As we look forward to the New Year, new choices, newer options it’s time to update our wardrobes and follow on with the latest trends.

Year 2014 looks promising for fashionable men ever more with newer fashion weeks dedicated only to menswear have emerged. At A Quaint Perspective, we observe that men are sporting bolder colors and embracing newer silhouettes. Fashion is fun again. Here’s lowdown on the upcoming trends for coming year.

Key Trends

Casual meets Formal

Pairing a formal jacket with casual trousers is a trend none of you must miss out on. Borrowing from the formals dressing will be major trend in the coming seasons for men. Add a bow-tie to a casual shirt, a formal jacket to a pair of denims. You can wear a colorful printed pocket square with a formal suit and team it up with a tee. This is a playful trend where one can choose to be as experimental or as conservative one wishes to.

Do’s

Make sure the jacket is a clean classic one in a darker tone. Select a classic two button with a single vent in back and medium width lapels.

Do try and mix various textures in the same color tones.

You really need to be careful of the vibrancy or intensity of the colors you are matching.

Don’ts

Do not go for overtly stylized jackets.

Avoid wearing too many colors at once.

Social settings allow you to branch out and be a little more adventurous while in the workplace and functions surrounding them, a sharper and professional look is recommended.

Don’t wear a striped shirt with a striped pocket square or bow tie.

Denims are back

After the riot of colors in the last few seasons in the bottom wear the denims make a comeback. The best part is that they suit all body types ages and is one of  

Fits

Trousers/Denims get more fitted bordering on the skinny fit. Teaming up with a shirt untucked is the look to sport for a younger look. The one big advantage of the trend is that it makes you look slimmer and adds to your height.

Do’s

Try printed chinos/denims, try colors, try different washes, just ensure it complements you.

Roll up the hem of the trousers/denims up to the ankles for a more edgy look.

Wear them with formal shoes with the no socks look, the key is to get yourself foot-lets, which are socks that are not visible outside your shoes.

Don’t’s

If you are top heavy avoid too skinny options, instead choose slim pants.

Don’t tuck in your tees.

The shirt/tee should ideally end midway of your fly.

Patterns and Prints

Another of my favorite trend is the insurgence or prints for men, from ditsy to geometric to floral to quirky. It could be a shirt, a pair of chinos, T-shirt or even sock prints are everywhere. Adding a print or pattern to your wardrobe is fun and can be as loud or subtle as you would want it to be.

Have fun with prints but mixing more than two would be a risk.

Colours

Moving away from the bright colours, 2014 brings in powdered shades of our staples with Indigo as the prime colour to focus on.

Accessories

At A Quaint Perspective, we think Hats could be the new addition to your wardrobe to lift up your look. Choose from the Trilby or the Bowler currently sported by Amir Khan for Dhoom3.

When it comes to accessories in order to keep it stylish one needs to be careful as not to overdo or over complicate. Bring out your individuality by wearing what appeals to you and keep it simple. Although accessories are considered to be generic, the appeal lies in the way you choose your clothes, accessories and put them together. 

Happy 2014!

Street Style Diaries Mumbai- Koshy

I carry my rainbow with me.......Only if we could all carry our rainbows with us like Koshy does!

Koshy is definitely a Head turner, one cant not turn one's head to notice this daring girl sporting a hairstyle in all the rainbow hues. Being a hairstylist does open her up to the myriad possibilities of hairstyles but I was amazed at the perfection with which the fringed and layered cut-style-color was executed on her.

Another thing you notice instantly about Koshy is her love for piercings, I could see 8-10 visible piercings on her and I'm sure she has more. Normally heavy piercing and punctured earlobe gives you a very harsh Gothic/Punk look, but on the contrary Koshy manages to have that girly charm and feminine grace to her despite her studs and rings.

Her love for play of colors, both dyes and bleach reflect in her choice of clothes as well. She wears a flattering white camisole over a pair of washed black skinnies bleached out thighs downwards. I love the asymmetric long sleeves wrap top in white with real tie-dye in pink and the vintage washed leather bag in jade green that she carries.

