Fashion should not have any rules: Model Gaurav Arora

How do you interpret style?
Style is very personal. It is not just about wearing good clothes but your personality, how you talk and behave.

Fashion to you is...
I have this T-shirt that says ‘Fashion won’t change the world but it will make you look good’. I think it’s something you can’t take too seriously.

Your vanity case has...
Sunscreen and perfume.

How often do you upgrade your closet? Do you go to designer boutiques or random shops where you can find off-the-wall pieces?
I don’t update my closet very often, but I like to buy a mix of designer and street wear. I like those one-off pieces and frankly you can’t wear designer garments everyday.

Do you follow trends or like to break rules with your own take on them?
I don’t follow trends at all. Everyone’s got their own sense of style and you should make your own.

How do you put together an ensemble?
I feel men don’t like matching their clothes. So I’ll just pull together an out of the box shirt with regular pants. I do put in some effort but it should look natural.

Which cities according to you are the fashion capitals of the world and why?
New York and Mumbai. The former because even if you take a walk on the street you will find hundreds of well-dressed people and Mumbai because it has maximum character as a city.

Which decade in the fashion history appeals to you the most and why?
The 1950s, the kind of style in those days is very classic, love the buttoned suits.

One designer label which has been an essential part of your closet over the years and why?
Raghavendra Rathore and Manish Malhotra. I love the former’s bandhgalas — they can be worn anywhere.

Unforgivable fashion faux pas...
I don’t believe fashion should have any rules.

Any fashion show you attended in India or abroad which was aesthetically stimulating for you?
Couture week for Shahab Durazi in Mumbai, 2010. Every garment was something else, like a piece of art.

Do you share a penchant for accessories?
I love sunglasses, and also experimenting with hats and belts.

Any style tip you’d like to share?
Don’t go by fashion magazines, they can make you feel inferior.