We live in style
Fashion bites everyone. And those who define a brand’s worth, are the ones who make strong fashion statements

By Jyotsna Singh
The admission season got over recently. The advice given by seniors, cousins and radio channels is not only about academic performance anymore, it has a lot to do with what to wear, how to dress up, and how to be trendy. Fashion statement is as important a part of life as speaking sense in the classes. And what more, even the busiest students of management institutes don attitude coupled with the latest trend. The campuses are brimming with fads. Piercings were a rage last year and the bald mean look went on to attain iconic proportions.

“The students of FMS are abreast of the latest trends of the fashion industry. We do sport the same during informal gatherings. However, the students are usually in formal wear during special guest lectures or any similar important occasions,” says Shreekar Sudarshan, Faculty of Management Studies, Delhi University, batch of 2010.

It’s different
Though the broad trends remain same as the mainstream fashion, one can witness some differences owing to specific needs and lifestyle of the b-school students. “Constant usage of laptops has given a boost to the super cool “huge handbag”, although high end labels are something students are not looking at. High heels with a business suit complete the formal look while in your face, tongue in cheek, high attitude slogans grace T-shirts”, says Preyoshi Ganguli, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Delhi, batch of 2011.

“Something unique to b-school campuses is the fad of wearing differently branded T-shirts. So don’t be surprised if you bump into someone wearing a Google, Coke, Mahindra or even a Johnsons & Johnsons t-shirt” adds Geetanjali Kirti, IIFT, batch of 2010. According to Ruchi Priya, a NIFT graduate who joined IIFT this year, after being part of the vibrant fashion scene at her previous institute, the picture at IIFT was more sedate. “It was all about standing out in a crowd at NIFT, while over here people want to blend in. There we were creating the most vibrant colour in the most whackiest form; here we just keep to the professional colours so as to not to betray the b-school and business environs,” she says.

Toppers always
It is interesting to note that the top rank holders of the class hold high position when it comes to fashion too. “Most of the students who come here are toppers at their undergraduate levels. So most of the students are as fashion conscious as their colleagues,” opines Sudarshan. “Looking good for most adds to their confidence levels. Thus academic brilliance and looking good are not mutually exclusive,” says Kusha Goyal, FMS, batch of 2010.

“Toppers of the classes are as interested in looking good as other students. In fact in our class the topper is among the best looking in the batch. People do take an effort to be well-groomed, irrespective of whether they are toppers or not,” contends Madhavi Ramachandran, batch of 2010, SJMSOM, IIT-Bombay.

Keeping track
“We keep track of the trends by word of mouth or through advertisements. We do not get any fashion magazines in our college library,” rues Sudarshan. While the library of other b-schools including SJMSOM also lack in fashion magazines, one obvious way to know the world-hottest is through the internet. Online magazines and even promotional ads do not let students be deprived of style news. The institutes which are a part of larger university have an advantage over stand alone colleges. “We are a part of Delhi University. DU definitely is a breeding ground of the thought leaders of student fashion,” says Goyal.

“When it comes to hair, a well groomed neat look takes precedence here and for women particularly, the straight hair look has been around for some time. In all, the look here is toned down, slightly formal, and yet stylish” says Ganguly.

Difference of opinion
“We are not very conscious. Most of our wardrobe includes formal wear - suits, shirts and trousers. We do not have a lot of opportunity to experiment as most often the dress code is specified beforehand and we have to adhere to it,” claims Ramachandran.

Tips to the new ones
“But before we lead you into believing that mergers and acquisitions, and not fashion are the forte of future managers, there are those that have already managed to let their individuality known through their sense of style. There’s the girl who always manages to make even formals look funky with her quirky accessories. Not to forget the guy whose tasteful tattoos instantly catch your eyes without screaming for attention,” claims Ganguly.

“For those who will be becoming a part of management education in times to come I suggest define your own style. Fashion per se assumes certain kind of look and physique and suits only those kinds of people. One should understand their look and decide what would suit them the best,” says Goyal.

For Ramachandran it is important that one is “sure to be comfortable in whatever one wears. Wear well-fitted outfits and look confident. Your attitude, personality and demeanor will make the most impact — not your clothes.”