Kangna Ranaut - Effortless fashion Queen

Effortless Kangana - Almost Francophilic 

Lets crack Kangna's style code ...which seems heavily inspired by Parsian "It"girls.
Our Classic, effortless and supremely confident Kangna Ranaut  who is well known for her impeccable sartorial sensibilities. 

 She is on the way to inspire a whole new generation of fashion followers.

 Effortless chic

 Focus ...dress or make-up

Clean silhouettes 

Minimalist look

Understated

Subtle footwear

Playing with one element at a time

Ace in playing with volumes and textures

Monotone Queen 

Image courtesy - Pinterest 

https://in.pinterest.com/anumittaltayal/

For more details please contact Eve for Style Cafe - Women's division of Style Cafe 

Stylecafebyanu@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/evebystylecafe

Anu Mittal Tayal

Your visual branding adviser 

No excuse for sloppiness in summers

Heading for an important meeting or an Interview ?

Indian summers are harsh ! No doubt about it . 

But the higher temperatures are no reason for sloppiness or under dressing . 

Sharp or sophisticated look is achievable by including these amazingly stylish and cool summer staples .

1. Summer suits - The fabric and construction details of summer suit are different from winter suit . 

The fabrics used are usually light weight cottons , seersucker , linen , linen blends and cotton elastane blends . You can pick colour of your choice or colours which flatter you . Darker colours give a more formal feel . 

Seersucker suit ( Image from Internet)

Linen blends suit

2 .Summer blazers / sports jackets - This item is much easier to add in your wardrobe . Make sure that details and fit are suitable for your body types.

Cotton blend blazers/coat

3. Summer trousers - Khakis , Chinos and linen trousers . Blends ( Often called as cotton rich ) are less prone to shrinkage and wrinkling .

Linen trousers

3. Summer accessories - Cotton socks , Knit ties and linen pocket square looks great when mercury soars up .

For more details please contact Adam for Style Cafe - Men's division of Style Cafe 

Stylecafebyanu@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/adambystylecafe

Anu Mittal Tayal

Your visual branding advisor 

Vibrant summer wardrobe for Men

Bored of Black and whites ?

Men usually get stuck with neutrals like black , grey and white . 

Few colourful ideas to introduce spice in your Summer wardrobe .

 Adding colours should be a gradual process and should not compromise your comfort levels .
 The colour , if close to your face, should be compatible with your skin tone .

Detailing 

 Colourful detailing (shown below in the picture) looks very tasteful . Just be sure of the workmanship and quality . It could be embroidered logo or colourful patch work .

 Coloured Chinos 

 Pair them with neutrals for toning down bright colours . Be very sure that the trouser fit you well . Pair them with brown casual shoes .

Madras checks 

They usually come in light weight breezy cottons . The size of pattern should ideally match your body proportions .

Coloured polos 

They are available in wide varieties and colours . Colour compatibility is very crucial as this garment is going to sit very close to your face .

 Sleeveless Jodhpuri jacket

 They add a punch of style and flair . Sport them whenever you want to dress a little conventional .

Short sleeve short kurtas 

Perfect for family lunches and casual evenings .

 Moccasins 

 They can help you make a fashion statement even with a regular outfit .

Cotton pocket squares 

 This is an accessory where you can safely experiment with colours and patterns 

Adam by Style Cafe ( A division of Style Cafe)

Visual branding advisor 

Styling tips to look taller

A Quick guide for men who want to look taller 

Though confidence is the key to rock any outfit with any height Or weight , however a little styling knowledge never hurts :-)

1. Avoid sharp contrasts - Either monochrome ( Same colour from top to bottom) or low contrasts like Navy and black , Or powder blue and white creates and illusion of height . A sharp visual break between shirt and trousers will add much visible parallel lines .

2. Appropriate shoes - Same tone shoe, matching with trousers creates visual length .Avoid broad heels or soles .

3. Suitable pattern size - Shorts which end below knee drown the body frame Or double breasted jackets too broaden the frame. Avoid big Checks or prints.

4. Accessory and proportions - While buying accessories keep proportions in mind . Like a thinner wrist watch or a thinner waist belt helps . The key is to match accessories with your physical proportions.

5. Find a good tailor - A well fitted attire will add height and will make you look more attractive. If finding your size is a challenge , go for bespoke . It will be a best investment towards your impeccable Image.

6. Regular fits / Smaller sizes - Experiment with different fits. In most cases regular or slim fit gives a taller appearance . Explore boys sizes ( L or XL) ...you might end up in surprise. 

