Red, greens, maroons, deep blue, dark browns etc… these are
the colors for the season. You have ads all over the place promoting these
colors. All the shops sell these colors they are there for the taking in pants
and shirts as well as shoes. The pants are tapering and tight and the shirts
are tight fitting as well. The fad is well and truly upon us. They are
everywhere. And such loud fashion is universal. Right from the slums to the fashion
lords on high street. Such loud fashion works well for everyone. I am possibly
an old man now. I find it difficult to wear these colors. Nopes these are not
for me.
It’s funny how age does it to people. When I was younger I would
wear the loud fashion of the season. Bright colors, deep washed denims, colored
t shirts and other stuff. One of the things that I loved wearing and that
elders never understood was torn jeans or simply shorts. Both were an anathema.
They just couldn’t understand why on earth would a grown up want to wear
shorts? Isn’t that what you wear in school and isn’t that what you outgrow and
mature into pants. And this boy was trying to go back. And torn jeans? Why would
anyone want to look poor or as I would rephrase as ‘grunge’. That would be so
bloody stupid. Then came the cargo pants. Why would anyone want to wear a pant
with so many pockets? Cargo pants came into fashion at around the time Jispa
was born. It was a boon. Carrying all of Jispa’s stuff in the many pockets. They
really helped me carry my fatherhood with me.
And now – I sit like a fat head refusing to understand the
new colors for the clothes they wear. I find myself old, stubborn rigid and
stupid. I am reminded of my professor from school. Kantaraju. He used to wear the
most boring pants. Flat front, no pleats, straight fit. That must have been the
fashion at time he graduated. And he stayed there in the time warp. And I look
at my wardrobe and feel, I have gotten stuck. Now what should I do. Should I change
with the times? Should I ring out the old and ring in the new? Should I wear
mustard tight pants with matching shoes?
I guess not. But I think I must get rid of the old shirts. I
am generally not that particular a dresser. I don’t really mind too much about
what I wear. I have my own sense of style (or lack of) which I am comfortable
with. Over the years it has deteriorated into – screw you types fashion. This is
what I wear. Sometimes I again dress up nice and sometimes I just don’t bother.
I have shirts in my wardrobe that are possibly 10 years old as well. The average
age of my shirts would easily be around 5 years. Possibly more. The cost would
also be very low compared to the market. I don’t like spending too much on
clothes. But then recently I had one hard look at myself in front of my wardrobe.
I think I was becoming a Kantaraju. I was in danger of becoming a relic. I
needed to throw out the stuff I don’t want. There are many shirts that are there
because I am too cheap to throw them. They sit there, they don’t get worn, and
they lie around and gather dust, that’s it. I was telling Jasmine that I need a
new wardrobe now. And that can only happen once I rebuild my collection by throwing
what I don’t wear and buying stuff that I will wear. Recreate my mix and match
styles, fabrics and colors. I need cottons for the summer and woolen blends for
the winter. If it means budgeting a fat sum and spending then so be it, but I need
to get it done.
So it’s a funny one. While I hate to sound vain and bother
about my clothes, I possibly also like to look decent and in line with current
trends. And at the same time I am not wearing what these kids wear. That’s not
my style. I have my own and it needs to evolve. If a marketing guy doesn’t,
then who will? Eh?
