The Faceless Hustler

The hustle never ends, said Tony Soprano once. Entirely different context maybe, but rightly so. It’s tough trying to be seen in a crowd where there’s several others doing the same thing you’re doing.

It’s taken me a short while (some would say) to reach where I have. But this isn’t even close to what I dream of achieving and I know the road ahead is long af. Yeah, everyone has big dreams, and everyone’s a dreamer; but not everyone’s a hustler. The hustle comes from within and you gotta fight it out till the very end. The only catch is, there is no end!

I began my journey as a blogger 10 months ago. And through these 10 months I have had to constantly remind myself that this is a ‘personal’ style blog; that the journey is going to be one hell of a rocky ride and because this is my personal style, it’s not going to be well-received more than often. It takes a lot to stay true to yourself and that’s where the hustle begins and continues.

I didn’t know where this would go when I started. But I never wanted to be seen as a one-trick-pony. So, when people ask me what my style is, I have no answer. Experimental is what it is. I’ve seen my style evolve pretty much with every blog post. I’ve gone from Boho to Street to Whimsical to Androgynous to Afro and here I am now at Street again!

 

WEARING:

Jersey | DANK

Shorts | Zara

Leggings | ASOS

Accessories | Colaba 

Sneakers | Zara

 

Shot by The Co Lab

 

The Afro Punk

What is Afro Punk?

Afro Punk is a platform for the alternative and experimental. Originating with the 2003 documentary titled Afro Punk that highlighted an African American presence in the Punk scene, Afro Punk is a huge movement with a short history that began as a movement after the film was aired. It was a hand-shot footage that explored the ways in which African American Punks identify within the Punk and hardcore scenes.

Out of the Afro Punk documentary, spawned the music festival Afro Punk Fest in 2005. It aimed to highlight black musicians and artists with a festival dedicated to skate culture, Punk, rap and alternative music. It is an entire subculture dedicated to celebrating multiculturalism in the alternative scene. It continues to be a huge event in Brooklyn to date!

The Style

Trying to find an inherent style that runs throughout the entire movement that is AfroPunk is impossible! The clothes they rock are just as diverse as the flood of faces you might find at the yearly fest. But there are some commonalities that tie the community together.

The look is Punk rock mixed with strong ethnic vibes: vintage ethnic pieces, tribal prints, and the hair of course! Beautiful full afro’s or some shaved into afro-hawks, dyed into unnatural colours, cornrows, weaves, dreads, and more killer creative styles you couldn’t summarise in less than a paragraph. Oh and we can’t forget the massive skate style influences with skate shoes, urban styles and a skateboard under an arm.

This, here, is my interpretation of Afro Punk.

 

WEARING:

Vest | Custom made

Harem pants | Forever21

Shoes | Zara

Accessories | Mango/ Mister by Mawi for Koovs/ House of Blondie

 

Shot by The Co Lab

The Anti-Fit Establishment

Did you hear that it was a stinking 47 degrees outside yesterday? And we’re only halfway into the season right now. With Delhi Summers getting warmer by the year (or at least it seems like that), there’s only so long that you can stick to your regular T-shirts and your trusty old pair of jeans.

I, for one, keep comfort foremost. And then comes style. The solution? Anti-Fit Clothing.

Tapered fits and slim cuts have been staples in our wardrobes for as long as we can remember, and for good reason too. To look your sharpest, clothes that fit well are essential. But spinning this rule on its head is the anti-fit trend. Boys, take a note here. Although it does take a little getting used to, what’s better than running weekend errands or chilling with a beer on a Sunday in loose, comfy clothes?

Ready-to-wear label Kapda by Urvashi Kaur, is one such line that is inspired by this trend. Spelling comfort and street-wear, this label uses easy and wearable summer fabrics including linen, denim and cottons. What makes this label a growing favourite for me is the fact that it works on an androgynous model and it carries some of my favourite silhouettes, including the harem/ dhoti, layers and drapes. The pieces can be easily paired with each other and can be worn in different ways.

The Grey Denim Button Down Oversized Shirt and the Black Cotton Jersey Dhoti Pant from the label made for perfect vacation clothing for me.

 

 

 

WEARING:

Shirt | Kapda by Urvashi Kaur

Pant | Kapda by Urvashi Kaur

Shoes | Banjaaran

Sunglasses | Tocca di Legno

Accessories | Tibetan Refugee Market/ Anjuna Flea Market

 

Shot by The Co Lab

The Forgotten Fortress

Now you wouldn’t expect to feel like you’re in South Italy when you go to Goa. Portugal, yes, maybe. But this place had me feeling like I wasn’t where I was at all!

