Playing with the rules and shaking up the suit: what makes a "best-dressed" man?

Matt Smith, voted GQ's best dressed man of the year and star of Burberry's new campaign

Men’s style magazine GQ have named The Crown actor Matt Smith the best dressed man in Britain this week, a notion I can happily get on board with. Smith looks great in clothes, in part because he has the frame - like his on-screen persona The Duke of Edinburgh - to carry them off with aplomb, long of limb and broad of shoulder that he is.

It’s also due in part to his very British sense of irreverence in how he dresses; proper, structured tailor worn with a boyish grin and a gauzy T-shirt, smart coats in heritage tweeds and wools, worn razor-sharp trousers and stomping boots. Burberry have made him the face of their most recent campaign, which will see him in more princely suits and checked trench coats than he can shake a BAFTA at.

Checked wool blazer.

The dark art of how one makes a “best dressed” list is a nebulous affair, and one I’m reluctant to pay attention to too often - spare a thought for Game of Thrones actor Kit Harrington who languishes in the lower rungs as the worst dressed chap in Britain, proof that in fact Jon Snow knows nothing - but in this case there are a few tenets to take away. Smith knows the power of tailoring, first and foremost, and uses it to accent his height. Checks, plaids and windowpane checks work harmoniously on tall, slender silhouettes - the busy-ness of the patterns need to have that space. Similarly, he knows how to modernise a suit with a sleek T-shirt or neat trainers; proof that it pays to ‘break’ the suit from time to time.

Hand painted trainers.

A welcome addition to the list is Brit actor Riz Ahmed, the emerging Star Wars talent who frequently strikes a singular note on the red carpet; eschewing the classic tuxedo of traditional suit (we’re spotting a theme here) in favour of suits worn with shirts sans tie, even with formal black tie attire; the effect is slick and contemporary.

Cotton T-shirt.

Also on the list was Jeff Goldblum, flying the flag for the over 60s and showing how far dad (even grandad) style has evolved; your wardrobe needn’t segue into a sartorial wasteland as you hit your sixth decade. In fact, in Goldblum’s case, it’s been finessed; relaxed polos with blazers instead of the standard shirt, love-worn leathers that are sharp and sleek rather than “ageing rocker”, polo necks for evening with a formal jacket and a fine line of trainers.

Motorcycle jacket.

Any man post 40 would do well to follow a similar style route; maturing doesn’t mean being bland in how you dress and men are more fit, healthy and youthful than ever. Harrington might grow into his style yet.

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Winter is here and so is the big question: What to wear? Sapna Sarfare finds out all about winter trends for the fashionistas in you

The mood is set to beat the chill of winter in many ways. But are we winter ready when it comes to fashion trends? It’s never too late to know the latest winter trends to look like you are ready to walk the ramp and attract attention of the right sort.

Winter mode

Fatema Imran of the brand The Sewing Company feels winters are when wearing the most fun clothes is quite possible. “This is the only season where you can wear most of the fabrics and earthy colors. Talking about weathers in most cities in India, winter keeps you fresh throughout the day, since we don’t have extreme weather situations.”

Rinki Jhulka of the brand RV BY RV agrees. “You have to experiment a lot to keep yourself warm and at the same time want to style a chic look. Everyone wishes to look their best and simple tip is at first you should grasp on the essence of your personal style. How to look your best and get the most out of your clothes is not same for everyone but one can play around and tweak it and make it yours.”

Designer Natasha J lets us reminiscence of winter’s comfy factor. “Here, fashion stands for a lot of layers and cozy clothes. It gets pretty exciting as you can bring out all your stocked up sweaters and leggings to pair with your ensemble.”

Designer Varsha Wadhwa concurs with her fellow designers. “Especially since like an exciting present we have layers revealed, especially in India where parts of the country have such a diverse climate. There’s something so elegant with winter-wear with an array of sartorial choices and looks to add to each ensemble making it edgy/classy/fun/elegant etc.”

Sumanpreet Kaur, Designer, CaratLane does feels that since women go for layering or knitted seasons, long necklaces and long drop earrings work best here. “As the arms are usually covered, one must concentrate more on the hands, wearing multiple coloured rings instantly enhances the look.”

