Style guide: Genesis Luxury creative director says men should experiment with fuschia pink, invest in a good pocket square

Deepika Gehani, creative director of Genesis Luxury, explains how a pocket square can change a man’s look — instantly.

Fashion cornerstones
“The five essentials for any man building his wardrobe are: A pair of jeans, a suit, a shirt, a belt and a pocket square. Most men possess jeans, so one doesn’t really need to be told to add that. But a suit in navy or grey, with a notch lapel is also really important. A pocket square is also pretty interesting. And of course, a basic white suit shirt acts as a canvas for any tie.”

To clinch a business deal...
“Carry yourself in a fashionable manner, so you create the impression that you are passionate about style as well. For a business dinner, I’d recommend a grey or a navy suit paired with a white shirt and a tie. You can’t go wrong with this, and it would make a lasting impression.”


One item to instantly elevate an outfit
“A pocket square.”

Night about town
“A bandhgala jacket goes well for a cocktail party, as does a textured or coloured blazer. I think a navy blue or maroon velvet blazer might be really interesting. For men who don’t like suits, a blazer is something you should always have in your wardrobe. Invest in something with a light detail, or a blazer you can pair with jeans.”

A colour for men
“Fuschia pink. It’s a colour that many men cannot wear and most stay away from. But if you have strong fashion sensibilities, like, say Ranveer Singh, and can carry off fuschia pink, you should definitely wear it.”

Must Have Shoes For Autumn/Winter
“Burgundy. Everyone has a black or brown pair of shoes in their wardrobe, but I think a burgundy shoe might offer a nice contrast, especially with a navy or grey suit

Luxury to me is…
“Something that you cherish and would like to keep. It could be a handbag, a watch or an heirloom piece. For me, it’s an old Rolex watch given to me by my mother that I would like to pass on.”

Fashion faux pas
“A lot of men don’t realise where to break a trouser; or they wear ill-fitted suits and baggy clothes. Another complete no-no is wearing a short-sleeved shirt and a tie, or wearing a short-sleeved shirt to a party at night.”

Preserving luxury
“When it comes to luxury garments, I think it’s important to keep the silicone gel sachets and covers that are provided with the garment, especially in India where you have a lot of moisture and humidity in the air. Silicone sachets help in protecting the garment.”

My style icons
“A lot of my fashion sensibilities have come from my husband. He’s sharply dressed and has a very good eye.

“Among celebrities, a lot of them are blessed with stylists today, so even if they don’t have their own personal sense of style, they tend to develop it thanks to their stylists. But if I had to choose, I’d say Ranveer Singh — he makes a bold statement in all his clothes and seems to be carrying it off well; Rihanna has quite a fearless style of dressing and dresses for herself. Virat Kohli looks dapper, and Anand Mahindra is sophisticated.”.