7. Try to create more perpendiculars - Verticals created with either print or pattern elongates the frame. A fuss free Jacket or a slim tie will do magic.

8. Avoid bulky fabrics and textures - These types generally flatter big/taller/bulky frames , hence stay away from voluminous looks.

9. Minimum visual noise - Any detail which draws extra attention will counteract . Like big shiny buttons or loud design on shoes .

10. Create a focus - Ideally the viewer eyes should move towards your face. In order to achieve that , create a focus around your face and shoulder area with a nice pocket square or a tie pin.

11. Hairstyles - Short hair style work best . A little bounce above the forehead area too helps .

12 .Posture - A straight and confident posture adds to your charisma and confidence as well as increase the visual height too . Say goodbye to slump and lazy looking postures .


Brands usually don't manufacture for men's petite sizes.
Research on brands and find sizes which fit you well with least alterations .Go for brands which serve smaller sizes ( XS , S ) or smaller frames like H&M , Lacoste and Levis , Banana republic .

Adam for Style Cafe ( A division of Style Cafe)
Visual branding advisor
(Images courtesy - Pinterest )

Do you have a noticeable presence among your colleagues ?

How can men achieve more visibility and presence ?

Five easy steps ...all equally important to achieve an effortless polished look

1. Know yourself and own your Image - Understand your body types and proportions , your comfort level and your personal and professional goals . Clarity on above aspects makes it much easier to build up a utilitarian as well as stylishly sharp wardrobe.

2. Perfect Fit needs patience - A well fitted garment looks expensive and classy . You can consider yourself very lucky if you fit in the sizes available in the market . Or else a good tailor can help you with minor alterations . Example - Altering trouser length for right trouser break .

3. Colour your personality with confidence - The colours and colour combinations speak volumes about your personality and taste . The colour , print or colour details can make or break a particular look . The colours you are wearing or the contrast between your coat/jacket and shirt/ tee can influence your authority levels.

4. Styling details are crucial - Garment styling which honours your physical characteristics and the occasion , helps you in strengthening your presence. A structured silhouette can act as a trump card if you are heading for an important presentation . Styling details can include collar spacing and width , the tie knot , the size of the lapels and cuffs , buttons or zippers .

5. Quality - Wearing the best quality you can afford can help you in building up a sharp and dignified Image .

Style cafe's Power Tip - Never ignore your shoes . Appropriate and quality footwear is the most essential ingredient for achieving a polished Image .

Style Cafe

Image and Visual branding advisor

Culottes - The "It" silhouette for Spring-summer

How to pronounce Culottes ?

ˈkü-ˌlät, ˈkyü-; kü-ˈlät (Usually pronounced in plural form)

What are culottes ?

Culottes are women's flared trousers cut to look like a skirt . They look deceptively like a skirt from afar .

How to style culottes ?

Everyone seems to have jumped aboard the culottes train, making them the “It” silhouette for last two seasons .

Also known as gauchos—doesn't exactly scream wearable and flattering to a lot of women because of its little unstructured and matronly look .

Whether you’re tall or petite, lanky or curvy, there’s a culotte out there with your name on it just waiting to be made into a fashion statement .

Work appropriate 

Mid-calf is the best length for most people as it makes them look like a cute swing skirt. 

A structured non glossy look with minimum detailing is best suited for office wear . 

Wear with a classic solid or striped collared shirt and an almond- or round-toe T-strap shoe. Add some pretty pearls or a beaded necklace and a day bag in a strong solid colour.

Casual culottes  

Think about a more silky, billowy pair for a date or the weekend. Leave the crisp, tailored styles for work. Up top, wear with a thin camisole or blouse with a few buttons undone or patterned tee . You can even wear it as same colour separates .

Petites 

If you are short height , than opt for a pair that falls right below the knee, and tailor them if you need to.

Same colour or a nude shoe will help you create an illusion of longer legs .

Full figured 

Go for soft but full bodied fabrics . Plain, no fuss silhouettes will do justice . Pointed shoes trim down the overall look ...rock the outfit with lots of confidence :)

Style Cafe 
Visual branding advisor 
( Images downloaded from Google)

Image as a rescue to end discrimination #stylecafe

Unequal pay for equal work !!!!

 How strengthening your Image can help you liberate from this discrimination ? 

There is no country on earth where women get equal pay as men for equal work. Not even the Nordic countries with impressively high overall gender parity can boast of equality when it comes to the pay packet.