The popular ones

Rinki feels everyone must supplement one’s winter wardrobe. “We all look for a woolen coat or a thick wool cardigan for the cold days. Military style jackets are definitely in and so is an aviator. To stand out, get a solid color coat. Other things you might want to consider are a leather jacket and over the knee slimming boots.” Varsha speaks of chic coats and chunky knit sweaters that are classic staple every year.

While Natasha speaks of velvet playing a major part in winter attire along with jackets like bomber jackets/capes, etc, Fatema speaks about long trench coats, scarves, denim in all forms, grandmother’s hand-woven outfits, and her favourite leather pants.

Sumanpreet states that Indian women just love earrings. “During winters, women usually wear light pastel shades. Silver and rose gold work wonderfully with lightly shaded wardrobes. Hoop earrings were a rage some time back, however, they are still trending amongst the millennials. These can be paired with most casual and festive outfits and instantly add some glam to your look.”

Now trending

The latest winter trends are going to make you look the centre of attention anywhere you go. Natasha states, “Winter trends for men right now are jackets in different styles and draped silhouettes in darker shades. For women, we have trench coats, sheer layers and rich hues. Stockings, scarves, winter caps and boots are doing the rounds.”

Varsha thinks denims are back. “Think 80s-90s fashion – layering denim on denim or even wearing all denim. Silver is winning over gold in the form of patent leather! Cozy knits – anti-fit sweaters to chunky-knit stoles, Technicolor furs – for the adventurous – 80s influence of course, structured outerwear – tailored coats and jackets in tweed, pin-stripes etc. – may or may not have shoulder pads.” In terms of accessories, she speaks of knee high socks, and ankle boots with cross body bags, slouchy boots, belts over coats and anything reminiscent of the ’80’s fashion.

Rinki has a huge list to suggest. “In terms of pretty textures, you have velvet, silk, satin, sequins-shiny pieces instantly adds a luxe vibe to any outfit. Shiny looks are all the rage. Currently metallic is playing lead role in fashion along with plenty of pleating and sparkling fringes. The metallic looks were all the rage on the catwalks. It was a look we easily fell in love with, the variety of shiny metallic details all the more attractive when appearing as art on transparent gowns or as rather lovely prints on knee-length coats. Then there is the head to toe prints and lots and lots of layers. Layering plays vast role in fall season and it’s the right time to go with mix and match prints. We can hardly do anything without denim in any season. Pair denims with heels and a quirky print scarf to enhance the casual look. To keep one warm and comfy, fur will be on the top.

Add fur to the necklines, edges, sleeves etc. Furry lapels will be a huge thing throughout. While lace is a common look, we’ll see it appear as turtlenecks or as part of the skirts on dresses, either in panel or entirely in the design. Since the masculine meets feminine and vice versa today, we can easily see quite a few pantsuits among this fall fashion trends but with something more hip and cool. The power suits look great for this season and have all been given an interesting upgrade, in a more modernistic approach of not wearing anything under the blazer but a sequined bra.”

For accessories, Rinki suggests you kick start winters with chokers. “Then comes statement oversized pendants, along with ear cuffs, multiple piercings and other punk fashion for ears. Multi-layering your jewelry is on! Raw stones are coming up this season. This has been one of the biggest fall 2016 jewelry trends popped up quite unexpectedly on the international runways in a pop of colors, begetting pendants or bracelets, rings or earrings and will be continued this year hopefully.”

Fatema suggests, “If I think of winter 2017, I think of velvet. I think this season’s biggest hit is going to be the velvety love. In colors, I like black, maroons, olive and neon purple. You could have velvet trench coats, kaftan top, embroidered velvet jackets. You could have the velvet look in casual as well as party wear! The best accessory I could think of is a colorful scarf on an earthy color outfit.”

Sumanpreet feels, “Major jewellery trend include Chandelier Earrings for prominence, Neo pearls to a new spiced up look of classic pearls, Mix n Match to get innovative with fusion of materials & designs, Mystical symbols to add a touch of intriguing mystery, Bold necklaces to spice up the look, Revolutionary ear cuffs and Oversized hoops to renew the unavoidable classic look.”

Keep in mind

Winters are meant to be cozy. So advices are welcome to make yourself look great. While Sumanpreet feels jewellery is a personal aspect, it can be a reflection of your style. “One should keep it chic and minimalistic. When it comes to necklaces, you should balance it out with your clothes to bring life to the outfits. Earrings are in the direct line of vision when you talk to anyone they should be well considered whether it is a simple stud or dangling drops. Bracelets can be simple, stacked or exaggerated. They are all about adding that oomph factor to your style personality.”

