DRESS WITH NO RULES- MEN

Clothing styles have evolved, intersected and influenced our breathe today. With a growing liberal attitude, there hardly seems to be a rule-book made which defines dress codes for us. Be it men or women, everything is loved if it looks good on you. The important thing about it is- you look good when you are comfortable in it.

Roaming around the streets of Bangalore, I could sense liberty by the way men dress today. The mantra is being confident and comfortable. I could not feel anything but happy to explore so many interesting men who gave up looking for high fashion and instead made them a brand.

Accessorizing beard with beads, tattoos on the body, men carrying raw totes with loud messages on them, wearing printed shirts, decking in leather vests and bags, printed pants nowhere close to the blue and black stripes or checks... These were the finds of liberal men. 

The expression of connecting fashion with the self- not influenced by the trends or forecasts, but by the inner soul. You might love music or you might hum mantras, you might practise yoga or you  might be a lazy ass- each character shall be expressed uninfluenced. 

Cheers

Pranita

Reporting from Germany- STYLE Inspirations for MEN

“Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.”

- Mark Twain  

Fashion is for all. Brimming over for women, thoughtful enough for men! So thoughtful, that I had to take Bindigasm all the way to Germany to catch hold of some inspiration for men.

So, men! Here are some style inspirations for you. After all, its the way you look that makes everybody look back at you (until you have actually done something really funny/embarrassing ;))

#1 Denims never fail.

#2 Try Nautical- White + navy. Red accent.

#3 Casual Cargo looks- accessorize.

#4 Messenger bags + causal shoes.

#5 Colors. Bright. Lively.

#6 Colors. Bright. Lively again.

#7Almost casual look.

#8 A few strikings. Neon. Turq. Mustard.

#9 The grungy mechanical look.

#10 Smart Lines

#11 Suit up!

#12 Oh so floral!? 

#13 Thanking Mr. X :)

So? Inspired? 

Image courtesy- Rahul Ranjan. :)

Cheers

THE CUPID OF YESTERYEAR!!

The first Indian actor to be called a superstar in Bollywood Rajesh Khanna passed away a few days ago at 70. Known for his romantic and chirpy character, he was the most desirable one of his times. Popular as Kaka , he did around 163 films in his career and co-starred with almost all the iconic actresses of those times- Hema Malini, Sharmila Tagore, Mumtaz, Tina Munim, Asha Parekh etc. Not only female actors, male actors like Amitabh Bachchan have acknowledged him above par to them.

I tried collecting some of his style staples. Believe it or not, the truth is – ‘The generation above us was definitely crazy about him as we are today for Ranbir Kapoor or Shah Rukh Khan as the cupid of Bollywood.’

One fact being that most of the roles he played were of a common man who belonged to a middle class family. So, his fashion statement had a fatheaded influence over the men in those times. Can you relate your dad wearing kurta trouser combo or a safari suit when he was young? Acknowledge kaka for the style inspiration!

Here are some of his classic style statements-

GURU KURTAS PAIRED UP WITH TROSUERS

Inspired originally from the dressing of the gurus then- Kaka made the standing collar kurta an essential element of the common man. Not just this, you could see them in all the bright and lively colors. Remember the song from kati patang with Asha Parekh- jis gali mein tera ghar balma, he wore a shiny tan colored kurta with a staright fit trouser. Man, there was a revolution going on!

Rajesh Khanna wearing a guru kurta collar in the movie Safar.

DHOTIS

"Arrey o babumushoy, hum to rangmanch ki kathputliyan hain jiski dor us upar wale ke haathon main hai kab, kaun kahan uthega ye koi nahin janta". Not that he was a Bengali, but his role surely created waves. Cladding a statement kurta with a dhoti in movies like Amar Prem, was yet another distinctive style of inspiration.

The Bengali babu in Amar Prem- Rajesh Khanna

PRINTED NECK SCARVES

Flaunting off a casual romantic look in a neck scarf over bell-bottomed trousers was fashionable then. Here’s one picture of Kaka from Raaz – decked up all romanticing!

Rajesh Khanna from the movie raaz wearing neck scarf.

ETHNIC WAISTCOAT

I also sometimes relate them to a Patrakaar’s attire. Kurta-pajama-wasitcoat and a bag.

The style became famous from his movie kudrat with Hema Malini and today we see so many versions of the same waistcoat, even in ceremonial wear.

Rajesh Khanna in ethnic waistcoat- Then and Now!

SAFARI SUITS

Yeah, I can recollect my dad’s old pictures wherein he wore a safari suit with those wide-legged bell bottomed pants. Totally an outfit from the 60’s. Those beautiful suits and trousers.

The much appreciated style of safari suits and other- Rajesh Khanna

And today that we draw our inspiration from the retro and the vintage looks, Rajesh Khanna’s styles are one prominent thing to for inspiration. He may have gone away, but his style wouldn't go! Here's an extract from Anand.

Sources:

in.com, indianexpress.com, youtube.com, www.daijiworld.com

cheers
Pranita

Captured- Windsor Hat, Kurta and canvas shoes

Style today has definitely become sensitive to comfort more than the typical idea of showing off. It’s a personal choice then, to make it look stylish or funky or just giving a comfort statement.

I captured Snehashish one evening in a total fusion outfit. With a Windsor hat on his head, cotton Kurta and black canvas shoes, he spoke of comfort with an untraditional mind. A smart casual dressing for summers. Hat protects the hair, cotton Kurta keeps stay cool and canvas shoes let you walk long.

Guys- Let go you casual 'Tee and Denim' style. Think with a hat on! 

