5 men’s summer fashion tips for newbies

This blog post is dedicated to all men who hesitate to experiment with their look (you all know who you are!). These mini-lessons will show you the way to an updated look for the season without stepping too far away from your comfort zone.

Ladies, if you know such hesitant, reluctant and boring men (and I’m sure you do!), use this guide as an inspirational piece to experiment on the men in your life, or push them to try out something new. 🙂

PS: Don’t miss the newbie tips, specially written for very reluctant men.

Think beyond checks: Printed shirt

So, printed shirts have been around for a couple of seasons already. But of course you’ve been sticking to solids and checks, right? You know something? Prints are not bad. Chosen carefully, the right prints for your personality and body type will make a strong statement about you.

Newbie tip: Florals freaking you out? Opt for “safer” prints like little dots and squares, or tiny abstract patterns. Just make sure the prints aren’t too big, too colourful or too eye-catching.

Shirt from 16stitches.com

16 stitches printed shirt

Get summer-ready: Linens

Linen blazers are a no-brainer for summer. They can look formal, and can be dressed up for an outdoors wedding or dressed down for a summer soiree.

Newbie tip: Choose a light, neutral shade that will go with almost all your shirts- such as off-white or light beige.

Look from Arrow

Arrow beige linen blazer

50 shades and more: Coloured shoes

Too many men have only black and tan shoes in their wardrobe. It’s time to add some colour—greens, beiges, blues… they’re all there!

Newbie tip: Start with a colour that’s already in your wardrobe, such as blue. Select a pair of shoes that’s similar or goes well with the chosen colour…. And you’re set.

Shoes from Mochi

Mochi green loafer shoes

Be playful: Round sunglasses

Aviators are a classic statement, but everyone’s wearing them all the time. If you’ve got the pizzazz, you can carry these off. And no, it won’t make you look girly. But it might just make you look like the cute teen you were once. 🙂

Newbie tip: Play safe with a round-ish frame with neutral colour rims.

Sunglasses from Fastrack

Fastrack red round sunglasses

Go retro: Bow tie

Maybe it’s to do with the Downton Abbey craze (of course men love the show too). Bow ties are making a comeback. And not just with tuxedoes or black tie events. The 21st century bow ties are quirky, cheeky and easy to wear. It’s perfectly alright to wear the “readymade” ones.

Newbie tip: To start with, choose a no-frills bow tie without patterns or prints. Wear your bow tie with a light-coloured solid shirt (such as white or baby blue), and stick to a similar colour scheme.

Bow tie from The Bro Code

The Bro Code Blue Bow Tie

Chic 2012: Best fashion ads of the year

Chic 2012: Best fashion ads of the year

Fashion ecommerce sites ruled the fashion ad space in 2012. And they caught attention with the decades-old funda- Sex sells!

Myntra-Lisa Haydon-a

Myntra’s Hottest December Sale promo had gorgeous Lisa Haydon doing a striptease on primetime television. I’m sure I’m not the only one who initially mistook it for a Fastrack commercial.

The BeStylish promo was about sexy shoes and seduction. Enough to excite shoe lovers and then some!

And Tanishq brought in a refreshing change to boiler-plate jewellery advertising with their Mia commercials. Go-getter office girls dealing with real problems like parking space and not-so-good appraisals.

Special Mention: Fashion videos

Anita Dongre’s Jaipur Bride was beautifully shot and made every woman want to be an Indian bride.

Fastrack’s Like Bunnies We Multiply was funny, irreverent and unconventional. Just like the brand!

Which fashion commercial / video did you enjoy this year?

This is the first in a series of posts rounding up the Indian fashion scene in 2012.