Varsha’s advice is to just have some 80s fun. “Play with colours and prints – and don’t be afraid of wearing a little bling in belt fittings/brooches to jazz up warm woolens!”

Fatema recommends, “Create your look with layers for a trendy look. But keep the look it in the same family color tone.” Natasha too backs Fatema on the layers suggestion. “This is one of the main seasons when you can pair and mix and match your outfits.” 

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Even Santa Claus Can't Keep His Eyes Off of Melania Trump's Snakeskin Heels

You probably need all your fingers and toes to keep track of Melania Trump's shoes. The First Lady attended a Christmas book reading at the Children's National Medical Center in Washington wearing a pair of eye-catching holiday heels.

Melania opted for a monochrome look of a white long-sleeved shirt tucked into a tailored skirt. She finished her look off with a white coat draped over her shoulders and a pair of snakeskin heels by Manolo Blahnik. Keep reading to have a closer look at her entire outfit, and buy similar versions of her pumps ahead.

You probably need all your fingers and toes to keep track of Melania Trump's shoes. The First Lady attended a Christmas book reading at the Children's National Medical Center in Washington wearing a pair of eye-catching holiday heels.

Melania opted for a monochrome look of a white long-sleeved shirt tucked into a tailored skirt. She finished her look off with a white coat draped over her shoulders and a pair of snakeskin heels by Manolo Blahnik. Keep reading to have a closer look at her entire outfit, and buy similar versions of her pumps ahead.

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How the Russian street style became the latest fashion rage globally

Outfits designed by Muscovite designer Gosha Rubchinskiy.(Facebook.com/Gosha Rubchinskiy)

Russian street style might not conjure images of high glamour, but the look is making its mark on the global fashion industry, from the catwalk to the high street. In-demand Muscovite designers, such as Gosha Rubchinskiy and Andrey Artyomov, have brought the “post-Soviet” style to Paris, London and New York fashion weeks.

Western chains like Urban Outfitters and Topman have picked up on this contemporary take on 1990s Russian wear, selling T-shirts with Cyrillic slogans. The post-Soviet look also includes graphic T-shirts, football scarves, cropped jeans and sportswear brands, worn together with higher-end items. Largely appropriated from the Russian working class, it also draws on the suburban “gopnik” subculture that appeared 25 years ago at the collapse of the USSR.

Glorifying suburban hooligan

For years after the Soviet Union’s breakup, Russians were “students” of global fashion and their tastes imitated those of the West, said cultural commentator and entrepreneur Ilya Oskolkov-Tsentsiper. “But step by step, as the customer became more sophisticated, well-travelled, with more access to information, pictures, clothes and so on, we started to see the emergence of Russian street style,” he said.

With his sartorial “glorification of the suburban hooligan”, Rubchinskiy has explored the previously ignored style possibilities of the “underprivileged”, added Oskolkov-Tsentsiper, founder of the Strelka design institute who splits his time between Moscow and New York.

He believes Western shoppers’ enthusiasm for the post-Soviet trend could be tied to perceptions of Russia’s increasing global reach, from Syria and the annexation of Crimea to accusations that Moscow interfered in last year’s US presidential election.

Ai dont laik yu

Sergei Pakhotin, the 32-year-old founder of clothes brand Sputnik 1985, agrees the political climate could be a factor in Russia’s fashion resurgence in the West. “Before you had to study Chinese, now everyone wants to learn Russian,” he said, half-jokingly, in Sputnik’s store in a fashionable downtown Moscow shopping street.

Despite it being set back in a courtyard, making it invisible from Pokrovka Street, full of shops and bars, the clothes store attracts a number of foreign visitors who have heard about the brand online. Sputnik’s garments feature Soviet imagery with an occasional punk twist.

A T-shirt with an image of Swan Lake ballerinas and the numbers 1991 — in a reference to the ballet played continuously on television during the attempted coup that year — sells for 1,500 rubles ($25), while a badge with the phrase “Ai dont laik yu” spelled out in Cyrillic letters costs 300 rubles.

Radiation symbols also feature in the designs of Pakhotin, who grew up in western Belarus, an area heavily affected by the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

Russian irony

Whether foreign or Russian, few Sputnik customers will have had firsthand experience of the Soviet Union as most are in their mid-20s or younger. “There are people, who, even if they didn’t necessarily grow up in Russia or the Soviet Union, they understand the Russian type of irony, the Russian type of cynicism, the Russian type of humour,” said Oskolkov-Tsentsiper.