I’m a sucker for history and naturally, I love all broken down monuments and forts and such. This detour wasn’t even on the agenda, but I was driving around Reis Magos one afternoon just to soak in the beautiful Portuguese architecture in this area, and before I could get to it, I drove past this mother of a fort on a steep hill right along the Mandovi. I had never before even heard of this place or known that it existed. But I had to go in.

This fort has so much interesting history behind it, and I had the guard take me around and tell me all of it. Apparently, this fort, after having served as a defense to Old Goa for over 4 centuries, was also converted into a jail in the 50’s up until ’93! They even have isolation units and crack windows and holes in the ground which were used to pass food through, as well as to pour hot oil onto the captured convicts

It was then ordered for restoration in 2007 and re-opened only recently in 2012 and stands beautiful next to a church as well. Would recommend everyone to have a walk through.

But enough amateur history lessons from me. Moving on to the style bit, good old #RobeLife continues to live on, courtesy A&A of course, who are launching The Robe Lives, their very own brand and online shop for these beauties soon. The Weekender Duffel bag by Brandless makes for my all time favourite travel essential; ideal for weekend getaways. And to finish off the look perfectly, tasseled handcrafted Woven Mocassins by Modello Domani, that translate seamlessly from day to night, and can be worn formally as well.

 

WEARING:

Robe | The Robe Lives

T-shirt | H&M

Harem | Forever21

Duffel Bag | Brandless

Shoes | Modello Domani

Hat | H&M

Accessories | Tibetan Refugee Market/ Anjuna Flea Market

 

Shot by The Co Lab

Sand in my Beard

I’m not the regular North Goa kind. I’m not even the Goa kind to be honest. I don’t like hopping on to floating casinos, or hitting the clubs or partying till 7am in the morning covered in neon paint. When I go to a beach, I walk along the shore, I swim, I whale, I stare at the sun before it begins to set, and continue for hours even after it sets. And then I swim some more. I like coming back home with a truck load of sand, in my shoes and in my beard.

So if any of you recognise the location, you get me. This not-so-famous beach was the best thing I could’ve done in Goa. And I intend on keeping it my secret. I drove for more than an hour, away from the “off-season” crowd just to find myself some real peace and some real beach. And this is where I felt “Goa”. This is where I found my place in Goa.

Going back to my Black & White (clothing) habits, I wear here a super comfy linen shirt by Urvashi Kaur, with a breathy white cotton dhoti by MintBlush Designs. Now that I’m back in blazing Delhi, I really might live in these two for the next few summer months.

To add some sea and colour, these sneakers by Banjaaran are a custom dyed leather pair, with a mustard brogue detail that won me over! And of course, these absolutely beautiful eco-friendly (!), handcrafted reflectors in hardwood by Tocca di Legno, that’s going to pull me through the summer.

 

 

WEARING:

Shirt | Urvashi Kaur

Dhoti Pants| MintBlush Designs

Shoes | Banjaaran

Sunglasses | Tocca di Legno

Duffel Bag | Brandless

Accessories | Anjuna Flea Market / Sarojini Nagar Market

 

Shot by The Co Lab

BeardsEyeView for Manish Arora X Koovs

I’m a fan of all things crazy. And Manish Arora defines crazy. So far though, only the ladies have been lucky.

So what did I do when I found out that Manish Arora is working on launching his first ever affordable range menswear collection in collaboration with Koovs? (Shut up and take my money, right?!) I broke my bank and bought pretty much everything in plain sight. Shopping is my one and only vice that I can never give up. Try and make me.

For the first look, I’ve paired the Hive Print Vest with the matching Shorts, my Black Fedora and a customised Shark Teeth red sneaker by Zara. Bracelets, ring and the pendant are all by the Mister by Mawi collection for Koovs.

For the second look, I’ve paired an oversized Hive Print Shirt with a Black drop crotch trouser pant by the label Kapda by Urvashi Kaur, and a white lace-up & loop sneaker by Zara.

Shot by The Co Lab by the churches in Old Goa, this story is very close to my heart and true to my style.

 

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The Ikat Story (Part Deux) : BeardsEyeView X NBNW

I am on a quest to explore my Indian-ness. And dress more Indian and wear more Indian fabrics and textiles. My favourite thus far has been Ikat. Ikat is pretty much everywhere these days, as trendy as anything ancient can ever claim to be. This fabric knows no bounds, and I have seen it around taking shape in every colour and every form possible.

My love for Ikat grew even more when I came across these beautiful Andhra Ikat weave buttondown shirts by NorBlack NorWhite. These Canadian-Indian designers are doing one heck of a job using this textile so seamlessly within their designs, their Bomber Jackets and Shirts being my favourites!

Here’s how I styled this classic piece, which also has an asymmetric hem, that won me over. I think every man should have one of these timeless pieces in his wardrobe. And the hat, of course.