Chic Guide: Top 5 things to do this week

Chic Guide: Top 5 things to do this week

Buy: Lush Color Cosmetics

I was lucky enough to get my hands on some Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics’ brand-new Emotional Brilliance colour range. This range consists of lip colours, eyeliners and eye shadows, along with skin tints and a translucent powder. The pigments are named after emotions/ feelings like Independent, Fantasy, Passion etc. I tried the lip colours (they come in cute glass bottles which can recycled) and I love the way they don’t “feel” like a typical lipstick or lip gloss, they last long too. I also loved the Feeling Younger skin tint which brightens skin and can be used as an under eye concealer. I usually mix it with my moisturizer and spread evenly over my face and neck.

Lush cosmetics colours

Available at Lush stores worldwide.

Pre-order: Powder Room

I discovered Powder Room: The Untold Story of Indian Fashion by Shefalee Vasudev on Flipkart recently, and was fascinated by the summary. Written by a former fashion editor, it offers an inside view of Indian fashion through interviews with leading names in the industry, and “… [the book] mirrors how and why India does fashion.” I’ve booked my copy already.

Powder Room

Available for pre-order on Flipkart.com for Rs 399.

Talk about: Olympics fashion

Now that everyone’s talking about Olympics 2012, it’s time to brush up on Olympics fashion. So here goes: Stella McCartney did the British uniforms, while the Italian kits were designed by Emporio Armani (though Prada’s done the sailing team’s outfits).

And there was a very unsportsman-like controversy about Ralph Lauren’s uniforms for the American contingent- they were apparently made in China which caused quite a furore in the US of A. And a US senator wanted the uniforms to be burned! The official statement from Ralph Lauren doesn’t completely deny that the uniforms are not made in China or elsewhere. Outsourcing (in fashion and other industries) is a stark reality in the 21st century, so why this pretense of patriotic outrage?

BTW, no one seems to know who’s created the Indian uniforms. Fingers crossed.

Retro eyes: Catty glares, luxury glasses

From affordable to luxury, there’s options for everyone looking to accessorise their eyes. Get catty with Fastrack’s new Cat Eye sunglasses that are easy on the pocket. Or kiss your boring dailywear chashma goodbye, and get your hands on Chrome Hearts black and white rimmed eyewear. Their latest model comes with a .925 sterling silver Chrome Hearts “plus” motif. Never mind the price. It’s Rs 63,450. Surprised smile

Below: Fastrack Cat Eye sunglasses

Fastrack Cat Eye sunglasses

Below: Chrome Hearts sight eyewear

Chrome Hearts EASY_BK-WT

 

Fastrack is available at leading Fastrack stores across India (Cat Eye sunglasses from Rs 1695 to 2095).

Chrome Hearts eyewear is available at leading opticians in Mumbai, New Delhi and Bangalore.

Shop: For your kids

Moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas, if your kids aren’t spoilt for choice yet, they will be now! Kidology’s new collection is in stores, Tommy Hilfiger Childrenswear stores are opening all over, and Nee & Oink are now available at Atosa, Chamomile and Mal. So step into any shopping neighbourhood in Mumbai, open your wallet and watch your kids turn into fashionistas. 😉

Below: Nee & Oink

Kids-Nee&Oink

Chic Videos: Rohit Verma’s upcoming Style Strip, Fastrack’s banned ad (shocking stuff!)

Remember fashion designer (but more of a choreographer) Rohit Verma on Bigg Boss season 3? The super emo guy who cried and danced and was forced to keep mum? Here he is in two different umm… looks:

Rohit Verma1 Rohit Verma2

We’ve just learnt that Rohit Verma will soon have his own TV show called Style Strip on Zoom TV. From the promo, it seems like Rohit will be playing fashion police and tearing people’s sartorial choices apart. While we don’t have much to say about Rohit’s own styling after seeing the promo, we’re hoping the show is b****y and nasty. Let the claws come out, RV!

We only hope Rohit is as entertaining on Style Strip as he was on Bigg Boss 3 (wink, wink!).

Take a look at the promo:

Style Strip starts Aug 9, 6 pm on Zoom TV.