Next time if I could muster up enough courage for a daring, one-of-a-kind hair, I am seeking an appointment with you.

Koshy also runs a blog called Koshywada

Koshy

Spotlight Feature- Fabian Lintott

Founded in 1978 as a two man workshop, Hidesign has grown into a global brand recognized for its quality, ecological values and personalized service. Hidesign has grown from its artisan roots to an international brand with over 60 exclusive retail stores and a distribution network across more than 20 countries.As premium luxury, Hidesign fulfills the lifestyle needs of our audience globally, at work and at leisure.  

As a ardent fan of the brand, I was thrilled at the opportunity to interview Fabian Lintott, the distinguished lead designer for men’s fashion at Hidesign.

A brief introduction of Fabian Lintott

Fabian as Hidesign’s lead international designer for men brings great innovative talent and experience to the team. Fabian comes with tremendous design experience and is among UK’s top men’s designers. He is a graduate of Central St. Martin’s College of Art and Design, London, which is regularly ranked as one of the world’s leading design schools. Fabian brings to Hidesign the British quality of quirky innovativeness in modern, urban lifestyle. He identifies himself as part of the contemporary design movement that has seen many British designers become the creative heads of several top luxury houses.

 Fabian Lintott

AQP: What is your personal style?

FL: My personal style has its roots in tradition. For special occasions, I like wearing a 3 piece suit twinned with my Omega pocket watch, but I would mix the look with a more contemporary twist and add a floral shirt or a contrasting waist coat or bright shoes.

Every day. I range from smart-casual which would be a shirt, v-neck and jeans to casual- a simple t-shirt, sweat shirt and jean combo. I would say I have an eclectic style with a touch of heritage. I like to own things with a story. For instance, my pocket watch was made in the 1900’s. I like to think about the people who have owned it before and how it has survived the test of time. I find a lot of my inspiration for my work at Hidesign by looking through our archives and looking at retro styles.

AQP: Where do you draw inspiration from?

FL: Inspiration comes from everywhere. As a designer, you have to be like a sponge soaking up all sort of information. It can be really random things that spark an idea. Anything from a maasai to a leaf in autumn. I always carry a sketch book because you never know when you might see something that will spark an idea.

AQP: Which brands do you admire globally and why?

FL: One of my favorite brand is called "the Duffer of St. George" a UK based brand. It has a very heritage feel to its collections and really makes a good pair of jeans. Ettore Sottsass is one of the designers that I really like. He’s not really mainstream. He was big in the 80’s and helped create the Memphis group. Their designs were fairly crazy but it’s their courage to try a new direction which really inspires me. It reminds me to keep strong and fight for ideas when I need to.

AQP: How is Indian market different from the rest of the world? 

FL: Deep down I don’t think there is a real difference between the Indian market and the rest of the world. We may have different cultures but our desires are much the same. We want to be respected for our choices. We want our purchases to make us feel good and our bags/accessories must continue to grow into our lives. So we are intrinsically linked to our products which evoke the memories of the journey we have taken. The items we buy express the person we are, in a way that makes us feel good about ourselves. 

AQP: What is the design philosophy behind the brand Hidesign and what is the one differentiating factor that sets it apart?

FL: Hidesign offers a unique lifestyle choice. There is a purity and dedication to our products which isn’t so apparent in other brands. We constantly strive to create products that are made with the love and commitment our customers deserve. As an international design team, the effort put into our products ensure that they are truly unique. We never sacrifice the quality of our bags at the expense of our customers. Hidesign is a brand that evokes confidence, quality and excitement when you make your purchase. There is no smoke and mirrors- what you see is what you get.

I would say my uniqueness comes from my attention to detail in my designs. It gives my bags at Hidesign a unique feel which makes my products recognizable. One of the best things about Hidesign is that we are among the few brands that offer a unique product. The whole brand package is very individual to Hidesign.I have bought a few things in since I began designing for Hidesign internationally, including the improvements in the wheeled luggage and the functionality of the bags.