How can you demand more respect , power and equality at work place ? 

Investing in your Image can empower your and your executive presence 

Power over glamour 

Dress up for creating a look which is powerful and commanding. Each role demands a certain level of authority and you need to tap in the resources at your disposal . 

Glamour and glitz look better in evenings or professions related to beauty and fashion . 

A style with bare arms in a board room will create unwanted distraction and it reduces your authority too. 

Minimal over opulence 

Adopting a policy of 'less is more' helps in professional set-ups. Clean non messy hair styles , natural or classic make-up , noise-less jewellery , muted metals look sharp and gives a polished appearance . 

Structure over Slouchy

A structured well fitted outfit which flatters your personality and body shape will earn you more respect . A slouchy , loose fit style , even if its trendy ,will not help you in creating an executive presence . Even when dressing casually , opt for clean and smart silhouettes . 

Assertive over passive 

Gain a mastery over your body language and tone of your voice . These two areas are very crucial when you wan to leave an impact as a professional . Right posture, unerring hand movements , correct tone and pitch of your voice makes it easier to prove your competency and portrays you as a more confident person .

Style Cafe
Visual Branding advisor

Five 'W' of your YOUR SEVEN SECONDS

Your Irreplaceable seven seconds

How much do you own them ? 

Five W of first Impressions 

1. When does this happen ?

 The moment that stranger sees you, his or her brain makes a thousand computations: Are you someone to approach or to avoid? 
Are you friend or foe? 
Do you have status and authority?
 Are you educated and intelligent ? 
Are you trustworthy, competent, likeable, confident?

2. What actually happens ?

 It’s not a conscious process, so we don’t even realise we’re doing it - but it goes back to our primitive roots when we couldn't afford to make wrong decisions.’ - clinical psychologist and author of Straight Talking

• 50-55 % The way you appear and behave
• 35-40 %  Tone and Pitch of your voice
• 5-10 % What you say 

3. Why does this happen ? 

This 'Seeing is believing ' neurological reflex might have primarily evolved to identify predatory and non-predatory creatures as quickly as possible. 

Judi James, author of The Body Language Bible, agrees: ‘Judging other people in the first few seconds of meeting them is part of our survival response. So, although we might understand that it’s a flawed and prejudiced way of evaluation, we can’t stop ourselves doing it.

4. Who is in control ? 

YOU ! Work on A , B and C of Image management . A stands for appearance , B for behaviour and C for communication ( Both verbal and non-verbal ) 
Seven Seconds to Make a First Impression

5. Which area needs to be improved ?

It depends on your goal . 

Case 1 -If you are a business person, you need to be in command over your Behaviour and Communication . Appearance too will matter but your body language can make or break a particular deal. You've got 7 seconds to impress me: How we size up men in next to no time

Case 2- If your aim is to look attractive on your first date , you definitely strengthen your appearance . It doesn't mean that behaviour and communication can be ignored but visual appeal takes a front seat here .

Case 3 - A job applicant should be sharp in all the areas to crack the interview. Nail the interview 

Style Cafe 
Visual branding advisor 

Oscar extremes #stylecafe

Oscar extremes - Extravagance Vs Sustainable Fashion

Oscar makes more news and noise on costumes than awards !

We all did witness some extremely magnificent costumes and in contrast there were few diligent celebs who took part in latest movement commonly known as 'Sustainable Fashion '.

There were ladies who portrayed self indulgent attitude and their dresses were highly extravagant .

Lady Gaga wore Azzedine Alaia crystal embellished gown which was was made by 25 people in 1600 hours  

Julianne Moore The long white masterpiece was made by Karl Lagerfeld himself. The organza gown, lined with silk crepe and containing a hidden bustier, featured 80,000 “small white hand-painted resin sequins and flowers made of ivory, beige and black organza, tulle and sequins,” according to Chanel.

Lupita Nyong wore a Calvin Klein gown The white gown was created by Francisco Costa featured cascading strands of 6,000 pearls and was paired with Chopard jewels 

Gina Rodriguez  wore a cobalt blue gown made from 100%  PEACE SILK ( Silk harvested only after the silkmoth breaks out of its cocoon  ) which was finished off with low impact dyes .

 .

Jake McDorman  Tuxedo was made from 100% DEAD STOCK WOOL ( Wool taken after death or slaughter ) . The Jacket lining was made from PEACE SILK . His shoes were too ANIMAL FRIENDLY ( NYC Vegan Footwear ) and his shirt was made from RECYCLED PLASTIC BOTTLES.

