My Style: Nik Thakkar
Photo: Farfetch.com — Courtesy of Nik Thakkar
The three essential things a man should know about style are...
The clothes will never matter if you don't pay close attention to fit and proportion. Things look more expensive and show more personality when it appears to have been made just for you. Mixing contrasting textures in a single colour story will always look less forced and more polished than with contrasting colours and pattern. It allows you to really explore fabrics, leather, knits, and denim to safely bring a unique signature. Dress each day to be noticed by the person you want most to notice you. Men in particular have lost a sense of intention. Find your unique voice and externalise it.
Please describe your style in three words.
Monochrome, minimalist, luxe.
What is the biggest mistake one can make when getting dressed?
Dressing for someone else. Dress for yourself, as an extension of who you are and how you feel. This doesn’t include sweatpants in public. Ever. Obviously.
Do you believe in role models?
Yes and no. I understand their place in fashion and society, but I’d suggest treating them as inspiration guides, rather than role models.
What are your favourite fabrics?
Calf leather and real fur. Yes, PETA.
Are there any style combinations that you object to?
What doesn’t work today might work in SS14, but I don’t endorse excessive use of polyester. We’ve evolved to a place where fast-fashion can be affordable and stylish at the same time, so there is no excuse really.
Which city has the best-dressed men?
London, New York, and Milan.
Would you say that you are conservative or bold?
Both. I’m an enigma. I happily wear Damir Doma man-dresses and Rick Owens skirts, but they are normally black, so don’t always stand out.
What are the rules, if any, in the way you dress?
Think to yourself, if I bumped into Karl Lagerfeld or Tom Ford today, would what I am wearing be acceptable attire?
Celebrities and style...
Can sometimes be mutually exclusive.
Name one garment/accessory that you can never have enough of?
Black leather jackets.
A man should always look like...
He doesn’t wash regularly.
Who taught you what you know about style?
Myself, Tumblr, catwalks, and Karl Lagerfeld.
How do you select your clothing every morning?
It depends on what I am doing that day. If it is something fashion focused then I will be more selective, if not then I will dress down — leathers, black jeans and a t-shirt.
What is your biggest regret?
Non-fashion related? Giving up the piano at the age of seventeen. I was classically trained. Fashion-related? Wearing jeans so baggy that they used to drag on the floor in the rain. Hashtag unglamorous.
Do you have any shopping rituals?
Not really. I shop both online and at bricks and mortar stores. My favourites include Behaviour in New York, Selfridges and Hostem in London, Mr Porter and farfetch.com for online shopping.
We will never see you wearing...
Layered polo shirts and anything that involves colour blocking.
The most stylish person you have ever seen...
Jared Leto and a singer-songwriter/fashion god, Adriel Daniel who lives in Williamsburg, New York.
What is the first thing you notice on a man?
His shoes.
The one image that defined your approach to style...
It wasn’t really a single definitive image, but watching Lagerfeld Confidential in 2007 that certainly helped define my approach to fashion and personal confidence.
Which new designers do you follow and why?
Asher Levine is by far one of my favourites. Having designed bespoke pieces for Gaga, will.i.am and countless other celebrities definitely put him on the map, but his vision and aesthetic are so progressive, it is unreal. I can see him as a creative director of a major fashion house within the next few years. Also, I adore a new womenswear designer, Phannatiq, who has recently branched into menswear, and the way that she works with silhouettes is great. Finally, I also follow LCFM designers Domingo Rodriguez and Asger Juel Larsen.
The only article of clothing that a man needs to pay close attention to is...
A lazy man would tell you the proper coat can pull together any outfit, but don't be lazy, pay attention to them all.
What are the most treasured items in your wardrobe?
Multiple black leather jackets and a pair of black Converse. Hedi Slimane and I share that love.
Is comfort an enemy of style?
Again, the two are not mutually exclusive, but it’s sometimes/often worth the pain.
Which fashion house never fails to impress you?
Jean Paul Gaultier and Versace menswear.
Who would you like to see next in My Style?
Stylist and DJ, Alexis Knox.
The best words of advice you have ever heard?
Karl Lagerfeld to Harper's Bazaar: “Don't use expensive clothes as a screen for your personal doubts. Be proud of yourself and not only because you wear expensive designer clothes. They are great, but lots of people are happy without them. You come first, the clothes later.”
