Style code for men: Bright colours, no jewellery

Byond Travel founder, Vikram Ahuja talks about his style statement and how he loves to splurge on classic accessories.

My style
I prefer a laidback style, with plenty of colour thrown in. It’s all about comfort for me whether its suits or shorts. I’d like to think of my style as Bangalore meets San Francisco meets Barcelona — the three cities I’ve lived in and love.

Must-haves
Nothing makes a statement like a classic watch. One pair of handmade leather shoes and sunglasses are a must. It’s important to invest in a pair of jeans that go from casual to formal. And bespoke linen shirts in every shade, ideally with a banded Nehru collar.

Weekend relaxing
I think a pair of well-tailored shorts is underrated. It’s definitely my go-to outfit. Perhaps, with a pair of soft leather penny loafers.

Prized possessions
My IWC Portugieser. This watch is a gift from my wife for our wedding and I use it only for special occasions. I also own a mustached skull lapel pin, which I bought from a flea market in Cuba, and really value my toffee-coloured Italian leather shoes from Capri, handmade and sold to me by the guy whose family had been making them for three generations.

Girl talk
When I first see a woman, it’s the colour of her clothes that are most striking. I like bright, bold colours. It requires a lot of confidence to think beyond white, black and grey and express oneself in colour.

Never ever
You will never find me wearing cleavage baring V-necks, extremely skinny pants or oversized jerseys, T-shirts or suits. I’m also not a big fan of jewellery or bling, unless it’s Halloween.

Colour code
I usually accessorise with bright colours — belts, shoes and socks. I am fond of my red shoes and yellow belt. Bright pocket squares always do well to brighten up dark, sombre suits.

Celeb style
Deep down all of us would want to be a rockstar and dress like Jim Morrison. I find Ratan Tata’s style simple yet powerful. Farhan Akhtar and Vir Das exude comfort and confidence.

Makeover
Some of the corporate honchos at the helm of our leading startups could do with a makeover. I think many people take themselves too seriously and their choice in clothing reflects that.