He points to the internationally sought-after stylist Lotta Volkova from Russia’s Far Eastern Vladivostok as another example of someone who has expanded the look’s global reach. At the central Moscow bar and clothes shop Denis Simachev, an $85 T-shirt adorned with the face of oligarch Roman Abramovich and the Russian-language slogan “My happiness depends on your success” hangs on the sales rack.

Standing outside, Why Not events company co-founder Zhenya Popova says Muscovites are now more stylish than urbanites in Europe. “Everyone’s moved on from wearing just one brand,” says the 32-year-old, who is dressed in a green trouser suit from the homegrown Studio Nebo and a jacket from Italian label, No. 21.

“Everyone’s stopped thinking: if I wear Chanel now, that’s really cool. They’ve started to dress in a more contemporary way, to mix things up, to combine something mass market with something more designer.”

Tie-ups with Western labels

But Alexander Selivanov, the designer at the Russian street style store Codered, insists Western style still has a far greater influence on Russia than vice versa. Russian designers come to prominence abroad by allying themselves with foreign brands, he said, as was the case with Rubchinskiy’s 2016 collaboration with Japan’s Comme des Garcons.

“Because of (Rubchinskiy), the West is taking a lot of interest in what is going on here.“And while they’re watching, you have to do something very quickly, make some contacts, get in on the story,” he said.

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Jennifer Aniston Pulled Out the Most Classic Bag to Wear With Her Blue Jeans

Jennifer Aniston's closet is full of basics she can pull out season after season. Take her boyfriend jeans or cozy sweaters — the star never deviates from her classic aesthetic. She stayed true to this style while attending a jewelry launch hosted by friends Jenna Dewan Tatum and Jennifer Meyer. Jennifer showed up to the party in a structured black blazer and blue jeans. The outfit is easy to replicate for all fashion girls, and it set the tone for Jennifer's accessories.

She wore a handful of gold bangles and a gold ring. The star kept the timeless theme going with a quilted black shoulder bag. It had a thin gold chain and buckle, which neatly complemented her jewels. The bag was the key piece to Jen's look as it provided a polished feel. Plus, unlike other of-the-moment handbags, we know this one she can keep for years to come.

Jennifer Aniston's closet is full of basics she can pull out season after season. Take her boyfriend jeans or cozy sweaters — the star never deviates from her classic aesthetic. She stayed true to this style while attending a jewelry launch hosted by friends Jenna Dewan Tatum and Jennifer Meyer. Jennifer showed up to the party in a structured black blazer and blue jeans. The outfit is easy to replicate for all fashion girls, and it set the tone for Jennifer's accessories.

She wore a handful of gold bangles and a gold ring. The star kept the timeless theme going with a quilted black shoulder bag. It had a thin gold chain and buckle, which neatly complemented her jewels. The bag was the key piece to Jen's look as it provided a polished feel. Plus, unlike other of-the-moment handbags, we know this one she can keep for years to come.

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Priyanka Chopra looks amazing in her winter wear!

How can we forget Priyanka Chopra when it comes to beauty and fashion the lady is the perfect combination of both. Recently the 'Jungli Billi' Priyanka Chopra just got voted the sexiest Asian and it came as no surprise to us...and of course, she totally deserved it! And today exactly we are talking about her beauty and fashion. And while we know that Pee Cee aces her summer style, her winter looks are as chic as they get. Priyanka was recently captured on the sets of her show 'Quantico' and we think she nailed her winter look too isn't?

The actress dressed grey formal pants which she coupled with a basic olive green tee that she tucked in. The actress layered her look with a grey longline coat that featured oversize lapels in blue as also grey. With small gold hoops in her ears and a dainty neck chain, she accessorized her look. Priyanka even threw in tinted sunnies to add that extra oomph to it all.

The actress rounded off her look with ultra-cute brown boots. She dressed her wavy locks tied in a knot and went with a no-makeup look too. Priyanka proved that this winter, bulky layers and longline jackets will be quite the rage and we are sold!  

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Wear Your Jeans to Work With These 6 Simple Hacks

Jeans probably aren't your first choice when getting ready for work, but that doesn't mean they should be overlooked. We aren't suggesting that you pull on your ripped skinnies for tomorrow's meeting, but substituting your worn-to-death tailored pants for black denim flares will give you major boardroom babe status.

