GQ India – August 2019

78  AUGUST 2019

STYLE

M

y  rst experience with

the inner workings of

a suit was at the age of

11: A grey windowpane

check jacket with baby pink lines hung in my

father’s cupboard, and my androgynous self

thought it necessary to try on. The label said

Ermenegildo Zegna, which I articulated as

“Armadillo” (that episode of Friends had just

come out, and the word didn’t leave my tongue

for days). I remember my father wearing his

jacket over a starched white shirt and oxford

blue trousers. The  t was oversized – as men of

his time strongly advocated – and the colours

mismatched. But there was no doubt that it

bumped up his look to boss, and I’d think, “Dad

must be off to an important meeting.”

There was a time when suits were

synonymous with business dealings and

fancy dinners – a gentleman’s coat of armour

for when you wanted to be taken seriously.

Today, the power of tailoring is at an all-time

high, with every big fashion house putting out

unrestrained interpretations, but carrying

none of the stiffness that came with the styles

of yore. You don’t need an occasion to throw

on a suiting jacket or crisp trousers any more,

either.

Louis Vuitton’s oversized DB (maybe

Dad was on to something then) with baggy

trousers  nds favour with a young generation

ready to explore the shit out of tailoring. Dior

Men’s bright oblique suit, worn bare-chested

with bravado (Childish Gambino is a fan), is

your ticket to 2019 Miami Vice vibes. Better

yet, Prada and Versace are telling you short

suits are a legit style move, worn with socks

skimming your calves and chunky trainers.

What hasn’t changed (and absolutely can’t

be compromised on) is the re nement and top-

class quality of the cuts,  nishes and linings.

If you’re not one to jump into high-end luxury

just yet, play around with your old man’s old

suits. You’ll come out winning. And if someone

asks where your blazer’s from – and trust us,

they will – just call it vintage. WORDS: SHIVANGI LOLAYEKAR

The tailoring resurgence you’re seeing all

over isn’t a fad; it’s the future, and you don’t

have to look too far to get in on the trend

WA L K

T H E TA L K

FRESH TAKE

ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA PRADA GIORGIO ARMANI HERM

ÈS

BERLUTI

LANVIN LOUIS VUITTON THOM BROWNE DIOR MEN

ALEXANDER M VERSACE

CQUEEN

PAUL SMITH