Sunday 29 July 2012

THE SHORT STORY

I am not a great believer of trends as such and roll my eyes when I read about articles that say this is what you should wear to follow the latest trends. Rather than trends, I like to follow the general mood of fashion. I do believe in change because of ubiquity; when the whole world is wearing something you want to move on to the next thing. And speaking of ubiquity, there is nothing more common than checked shorts in the world of  menswear. Its a craze that started some time ago and a 'trend' that's been flogged to death.


So what's the alternative in these days when it still hot or it rains often and shorts are the best thing to wear out? Tailored shorts came (back) in fashion probably due to Thom Browne or those suave South European men who are snapped wearing them in summer. You don't see many men still wearing them in India (unless you are in a country club) and hip retailers are selling them so they make perfect sense.




Zara does 'trendy' clothes better than anyone else. Their sale is currently on and they have a wide offering of shorts. My particular favourite is this whimsical pair of linen shorts. They come in black or beige (standard safe colours). They sit some inches above the knee and come with a cuffed hem which contrasts with the formal feel. The special touch is the raffia belt that boasts some burnished metal hardware. The whimsical touch is that the belt is not removable and means having another belt is redundant. Plus no drawstring which means these just have to fit you well in whatever size they come. Zara does some other linen and cotton versions as well which are worth checking out (if they are still available on sale).

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Wednesday 11 July 2012

STOMPING AROUND WITH SUPERDRY



A visit to Mumbai’s Phoenix Mall alerted me to the fact that the hip brand Superdry is coming to town. For those not in the know, Superdry is a cool Japanese streetwear label. Wait a moment! Is it Japanese? Well, they have Japanese lettering next to the English label….. Actually if you want to make your label super-cool, just make it look like it originates from Japan. That’s what a clever company did with Superdry, channeling American streetwear through Japan’s cool-cred when it has its origins in good old UK!
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However, Superdry is hip; with or without the Jap lettering. And its pricey too; think of price points somewhere around Diesel’s and you’ll get the picture. Besides clothes, Superdry does really wicked accessories (actually I think their accessories are better than their clothes). Recently on a holiday trip, I managed to get my hands on Superdry’s New Trawler Boots. These are the boots of my dreams!

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These shoes are great if you want big boots with a rocker/pioneer feel. The leather is great; there is a deliberate distressed feel to it which is subtle enough but not overpowering. The detailing is great: striped lining, dark soles, button-down tabs….The shoelaces are also leather and extra long so you can lace the shoe incomplete and then tie the laces around your lower calves, above the ankle. The best way to wear these is to tuck your jeans (keep them straight, narrow or skinny) inside the boots. Though I wore these appropriately on an American Wild West outing, these are equally perfect for a wet day since the rains are around the corner. You can stomp around without getting your jeans dirty in the muck!
Wearing black version of Trawlers at an appropriate  hilly location!