AQP: What are the upcoming themes and styles for men at Hidesign?

FL: Colour continues to be the revolution hitting men’s wear and our latest collection is no different. We are seeing much braver use of colour with bright colours popping up across the catwalks. As a designer this is really exciting. We are bringing this adventurous spirit to the men's line with this collection with the Corvette range which combines our brown classic leather with a bright tan leather trim.

AQP: What is the elemental difference between designing for men and women?

FL: Men tend to like muted styles that are not too outwardly outrageous. They like to be practical and stylish. Women are into the glamour of bags and want their bags to be more noticeable, colourful and really bring a statement to their outfit.

AQP: What are the current trends in the men’s accessories?

FL: Accessories in India are very similar to the accessories you find abroad. As for Hidesign, every season, we offer the same collection across all regions.  What changes though is the product mix. Depending on the preferences, we order the styles to suit the sensibilities of the different cultures we are present in. A bag may be ordered in a black, olive and midnight blue in UK, but in India we could order it in black, red and mango green – colours that are favoured more in India. The bag remains the same but we tailor them to suit the preferences of all our customers.

Here is a sneak preview latest collection at Hidesign for Men.

Corvette Laptop Bag

Camaro Day Bag

Camaro Holdall

Corvette Weekend Tote

Ferrari Briefcase

Ferrari Day Bag

Phaeton Wheelie Briefcase

Street Style Diaries Paris -Robin Jude Le Texier

Rue Etienne Marcel has some of my favorite brands that are a must visit for me on every trip to Paris. All Saints, Diesel, Replay, Marithe+Francoise Girbaud, Sandro, Yohji Yamamoto and the multibrand store Kiliwatch. Hanging out with a bunch of his friends and chilling just outside the Replay store, I couldnt help but notice Robin Jude le Texier in his cool street smart look. One look at him and you could tell that he has some great personal style and if I am not wrong definitely involved in the creative pursuits, either music or the arts.  There is something about his aura that I've seen around artists, deep and lost-to-the-world chasing their own train of thought, elusive in spirit even in their physical presence.

Robin wears a pair of used dark denims with the hem folded up to the ankles, an amazing hand knitted ethnic-tribal-native patterned sweater, a long coat in grey and a pair of black high top shoes. He finishes his look with a black bowlers hat and a brown leather backpack. I totally dig the sweater with deep colors with such a vintage feel to it, yet so contemporary.

tre chic monsieur!

Robin Jude Le Texier

Street Style Diaries Germany- Biggie Gries

Biggie Gries is a dame full of infectious energy and spunk, independent and intelligent, she represents the zeitgeist of the 21st century modern  women. She works as a buyer for a mammoth retail giant in Germany and right now on a break to bring in a bundle of joy into this world. The glow on her face may be her imminent motherhood! I noticed her in an instant for the-envy-of-every girl naturally permed looking curly mop that she sports. Many stars like Beyonce and Halle Berry have gone to great lengths to sport this cool and sexy voluminous Afro curls, Biggie just lets them grow.

She wears a simple knitted dress in black by Zara, a pair of opaque black leggings and a supercool and comfy pair of bespoke Airstep boots, in black leather. I love this brand of shoes for their use of memory foam soles for maximum comfort and their washed and rugged yet extremely unique and distinct designs. Check them out online at http://www.airstep-online.de/

However what I love the most is her cozy gillet in luxurious black rabbit fur, or it may be faux fur. This vintage gillet is a chic layering piece for Autumn as well as winter. Biggie Gries, you are the first mamma-to-be on  my blog and what a super-chic one!

Biggie Gries

Street Style Diaries Paris - Carl Adelson

I am a big fan of the Classics and Men in uniform, and I am sure this is not the first or the last time I'm saying it.

Carl caught my eye from a distance walking up on Rue Saint Honroe, with an towering height and imposing personality befitting a 70mm star. He didn't have to do much, you never have to and that's the point! He keeps it simple in all black from top to toe right down to the sock n the gloves, you have to give a guy his white undershirt, I would. I love the choice of his footwear in leather also in black, classic and rugged.