WEARING:

Shirt | NorBlack NorWhite

Harem Pants | Forever21

Hat | H&M

Shoes | Aldo

Accessories | Tibetan Refugee Market/ Janpath

 

Shot by The Co Lab

The Ikat Story : BeardsEyeView X NBNW

Taking cue from my previous blog post, my wardrobe has been suddenly and unidentifiably colour bombed. There have been very few times I’ve worn colour so extensively in my life, but thats beginning to change. Well, slowly…but surely!

So as I’m easing into this new way of life, I’m also trying to explore and learn about Indian textiles. Now, I don’t know much, and I’ve probably been living under a rock, but very recently I discovered this beautiful fabric called Ikat. And these guys from NorBlack NorWhite are no short of geniuses, using Ikat among several other Indian Dyed and Woven fabrics in their designs.

Needless to say homegirls are the crazy muffas who dressed up MAJOR LAZER for their Lean On Video!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, that’s how pumped I am about this collaboration.

 

WEARING:

T-shirt | H&M

Jeans | RipCycled Levi’s & True Religion

Bomber Jackets | NorBlack NorWhite

Shoes | Kamla Nagar/ Zara

Accessories | Tibetan Refugee Market/ Janpath

 

Shot by The Co Lab

C O L O U R V E N T I O N BeardsEyeView X Übermensch Lab

Most of you know very well and must have noticed by now, that my wardrobe is mostly Blacks, Whites and Dark colours. Very rarely have I ever worn any bright colours or even tried to incorporate colour in my style.

This year something changed. I decided to let loose and switch things up.

Enter the very vibrant Param Sahib aka The Colour & Print Genie from Übermensch Lab to my rescue, for a much needed ‘colourvention‘.

And who knew colours would agree with me…so well (?) 😀

Thank you ParamBanana 🙂 It was an absolute pleasure sharing the screen with you!

WEARING:

Param:

Kurta | Param Sahib Label

Jeans | Levi’s

Pullovers | Param’s Wardrobe

Shoes | Converse

Accessories | Manish Arora

 

Me:

T-shirts | H&M/ Forever21

Jeans | RipCycled Levi’s

Jackets | Param’s Wardrobe

Scarves | Antar Agni/ Param’s Wardrobe

Shoes | Zara

Accessories | Param’s/ Colaba

 

Shot by The Co Lab

The Chelsea Tribe

Winters have come and how! They had us play guessing games for a while, but they’re here now. And I couldn’t be happier. I get to continue my layering habits! On a serious note, I might be an addict. Here’s a Boho-ish look I tried this week, when the sun refused to shine!

During the colder months, I don’t leave the house without my basic black Pashmina. Adding color over it, I layered another tribal shawl I found at the Tibetan Refugee Market in Delhi. This market amazes me every time. I’ve never come back from it empty handed. Only empty pocketed

So this time, I’ve tried to push my boundaries and tried to incorporate a few key statement pieces in my look; The Hat. The Shawl. The Chelsea Boots.

All three were found after searching Delhi Markets for months! The Tribal Shawl was a rather lucky and unintentional find. Having then found the perfect hat, at H&M of course (don’t know why I didn’t think of them sooner), I left in search for the perfect Chelsea Boots. And I found the most perfect pair at this quaint retro-vintage store called ‘Khanijo’ near Qutab, under the label Missimo. These boots are b-e-a-yootiful! Handmade and made from the finest leather, as I’m told by the founder of this brand, a young Sanchit Malhotra, who I must say is very dapper himself. The craftsmanship and the attention to detail on this pair was impeccable. I especially loved the classic pin dot medallion detailing on the toe, so the shoe looks like a cross between a Brogue and a Boot, making it an easy pairing with both Casual as well as Formal outfits.

Chelsea boots are the perfect Fall shoe and can be paired with just about any outfit. And I knew I had to have them this year. If you’re dying to escape the sneaker obsession, the Chelsea boot is a great way to go. Just keep your pants slim and don’t be afraid to get them dirty.

By the way, here’s a little trivia on these boots:

“What started as a bespoke riding boot for Queen Victoria back in 1837 has turned into one of fashion’s most covetable, long-lasting footwear trends. Though the Chelsea boot is nearly 200 years old, it didn’t gain popularity amongst influential men until the early 1960’s when The Beatles began wearing them throughout the swinging London era. Many of the artists and musicians wearing the boots in the ’60s spent their time on King’s Road, a major street winding through Chelsea and Fulham in West London, which is where the name of the boot is thought to have originated.”

Now who knew that huh?!

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WEARING:

Printed Pants | Forever21

Jeans | H&M

T-shirts | H&M

Shawls | Kashmir/ Tibetan Refugee Market/ Forever21

Shoes | Missimo

Hat | H&M

Sunglasses | Colaba

Pendant | Tibetan Refugee Market

Rings | Janpath

 

Shot by The Co Lab