quirky footwear make you a headturner
Roopak Saluja - Founder and CEO of The 120 Media Collective
Travelling, working, or just attending a dinner, Roopak pays special attention to make his footwear, which is super quirky yet in keeping with his outfit, and that makes him stand out in the literal sense. While his shoes are his focus, his style is subtle and his smart casual jackets give a sense of stature, and his colour of power is black.
What you wear to work
Jeans, T-shirt or a shirt with a pair of sneakers.
If you have an important meeting, you’d wear…
Either a tucked-in collared shirt with loafers or a slightly more casual look with sneakers.
An interview-appropriate accessory is…
Shoes are what would impress me the most!
Accessorise, experiment, reinvent
Vikram Raizada - Business Consultant
Vikram Raizada has never shied away from mixing up colours and patterns. Right from block-coloured pants to checkered pocket squares, his wardrobe is experimental. He is often seen wearing deep purple pants, chrome ties, pink pocket squares and red loafers as well. He takes his accessories seriously, and chooses from cufflinks, matching glasses and a smartwatch.
What you wear to work
Fitted dark-hued jeans, a formal tailored shirt, a bespoke blue blazer with a pair of formal shoes or sneakers.
If you have an important meeting, you’d wear...
Tailored business suits for board meetings. For less formal ones, constructed blazers with a nice tie and formal shoes.
When going for a job interview, the most appropriate outfit is
A smartly turned out outfit that makes it look like the interviewee is wearing the garments and not the other
way around.
“My work speaks for me...not just my clothes”
Amitoj Singh - NDTV anchor
Numerous anchors and newsreaders are on air all day, but his perfect pairing of crisp outfits with a matching turban turns heads every day. Amitoj is known for his subtle shirts, smart waistcoats, and matching turbans and pocket squares. He wears more approachable colours like blue and comfortable trousers when out reporting so his sources find him approachable, and wears sharper block colours when anchoring, accessorising with a watch.
What you wear to work
A mono-hued cotton shirt, navy blue shoes with a white turban.
If you have an important meeting, you’d wear…
Smart casuals with out-of-the-box multicoloured socks, shoes and a watch.
For an appraisal meeting as an appraise, you’d wear…
A sharp shirt and formal pants, hoping that my work has spoken for me and not just my clothes!
Follow @BeingFeline on Twitter
From HT Brunch, October 1, 2017
Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch
Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch
