 "I wear what i am")
WHAT'S IN A LABEL?
As a child in Kolkata, Joy Mitra used to wear a spotless, white, mulmul dhoti and kurta quite often - to Durga puja pandals or during Bhai Dooj. However, the move to Delhi after graduating from National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kolkata, redefined his wardrobe. He is now a self-confessed "monochrome lover" with sporadic bursts of colour to add "a bit of funk". "I don't know how to term my look. I would say 'simple', for the lack of a better word," says Mitra. His wardrobe also contains a smattering of accessories gifted to him by artists. For instance, his most treasured possession is the multi-coloured stole that was given to him by Sujata Bajaj. He uses it to brighten up his ensembles. Another striking item in the closet is the kalamkari or ikkat shirt created by Mitra from a fabric that he picked up from Dilli Haat.
He has an interesting collection of jootis as well, but the possibility of wearing them on a daily basis is bleak while keeping up with the city's avant-garde demands. "I am not a label freak. I still wear the T-shirts that I recently picked up from Bangkok. When I go to the gym, I see people in Pradas and Louis Vuittons. Delhi can be a bit intimidating, but over a period of time, I feel, it is best to be who you are and not get caught in the circus of fashion," he laughs.
Mitra used to pick up trousers from Zara till he realised that everyone else was doing it too. So he started making his own. There are some rules that he abides by when dressing in formals. "I wear stuff that I feel looks good on me. It doesn't have to be branded or screaming expensive from the rooftops," he says. He does like a classic Burberry belt and Louis Vuitton shoes though.
There are days when Mitra likes to experiment. So he slips into red shoes when he is bored of the same old blacks that he wears daily. "I am moody; if I feel like a change, I just go ahead and do it. I also bought, on an impulse, dark blue, perforated shoes from H & M, Bangkok. I don't know where I will wear them, but the pair adds a smile to my face everytime I see them in my closet," he confesses.
The most exciting part about Joy's wardrobe is his accessories collection and his obsession with keys, which he has also used extensively on his lehenga collection. "I picked up keys from Dublin and also a shipwreck in Brighton. My friends thought I was crazy bringing junk from the UK, but I felt as if I was on the sets of The Pirates of the Caribbean. I have a fascination for keys. I attach them to chains and wear them as an accessory. You will also find key art in my room," he concludes.
ADDICTED TO DENIM
As a student at Lawrence School, Sanawar,Rajdeep Ranawat was introduced to the wonders of nature at a very early age. The walks that he went for in the campus surrounded by pine trees made him the artist that he is today. This love for colour and simplicity is reflected not just in his label but also in his wardrobe. "I would describe my style as pleasing to the eye, with a love for prints, shading and colour blocking," says Ranawat, who is dressed in a lilac shirt and olive trousers.
A denim addict, Ranawat swears by Abercrombie & Fitch's low-waist and slim-fit jeans. He owns 25 pairs of blue jeans. "A rose can't be blue, it must be red. In the same way, denims must be blue - I don't like the whole red, pink, green thing happening," he admits. His collection of Tod's loafers and Paul Smith shirts in stripes, polkas and geometrics complement his jeans perfectly. "Tod's are comfortable, the leather is super soft and I can wear them the whole day," says Ranawat.
A firm believer in minimalism, he teams up casual shoes with a Louis Vuitton belt - not the monogrammed one, but the sober checks. "Men don't have many options to play around with accessories, so a watch does it for me. An Omega Constellation for formal occasions and a Tag Heuer for everyday wear is perfect. I love Swatch too - not the pop colour watches - but Swatch Chrono, which is elegant and sporty," he says.
Being a Rajput he can't do without his Jodhpuri bandhgala, which he teams with Zara trousers. "I think Zara is fabulous. I bought this sassy single-breasted silk, velvet jacket, and it still fits so well," he smiles.
Fond of the classic look, Ranawat proudly shows off his Tom Ford shades and aviators, which "are not too small and not too big, just ideal for my face". "I also have a pair from Ferragamo (Salvatore), which are brown shaded in pale gold. Sunglasses are like bags for women, they must be outstanding as they complete your look. But I must say that my style has evolved over a period of time - from flashy in college to more sober as I matured with age. Moreover, when you run your own business, you need to dress appropriately and not wear tangerine pants to work," he laughs.
As a child in Kolkata, Joy Mitra used to wear a spotless, white, mulmul dhoti and kurta quite often - to Durga puja pandals or during Bhai Dooj. However, the move to Delhi after graduating from National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kolkata, redefined his wardrobe. He is now a self-confessed "monochrome lover" with sporadic bursts of colour to add "a bit of funk". "I don't know how to term my look. I would say 'simple', for the lack of a better word," says Mitra. His wardrobe also contains a smattering of accessories gifted to him by artists. For instance, his most treasured possession is the multi-coloured stole that was given to him by Sujata Bajaj. He uses it to brighten up his ensembles. Another striking item in the closet is the kalamkari or ikkat shirt created by Mitra from a fabric that he picked up from Dilli Haat.
He has an interesting collection of jootis as well, but the possibility of wearing them on a daily basis is bleak while keeping up with the city's avant-garde demands. "I am not a label freak. I still wear the T-shirts that I recently picked up from Bangkok. When I go to the gym, I see people in Pradas and Louis Vuittons. Delhi can be a bit intimidating, but over a period of time, I feel, it is best to be who you are and not get caught in the circus of fashion," he laughs.
Mitra used to pick up trousers from Zara till he realised that everyone else was doing it too. So he started making his own. There are some rules that he abides by when dressing in formals. "I wear stuff that I feel looks good on me. It doesn't have to be branded or screaming expensive from the rooftops," he says. He does like a classic Burberry belt and Louis Vuitton shoes though.
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The most exciting part about Joy's wardrobe is his accessories collection and his obsession with keys, which he has also used extensively on his lehenga collection. "I picked up keys from Dublin and also a shipwreck in Brighton. My friends thought I was crazy bringing junk from the UK, but I felt as if I was on the sets of The Pirates of the Caribbean. I have a fascination for keys. I attach them to chains and wear them as an accessory. You will also find key art in my room," he concludes.
ADDICTED TO DENIM
As a student at Lawrence School, Sanawar,Rajdeep Ranawat was introduced to the wonders of nature at a very early age. The walks that he went for in the campus surrounded by pine trees made him the artist that he is today. This love for colour and simplicity is reflected not just in his label but also in his wardrobe. "I would describe my style as pleasing to the eye, with a love for prints, shading and colour blocking," says Ranawat, who is dressed in a lilac shirt and olive trousers.
A denim addict, Ranawat swears by Abercrombie & Fitch's low-waist and slim-fit jeans. He owns 25 pairs of blue jeans. "A rose can't be blue, it must be red. In the same way, denims must be blue - I don't like the whole red, pink, green thing happening," he admits. His collection of Tod's loafers and Paul Smith shirts in stripes, polkas and geometrics complement his jeans perfectly. "Tod's are comfortable, the leather is super soft and I can wear them the whole day," says Ranawat.
A firm believer in minimalism, he teams up casual shoes with a Louis Vuitton belt - not the monogrammed one, but the sober checks. "Men don't have many options to play around with accessories, so a watch does it for me. An Omega Constellation for formal occasions and a Tag Heuer for everyday wear is perfect. I love Swatch too - not the pop colour watches - but Swatch Chrono, which is elegant and sporty," he says.
Being a Rajput he can't do without his Jodhpuri bandhgala, which he teams with Zara trousers. "I think Zara is fabulous. I bought this sassy single-breasted silk, velvet jacket, and it still fits so well," he smiles.
Fond of the classic look, Ranawat proudly shows off his Tom Ford shades and aviators, which "are not too small and not too big, just ideal for my face". "I also have a pair from Ferragamo (Salvatore), which are brown shaded in pale gold. Sunglasses are like bags for women, they must be outstanding as they complete your look. But I must say that my style has evolved over a period of time - from flashy in college to more sober as I matured with age. Moreover, when you run your own business, you need to dress appropriately and not wear tangerine pants to work," he laughs.