Updated 01 Feb, 2017 12:42pm

The Pakistani man's guide to rocking 5 hot winter trends

College: A place of higher learning and excellence; a place where you meet new people and try and make a good second impression (because let’s face it, we all ruin our first ones).

But how does one make a good second impression?

For starters, by dressing well.

So the question is: how does one come up with the perfect campus style, especially when you have a tight, and I mean TIGHT budget and have to wake up early in the morning in freezing cold weather? (Karachi ka to pata nai, Lahore mein bahut thand hai bhae)...

Here are top 5 winter trends you can rock on campus or off to leave a lasting impression on the people around you:

1) Shalwar Kameez Monday

A waistcoat and a shalwaar kameez; A desi classic. It’s not just for your jumma prayers or for the wedding of your khala’s daughter's phupho ki sagi behan ki beti, that you always had mixed feelings for but could never admit it… wait where were we?

Take this combo out more frequently; be it for your formal presentation, brunch with your class fellows or just another casual Monday, the waistcoat with shalwar qameez is always a sure fire hit.

Sometimes you gotta go eastern. —Photography by Ayaz Mangi

Pro tip: keep the waistcoast BEIGE; it's classy. To trend it up a lil’ bit, be adventurous and try wearing a choridaar pajama. No, its not only for women and no, it does not affect your manliness.

2) Pea Coats Tuesday

I know what you’re thinking. “A frikkin’ pea coat! Are you kidding me man! That’s definitely going to put a major dent in my wallet!”

But what if I told you that this is completely affordable. All you need to do is be a little street smart about it. Don’t go and buy a branded coat. Buy your favourite kind of cloth and get it tailored. Not only will you a save a lot of money but the coat itself will fit you like a glove.

Pea coats will make any ordinary outfit look on trend. —Photography by Ayaz Mangi

Pea coats have this magical ability to make anything average look extraordinary. Pair it with a basic tee and jeans and voila! You have a trendy winter campus look aka TWCL. #DidIJustMakeThatUp? #YesIDid!

3) Leather Jacket Wednesday

Another classic that so many people get it wrong. If your jacket fits you like a ‘shaper’, you’ve got it wrong buddy. A perfect fitting jacket should always land on your belt-line.

Leather's a classic. —Photography by Ayaz Mangi

Also, don’t always go for black, a brown jacket is just as chic.

4) Bomber Jacket Thursday

This look is perfect for more carefree days. For that Thursday when you’re tired from the week but it’s too early to #Throwback yet.

Bombers are a double threat: stylish AND comfortable. —Photography by Ayaz Mangi

Toss on a bomber, zip it, put on a cross body satchel and skateboard your way to class.

5) Denim Jacket Friday

No winter wardrobe is complete without a denim jacket. But wait, don’t go out and buy one yet. Go through your elder sibling’s old clothes. There MUST be one there if they were part of the 90s craze. In my case, I found one in my dad’s old ‘sandookri’.

Pair it with black jeans to avoid an OTT denim outfit. —Photography by Ayaz Mangi

Tip: The older the denim jacket, the better it looks. Pair it with a basic white tee and Vans and you’ve got yourself an blast from the past 90s look.


The writer can be found on Instagram here.

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