The Dapper Dudes: Meet Dubai's most stylish men

They're the ones oozing elegance, CHUTZPAH and sophistication in everything they do and wear

"I have a collection of 400 ties"

He may be known as UAE's funny man, but the stand-up comedian, who hails from India, is no stranger to the world of high-couture either. After all, his sharp sense of style, and willingness to try new things got him a nomination as the 'Trendsetter Of the Year 2015' title at the Masala Awards, and he's also been listed in the 'Esquire Best Dressed Men 2015 In The Middle East' list. In the public eye as a comedian for almost ten years now, Nitin has always taken the extra effort be well-dressed and believes other men should too.
"A guy wearing an ill-fitting jacket or a suit reveals a lot about his state of mind," says the Dubai-based star. "I'm not saying we should judge people from the way they dress. But if you see someone who has taken out the time to look good, you can be rest assured that he or she is not scared of making an effort - and that is a great quality to have."
Although not in a fashion-centric industry, Nitin insists that should not be a factor when it comes to being well dressed. Instead, he goes by the motto "what you wear creates that first impression" and dresses to stand out. "Being well-groomed is essential, whether you are a public figure or not. Even while growing up, I kept experimenting with many looks," he admits. "So whether it was clothing or a new haircut, individual style was important to me. I believe that fashion is nothing without your personal style."
This can be seen in many ways - like his constant use of the hashtag #styleisskin. The ace comedian describes his own look as "brave" as he is always opting for more experimental looks. However, he also specifies that being brave can differ, depending on the person. "I am super adventurous with my sense of style and I do so with pride. However, the level of adventure is different for different people. For example, for some men wearing an orange jacket is adventurous while, for others, simply putting on a pink shirt is a task."
Right now, he's a big fan of different fabrics for bespoke double-breasted suits. And although he believes in getting out there and "not simply sticking to the basics", he also encourages men to invest in well-fitted suits and jackets, formal shirts with the right collar size and good pants, denims or chinos.
"Always have a collection of ties, so you don't have to run around borrowing when you need one," he adds. "I have a collection of 400 ties because I've been collecting them since I was a child. Pocket squares add the right amount of detail and can change and enhance any look. And finally, although belts are available in all styles and colours nowadays, just have good quality black and brown ones - these simple things never let you down."
Advice for men:
"Wear brands that are an extension of who you are or what you want to look like. Don't blindly follow labels - invest time and money in creating you own style, as it's unique and will always make sure you stand out. After all, why follow when you can create."

"People judge you on first appearances"

A popular fashion and lifestyle blogger in the region, Andrew (or Andy, as he prefers to be called) Scott has always had an interest in the way he dressed. Born and raised in England, Andy confesses that he's always ventured out of the norm and tried new things - something that probably contributed to his success in the UAE's fashion scene. Today, Andy blogs full-time while also doing promotional work for fashion brands, and he loves every bit of it.
"Whenever I was in love with a certain item, like a pair of shoes, for example, I would share the images and talk about where I got it from. I was also interested in modelling, which helped me get into a lot of events; I wanted to give people a first-hand glimpse of the fashion scene. It all began with me posting images online, and that just turned into a blog," says Andy when asked about how he got started.
Although blogging is big in the Middle East, good male fashion bloggers are still something of a rarity. However, change is coming, says Andy, who credits Dubai's luxurious lifestyle as a major factor that's encouraging more men to look after themselves and their appearance. "People do judge you, especially in a fast-paced city like Dubai. I think men are very aware of fashion, and the importance of dressing well, but more men need to learn about the getting the right fits and details."
However, being dressed well goes beyond simply finding the right fitting. Andy advises men to always invest in some classics - a tailored navy blue suit, a smart watch that is simple and classy, accoutrements, a good pair of penny loafers or double monk strap shoes and a man bag ("because you don't want to ruin the shape of your suit by carrying your bulky wallet, keys or phone in your pockets") are amongst them.
He also encourages men to try new styles, one of his current favourites being the 'hidden socks' look, which draw attention to the shoes, and make them stand out all the more. "I have a very mixed style, one that is hard to narrow down in a single word," he admits. "I like to dress in nice fitted three-piece suits, but can then switch to the opposite, by pulling on a pair of sneakers and keeping it casual. I like to make an impression when there is a reason to get dressed up, instead of being dressed up to the nines all the time - especially since Dubai is way too hot for that!"
Advice for men:
"Take care of the smaller details. Go online to find the correct way to wear a blazer and waistcoat, or how a suit should fit around the shoulders, and the lengths of trousers."

"Men are just as concerned about fashion as women - they just don't show it"