What I love the most however is his woolen Camel Duffle Coat, with leather and horn toggles. It is a such an iconic piece reminiscent of the British Navymen in the 1950's and I am drawn to men wearing even a hint of uniform. The Duffle Coat, the only classic coat with a hood, perfected by Gloverall of England and reinterpreted by the likes of Maison Martin Margiela, is a vintage piece that's a must have for a Man's winter wardrobe, any variant you could get your hands on.

A short chat with Carl revealed that he from the Seattle, USA and in fact in the field of media and films, visiting Paris. In fact he's just finished co producing and cinematography for a film titled 'Nothing Against Life' You make the cut Carl, anyday!     

Carl Adelson

Street Style Diaries Paris- Lauren Vissir and Ellen Deinum / Mumbai Mirror Feature

It has been an overwhelming start to the year. Your blogger was featured in Mumbai Mirror along with some of the most admired fellow bloggers Akanksha Redhu and Smrithi Rao. A big thank you to Benita Fernando for the feature. Incase you missed the feature, please click here.

Thank you all my dear friends and well wishers out there. It feels good to be acknowledged for the work. Here's wishing for many more. Cheers!

Street Style Diaries Paris

Just outside  cafe Le BIS Repitita at the beginning of rue St. Honroe, I met Lauren and Ellen, two dutch girls out and about in style in the city. Lauren was playing host to Ellen who was visiting.What struck me most other than their fabulously put together layered look for the weather in the city, was their experiment with the tied scarf as a head accessory. Its got such a retro vibe and yet such a fun thing to do.

Lauren wears a black sweat shirt with a metal zipper, a 80's grunge style washed colored burgundy denim jacket and layers it with a chic biker jacket in black leather. A snug black scarf protects and keeps her neck warm. She wears a black protective pair of leggings with her biker boots also in black leather, and a trendy half opaque half sheer skirt with a slit in grey melange.The rouge from her head scarf, her lips and her denim jacket highlights her look and gives her the Parisian chic air.

Ellen chooses to play with textures for her ensemble in grey and black. She wears this double breasted tweed jacket in an enlarged herringbone pattern and throws in a scarf to match on a jacquard pattern. Ellen chooses a tote in leather that adds to the texture play. I love her choice of rings and the turquoise from her ring and the headscarf lift up her whole look.

Goede dag meisjes!     

Ellen Deinum and Lauren Vissir

Ellen Deinum and Lauren Vissir

My favorite romantic city - Paris

Happy New Year

Paris is the city of my dreams. Its perfect in every way that I think about it, and every now and then your blogger is there to touch perfection and come back all inspired. 

Paris shoulders the cultural heritage spanning more than 10,000 years and yet manages to wow us. It has an unparalleled collection of arts in all its fathomable forms, fine arts, sculpture, haute couture, you name it, the French can turn anything under the sun into an art-form. Is displays mind boggling representations of various  architectural forms from Medieval and Neo-Roman to the post modernist and everything in between; yet one finds such uniformity that every frame, no matter where you stand is picture perfect morning, day or night!

Its iconic and preserved  monuments make Paris one of the most visited tourist destinations. The melt-in-your-mouth gourmet desserts, from mousse du chocolat to creme brulee, from the tarts to the delicate macaroons, from the madelines.....oh I could go on, make you taste a slice of heaven in every bite. 

I love the morning ritual of starting my day with a warm butter croissant and a coffee when I am in Paris and I know everyone does it.

I have to be reigned in when I get out shopping onto Champ Elysee, Rue du Rivoli, Rue Saint Honroe, or Rue Etienne Marcel; almost everyone of these streets is capable of making me compel to loosen my purse-strings. I am in the Fashion capital of the world, its natural.

I'll leave you with some images that left me enchanted and obvoiusly follow it up with some very interesting people that I met.....so keep watching this space.

Au Revoir Paris and I'll be back soon...