Posted:
Since a few members asked, I'll put up another chapter from kareena's book. As I explained in the previous topic, I have the book in digital version so I can easily copy & paste. Though it says I'm not running out of the "Copy limit" for the digital version, whatever that means. I'll just swtich to screen caps then 😆
Here's the link to the last topic - Bras, Lingeries, and the likes
This one's on men and grooming.
Making Mr Right, Right!
Let's face it, ladies. When it comes to shopping, our men need a little help from the experts. For most men, getting dressed for an event means wearing a clean shirt over their jeans. If he's in a really good mood, like if India beat Australia in some cricket match, he might consider putting on formal shoes. But that's where it ends. Trying to get them to put on a dinner jacket or a tie is like asking them to go get a voluntary root canal. Pure torture! I honestly cannot complain anymore though. Saif is one of the most stylish men I've ever met. In fact, he's so particular about everything from shoes to suits to accessories that sometimes he makes me feel like a slob. For God's sake, the man buys antique carved boxes just to keep his cufflinks in! Now that's dedication to style. And let's not even get started on his shoes. Saif has a separate closet for all his pairs, and he dedicatedly takes them out once a month to be polished and buffed up. His suits are all put on special hangers and hung up in the closet once they're back from the laundry. But I wouldn't have it any other way. I love that my man puts in effort to look good for me and isn't a lazy couch potato. It helps that he has incredible taste, so I don't have to worry about him buying something tacky. In fact, his opinion is the one I really value, and if something is good enough for the Nawaab of Pataudi, it's probably the best that money can buy.
Dress Him Up!
Women love shopping and men don't. Unless it's for cars, bikes and gadgets. Getting them to come along on an expedition for clothes and shoes? Not a chance. Even Saif and I have agreed that it's probably better for our mental health that we shop separately. I time myself in each shop so that I can get the most out of shopping. Sounds crazy, but when you hardly get any free time to hit the stores, these are the things you have to do. So if you have to shop for your partner, which I know you'd rather do anyway, these are the must-haves you need to invest in.
WHITE SHIRT Whether man or woman, the one look that tops my chart is a well-tailored white shirt worn with fitted blue jeans. It's the base to start building the rest of the wardrobe on, so this one must be perfect. You could blow up the bank by taking him to Ermenegildo Zegna or Hugo Boss, or you could go high-street and opt for Zara Man or Diesel. Even Indian designers make some classic men's shirts, which are surprisingly affordable. Think Lecoanet Hemant or Arjun Kapoor. If your man isn't coming with you, carry a shirt from his wardrobe that you think suits him best, and buy one with a matching fit. Men's shirts have different cuts' slim fit, straight, apple' so even if the size is the same, the fit might vary. Getting a sample is a simple way of making sure you don't have to come back and go through the whole process all over again. And a little secret: try it on! You'd better look good in it; there's nothing sexier than a woman in her man's shirt.
FORMAL PANTS Jeans you needn't fret about. All men love their jeans so they don't need help picking out the right pair. But when buying trousers, they can go horribly wrong. They'll get grandpa-ish baggy ones or ones so tight at the crotch that it hurts to watch! Perfect trousers must stay close to the body yet not hug it like second skin. I feel flat fronts are more flattering than pleats, especially in formal trousers. Saif's a huge fan of the fits at Armani, Dior Homme, and YSL. Among the less expensive options, Raymond has custom-fitting studios where you can handpick everything from the fabric to the style, which is a great way to make sure you get full paisa vasool. Narendra Kumar has years of experience in menswear and many of my friends love his work. Karan too has started a menswear line with Varun Bahl and they have some very interesting clothes in their collection. As for colour, it's safest to go with matte black. Then you can experiment with shirts and accessories. If your man has enough black trousers to set up shop, then try grey, khaki, beige, brown, navy or even a classic pinstripe. Couturiers like Paul Smith and Etro are getting quite quirky lately. Now, you get formal pants in candy colours and acid shades! It's a try-at-your-own-risk look but if your man has the chutzpah to pull it off, why not?
FORMAL WATCH Men always look hotter with a watch strapped to their wrists. It lends them an old-world charm and elegance that I simply love. Saif has a million watches' Breguet, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Rolex, Omega' and he's always looking for more collector's items. That's one of the easiest things to gift him. Invest in one expensive dress watch which, with a little care and maintenance, will last for a lifetime. It could become an heirloom to pass on to your children.
