Beginning a wardrobe from the ground up can seem challenging, but content creator Tarun Bhati has figured it out. Tarun, a style influencer specialising in men's fashion based in Delhi, talks to us about his fail-safe method for generating outfits that can transcend from casual days in college, to weekend dinners with new friends (or family), to work-style meetings. Tarun explained that instead of investing in difficult-to-style statement pieces, invest in well-styled basics that you can put to work!
Tarun's collection of seven good basic pieces that are wardrobe essentials for Indian men, which also give the maximum return on your efforts - ultimately, developing great style is not about having more pieces, but picking better ones.
The Ultimate Wardrobe Staple - Black Trousers
"If I'm going to build my wardrobe again from the bottom, the first thing I'm going to buy will be a good structured black trouser because it is such a staple for my wardrobe. I always keep going back to them," says Tarun. His rationale is brilliantly simple: "You can dress them up easily, you can dress them down easily. If it was a casual day in the office, you could go with a white t-shirt or any shirt really, like a half sleeve, and on days where you wanted to dress it up, you could easily do that with just a blazer and you would be set."
When it comes to economical options, Tarun is a big fan of homegrown brands, Shop Solution being his top brand. He has also recently liked 5 Feet 11, and says they have "some nice collection of like trousers in that way." However, he is honest about fast fashion, suggesting they are the option of last resort if you do not like the fit or quality.
Your "Go-To Denim". The Classic Blue Jean
The second pillar of Tarun's wardrobe philosophy rests on "a good washed denim. It doesn't have to be too washed, just a plain nice blue denim because that's going to be really useful for you as well." His excitement continues with denim's versatility: "You can just wear them with any t-shirt or white sneaker, you can use them for college, you can use them for your date."
What makes Tarun's approach unique is the understanding of fluidity of aesthetics. "You can elevate them from one aesthetic to another, you can use them in old money, you can easily use them for streetwear, just wear jerseys with them," he points out. Tarun mentioned his go-to brand as Days for Clothing, for its impressive denim collection.
The Wardrobe Anchor. Perfect White T-shirt
"The next thing I'm going to recommend is a plain white t-shirt, good, structured. It doesn't even need to be too oversized. It doesn't even need to be too fitted—good fitted white t-shirt," Tarun stressed, as fit is everything. This is a piece that layers "with the trousers or even with the denim, which I have already recommended."
For this wardrobe anchor, Tarun points to Brkthru Store for the premium versions, and Urban Needs provides "an affordable version" for those keeping on a budget. The beauty of this piece is its simplicity—a piece that anchors hundreds of outfit combinations.
The Forever Footwear - Clean White Sneakers
Shoes are the base of any fit, and Tarun had a practical approach: "a plain white sneaker. It can be NIKE Air Force, and if you don’t have the budget, buy from Sparx." His rationale is hard to argue with: "A plain white sneaker is literally going to last you forever. You can wear them with literally anything." Tarun has recommended Snitch's clean white sneakers on his profile with high praise.
The versatility is apparent as he creates a fit: "I’m creating a fit already - a white t-shirt, which I have already suggested, blue denim, and white sneakers, or a black trouser and white sneakers. That is going to be very helpful for you." The brand is less relevant than the execution - clean, classic, and never small or unworn.
The Instant Outfit Elevator. A Sufficient Belt
A 'good belt' is never underestimated in Tarun's line of work. "A good belt - it not only helps you put on pants or denim, it's also a very good accent. It's just that minimal effort way of elevating the outfit."
His method of shopping for belts is wonderfully inclusive, budget finds at Sarojini or higher-end options from Levi's, which he claims have "some nice collection of simple plain belts." For the Y2K effect, he would suggest checking out Instagram stores, introducing the idea that good quality doesn't require a premium price.
The Wrist Game Changers. Statement Watch
It’s been said that accessories make the man, and indeed Tarun’s perspective on timepieces that offer both style and substance is clearly one we should all adopt: "A watch is a watch and it's a nice accessory to elevate some outfits. A classic, simple watch from Casio or his favourite timepiece, the Casio tank, that he thinks is a little doppelgänger of a Cartier Tank but cheaper and does actually look really nice.
For daily wear, he generally supports the "Casio vintage series - they really have some really good variations available. I think people are already in love with it, and I am so glad that people are actually starting to love the Casio vintage series because it is my favourite." The vintage style brings nostalgia with a casual feel.
The Essential Formal - Smart Loafers
Ending his essential seven, Tarun recommends "a good loafer, because whether you're going to the office or not, at one point in your life, you're going to want to wear something classy—maybe you're going on a nice date or you've got an important business meeting. You're going to have to wear something formal."
His recommendations began with a couple of local favourites, Ikoho, and some premium international options, like Steve Madden. But it's the emerging brand Kavith that's currently piquing his interest: "They really do have a really nice range of loafers—I'm getting obsessed with them at the moment." The investment reaps the rewards for both formal and semi-formal occasions.
The Versatile Classic. Blue Striped Shirt
Never wanting to leave his followers wanting for content, Tarun adds one more item: "A blue striped shirt. I know we've been seeing this along the way, but it is actually an essential piece. You can wear them with trousers, you can wear them with denim, and you're literally off and running." And again, just as he began the list, we have versatility from the standpoint of occasions--"You could wear this for your date, for daily wear, for casual occasions, or for office wear as well."
For this classic, we yet again have 5 Feet 11 at the forefront, stating they offer "a really nice assortment of striped shirts, not just blue striped shirts, you'll find a lot of stripe colours there, and the fit and quality are actually very nice." Tarun is just plugging a philosophy here--timeless style that works across contexts, casual Friday to wedding guest outfitting by merely throwing on a blazer.
Tarun doesn't take a one-off approach to building a wardrobe or to investing in clothing. Instead of focusing on what's trendy, he is about creating pieces that work together to develop a wardrobe foundation, so getting dressed is no longer about choosing what to wear and instead about expressing personal style with confidence.
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