City Style - Pramod Kumar's Flowery Mask, Roshanpura

City Style – Pramod Kumar’s Flowery Mask, Roshanpura

The mask sartorialist. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Elegant, his dressing style. His blue-and-white striped, long-sleeved shirt is going well with his gamchha, which is arrayed in a check pattern of of blue, pink and green. Both ends…

City Style - The Masks of Zamrudpur, South Delhi

City Style – The Masks of Zamrudpur, South Delhi

Life in the corona. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The spice seller is sitting behind sacks filled with powdered mirchi, haldi, dhaniya and garam masala. The boyish butcher is sitting with his knife, his chickens cooped up in…

City Style - The Gentleman's Dressing, Central Delhi

City Style – The Gentleman’s Dressing, Central Delhi

A story of many-layered clothes. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] On an intolerably hot and excessively humid morning, he’s wearing an overcoat and two jackets, along with two long-sleeved shirts and much else. “Why?” one is naturally prompted…

City Style - The Shepherd Sartorialist, Gurgaon Railway Station

City Style – The Shepherd Sartorialist, Gurgaon Railway Station

The Rajasthan elegance. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] It’s easy to be extravagantly stylish. But only a few become that in a most effortless way. Such is the case with Bhairu, who seems to have jumped straight out…

City Style - The Turban Sartorialist, Gurgaon

City Style – The Turban Sartorialist, Gurgaon

Easy lies the head. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Sometimes, certain sartorial codes are so deeply rooted in the protocols of a person’s daily life that it is unimaginable for that individual to negotiate compromises with them. Farmer…

City Style - The Punk Sufi, South Delhi

City Style – The Punk Sufi, South Delhi

Style in the city. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Sitting alone on this South Delhi pavement, Muhammed Zaman’s fingers are adorned with all sorts of stones, including cool-looking plastic rings that are shaped into human skulls. His arms…

City Style - Hafizullah's Corduroy, Old Delhi

City Style – Hafizullah’s Corduroy, Old Delhi

Style in the city. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Many people flock to Old Delhi for Red Fort or Chandni Chowk. If only they can spot the equally unique Hafizullah. This 80-year-old retired darzi, or tailor, is the…

City Style - Lawyer Bhavita Modi Sachdeva's Saree Closet, Mandakini Enclave

City Style – Lawyer Bhavita Modi Sachdeva’s Saree Closet, Mandakini Enclave

Style in the city. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] She almost never buys them but owns more than 300 sarees anyway. A startling detail that has transformed Bhavita Modi Sachdeva into something of an Instagram star. Visitors to…

City Style - Chinna Dua's Sari Closets, Raj Narayan Road

City Style – Chinna Dua’s Sari Closets, Raj Narayan Road

Style in the city. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Two gorgeous saris are hanging down from her staircase. The blue chiffon bought 20 years ago in Lahore, Pakistan, is for tonight’s dinner — very apt indeed, as it…

City Style - Jaya Jaitly's Sari Closet, Hazrat Nizamuddin East

City Style – Jaya Jaitly’s Sari Closet, Hazrat Nizamuddin East

Style in the city. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] She lives in a world of handwoven saris. Even the blinds of her drawing room are, well, saris (see second last picture at the bottom). One afternoon, The Delhi…