We better catch up...

Know what? We are not the fairer sex anymore. A conclusion I have reached after being in the middle of blazers and slim ties all week along while walking in and out of places like gabbana.life and Raymond. Would you believe me if I told you that I actually found a place in Chennai that customizes cufflinks?
Gone are the days when men just matched their socks to their ties, today I have a male friend who bribes me with mms to ensure I pick up his monthly copy of GQ every time I head to Landmark to grab a copy of Vogue. Of course metro sexuality has been around for quite a while now, at least since Karan Johar had SRK sporting pink and still looking just as male and ummm sexy. But I was really taken aback when sometime recently I was working on a story on sunscreens and a friend pitched in with a whole lot of interesting info on sunscreens formulated specially for men. Practical stuff that you can never read up on the web. And today if I occasionally venture to wear sunscreen on my face (something I would never have done before coz a tan is easier to handle any day than an unsightly breakout) it’s thanks to his advice of diluting one drop of sunscreen with water. Take notes women!
I love the fact that fashion is no more the monopoly of either of the sexes and infact is getting more and more androgynous by the day. Boyfriend tees work great for fat days and knowing all the effort that you put into that smoky eyed look won’t be met with a ‘why you looking like a raccoon response’, is great consolation. But then the feeling of superiority that used to ebb inside every time a male friend asks for style advice, I guess that’s something we now have to forfeit.

For the uninitiated, hers where to head
For the best blazers/ jackets/ dinner suits: gabbana.life, Khader Nawaz Khan Road. Details: 43084380
For tailor made tuxedos: Studio Bassam, Khader Nawaz Khan Road.
For the best clubwear: ZOD has an amazing collection at Lifestyle. Details: 28477788
For the best formal wear: Raymond, Mount Road.
For the quirkiest accessories: Rock, Greams Road. Details: 65287533
For the most interesting shoes: Dollars & Pounds. Details: 43514080
For stoles and scarves: Fashion folks, Adyar. Details: 244697886 or Casablanca, Nungambakkam. Details: 42141497

Good beginnings

There are two reasons why I finally got myself to sit down today, scratch my brains a little and make my very first post, a) Having just turned 23, I simply had to cross out a few more things from my list of 25 things to do before I turn 25. Time is running out you know and starting a blog definitely seemed more accomplishable as opposed to going bungee jumping or owning my own apartment b) The city is soon to host its very first fashion week and I just had to word my opinion on how this could mean so much to a destination that has always been sneered at as ‘not so fashion forward’. The good news came to me first when I was making small talk with a popular party columnist at a luncheon and then the link on facebook that promised 7 days of high fashion and the coming together of 30 designers apart from a whole lot of opportunities for budding designers, stylists and models, had me scoring the web for more info. Apparently there is not too much information available on what to expect of the event yet, except for the fact that a whole lot of people are just as excited as me and believe that this is indeed a premonition of good things to come. Shifting focus to the bigger picture, all of a sudden India seems to be global fashion’s latest muse. It wasn’t too long ago that Kenzo launched the fragrance Amour Indian Holi inspired by the Indian festival or Lancome gave us a make up collection inspired by the colours of Indian earth, but with Dior’s introduction of Escale a Pondicherry (fragrance inspired by the quaint town), we can easily claim that international designers’ current intoxication with anything Indian is no fleeting attraction and holds all possibility of turning into a full fledged fanatism. But then that’s a whole different story and you will have to wait till my next post to hear more on the topic. With styling a portfolio and a menswear shoot to look forward to during the next week, here’s hoping there will be lots more to write about when am back.