DINNER JACKET He doesn't need to go the tie-and-cuff links route if he doesn't want to. This is a simple, classy way to add a formal touch to even a plain T-shirt and jeans combo. My cousin Ranbir Kapoor and Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu co-star Imran Khan have really been the torchbearers of this look. They wear the funkiest graphic T-shirts on jeans, pop on a cool jacket, and suddenly, it looks good enough to pass off as formal wear. Tommy Hilfiger strikes just the right chord with this look, and his clothes are not too expensive either. For the high-end shopper, Canali has always made the most flattering clothes for men, and how can we forget the classic styles of Calvin Klein. Of course, this look comes with an age restriction. Guys over the age of 35 should just buy a nice shirt.
SHERWANI These were invented to give average men the confidence and bearing of royalty. They broaden the shoulders, skim over beer bellies and lengthen the frame to add height. Also, when every man in the room is dressed in a typical suit, your partner will stand out in the crowd. I love the sherwanis that Manish has in his brand, and Raghavendra Rathore really understands how to make princely clothing. Rohit Bal has always been great at ethnic menswear too. The only thing to be careful about here is not to overdo the bling. Indian clothes can be very extravagant to the point of sometimes looking tacky. I'd go with a plain black or beige with a self-pattern or embroidery in the same colour. The only detailing should be around the neck, cuffs and hemline. Pair it with a classic pair of mojris and watch the other women turn green with jealousy.
LEATHER SHOES You know what they say a woman judges a man by his shoes. So unless you want all those women giving your man a thumbs-down, he needs to have at least one pair of elegant leather shoes for formal occasions. There's nothing in the world like getting a pair of custom-made shoes, which is the only kind that Saif agrees to wear. But those can be quite expensive, so you could rely on a good brand instead, and buy a pair that's guaranteed to last long. Salvatore Ferragamo and Tod's are brands you can never go wrong with. I also love what Christian Louboutin is doing for men these days. Hush Puppies is one of those high-street brands that he's probably worn at some point in his life, and they're very sturdy. I also really like Metro Shoes. You need to take your partner along with you for this one, because there's no way to imitate the fit. Make sure he's wearing socks when he tries them on. That might be the difference between a pair of shoes that's too loose or too tight. Shapes differ depending on the style of shoe. A classic Oxford shoe with a rounded toe suits all men, so these are probably your safest bet. Avoid the pointy toed ones that look like something from Birbal's wardrobe. Also, the height of the heel shouldn't be more than an inch and a half. Anything more than that and you may as well lend him your stilettos.
Groom Your Man!
Grooming for men is really very simple: keep it clean. Unlike women, they don't have to worry about waxing, threading, facials, pedicures, manicures, and all that comes with territory. At best, they'll get a shave once every three or four days. Which is really not too much to ask for. Men today though are actually becoming more concerned about their appearance, and opting for facials and mani/ pedis too. Which is fabulous, but there are a few non-negotiable grooming demands that I have to put my foot down on.
TRIM THAT BEARD Kissing men with thick beards or scratchy stubble is injurious to your health. It's also disgusting to see men dining at restaurants, with little crumbs and drops of curry in their beards or moustaches by the end of the meal. But if your partner insists on keeping his facial hair because it makes him feel like a man, then you should demand that he keeps it trimmed and neat.
WASH FEET AT LEAST TWICE A DAY There's something about men and smelly feet that I've never understood. Maybe it's because they sweat more, and wear closed shoes all day. But there's nothing worse than your house or car stinking of feet. It makes my skin crawl just thinking about it. If this is a problem that affects your partner, ladies, there's no need to keep quiet just because you might hurt his feelings. You're probably not the only one who has to suffer, and other people might not be as polite. Buying him 100 per cent cotton socks' that might help. You also get foot deodorant that you can spray on directly on the feet and on the insides of his shoe to get rid of any unwanted odour.
NO EAR OR NOSE HAIR I don't even need to explain how unsexy this looks. Buy him a nose and ear hair trimmer; there's no shame in it. If you're feeling uncomfortable to ask, just imagine what he'd say if you went a month or two without visiting the parlour '
COLOGNE EXAM Smell is a very powerful attractor for women. It can also be an equally powerful turn-off. Since men naturally have more body hair than women, they really need to pay attention to keeping themselves clean and fresh. I like the idea of you gifting your man a grooming kit, where the aftershave lotion, shaving cream, shower gel and cologne all have the same smell. He'll have a signature scent, and you'll have the best-smelling man in the room.
MANE MAINTENANCE Since most men keep their hair short, they need to visit the salon more often than women. We usually go about once every two months, but he probably needs to make his a monthly visit. Even if he wants to grow his hair long, which is always a risky move, it needs to be trimmed regularly or he'll look like an ageing hippie. On the subject of hair colour, I'm a bit torn. Covering up greys with a shade that matches his natural hair colour is fine, and probably makes him feel younger and energetic. But streaks of blonde or green? Absolutely not.
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