While A-list Bollywood celebrities collectively give us fashion goals, they always have their style army to thank for not only dressing them in the best of the best but also for setting all the trends as we know them. Here are six influential Indian stylists who know how to travel in style, and we are taking notes!
AKSHAY TYAGI
Costume Designer and Celebrity Stylist
Your favourite fashion destination?
I absolutely love Italy for its innate sense of sartorial excellence. Every guy wakes up with a clear sense of style and looks sharp. No matter how formal or casual, The looks always got personality oozing from within.
Your favourite place to relax and recharge yourself?
My home. I’ve made so much effort to make the place I come back to every day a sanctuary of peace. “Me” time is always needed and nowhere is better than my own couch.
A few wardrobe staples that are a part of every holiday?
Swimming trunks. Comfy shoes. Sunglasses. Black shirt. Hoodie.
Types of footwear you carry along?
Too many! Always one sporty, one dressy, and one fashion statement.
Some beach accessories you can’t travel without?
Towel, sunscreen and sunglasses.
Some beauty products you can’t travel without?
Chapstick, under-eye patches and hand cream.
Warm Vs Cold destination essentials?
Warm – loose shirts, extra tees for sweat purposes, light stretchy shorts and a comfortable pair of sandals. Cold- smart layers, Uniqlo thermals and lightweight down-filled vest, thermal socks and warmers for the pockets.
What are some packing hacks you swear by?
Roll all the clothes. Packing cubes from MUJI. Always a change of clothes in the carry on.
ESHAA AMIIN
Celebrity Stylist
Your favourite fashion destination?
My favourite place to travel to is Milan.
A few wardrobe staples that are a part of every holiday?
My wardrobe staples are a hat, a maxi dress, sunglasses, a tote and a jacket.
Types of footwear you carry along?
I can’t live without flip flops and white sneakers.
Some beach accessories you can’t travel without?
A beach bag, a pair of shades and a hat.
Some beauty products you can’t travel without?
My sunscreen and moisturizer.
Warm Vs Cold destination essentials?
Warm – flip flops and a summer hat. Cold – a woollen jacket, woollen stockings and a turtle neck top or a dress.
What are some packing hacks you swear by?
Start with planning your outfits. Avoid carrying too many options, it’s never helpful!
AASTHA SHARMA
Celebrity Stylist
Your favourite place to relax and recharge yourself?
I’m a beach bum, most happy around the water sun and sand.
A few wardrobe staples that are a part of every holiday?
Cool sneakers, an oversized jacket, sunglasses and a statement bag is a must.
Types of footwear you carry along?
I am usually all about comfort, so I usually spend my vacations in sneakers and/or boots.
Some beach accessories you cannot travel without?
A statement beach bag, oversized sunglasses and a hat. I usually avoid any jewellery on the beach.
Some beauty products you cannot travel without?
Sunscreen, cocoa moisturisers, mascara, highlighter and a lip balm is a must for me.
Warm Vs Cold destination essentials?
Start with the right luggage. Look for a travel bag which is lightweight, expandable and (most importantly) looks good. It goes for both warm and cold destinations. Plan your outfits. Pack your beach cover-ups, bathing suits, a nice pair of flip flops (you’re never going to wear your fancy sandals on the beach). Never pack your second favourites. Carry a giant scarf which can double up as a travel blanket, shawl, or hood in a jiffy. Carry two sarongs at least. It’s the best multipurpose piece of clothing you need. Wear them like shrugs the way they show in DIY tricks, or using them as a cover-up.
What are some packing hacks you swear by?
Pack your accessories in pill-organiser storage boxes. Avoid carrying your expensive watches on vacations. Also, the famous Pinterest hack of putting chains through straws actually works.
MOHIT RAI
Fashion And Celebrity Stylist
Your favourite fashion destination?
I love Florence. The people, the flavour in the culture and the fashion on the streets. I also think it’s one of the best destinations to shop at.
Your favourite place to relax and recharge yourself?
Any beach that has an unlimited supply of cocktails.
A few wardrobe staples that are a part of every holiday?
Sunscreen, hats, lots of linen and also, please pack enough shoes for every occasion. I’m not a believer in travelling light.
Types of footwear you carry along?
Sneakers, oxfords, thongs, and espadrilles.
Some beach accessories you can’t travel without?
External charger, jute knapsack, a thrilling book I’m reading at that moment and hot speedos.
Some beauty products you can’t travel without?
Only sunscreen, moisturisers and of course hair wax.
Warm Vs Cold destination essentials?
Warm – loose shirts and extra pairs of shorts. Cold – extra thermals and smart layers.
What are some packing hacks you swear by?
Rolling and packing to fit the most in one suitcase is still my favourite.