Thanks Snehashish for the click. :)

Cheers

From the cradle to the grave- lies a haircut and a shave.

Fashion isn't just restricted to clothes; females and brands! Men have their own fashion taste to groom themselves. Every individual personality is broadcasted by the looks. Their hairstyles have been their expression since Samson met Delilah.


Many take their hair for granted, while others take care about their personal style. A lot more men are expanding out their hair to layered and spiky lengths for a much trendier fashionable appearance. I have seen so many freaking hairstyles on men in college- from curls hanging free longer than a Punjabi mundi’s hair; dirty deadlocks not cleaned since 2 months to guys shaving their heads when they were freshers! And in between comes miscellanea of other hairstyles in men.

Well, it’s a personal choice. And it surely changes with time and that smartness factor in you. How often do you change your hairstyle? How much time do you take setting your hair? Do you brainstorm and study all the popular faces in the media?

so, finally here's my post on grooming for men!

We will have a look from men’s fashion catwalks of A/W12 and popular faces highlighting trends in men hairstyles.
But also, All doesn’t suit All! So, some tips about hairstyles based on features, looks and structure of face and head circumference in men.

TIPS FIRST

• For those who have square faces, you need to make a haircut that will soften your overall look by making wispy hair run across your forehead. Bangs are recommended for they can hide the corners of your face. Avoid square cut at the top of your head.
• For the round faces, you may want to downplay the roundness by making a square cut hairdo. Simple square-cut hair style with blunt edges looks good on the round face. The hairstyle you choose needs to reduce the look of roundness.
• For boys with oval shaped faces, the perfect hairstyle for them is one that will make their face look shorter. Side brushed haircut with swept bangs will be a good choice for it draw attention to the top or your face instead of the bottom. This style looks great on men with wider foreheads.
• Some people will have a mixture of shapes and facial characteristics, so you will have to decide which hairstyle is right for you. However, always keep in mind that you want to enhance your good features.

references and pictures
showhairstyle
ehow

TRENDS 

THE GODFATHER- GELLED AND COMBED BACK.

RYAN GOSLING- PARTED. SIDED.

DAVID BECKHAM- SWEEP OVER. OLD SCHOOL. SIDE PARTED

AL PACINO- WET AND DRY.

BRADLEY COOPER- TEXTURES. 

JASON STATHAM- LOW MAINTENANCE. BUZZ CUT

JIM PARSONS- THE SHORT AND SWEET.

ASHTON KUTCHER- AM A MESSY BOY!

ROBERT PATTINSON- THE CURLIES.

JUSTIN BIEBER- FRINGE BENEFITS. RETRO

HAIR STAND-UP.

THE LENGTHY PHENOMENON

CHOPPED LAYERS

BOXY. SIDE SHORTENED. 

SIDE. CLEAN. WET

COMBED AND UNCOMBED

Some Indian faces now! Although they keep on changing their hairstyles every now and then. 

CURLS. SWEPT BACK. VOLUME. LONG

SIDE. GELLED LOOK.

FRINGES. STRAIGHT.

SIDE. LONG. GELLED. SHINY. WET LOOK.

so, here was a study over different hair styles worn in fashion. ofcourse, trial and errors and jokes upon you will make you look smart one day! 

Calling a man who shows interest in his hair or, more generally speaking, takes pride in his appearance is somewhat dated. If you care for your hair, you could care for the rest. So, guys, get started and groom yourself up!

READY FOR TANGO?

KEYWORD- TANGERINE

People! Time for getting in your shoes and do the Tango!

Pantone color Institute has announced Tango Tangerine as the color of the year 2012.


                Roses need not be red now! Orange roses suggest a deeper love affair.
                                                                                                               - Vogue, January 2012 

Chosen because of its “sophisticated and dramatic undertones,” Tangerine Tango (Pantone 17-1463) is a continuation of last year’s winner, Honeysuckle (Pantone 18-2120). The 2011 winner was said to be “inspiration to face life’s everyday troubles with verve and vigour,” with Tangerine Tango building off of that by giving an “energy charge” to move forward. Pretty dramatic language, but these people take their colours seriously.

-newsfeed.com

Seems like its a mixture of emotions and reactions and observations! A marriage of the adrenaline rush of red and the warmth of yellow!

Let’s have a look at the tangerine mood and some tips/looks to show how you can use the colour to discharge its prominence or make it your accent! Colors are picked up from fashion, film, technology, art, popular travel destination, and “other socio-economic conditions.”

Tangerine is being picked up by fashion influencers and young consumers. Brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Christopher Kane, Mark Fast, Hermès, Dior, Marc Jacobs Nanette Lepore and Elie Tahari have shown the love for tangerine in their SS12 collections.

Nanette Lepore SS12 Collection 

Elie Tahari  SS12 Collection    

• Tangerine stands out when used with white and black. So, it shows effectiveness in posters, signs etc. Its used as a point of sale to attract attention and make more of a fashion statement than using red, yellow or brasher alternatives.

• MAKE-UP lovers, don’t worry, you’ll get something for your lips, nails and cheeks too. The color is rushing all over the fashion domain.

• Check out how you can get inspired to wear the dramatic color-

When paired with brown, it brings out an amber cast.

   It has a deeper, more complex aspect than the more obvious brash pop colors.

Use it to dress fun, enticing and exotic windows

•  If you still feel, its too much of a color, you can always go for accessories in tangerine with subtle shades in clothes! Be it bags or shoes or jewelry pieces.

ACCESSORIZE WITH FLASHES OF TANGO ON A SUBTLE STYLE

Images- WGSN/ clicked

Happy Tango!

cheers!