Punit Jasuja: Dressing up fearless

Maharaja chic meets vintage gangster, with Chicago Police jackets and embroidered brooches — Punit Jasuja deconstructs his style

November 16, 2018 05:00 pm | Updated January 28, 2019 03:13 pm IST

Punit Jasuja

Punit Jasuja

He is the man behind some of India’s most beautiful weddings and events. With a tri-continental upbringing and a multi-hyphenated career — event planner, interior designer, creative director and owner of concept store Second Floor Studio — for Punit Jasuja “style is everything I do; the things I eat, touch and wear, the way I speak with people”. Even the way he styles our photo shoot, with experimental lighting, plush backdrops and his two golden cocker spaniels. Jasuja is in Bangladesh when I call him, and he reveals he has already done a round of the shops, to “see what is happening in fashion here”. “I’m travelling all the time, so my style is reflective of how I live,” he adds. With a love of bags, brooches and scarves, the dapper Delhi-based designer tells us about his eclectic tastes.

1. Your style.

My style tends to be unique, bold and fearless. I grew up between New York, London and India — so it’s a bit of maharaja chic with a touch of vintage gangster. I’ll wear a black Chicago Police leather jacket, kurta, jeans and my gold heirloom ring.

2. What defines it?

It has to be comfortable yet stylish. I am also a bit of a cheat; I pretty much wear the same thing every day: Ralph Lauren khakis, long sleeve ikat shirts from Kolkata, and Native shoes. I don’t like to spend a lot of time getting ready, so everything has to work.

3. Where do you shop?

I shop everywhere — at airports, government shops, outlet stores, vintage shops, Barneys, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. I love finding a fabric in Thailand and turning it into a kurta; or a vintage jacket in New York and changing the sleeves with embroidered pashmina. I enjoy combining things from different cultures and styles, and making it my own.

4. Do you prefer your clothes tailored?

I don’t wear tailored clothing all the time. But when I need something, I head to Savile Row in London, or my tailor, Sanjay Katoch, in Khan Market. I also shop for jackets from Boglioli in Milan and Kardo in Delhi.

Punit Jasuja

Punit Jasuja

5. Navigating dressing down and dressing up.

I am often on sets, and then in the evenings I have to look chic. So I wear stylish, modern outfits like Giorgio Armani or Yves Saint Laurent. You’ll also find me in an Anuradha Raman ikat jacket with a white Rajesh Pratap Singh kurta pyjama. I always have a Brooks Brothers blazer with me, a scarf, and a brooch, like the embroidered paisley by Olivia Dar, to dress up my shirt or sweater.

6. What about accessories?

I wear a gold Buddhist bangle, my President Rolex and jewellery from Amrapali all the time. I’m currently wearing their woven bracelet. I also have a tonne of shoes — from the Hermes Izmir leather sandals to Dolce & Gabbana riding boots.

7. Your go-to eyewear brand?

The German brand, Mykita, is modern and clean. And Carrera Porsche, made in the 1980s, have the coolest collection of sunglasses I’ve ever seen. So any time I can get my hands on it, I buy it. I own 22 pairs now.

8. Little touches that personalise your look.

Brooches! From vintage Art Deco pieces I found in the flea markets in Paris to an embroidered butterfly from my designer friend Ashdeen. I also use a lot of scarves. I love Yves Saint Laurent, and cashmere from Janavi by Jyotika Jhalani.

9. Indian designers you favour?

I wear Antar Agni and Rajesh Pratap Singh. The former puts me in vogue and the latter is for a classic look, for whenever I need to be a little more traditional.

10. Your travel style?

I always carry my double-side natural shahtoosh shawl that I inherited from my father. No matter where I’m going, if it is summer or winter, I carry it. My travel bag has a python pouch for my passport, a Bottega Veneta wallet for my money, a deerskin pouch for my hand cream, lip balm and Terre d’Hermes cologne, a Dunhill file for my papers, Carrera Porsche sunglasses, a Mont Blanc StarWalker Resin pen, my Apple laptop, iPad and backup battery.

11. Your off-duty signature?

A vintage indigo blue Japanese kimono that I bought in Sifnos, Greece. It brings back all the memories from my travel.

12. What do you smell of?

I pick up perfumes from Code Deco and Etat Libre d’Orange. I am using the Eau de Rhubarbe Ecarlate Hermès and Serge Lutens Gris Clair currently. I like to layer my perfumes to create a scent that is my own.

13. Fashion fetishes?

I love bags. They are a really good way to make a statement. I recently picked up a beautiful Dagne Dover daily bag. Some of my favourites are my embossed Madewell leather bag and my Bottega Veneta classic woven sack.

14. Any indulgences?

For my 40th birthday, I got a black crocodile duffel bag custom-made in Milan. I chose the skin myself and it was all hand-stitched. It took about three months.

15. Fashion shows and you?

I own a store in Delhi so I go to fashion shows all the time. I often buy off-the-runway looks, like the grey herringbone Gucci suit I picked up last season.

16. Who do you think has great style?

My father. He always wore impeccable suits, had a great eye and never sacrificed on quality — a lesson I’ve learnt from him.

The series takes you inside the wardrobes of some of India’s best dressed

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.