Marv is a designer and stylist who writes music and fashion with irresistible flair. Check out his blog punkturedbymarvd.blogspot.in and tune in for his fabulous musings on MissMalini.com, if you need a stylist he’s your man, marvicious@gmail.com xoxo
Between dressing up a host of celebrities and models and tipping my non-fashion male mates, I realized they all need help. Men don’t care about fashion, but they do wanna look good. So I decided to boil it down to the basics. It’s time someone did that. So here goes…
Step 1: unclutter the wardrobe.
As guys we are all lazy, messy and easily distracted. So on that Sunday, take time off you busy schedule of nothingness. Open your closet and de-clutter yourself of all unwanted garments, jean and underwear (it don’t matter even if your hottest girl gifted it to you!). Whoa… too much to handle then break it up.
- Throw away anything faded, moth-eaten and anything more than 7 years old. (denims are an exception and check pockets before throwing away, a 50 rupees note will still bring a smile to your face)
- Stock away seasonal clothes that you do not need in a suitcase, away from your daily use sections.
- Segregate clothes according to office wear, day wear, club wear, undergarments and sleepwear.
- To make this a manly affair, do all the above with a Nirvana CD playing in background and some beer.
Step 2: Get the basics.
As guys most often we reach for, rock and repeat our clothes. So make sure you have your basics in place. Apart from the usual, like a good stock of fresh underwear and socks, here is a list of basics you definitely need.
PS. There are a number of good online shopping site now in India, check-out www.freecultr.com
- Basic tees in white, black and blue: they go well with jeans, trousers, khakis and even a lungi. (It’s possible.)
- The white shirt. Grab yourself a few good white shirts for work and lounging, respectively.
- Well fitted basic jeans. Damn those acid wash, boot-cut, designer styles. Simple blue jeans forever.
- A pair of black and brown semi formal trousers and shoes. They work with everything and make sure you choose them wisely. A good pair can last you longer than you last them.
- Accessories. Stock up on ties, hats, belts and everything in this category. They are flexible to use and easy to experiment with. They’re either very much the ‘in’ thing or considered a stylish quirk!
Step 3: Experiment-Observe and modify.
Musicians and Actors tend to influence our tastes in fashion. Find out which actor is closest to your own comfort zone and pick up tips from him. Google images and find the garment in your local stores. The trick is not to mirror the entire look but just the overall feel.
Johnny Depp – his cool and trendy style comprises of hats, sunglasses, scarves, rings and careless hair. If you are the kind of guy that can experiment and are not overwhelmed by accessories then take notes from him.
Colin Firth – classy and suave, Colin’s style is very British and he plays with well cut suits in muted tones of grey and navy blue. The stress is on proper fits and impeccable tailoring. Perfect if you are the guy who lives at work and has no time to let go. (Poor you.)
Aamir Khan – The relaxed, jeans and tee shirt man. Aamir wears really cool tees that are meant for a man and not a boy. Henley, crew and round neck with well-fitted jean or chinos. These are relaxed and look casual. You can look younger without looking like a guy hitting his mid-life crisis. *cough* Shah Rukh, Salman, Akshay *cough**cough*
Step 4: Keep yourself updated.
If you’re not into picking tones out of fashion magazines or rather have no time, you just need two things. Style.com and a copy of GQ. Browse or read through once a week or through the month. It will tell you about the looks that are rocking the fashion scene and how you can get them.
- Browse through designer collections to see the styles that are being created and study them.
- Magazines like GQ will let you know where those or similar garments are available.
- Trust your eye, if you can crack business deals, then this should be a piece of cake!!!
Step 5: Shop!!! It’s not magic, be there to do it right.
Once you know what you need, where to get it and how you need to work it, get out once a month or once in two months to your known high-street stores. We don’t have the patience so it’s good to do our ground work before we step out.
- Buy basics from well-known high-street brands. They will last longer.
- If you’re buying shoes and leather goods or even business suits, save up and get the best. They sure are value for money and you’ll feel better.
- If you aren’t sure if a style suits you, try finding bargains at your local market export surplus shops. They have good deals on brands that don’t hurt the pocket. So if you need to burn the shirt later, it won’t pinch you.
If all else fails then… Get HELP!
Still not feeling up to doing it yourself? Try getting a stylist. For a fee, a stylist will do all of the above. All you have to do is pay up and trust the expert.
And if I still find you look like you did the last time, God help you! That girl across the bar will rather chill with her gay best friend than be seen around you, (at least he’ll be easier on the eye.)