If you're worried about looking too casual, it's simple — stick to flared, skinny, or straight-leg styles in a black or dark wash, then polish them off with your go-to office staples. For six different work-appropriate denim looks to get you inspired, read on.

Jeans probably aren't your first choice when getting ready for work, but that doesn't mean they should be overlooked. We aren't suggesting that you pull on your ripped skinnies for tomorrow's meeting, but substituting your worn-to-death tailored pants for black denim flares will give you major boardroom babe status.

If you're worried about looking too casual, it's simple — stick to flared, skinny, or straight-leg styles in a black or dark wash, then polish them off with your go-to office staples.

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Let These Bollywood Celebrities Teach You How To Be Stylish Even While Travelling

We love travelling to different places, don’t we? But travelling for long or short duration is tiresome for many of us. We love the idea of ‘travelling’ but not the fatigue that comes with it, which even demotivates us to dress up well. The reason behind this tiredness and weariness can majorly be blamed on the kind of clothes we decide to wear during a particular travelling session.

So in order to make your travel enjoyable and cover up for your worn-out post-travel look, we bring to you these Bollywood celebrities whose dressing style will guide you on how you can make travelling fun and stylish at the same time.

1. Hats/Caps are going to be your favourite buds!

After that long travelling ride, your hairstyle is not going to stay where you styled it pre-travel. So, carry a hat or a cap with you while travelling and keep it handy, you will need it trust us!

2. Keep the layering as light as possible

You might want to wear the least while travelling and not wear two-three layers which will generate heat in your body and make you uncomfortable.

3. Follow the tracks of Akshay and Ranbir

Keep it casual as you like. Wear tracks only if you think you are not going to make a fool out of yourself. The tracks need to be stylish and well matched. Please do not wear your night suit while travelling.

4. Keep it short more often than not!

Wear shorts more often while you are travelling. Shorts are the most comfortable piece of clothing in transit especially in the summer.

5. Travel light! Try and keep minimum luggage with you

If you want to enjoy more while travelling and not worry about that heavy suitcase, travel light! Pack only the things which are very necessary for your stay. Try not packing extra things which unnecessarily will increase the weight.

6. ‘Wear’ (are) your Sling Bags!

Keep your very personal belongings in a sling/messenger bag. This should always be around your neck and it is supposed to be separate from your luggage. It is stylish and very convenient!

7. Add some swanky colours to your outfit!

Varun Dhawan shows you how to tone it up with the colour game. Let the colour of your outfit stand out!

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Taylor Swift's Studded Combat Boots Will Have You Saying, "Baby, Let the Games Begin"

Taylor Swift's recent street style has proven that the "Old Taylor" really is dead. The singer was seen holding hands with her boyfriend Joe Alwyn in New York. Taylor styled a yellow and black tartan coat by Public School with a pair of combat boots that featured studs and gold zippers. Keep reading to have a look at her full ensemble, and shop similar versions of her boots for your closet, too.

Taylor Swift's recent street style has proven that the "Old Taylor" really is dead. The singer was seen holding hands with her boyfriend Joe Alwyn in New York. Taylor styled a yellow and black tartan coat by Public School with a pair of combat boots that featured studs and gold zippers. Keep reading to have a look at her full ensemble, and shop similar versions of her boots for your closet, too.

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Shahid Kapoor's broody look on the cover of this magazine will make you go weak in your knees

There’s absolutely no doubt that Shahid Kapoor is one of the most fashionable men in the film industry. He can carry off any style, be it casual, formal or athleisure and not only has he proved himself as a brilliant actor, his dashing looks and stylish outfits have made him somewhat of a fashion icon.

The Haider actor was recently spotted on the cover of Elle India for their December edition, where he showed us how to blend different style statements into one outfit. He looked dapper in a classic white shirt teamed with a pair of grey sporty pants and a jacket with a hoodie of the same shade. He accessorised the outfit with a navy blue tie and black sneakers, which elevated the look up a notch. Celebrity hairstylist Aalim Hakim rounded off his look with immaculately styled side-parted hair.

Here’s a glimpse of the photo:

Kapoor also made to it to the cover of GQ magazine, looking as handsome as ever in a black suit teamed with a pair of colourful sneakers.