Jessica Chastain, wore a fitted dress from H&M upcoming 'CONCIOUS EXCLUSIVE' collection . It features organic cotton , recycled polyseter and polyamide . 

 

Style Cafe 

Visual Branding advisor 

Cool College boy to dapper executive #style Café

How to make a smooth transition from a carefree or cool college boy to a competent and dapper looking professional ?

    TO      

We often meet men who dress like boys even in a profession set-up . 

There are very successful men who managed to write history even with their frumpy fashion style and monotonous wardrobe. but everyone cannot be Mark Zukerberg or Steve Jobs :-)

  

Advantages of style upgrade 

•  You will be able to create first powerful impressions .

•  Industry appropriate dress gives you a sense of credibility .

•  You look more experienced and put together .

•  Your chances of grabbing a bigger role becomes easy .

College to Corporate 

A smooth transition calls for four basic mathematical actions to build up a powerful Image 

1. Addition - A dark coloured formal suit which you can use for evening formal sets-ups and interviews. Make sure that the colour suits your skin one and it fits really well .
 Formal black/brown shoes ( With dark matching socks)are an item which you will rarely find in a boys wardrobe . Find a good quality shoe and pair it up with your suit and formal trousers .

2. Subtraction - Baggy jeans , Loose or hung neck Tees , ill fitted clothes , faded shirts and worn out shoes .  Bright neon or big prints .

3. Multiply - 

a. Shirts -Start with basic staples like a white and a light blue dress shirt and keep on multiplying these evergreen formal pieces . By the time you are two to three years old in your job you can have three to four crisp white shirts( With different details ) which fit you very well . 

b. Trousers -Same multiplication can be done with basic black /grey / beige trousers . 

c. Accessories - Ties , Pocket square , Tie-pins etc 

4. Divide - Divide your wardrobe into smart casual , weekend clothing and Business formal. It will save lot of time and energy . The formal clothing usually comes at a good price , hence keep it covered and well protected . 

Style Cafe

Visual branding advisor

How Mr.Arvind Khejriwal created history with an un-ornamented Image ? #stylecafe

Arvind Kejriwal - Imagified 

In last two years Arvind Khejriwal has emerged as a strong ' archetype of Indian common man ' ! 

Image is a precise concoction of Appearance , Behaviour and Communication .

Mr. Arvind scores high on the later two aspects and emerges as a silent tsunami in Indian politics .

If we scan his appearance , we will not find anything charming or captivating about his outer/visible personality( He does not even matches his socks with his trousers :-) and its rare to find him in a tie or a suit)  He is not khadi dhaari like our other politicians .... but he still managed to struck the right chord ...how ?? 

Appearance 

His aim was to connect with common man and his clothes and appearance speaks the same language ...

a. He looks exceedingly approachable with the way he dresses up ..or we can say he is always dressed down which gives him an aura of person who is well disposed , accessible , sympathetic and friendly . 

b. His favourite colours are Maroon , Navy and Grey .

Maroon says - Do not get in my way ..I am on mission . The colour shows his determination and leadership skills .

Navy says - I am trustworthy , loyal and credible .

Grey says - I am an intellectual and can put my nose into the grindstone. 

Behaviour 

1. Honesty - Being honest can sometime be vulnerable. Honesty helps a leader to develop credibility and trust, which are the foundation to evoke confidence and respect from those around you . Mr. Arvind has managed to score high on honestly bar .
2. Compassion - While many see compassion as a weakness , but he has developed this trait in his favour ,for a strong grip over masses .Good leaders use compassion to see the needs of those he or she leads and Mr. khejriwal managed with finesse to tap into Aam aadmi's pulse . 
3. Integrity -Political leaders who possess integrity can be trusted because he or she never veers from inner values . He partly lost his integrity in people's eyes after resigning , but regained it to a much higher glory by using his personal charisma and through regretful acknowledgement of his past deeds .

4.Confidence - A good political leader needs to be both confident in himself or herself as well in their ability to lead.  He was always confident of his agendas and problems he wanted to address .
5. Flexibility - This characteristic allows political leaders to recognize setbacks and criticism, to learn from them and move forward. He has forged ahead an unestablished path and made many amendments while paving it ...with his own unique style of conviction. 
Communication 
Everyone will agree that Mr.khejriwal communicated with all his might and heart . His verbal as well as non-verbal skills were quite appropriate and he was able to dent into Indian politics with his open style of communication .

Style Cafe 

Visual branding advisor