Men’s Essential Fashion Accessories

It is widely believed that clothes maketh the man. This belief is not quite complete, for it is the essential accessories, that make him, a complete man! Most of us men might possess the best of clothes, including the finest suits, the most chic party-wear, and sport the latest clothing trends. What we sadly miss out on, is an essential collection of accessories. In no specific order of priority, here are the essential accessories:

THE BELT
It is sartorial sacrilege to have the belt loops of your lowers remain in abandon. It is somewhat like leaving the wheels of your car bereft of wheel caps. They will always look naked!

There are belts galore. Flashy belts in all kinds of colors, made of regular cotton fabric. Then there are rather expensive belts made of exotic animal skins. In rare colors & textures, they make for powerful financial as well as sartorial statements. All these however, are indulgences, not the essentials. To begin with, you must first invest in a classic leather belt. To further save costs, you can opt for a double sided leather belt that’s tan on one side, and pristine black on the other. Having these two colors is essential. Ensure that the buckle is subtle (no skulls, dollar signs or over sized boxing medallions here; the desire is classy, not pimp). This way, you have a versatile belt that will go with virtually any colors you wear, and with any kind of attire – formal, dressy and casual.

Don’t be stingy by picking one up from the road-side. This is one accessory you need to procure from a well known store/brand. A great place to find these belts are at any regular branded store. Brands like Raymond/Park Avenue, Color Plus, Zodiac – all make great and reasonably priced specimens. With the belt firmly looped around your waist, you can get to the other essentials…

THE SHOE
I come next to the humble shoe because it is both relevant, as well as similar in requirement to the belt just discussed. Once again, there is an unimaginable array of men’s shoes out there but we let’s focus on the essentials. And like is the case with belts, the essentials are a classic (non-offensive, safe but smart) pair of Black shoes, and a similarly styled pair of Tan/Brown shoes. Also, if there are just a couple of pairs you can buy to begin with, make sure that they are lace-shoes (slip-ins can be a later indulgence).

In terms of styling, you’d be wise to keep them classic, which means they should be Brogues or Oxfords. As the pictures will explain, these close-laced traditional leather shoes will make for the most timeless skins for your feet.

Not only will they be versatile, lending your casual, work or formal attire an air of elegance and sophistication, you can even temporarily ditch ethnic footwear for your kurta-pajamas and team that kind of clothing, with these shoes itself (remember Pandit Jawaharl Lal Nehru & Madhavrao Scindia, two of many who wore formal english shoes with their Indian clothes and looked super stylish)!

Get yourself your deadly duo at any renowned brand such as Bata or Woodland. A personal preference is the eternally satisfying Joy Shoes at our beloved Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai!

THE WALLET & THE WATCH
Following in the footsteps (pun intended) of the shoes that have just been discussed, the next set pair of accessories must also comply stylistically and color-wise with the former.

The wallet is the one essential accessory that most of us men get horribly wrong. We buy our wallets in garish colors, stuff them to the gills till they swell obscenely (not realizing that an inflated wallet is not a mark of a copious bank balance, but of a deflated style quotient). Often times we even stray from traditional wallet materials and go with faux versions in Rexine and rubber! NO NO to all of the above!

Shut your eyes and head to Hidesign. Its like driving on auto-pilot.

There are minuscule chances of going wrong here. Get 2, as is the rule. A tan, and a black. Luxurious leather, or if you are feeling a bit adventurous, Suede at best. Medium size, classic design, convenient storage, and beautifully crafted & finished. Your wallet must absolutely tell who you are, each time it emerges from your person. Classy, sophisticated & self-assured (without having to scream it out loud).

Moving on to the Watch. If you are in a mood to get one, don’t. Get two. The same rules apply.

A black leather strap and a brown leather strap. One can be absolutely plain & sober, a great option being a simple roman numerals Titan. And the tan strap watch can be slightly more adventurous, but strictly in a restrained manner – something like an Emporio Armani.

With your essentials sorted out, there is just one rule to keep in mind, always. Your belt, wallet, shoe and watch strap, must match. If its tan, all these essentials should be tan. And if its black, all of it must be black.

ACCESSORIES UNLIMITED, STYLE UNLIMITED
Of course, there are accessories by the dozens. Cuff links, tie pins, shirt collars; the list is endless and heady. Trick is to first get the basics right. Once you have the essentials pat down, the rest of the accessory world can quickly become a playing ground. Its like learning how to drive. Once you have your basics done, you can try all kinds of cars…

For now then, go out there and get yourselves the Essential Accessories.

[Kartik Bajoria, a regular contributor, runs his own creative agency called BOLD & is also involved in Films & Music as a force of habit!]

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