Naveen Ansal, Founder, Casa Paradox
He speaks of a Punjab of the 50s, where landowners with deep voices and broad shoulders could use a fork or a gun with equal style. He speaks of his father whose dressing flair was reflected in the leather boots, Panama hats, dinner jackets and Pathani suits he wore. His family owned villages in Punjab and it was in the feudal lifestyle of his family that Naveen Ansal found his sense of style in the beginning of his teenage life. “I have been conscious of fashion since I was 15. Ever since, I have been picking whatever fits in with my sensibility, regardless of the brand.” Like most children, cultural icons played a big role in inspiring what he wore—Ansal’s style echoed them all; from Mick Jagger to David Bowie and Marlon Brando. Today, with his wavy salt-n-pepper hair, he can be spotted at social soirees (alongside his wife and business partner Raseel Gujral) sporting sharp dinner jackets with playfully piped collars, paired with pastel-coloured ties or Pathani suits with a shawl carelessly thrown across his shoulders. His velvet bandhgalas carefully complimented with broaches and silk scarves make the right statement.
“I don’t care for labels, I would pick up an Armani suit from a fancy European boutique or spend the same on a stunning handmade piece that I may chance upon somewhere in the back of beyond. In that sense, fashion is all about impulse.” Ansal is emotional about Delhi. “The city made me what I am. I remember coming here for summer vacations as a child, staying at Gymkhana Club, riding in the President’s Bodyguard carriages,” he speaks of a Delhi that embodied grandeur and grace. He is dedicated to making Delhi stylish—through his interior design brand Casa Paradox and his own sense of style. “My advice to the Delhi boy is to build a wardrobe that should be a little wild, a little sober, a little grand; keeping in mind that a new style can be born every moment.”
There Most Stylish Movie Icons: Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, Rock Hudson
Favourite Exercise: Playing badminton singles; I have a challenging partner in Vikash Sharma, who has been a national-level player.
Life’s Most Defining Moment: When I went from being a wasteful party hopper to a responsible, mature adult in 1992.
Favourite possessions: Franck Muller watch, Patrick Fox shoes