These global style icons show how to marry heritage legacy with personal style quotient
This article is brought to you by Raymond
Style is more than just about fashion or how you dress. Many would say that personality, attitude and a certain quality that sets you apart from the crowd, go into making a stylish person. The legacy of style is also something that can be passed down generations. Members of such families, whose every action is under public scrutiny, often try to cultivate an individual style which represents who they are, while also trying to stay true to their heritage.
These six celebrities with a rich family history and legacy show how it’s done.
Saif Ali Khan: Being the son of ‘Tiger’ Pataudi came with a royal set of expectations from the public for Saif Ali Khan. Pataudi senior was known to be extremely suave and sophisticated, dressing up like a true-blue English gentleman, as well as the Nawab that he was.
Saif on screen may have portrayed everything from a rustic villain (Omkara) to a super spy (Agent Vinod), but offscreen, he has been consistently opting for a balanced look that incorporates both the Bollywood star that he is as well as his royal persona. Little wonder then that he is counted among the most stylish people in the country today.
He carries off a velvet jacket (not to mention well-tailored tuxedos, colourful sherwanis and kurta-pyjama sets) with as much aplomb and ease as he does denims and a tee. His favourite designers? Rohit Bal and Raghavendra Rathore.
Cool, casual and non-fussy in his attitude, the style icon even appeared on a TV show Royal Reservations — Project Living where he imparted some fantastic style pointers and dressing tips for men.
David Lauren: For David Lauren, it’s all in the name and in the genes. The son of renowned couturier Ralph Lauren, David was surrounded by fashion and sartorial elegance from a very young age. And it seems to have hit the right notes, what with him being named among the best dressed men in the world by several publications over the years.
He handles the advertising, marketing and corporate communications functions at Ralph Lauren Corporation and looks every inch the young magnate that he is in his sleek formal business suits, even while zipping across New York City on his scooter. For formal occasions he prefers a tuxedo. When not in office, he exudes a casual but elegant air in denims teamed with a patterned pullover and an overcoat, or simple shorts and t-shirts on a holiday with family.
Ranbir Kapoor: The Kapoor clan, or the first family of Bollywood, has been known for its larger-than-life personalities, right from the time of their very impressive patriarch, Prithviraj Kapoor.
Rishi Kapoor displayed a fondness for pullovers – worn or thrown casually around his shoulders in so many songs picturised in the hills. Not many know that a large number of sweaters Rishi has worn on screen came from his personal collection.
Son Ranbir, with his boy-next-door aura, prefers the casual look off screen, but can absolutely pull off suits or formals whenever needed. And why not! He looks as dapper in a blazer, as he does donning a leather jacket for an event, or teaming up a dark polo neck with a white blazer while appearing on a talk show recently.
Axel Dumas: The CEO of Hermès International has a style heritage that goes back several hundred years; h is a sixth-generation member of the family that founded the luxury French fashion brand.
He has been hands on in the running of the company, managing its jewellery and leather goods businesses before taking over as CEO. Just like the brand he runs, Axel prefers the classic vintage look when it comes to how he likes to dress. Known for his elegant French style, Dumas has also found a place among lists of the most stylish businessmen in the world.
Rana Daggubati: This style icon is as comfortable walking the ramp as he is the red carpet.
Rana, the grandson of veteran Telugu film actor-producer D. Rama Naidu, and a very popular star in the South Indian film industry, is known to be a fitness enthusiast and takes pride in his appearance.
Be it a sherwani, a three-piece suit or an all-black ensemble with slicked back hair for an awards show, a formal black-tie getup with a pair of geeky glasses to complete the intellectual look, or just a simple pullover with jeans, he rocks any look.
Enrique Iglesias: You can run, you can hide but you can’t escape the trademark Enrique Iglesias look: baseball cap, jeans, button down shirts, hoodies and V-neck sweaters.
The son of noted Spanish crooner Julio Iglesias, Enrique is a firm believer in mantra of ‘when in doubt, simple is best’.
As he admits, this trademark look came about as he was clueless about what to wear. Unlike other Spanish singers on the scene, who preferred to perform in suits, Enrique always ended up singing in black jeans and a white t-shirt, a look he still dons from time to time.
What all these celebrities have in common is that they have managed to craft an independent contemporary style quotient of their own, while also staying true to their heritage. Just like Raymond is carrying on its legacy, with merino wool which has been around since the 12th century. With its new line of Raymond ready-to-wear sweaters, the brand offers you a chance to combine style with substance.
Crafted from 16.5 micron superfine Merino wool blended with special fibres, the premium range of sweaters are warm, soft and easy to maintain as they can be safely machine washed.
If you also want to be classy yet comfortable, check out the Raymond Sweaters collection today.