Fastrack’s banned ad: not suitable  for TV viewing

A teenaged girl (face not shown) gyrates to thumping music and does a striptease of sorts as she takes off her bra (with her tee still on). IT’s OFF! The bra, and 20% on watches and sunglasses at Fastrack.

So what if the ad is banned on TV? The Fastrack folks have been only too happy to put it online and we’re sure thousands of pimply-faced teen boys are even happier. Racy stuff, we say, but very clever and gutsy advertising.

What do you think about the banned Fastrack TV commercial?

Chic accessories for every budget: ‘Coz it’s still summer!

Even as the first rain showers pour down in Mumbai, we’ve not forgotten that the hot weather is still around and most parts of the country will continue to bear the heat for a few weeks. And we summer accessories continue to rank high on our shopping list.

Alas, if only there was plenty of dough to buy every accessory we ever wanted! Well dahlings, there ain’t enough, so we’ve carefully picked the coolest summer accessories, based on price!

The accessories are affordable, and will keep you well for the next few weeks. 🙂

To make things simpler, we’ve broken up our prices into categories: Rs 500-1000, Rs 1000-2500 and Rs 2500-5000. And hey, the accessories labelled “Chic steal!*” cost less than Rs 500!

So take a take a look at our accessories of choice. Enjoy! (PS—refer to the guide below the fashion board to know where you can buy them).

Chic jewellery, hats and sunglasses

Chic summer accessories- jewellery, hats, sunglasses

Guide:

  1. Necklace from Marks & Spencer
  2. Cuff from Marks & Spencer
  3. Necklace from Aldo Accesories
  4. Flower burst Ring from Toniq
  5. Sunglasses from Fastrack
  6. Bleicher sunglasses from Aldo
  7. Sunglasses from Puma
  8. Hat from Aldo

Chic bags and shoes

Summer bags and shoes (accessories)

Guide:

  1. Two-tone fabric messenger bag from Zara
  2. Floral quilted messenger bag from Mango
  3. White handbag from Mango
  4. Betsy clutch from French Connection
  5. Red sandals from Tresmode
  6. Pumps from Tresmode
  7. Plaited sandals from Zara
  8. Flats with floral fabric from Catwalk

Chic accessories for every budget: ‘Coz it’s still summer!

Even as the first rain showers pour down in Mumbai, we’ve not forgotten that the hot weather is still around and most parts of the country will continue to bear the heat for a few weeks. And we summer accessories continue to rank high on our shopping list.

Alas, if only there was plenty of dough to buy every accessory we ever wanted! Well dahlings, there ain’t enough, so we’ve carefully picked the coolest summer accessories, based on price!

The accessories are affordable, and will keep you well for the next few weeks. 🙂

To make things simpler, we’ve broken up our prices into categories: Rs 500-1000, Rs 1000-2500 and Rs 2500-5000. And hey, the accessories labelled “Chic steal!*” cost less than Rs 500!

So take a take a look at our accessories of choice. Enjoy! (PS—refer to the guide below the fashion board to know where you can buy them).

Chic jewellery, hats and sunglasses

Chic summer accessories- jewellery, hats, sunglasses

Guide:

  1. Necklace from Marks & Spencer
  2. Cuff from Marks & Spencer
  3. Necklace from Aldo Accesories
  4. Flower burst Ring from Toniq
  5. Sunglasses from Fastrack
  6. Bleicher sunglasses from Aldo
  7. Sunglasses from Puma
  8. Hat from Aldo

Chic bags and shoes

Summer bags and shoes (accessories)

Guide:

  1. Two-tone fabric messenger bag from Zara
  2. Floral quilted messenger bag from Mango
  3. White handbag from Mango
  4. Betsy clutch from French Connection
  5. Red sandals from Tresmode
  6. Pumps from Tresmode
  7. Plaited sandals from Zara
  8. Flats with floral fabric from Catwalk