They love to be 'tied' down!

Stylishly Formal

Gone are the days of baggy pants and loose shirts in colleges. Now it’s all about wearing one’s attitude on campus. The management students of Surana College say that though they don’t have the liberty to create trends with their uniform, they are not bogged down.

Many of them express their creativity by teaming different kinds of tie with their uniform. While both girls and boys have to wear tie, it’s largely the boys who follow the trend.

“Wearing a tie along with the uniform makes us realise the seriousness of the course we are pursuing. Also, it prepares us for the professional world at a young age. It sure does feel a little uncomfortable at first but one gets used to it,” says Nikhil, a first year student and adds, “Strangely enough, it also gives you the confidence to speak in front of a crowd.”

As for the budget, many say it’s not the quantity but the quality that matters while buying a tie. “Many of us don’t mind spending a little more for a good tie that lasts long. We generally go to shops on Commercial Street, that sell brands, to pick them up,” says Karthik, a first year student.

The trend, however, lies in the kind of prints and colours. An important factor is getting the tie to match the shirt. They suggest that while a plain tie can be matched with a printed shirt, teaming a printed tie with a printed shirt is a complete no-no. “One wouldn’t want to enter the college wearing a tie that is highly contrasting with the shirt.

Generally, we go in for basic colours like black, blue and white, as they go well with all kinds of shirts,” says Apoorva, another first year student.  When it comes to the prints, the boys go all out in terms of creativity. With many stores around the City filled with all kinds of printed tie, they say that the ‘normal ones’ like the striped, dotted and plain ties are reserved for formal occasions.

And the psychedelic ones, polka-dotted, and heart-shaped ones are for the semi-formal days. “I have seen all sorts of tie on the campus. I think the most interesting and popular ones are the ones with skull and bone prints. They almost speak out a message,” sums up Yasin, a first year student.