THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Men vying for attention with their sartorial sensibilities has become old news. Breaking all conventional norms, their apparels have been undergoing major makeovers for the past few decades. The lousy pants and drab shirts, the only clothing option they had for years, seem to have taken a backseat, while they grab hold of a range of designer outfits to stuff their cupboards with. ‘Go loud’ is the new watchword in men’s fashion scene today with celebrities sporting print-on-print suits and psychedelic shirts. When Ranvir Singh or Ranbir Kapoor, the current style icons of the youth, go sock-less with their loafers and sport ankle pants with their formals, how can the discerning men stay away from the lure. By cutting off the edges of their jeans and chinos, they follow suit without blinking an eye.
Malabar, especially Kozhikode and Thalassery, are the first to welcome novel fashion ideas with both their hands. Agrees Rafeeq, the manager of ‘Basics’ shop in Kozhikode “Ankle pants are the latest trend among youth as most celebrities are favouring them these days. We are getting many requests from the college-going crowd. However, not many brands are coming out with those. Hence, what we do is cut-off the edges according to the customer’s preference.” ‘Basics’ also has a stunning range of loafers to go with such pants. “The loafers are worn without socks so the ankles would be visible,” says Rafeeq.
The capital city, however is very slow in catching up with the trend, says Sabu, the manager of ‘Globers’, one of city’s most sought-after shops.
“The crowd here does not believe in conforming to the norms. Rather, it takes its own sweet time to accept new trends. When our Malabar and Kochi outlets are flocking with youngsters looking for ankle pants, we had to take back the collection we brought in here,” says Sabu. But the city’s crowd has immediately taken a liking to the ‘Nehru’ jackets, the shop had introduced recently he says. The jackets that came in seven pastel shades were sold like hot buns within a few days. “The jackets with a price range of Rs 1,700s instantly found customers in the city as they are often worn for parties and formal functions,” says Sabu.
The 3D linen shirts that are only available in ‘Globers’ in the city are also finding an equal share of customers. “The large prints which give a three dimensional effect to the viewers is the latest fad here. Our 3D collection and the slim-fit trousers and jeans are the most selling pieces of apparel here,” says Sabu.
An avid follower of trends, Siddharth, a Kozhikode native, has had his share of waistcoats, low-waist jeans, harem pants and what not. His current favourite is undoubtedly ankle pants.
“I ardently follow the trends on TV and magazines. Most stylish celebrities like John Abraham, Imraan Khan and Ranbir Kapoor are all for ankle-length pants. So I am looking out for that perfect pair,” says Siddharth.
Reliance Trends in Kochi is most famous for their slim-fit formal pants. “We have a range of customers who come asking for ankle length pants but Reliance Trends has not yet introduced it in Kerala. But our customers love our slim-fit formal and casual trousers,” says the manager of ‘Trends’.
The stylish Malayali boys are hence going berserk over the latest and chicest trends that are reigning the fashion scene. Let’s wait and see whether capital city is ready to hop into the bandwagon.