My Style: Pranav Vora and Philip Soriano
Photo: Courtesy of Hugh & Crye
Is comfort an enemy of style?
Doesn’t have to be — but a little ‘discomfort’ can be a reminder to stand tall.
Please describe your style in three words.
Fit before glory.
What is the biggest mistake one can make when getting dressed?
Simply put, not putting any thought into what you wear.
Do you believe in role models?
Absolutely. They birthed me.
What are your favourite fabrics?
100 percent two-ply cotton yarn-dyed wovens.
Are there any style combinations that you object to?
When someone isn’t fully committed to what they’re wearing.
Which city has the best-dressed men?
Washington, DC of course! Honestly, this city has the greatest room for improvement, and I think that’s what we’ve noticed in the past few years.
Would you say that you are conservative or bold?
Left of centre.
What are the rules in the way you dress?
Fit above all else. Layering and accessorising up, then simplifying down until I can’t further. I know I’m good when I have a certain step in my walk.
Celebrities and style...
Are always under a microscope.
Name one garment/accessory that you can never have enough of?
White Oxford cloth button down.
A man should always look like...
He cares enough to look his best, every day.
Who taught you what you know about style?
Self-taught. Still, much to learn.
How do you select your clothing every morning?
How much of a rush I’m in usually dictates my process. Either way, I ensure I have a few staples always laundered and at the ready in case I don’t have time to really get ready.
What is your biggest regret?
This is a slippery slope.
The three essential things a man should know about style are...
Develop your own personal style. Staying fit helps everything else. Don’t take yourself too seriously.
Do you have any shopping rituals?
I swoon over beautiful stationery — and look for it anywhere I travel.
We will never see you wearing...
Fur.
The most stylish person you have ever seen...
A textile designer in India; I don’t even recall his name.
What is the first thing you notice on a man?
The fit of his clothing.
The one image that defined your approach to style...
Sean Connery as James Bond.
Which new designers do you follow and why?
Stutterheim, for the wonderfully tangible setting behind the rainwear.
The only article of clothing that a man needs to pay close attention to is...
I don’t know that there’s a single one, or a rule of that sort.
What are the most treasured items in your wardrobe?
Ones that stay there, year after year.
Which designer never fails to impress you?
For me, it’s the original tailors of Savile Row.
Who would you like to recommend for My Style?
Bradford Shellhammer.
The best words of advice you have ever heard?
Be yourself, everyone else is taken.
