Indian men inspired by international fashion

“The world of menswear fashion in India is witnessing a revolution spurred by international fashion, and it's visible by the way celebrities like megastar Amitabh Bachchan dress”, says Singaporebased menswear expert Gary Foo. "An Indian man today seems quite inspired by international fashion. I see a lot of well-dressed celebrities and industrialists in the media," the 34-year-old said, who has a decade's experience in the menswear retail industry in Singapore. Of the Indian celebrities, Foo finds Amitabh, one of the most fashionable men. Foo is currently the menswear consultant and image consultant at Pezalli, a premium bespoke menswear brand in Singapore and in India. Pezalli offers services like expert fashion consultations, advising in the choice of design details, fabric and colours that best suit each individual's physique and lifestyle. "It has and always been my interest and passion to dress up and advice people what to wear, how to wear and when to wear," he said, adding that though Indian men have crossed miles when it comes to styling, a majority of them are yet to move away from regular colours.

"The regular wearer (in India) seems to stick to staple colours like white, blue and grey for work, whether it is North India or South India. I realise that although the northern and the southern parts of India have different preference in terms of styling, the northern part seem more adventurous in wearing different colours and designs," he said. In India, a range of designers like Rohit Gandhi- Rahul Khanna, Varun Bahl, Siddhartha Tytler, Raghavendra Rathore, Rajesh Pratap Singh, Rohit Bal, JJ Valaya and Arjun Khanna cater to the burgeoning demands of the urban Indian man to dress up well for the office and for occasions. Be it ethnic or western wear, Indian men are exploring and experimenting new styles, designs and colours to move away from staple choices. And women, too are accepting the change. Men must focus on choosing the right style and fit to make heads turn with their clothes, Foo said. "One should go for tailored shirts and pants; this will ensure the correct fit and eliminate excess fabric which can look rather sloppy and untidy.

Choose colours which are light and subtle. Checks or stripes are suggested for shirts and I will recommend not more than two colours at a time. Mid to dark colours are the best combination for pants to match with shirts," said Foo. Wearing checks can be tricky, but Foo suggested that one can don both uppers and lowers with differently sized checks. This also applies for stripes. "Both the top and bottom must be properly pressed and free from stains or dirt. Belts and shoes should be of matching colours and free from dirt whenever possible," he said. When opting for a ready-to-wear shirt, men must check on the measure of two areas - the collar and the chest.