Half Emirati-half Syrian, Nouraldin Alyousuf is a TV presenter with over 18 years of experience in the UAE's thriving media industry. He started his career with Dubai TV, where he presented youth-oriented programmes, and quickly branched out to conducting interviews with Arab personalities, and even dabbled in acting. Now also considered a social media personality (he has an online show on YouTube called Spotnour and over 50.3K followers on Instagram!), Nouraldin is also a self-proclaimed fashion lover who has also worked as a stylist, besides collaborating and modelling for several brands - and always makes an effort to put his best, fashionable self forward.
"Of course, fashion is important. Especially if you are dealing with people, you have to learn to be well-dressed and to take care of yourself," says Nouraldin, who also happens to be a fitness addict. "Dressing is a smart way of presenting yourself to people, as well as feel good about yourself. I know a lot of people say beauty is what lies inside, but it isn't quite that simple. In today's world, you have to look presentable from the outside to reflect what you are like on the inside."
Born and raised in the UAE, Nouraldin admits that in a cosmopolitan city like Dubai, it's all the more important to be on-trend and well-groomed because of the materialistic lifestyle that people live. "More and more men in Dubai are taking care of themselves," says Nouraldin. "But most men don't want to talk about it. Many believe that it's not considered masculine."
Nouraldin believes men should wear things that suit their character, and personally likes outfits that have a bit of edge, or to add a twist to classic, elegant clothing.
Speaking about his recent look at the Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience at The Dubai Mall, where he was seen donning a shirt vest with bejewelled denims, he adds that he did get quite a bit of positive comments for his looks - as well as some negative ones. Not that that would deter him in the slightest.
"Beauty is subjective. It is measurable and depends on many things, including your background. Sometimes people see me in a certain way, and I see myself in a different way. And although everyone can have their opinion, people should be respectful of others. No one should tell me what I can or cannot wear."
Advice for men:
"Just be yourself. Wear what suits you and don't be a fashion victim. Sometimes people go overboard trying to wear what is trendy. That should just not be done."

"We cannot force fashion on to people"

Having lived in Dubai since the age of three, Mohammad Mondal credits his keen sense of style to his mum - "the fashionista of the family". The Bangladeshi national finished his schooling in the UAE before moving to the United States to pursue a degree in marketing - although he is the first to admit that his years in the US had a huge impact on his love for fashion.
"I was exposed to the idea of dressing up from a very young age," he says. "But when I moved to the US, my mother was not there to provide me with the shopping tips she used to, and it was a total disaster. That's why I suddenly developed my own sense of what was fashionable. The men's fashion scene over in Alabama was completely dead - guys would just wear typical khaki shorts, t-shirts and baseball hats. But when I moved back to Dubai, I got involved with a group of male friends who were very much into fashion."
Inspired by Dubai's suave, multicultural scene, it wasn't long before Mohammad started thinking of ways to bring other fashion lovers together. It was always a dream of his to start an online business, and he went through a few ideas before coming up with wetrendstyle.com - an online lookbook that helps people in the UAE find bloggers and acts as a platform to promote local talent. "Bloggers from the Middle East have a lot to offer in terms of fashion because we are all from different walks of life and have different backgrounds," Mohammad explains. "We have our own stories but share the same everyday lifestyle. Therefore, creating wetrendstyle was an interesting way to listen to their part of the story."
However, when one has a job curating fashion blogs, it's important to be up-to-speed with the latest trends - a challenge Mohammad has had no problem embracing. A trendsetter himself, he was recently featured as the style icon of the month (for November) by theluxurycloset.com. He describes his own sense of style as a mix of dapper and urban, but also enjoys being versatile and experimenting with new looks. "Fashion is a choice, and part of an individual's identity and character," he explains. "We cannot force fashion on to people, but we can have our own perception of it and express this through what we wear."
Advice for men:
"I think a lot of the men out there haven't discovered their sense of style. I would suggest you check out bloggers, and this will give you an idea of what needs to be done to look stylish. You don't have to follow everything, but blogs can help you add some elements or discover your own sense of style."

"Dubai allows men to be as creative with their wardrobes as women"

Besides working in public relations, Jim Joquico also happens to be the founder and editor-in-chief of La Moda, an online resource for all things fashion and beauty in the UAE. However, finding it harder and harder to find what he calls "the usual guy things" on lifestyle blogs, he finally decided to bite the bullet and dabble in Dubai's blogging world himself - and quite successfully at that. Today, Jim's blog covers everything from fashion to travel and motoring, and he uses his experience - both as an editor and a PR professional - to lend insights on what's trending in the UAE.
"Fashion is a form of creative expression," explains the Filipino blogger. "Some people are good at drawing, painting or creating sculptures - others have a knack of putting together a great looking outfit without much effort. Fashion is a fusion of design and architecture and is the only form of wearable art."
Growing up, the 25-year-old became more observant of the trends around him and started to recognise people's distinct personal styles. He also believes the changing face of fashion strongly depends on men showing more interest in it - especially in an urban jungle like Dubai. "Most cosmopolitan cities, such as Dubai, allow men to be just as creative with their wardrobes as women," he explains. "And that is a good thing because it's the only way the industry will realise that menswear is stale and in dire need of change. The more men try and develop their personal styles, the more designers will be compelled to innovate."
So what should men, who are looking to get more fashionable, keep in mind? According to Jim, it is all about finding the right suits and watches. As important as it is to keep up with the latest trends, every man should have a couple of bespoke suits, he advises. Another item that should find its way to every man's wardrobe is a classic watch. Not just a fancy piece either, but a classic timepiece that can be passed on as a family heirloom.
"I think the key to being fashionable is not about wearing mere derivatives of the same aesthetic, day in and day out, but being able to dress in any manner you want and being comfortable as you do so. I believe in the saying 'you wear the clothes, don't let the clothes wear you.'"
Advice for men:
"Don't be afraid to wear something until you have actually worn it. As silly as it sounds, clothes look different when they're sitting on a rack or on a mannequin than when they're worn by an actual person. Don't fuss about the rules of fashion, because there aren't any. We can preach but if you're comfortable with the clothes on your back, no matter how many 'rules' you've broken, it doesn't matter."
janice@khaleejtimes.com