Vin’s innercity swagger.

By Mahmood Hossain

Hailing from the Thai-Indian Sikh community, and born and raised in Bangkok, Arveen ‘Vin’ Kukreja lives a pretty standard life – but one with a knack for stylish choices. However, he never sacrifices comfort for the sake of fashion and makes it a point to incorporate practicality into his daily looks. Working for a few recruitment companies in the past, Arveen knows a thing or two about gathering select items for his wardrobe. In other words, finding the right fit that suits the job. We were curious to know more, so we met up with Arveen to unravel his stylish layers and his fashion influences.

When did fashion enter your life?

My first exposure to fashion started when I was in the 8th grade. I wasn’t that popular of a kid, so I had to find various ways to fit in somehow. That consisted of choosing the right clothing and style; I even got my ears pierced. Soon after, I started noticing what my friends and others were wearing. Even on the weekends, when we hung out, I got creative and tried mixing and matching my clothes. Some worked, others didn’t, as you would expect from experimenting in your earlier years. But I never stopped experimenting, and that practice continues to this day.

STAY BREEZY – In his button-up shirt from CCOO, shorts from Platinum Fashion Mall, Fossil wristwatch, Ray-Ban shades, and Pumasneakers, Arveen beats the heat with fitted and breathable wardrobe options.

Did you have style icons or celebrities you looked up to regarding fashion?

I would say my style icons are high-profile business people, as I’m a bit of a tidy person and love to dress formally during weddings or business events. Not only does it create or maintain a clean-cut image for my family and me, but it also gives off the right impression when I meet key figures in the corporate world at networking events.

How would you describe your wardrobe?

I categorise my wardrobe from casual wear to formal wear per season. I try to make use of the clothes I have and try to mix and match as much as possible at first before updating my entire wardrobe. This changes after every four to five months.

TIRAMISU DREAMS – Blending a lighter brown colour palette with black cools down the temperature in a sophisticated way, with a shirt chosen from a local shop, UNIQLO trousers, Adidas sneakers, Ray-Ban sunglasses, and a Fossil wristwatch.

What are the usual brands or shops you regularly lean towards?

I normally shop at UNIQLO, H&M, CPS, CCOO, and other local brands. Ultimately, I believe that if we manage to look good with whatever we wear, regardless of what it says on the tag, then brands don’t really matter.

TIRAMISU DREAMS – Blending a lighter brown colour palette with black cools down the temperature in a sophisticated way, with a shirt chosen from a local shop, UNIQLO trousers, Adidas sneakers, Ray-Ban sunglasses, and a Fossil wristwatch.

Are there any red carpet or movie moments that influenced your style choices?

As I mentioned, dressing formally or wearing suits has always been my passion in fashion, so I’m easily influenced by movies like The Godfather films, The Kingsman franchise, and even TV shows such as Peaky Blinders (2013-2022).

BREATHE A LITTLE – When it’s hot out, Arveen ditches the tie with his bespoke suit, G2000 dress shirt, Luigi Batani loafers, Ray-Ban shades, and a Fossil watch, all of which can be easily dressed up and dressed down.

Do you have some style tips you would like to share with our readers?

As Yves Saint Laurent once said, “Fashions fade, style is eternal.” This means that you don’t need to spend much on fashion in a particular season or depend on current trends. You can create your own attractive style with choices that make you look more flattering. Do what works for you.

BREATHE A LITTLE – When it’s hot out, Arveen ditches the tie with his bespoke suit, G2000 dress shirt, Luigi Batani loafers, Ray-Ban shades, and a Fossil watch, all of which can be easily dressed up and dressed down.