NIKHIL D.
Stylist and Co-Founder, feat.cast
Your favourite fashion destination?
London from experience. Antwerp is on my list for being where all my favourite designers are from.
Your favourite place to relax and recharge yourself?
Goa, as it’s conveniently close but I think new places recharge me more than anything else.
A few wardrobe staples that are a part of every holiday?
Totally depends on where I am going. I always carry a large raincoat everywhere I go. I also always take as many pairs of socks and underwear as I can. Sunglasses, a fanny pack and swimming trunks.
Types of footwear you carry along?
I usually wear only one pair of shoes with everything. Comfortable sneakers and a pair of sandals if I’m going to the beach.
Some beach accessories you can’t travel without?
A cloth tote, can’t travel without it but I usually like to have one for the beach but only so I can carry everything with me always.
Some beauty products you can’t travel without?
The body lotion from Kama, sunscreen, hand cream and perfume.
Warm Vs Cold destination essentials?
Warm – a beach bag, sunscreen, lots of shirts. Cold – A warm coat that could be worn over anything, and thermals.
What are some packing hacks you swear by?
I usually take everything that I have in the same colour so it’s easier to pack. I like to have all my things around me always so I pack heavy, but I also pack exactly to the size of my suitcase. Always put the important things on top and utilise space well.
EKA LAKHANI
Costume Designer/Celebrity Stylist
Your favourite fashion destination?
New York and London are my favourites! New York, as I studied there, visited fashion museums and reviewed big fashion houses. What I love about New York is that while it has a distinct style, it is also very versatile!
While you see the typical New York street style on one side, you also find the artsy style in the village and the extremely high end in the Upper East. The city also makes shopping extremely easy and fun; whether you need to buy street, hype or high end.
Your favourite place to relax and recharge yourself?
I belong to both, the mountains and the beach. Currently, I’m into mountains. If I had to choose two places: Dharamshala because I was there recently, and Switzerland because waking up in the Swiss Alps is the best feeling ever! Beach would be Bali and Sri Lanka. The sun, the sand and your girlfriends are all you need!
A few wardrobe staples that are a part of every holiday.
Holidays are all about feeling good! I make sure I always
carry my little black dress for that crazy drunk night. A fresh little ensemble for the mimosa brunch (preferably keeping this a day to night dress just in case the brunch gets wilder!) Never leave the classic white t-shirt, I usually pack four of them! Boyfriend jeans and sneakers for the day I want to explore around. A distressed denim jacket makes everything work! At least one really good work set of athleisure (gym clothes), for the day you decide to go biking or trekking.
A complimenting bathing suit (one-piece or bikini) and a sexy cover-up, big gold hoops (always), and sunglasses!
Types of footwear you carry along?
I am extremely big on sneakers and often get ridiculed for how many I carry. I usually end up with eight sneakers, two flip flops, a pair of boots, two pairs of stilettos (usually black and nude/tan).
Some beach accessories you can’t travel without?
My sunglasses, cover-ups (Saaksha and Kini have some really good ones), a big beach tote or a bum bag, big hoops, Moroccan oil beach wave mousse, a hair scarf.
Some beauty products you can’t travel without?
My usual makeup kit which has the basics – Chanel foundation, MAC concealer, Clarins beauty flash balm, MAC strobe, Clinique chubby stick, most favourite Benefit – benetint, goof-proof eye pencil, Badgal bang mascara, Guerlain radiance in a flash! Apart from this, there are a few other products I cannot travel without – Moroccan oil serum, shampoo and conditioner (for any weather), Body Shop honey bronze shimmering bodyoil and a good sunscreen.
Warm Vs Cold destination essentials?
Cold – please invest in some good thermals, in my opinion, the Uniqlo ones are the best. Super thin and super warm. Always pack an all-black outfit, black turtleneck, black fleece-lined leggings, black leg warmers, black boots and a nice warm black overcoat. It’s always a win win. Apart from this – frosty colours for the day – frosty pink and peach oversized sweaters with a woollen cap and benetint cheeks, can’t get fresher! You’ll need a really good moisturizer to keep the skin hydrated and I usually pack some powder to sprinkle on the inner side of the clothes to avoid static. Warm – tank tops, cute distressed shorts, boyfriend jeans, flip flops, oversized shirts, scarves, a light moisturiser, a really good sunscreen and a nice bronzer and highlighter.
What are some packing hacks you swear by?
I usually carry two bags: keep the daywear in one along with the toiletries and the evening wear in the other along with all my shoes. Basic hacks like rolling tees, packing clothes set wise, cling wrapping toiletries, putting shoes in labelled shoe bags just makes life easier. But I do believe every person
should find their own comfortable way of packing.
