Wear your style

Pawan & Ashish of Knights & Lords on how accessories can perk up your look

Accessories can play an important role in changing the appearance of an outfit. To do it in a manner that appears to be effortless-yet-elegant is an art in itself. An interesting play of colours and patterns can be combined with accessories to lend a fresh look to the entire outfit. Ties, bowties, pocket squares, scarves, cufflinks, belts, braces and even socks can lend character to the entire outfit.
People working in sectors that require them to be dressed formally can add a bit of personality to their entire outfit with a tie or pocket square. The first and foremost rule is to never match your tie with the pocket square. It deviates attention from the entire outfit, visually sticking out like a sore thumb. Certain elements of the tie can be used in the pocket square, whereby the dominant colour of the tie can be a motif on the pocket square. Similarly, colours that complement each other can be used. For example, a pink tie matched with a lilac or burgundy pocket square and vice-versa. Also, pairings of different tones of the same colour can  be used with royal blue being paired with sky blue or navy blue. With formal dressing, cufflinks worn with double-cuffed bespoke custom shirts add an elegant flair to the entire outfit. Rounded or square-shaped metallic cufflinks with a pattern can be used to establish a formal elegant look. At times, people also like to use monogram cufflinks with their initials. Cufflinks could also be inspired by their personal interests in sport, lifestyle or by a crest with a historical lineage.
People opting to dress elegantly but in a relaxed setting for work or leisure can use scarves and pocket squares. Wearing a shirt with the collar unbuttoned, a person can walk the streets looking effortlessly elegant while braving the summer heat wearing a thin cotton or linen scarf around his neck. A lot of people also prefer to wear custom-tailored blazers with chinos for a smart semi-formal look. Bespoke tailoring even on pocket squares to match the fabric with that of the bespoke customised shirt can be attempted to achieve that semi-formal look.  
Bowties are increasingly being used for various occasions. The most commonly used one has been black and worn with bespoke tuxedo suits or customised dinner jackets as wedding suits for men for black tie events. Increasingly, a lot of people are also wearing different colours with patterns but strictly worn with a two-piece or a three-piece single-breasted or double-breasted suit. The art lies in thoughtfully choosing to wear one that serves the purpose of sartorial playfulness with a personal statement. Additionally, the art of wearing a bowtie that is not pre-tied sets a different bar. With bespoke tailoring done on bowties, one can achieve the charm of a self-tied bowtie.
Belts have been used to tighten the waistband of trousers. Over time, this has evolved to it being further viewed as a fashionable accessory. Buckles with various designs or patterns and belt straps in different colours and exotic leathers are used to evoke a sense of trending style. The etiquette is to always match the belt's colour tone with that of the shoes. Alternatively, braces were traditionally used to hold up bespoke trousers on the waistline. The braces straps go over the shoulder and are held together on the waistband of the trousers by clips or buttons.  
An accessory can add that depth of personality, setting people apart, and can be considered a worthy investment that demonstrates sartorial maturity.  

Meet the authors
Pawan and Ashish are bespoke tailors at Knights & Lords, a bespoke tailoring house in Dubai. They are inspired by the alchemy of craftsmanship and bespoke tradition aimed at re-designing the wearer's inner architecture. They have learnt the traditional craft of bespoke tailoring from Savile Row, London - considered to be the spiritual home of bespoke tailors even today. Visit www.knightsandlords.ae or email bespoke@knightsandlords.com.
wknd@khaleejtimes.com