20-Something Diaries: Atish Jogi

I love the fact that a great outfit can change your mood, your mindset and, your identity. 

Picture a 20-something who isn't afraid to push the boundaries of style, with a perfectly suited and booted exterior, and you have Atish Jogi.

Atish is certainly one of SA's most suave men, and cemented this reputation by winning GQ's Best Dressed Reader 2012. Fashion is my favourite method of expression - you don't have to say a word, and yet the world gets a glimpse of who you are, where you're going and what you want out of this crazy ride. 

Atish has perfected the art of dressing for your mood, doubles as a Ben Sherman ambassador and is slowly climbing the corporate ladder. In a perfectly tailored suit of course. He's passionate about spreading the gospel of style, and recently chatted to me about his loves, lusts and affinity for a good, clean pair of underpants. 

May: In terms of fashion, are there any stylish men out there who you personally admire?

Atish: It would be a toss up between Shakah Madioh and Sam Lambert from Art Comes First. I love the way they pay attention to detail, and the fact that they aren't afraid to experiment with new things.  

May: Describe your personal style?

Atish: Preppy with a fresh twist.

May: What's the one thing you can't live without?

Atish: My Family, and unfortunately my phone.

May: What's the perfect first date outfit for a lady?

Atish: A well fitted LBD and some simple heels. Your scent is more important here!

May: What's the one fashion trend you can't stand?

Atish: I was never a fan of the camouflage vibe when it happened. And, I can't stand seeing gentlemen wearing leggings!

May: Which 5 items should all men own?

Atish:

A tailored black suit

A pair of indigo dyed denims

A pair of white All Stars

A pair of fitted khaki chinos

Good,clean quality underpants.

May: What inspires you?

Atish: Change. The fact that nothing in life is constant and that we have the ability to alter whatever we want, however we want.

May: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Atish: Hopefully in a space where I am empowering others and doing what I love!

It would be a mix of fashion and commerce, perhaps a store where men who understand how important perception and image are come to shop and network.

Text Me When You're Drunk

If there's one thing that I love more than a well-rounded glass of Merlot, it’s probably receiving a drunk text from an inebriated member of the opposite sex. Those 2am drunken proclamations of love may smell like cheap liquor and lust, but I effing love it.

Most of us have had the unfortunate luck of hitting SEND on a psychotic text after a night on the town. You either go home with a guy or you go home with McDonalds. 

If you're heading home with salted fries, then you may as well do it shamelessly. And, nothing screams shameless quite like an "I think I like you" drunken scribble, followed by a mid-morning screech of "OH GOD".   

According to Bruce Bartholow, author of “Alcohol Effects on Performance Monitoring & Adjustment: Affect Modulation and Impairment of Evaluative Cognitive Control”, alcohol doesn't make you behave badly; it just makes you care less. 

You're basically at your most honest after a few sparkly cocktails. After all, drunken words ARE sober thoughts; we say what we mean & we don't give a rat's arse about the repercussions. I wish I had the balls to live with such candor on a daily basis.

The trouble with the common drunk dial is the infamous 10am "WTF was I thinking?" realization that you may have just scared the object of your affections away. Alcohol is basically a sedative to our nervous system and affects the part of our brain responsible for emotion and behaviour. It’s no wonder that most of us would rather fall into a diabetic coma, before looking at that Call Log from the night before! 

            "If he doesn't text you when he's drunk, than he's just not that into you." 

We've started to glamourize drunk texts to the extent that they've turned into post-tequila ego trips. They make us feel more secure about our relationships - you assume that said drunk "chose" to text you first, and therefore they must really like you. 

Drunk ramblings somehow convey the notion of a boozed-out soul showing off their vulnerability, in a sick, sloshed out manner. 

Booze makes you feel powerful. You suddenly don't care about repercussions, unrequited love or what people think. Screw hiding your feelings? I'm all for blatant honesty, but nothing good ever comes out of "I'm sooo drunk".  

Remember, liquid courage eventually turns into a hot mess. My tip? Leave your phone at home, hide it or text your bestie instead. 

Or, you could grow a pair, be honest and say what you mean when you're sober. Life's way too short to wait for Happy Hour.

Super Normal Supermodels

W Magazine pulled together their fabulous fashion strings for a beautiful supermodel melting pot of note. Queen Kate, Lara Stone and Daria Werbowy are just some of the gorgeous faces on show, in this "Super Normal Supermodel" themed shoot. 

The super normal models dress-down in basic 90's fashion with a few punk elements thrown in - think sneakers, sweatshirts, jeans, knitwear and boots by Diesel, Versace, Dr Martens, Marc Jacobs, Calvin Klein Underwear and Agent Provocateur.

The trend of depicting supermodels as "normal", genetically blessed creatures is a ridiculously beautiful one, but these beauties are anything, but normal. 

Having worked at a modelling agency myself, I can honestly say that most models are incredibly dedicated to their craft - hours are spent ensuring that their assets are always in pure perfection. 

This unrealistic ideal of beauty is anything but normal. The glossy W Magazine spread seems to do little in terms of depicting any colour - this is an all-white affair, brimming with perfect hips, famous faces and a thinly veiled obsession with skinny creatures of the runway.

Normal? Nah. But, the spread is still an iconic summary of 90's fashion history, which you have to see to appreciate!

Calling All Art Enthusiasts - Lyle & Scott Wants YOU!

I love it when fashion & art collide. Its pretty much a beautiful cross-pollination, which breeds the most delicate appreciation for life! I've long stood by the argument that fashion is indeed art. 

To commemorate 140 years of Scottish heritage, fashion brand Lyle & Scott, have invited artists & fashion enthusiasts to create an original masterpiece for The 140 Series. 

All you have to do is submit a piece of artwork, which represents a specific year between 1874 and 2014! The 140 pieces of artwork will then be used to construct a timeline, representative of Lyle & Scott’s tireless innovation since 1874. 

Once all entries have been submitted, the 140 pieces of art will be available to view on the South Africa Lyle & Scott website, www.lyleandscott.co.za, with viewers given the option to bid for the artwork of their choice. The live auction will commence on the 10^th of September, inviting everyone to participate in celebrating this milestone with Lyle & Scott.

The artists will receive full profit from their artwork, and in addition to this, the pieces of artwork that fetch the three highest bids will receive: R5000, R3000, and R2000, respectively. 

Plus, to support this creative series, the advertising agency DDB will offer two six-month paid internships to student participants!

The 140 Collection by Lyle & Scott:

The 140 capsule collection launches this summer to celebrate Lyle & Scott’s anniversary and Scottish heritage. The collection sees Lyle & Scott delving into the roots of the brand to create a premium line of argyle knitwear and classic polos. The range will be distinguished by the original ‘L&S Ltd’ logo branding on the left chest, the famous eagle motif on the arm, as well as a label carrying the Royal Warrant marking the quality, craftsmanship and superiority of Lyle & Scott products.