Where your sartorial woes are sorted by menswear maverick Narendra Kumar

On Dressing For Interview

When one means business, it’s very important that one dresses aptly. And the winning formula for most interview situations is to dress smart, clean and slick. One should base one’s judgement with regards to attire on the sort of job one is seeking – how one dresses for a corporate interview will naturally be very different from what one dons if one is auditioning as a DJ, of course.

• For most out-to-impress-for-work sprees, though, crisp, solid, full-sleeved oxford shirts, slim neckties and well-tailored suits are best bets.
• A subtle yet personal touch shows attention to detail and can make quite an impression – we’re talking about accents like cufflinks, a slim belt, tidy leather brogues, a pocket square or a simple, sleek tie-pin.
• Whatever the circumstances, the chances that your scruffy, spiky hairdo, lived-in trainers, scraggy jeans, piercings, jewellery or that funky street sling bag will impress potential hirers are bleak. Likewise, for unkempt talons and poor hygiene.

Difference Detween a Cloth And A Material

Cloth is a type of material. Metal, plastic, rubber, wood, glass, concrete are all materials; fabric or cloth is the material you craft garments out of.

On Poke Collar

A poke collar or imperial collar, as it is more widely termed, is a stiff-standing collar style. It featured extensively in men’s formal garb in the 17th and 18th centuries, and continued its dressed-up supremacy till the early 1900s.

• The most characteristic feature of the imperial collar is the lack of tabs at the front.
• It can be worn with a necktie; it also looks superb with a mandarin or band collared jacket (like the Nehru jacket).
• You will probably not find an imperial collar on shirts today, but you could always get one customized.
• It will work great for formal evenings of course, but will also look quite fantastic in a more ‘modern’ context, if teamed with jeans or smart pinstripe pants, let’s say when going to a cocktail party.

On Men Wearing Tight Jeans

As the history of Western costume tells us, men did once have a great affinity for chalk-hugging slacks. Over the last couple of decades, numerous fits and cuts have been ushered in, and yes, the recent years have witnessed a strong resurgence of clingy pants.

• Many ultra-tight, skinny bifurcates and a miscellany of snug slacks have hit men’s fashion shelves, courtesy Hedi Slimane having revolutionized menswear and brought in a skinny, daring, post-punk aesthetic at Dior Homme a few seasons ago; Ricardo Tisci at Givenchy; Maison Martin Margiela; Bruno Pieters at Hugo; and various other contemporary design houses.
• Coming back to the idea of wearing tight jeans, well, while I prefer snug straight cuts, I’d say skinny jeans are trendy and hip.
• Take a cue on sporting slim jeans from Ewan McGregor in Trainspotting – he shows how a man can achieve a cool, casual look with skinny jeans by teaming them with some fine t-shirts (or crisp cotton shirts), slick trainers, a fit, toned body and a confident, nonchalant demeanor.
• But note that the term ‘skinny’ refers to a close-to-the-body cut – these jeans are contoured; that does not mean they are crotch-crushingly ‘tight’.

On Layering

If you are bored of same shirt-and-pant or t-shirt-and-chinos routine, I’d recommend this magic word to conjure up a renewed look: Layering. Try teaming your shirts, t-shirts and other separates in newer ways. Throw on a cotton jacket over tees and shirts of varied textures and complementing hues. Mull a bit over what you can do with what you have.

Accessories like neckties, scarves, hats and belts are great ways to add that zing to any look. Try some permutations and combinations, check the results in a full-length mirror. Like it? You’re sorted. Still don’t? You’re a fashion retailer’s delight – time to swipe the cards again.