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Irrfan: The evolution of the unlikely fashionista

CineBlitz looks at the kind of style statement the actor when he stepped out. Take a look !

Published

4 years ago

May 29, 2020

He weaves a spell when he’s on the screen. So much so, it’s easier to accept Irrfan Khan as the world’s greatest actor, but fashion? One hardly associated him with style and glamour. And yet, the unconventional looker, like his understated histrionics onscreen, was veering towards becoming one of the most fashionable men, off-screen, in the past five years. And in his signature unobtrusive manner. He was making all kinds of style statements – classic suits, asymmetrical, layerings, and even, man-skirts. Who would’ve thought that the desi Macbeth would one day end up doing that?

‘I wanted my hair to be like Mithun Chakraborty’

Irrfan, himself, has often made fun of his looks, be it his hair or his wide, penetrating eyes. The boy from Jaipur, who struggled his way to make his place not only on the Indian map, but also international, had one role model when it came to style – Mithun Chakraborty. In fact, he opened his Insta-account with a picture of him sporting a style similar to the dancing star. “I wanted my hair to be like #MithunChakraborty, so I used to go to a barber shop and tell them ke mere baal seedhe kar do …. because my hair were curly and kind of stiff .. Aur kya hota tha ke first day my hair would look good .. just like Mithuns, but after that they would turn into a bird’s nest ! #FilmyInfluence,” he wrote.

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I wanted my hair to be like #MithunChakraborty, so I used to go to a barber shop and tell them ke mere baal seedhe kar do …. because my hair were curly and kind of stiff .. Aur kya hota tha ke first day my hair would look good .. just like Mithuns, but after that they would turn into a bird’s nest ! #FilmyInfluence This picture is Day 1 just so you guys know 😉
A post shared by Irrfan (@irrfan) on May 29, 2017 at 6:14am PDT

Irrfan may not have had the time to indulge in vanity with years of struggle from NSD to television that finally led him to Bollywood and Hollywood. Interestingly, the actor changed a little bit with every exposure and the company he kept. He always had the elegance, but he also started developing a slight swag. And as he went to make an enviable place for himself on world cinema, the actor began experimenting with his clothes.

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wander often .. wonder always ….
A post shared by Irrfan (@irrfan) on Jun 3, 2017 at 6:00am PDT

‘I wear clothes that are comfortable’

Irrfan was 48 when he first walked the ramp as a showstopper in 2011 for designers Rohit and Abhishek. His reason was simple: the designers were from Jaipur like him. He looked dapper in a brown warrior jacket, teamed up with slim-fit brown trousers. He had made an impressive impact for a first-timer clotheshorse. However, he was quick to clarify that he was not into fashion. “I wear clothes that are very comfortable. I don’t take it as a burden on me. There are times when fashion becomes uncomfortable, like wearing coats or jackets in summer, but that is a part of our job,” he said at the media interaction. That was going to change and … how!

By the time it was 2015, his stage grew wider and so, his willingness to change. Irrfan was seen at the big-ticket events wearing brands like Sabyasachi, Rohit Bal and Tarun Tahiliani. Comfort wear would give away to high-fashion and spiffy designer ensembles. He beginning to explore his fashion. As a speaker at a fashion tour, he reportedly said, “Style is something that generates from within. It’s the expression of your being as an individual, your aesthetics, your sensitivity. Sometimes we try to imbibe style as an external element and copy other’s dressing sense that attracts us. But we need to built up our own style.” And the next thing you know is that he had begun to decode his own style.

Classic, elegant and boho

From exploring brands to building his own distinctive style, this journey became evident with Piku (2015). The actor’s penchant for jackets (denims to tawny shade), tees, denims, muffler and sunnies became evident. His ruffled hair only adding to the casual appeal. This exploration did not stop there.

As Irrfan’s world got bigger, changes in his dressing became evident as his work would take him to Hollywood frequently. Be it the airport or film promotions, the actor had clearly begun experimenting with layering, turtle-necks and even, lungi. Going boho was synonymous with Ranveer Singh’s flamboyant quirky dressing, but Irrfan was creating ripples in his own way. If he wore a manskirt on the cover of a magazine, he wore a white-angrakha teamed with a bandhgala and churidhar. Jacket over lungis, draped trousers and asymmetrical shirts, the actor was clearly beginning to play with the undefined. That also seem to include colours. While blue is said to be Irrfan’s favourite colour which is evident in the decor of his house, you’ll see him wear black as well pastel shades when it comes to his clothes.

Irrfan was clearly in a happy space when it came to his life and the movies. For someone who believed that fashion was an expression an individual, it showed that the man wanted to explore every bit of the world around him. Alas, that could not be…

Want a wardrobe like Irrfan’s?

Then make sure to stock up on a lot of….

– Jackets

– tunics

– skinnies

– mufflers

– Turtle-necks

– caps

– ear-studs

– sunnies

– linens

IRRFAN’S FASHION MANTRA

The actor had once shared a picture of him wearing a printed shirt. He wrote: “Keep it straight, simple and colourful #london #streetwear #headgear #darkglasses.” Clearly, something he follows in every aspect of his life.

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Keep it straight , simple and colourful #london #streetwear #headgear #darkglasses
A post shared by Irrfan (@irrfan) on Jul 27, 2017 at 11:03pm PDT

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#eastvillage #newyork #afternoondelight #roamingaround #actorslife
A post shared by Irrfan (@irrfan) on Jun 26, 2017 at 5:52pm PDT

(This is an excerpt from our special May issue on Rishi Kapoor and Irrfan Khan. Please click on this link https://cineblitz.news/may_2020 to read more)

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