Dumbbells and Drama

In a world full of fashionistas with easy access to trends and styles, Abhimanyu Singh Rathore truly believes that a lot of studying goes behind the art of fashion styling, and how style says so much about the personality of a person. Abhimanyu is here to give us a peak into the world of fashion, one click at a time. The proud owner of Ishtailista, a blog that brings together street style and Indian kitsch, Abhimanyu has a lot to say about fashion, blogging, and why he doesn’t want to known as a blogger. Excerpts:

Tell us a little about yourself.

I am a fashion photographer who loves capturing street styles. I shoot on the streets of India, and freelance with a lot of international publications where my work is featured. This is my 5th year at Jaipur Literature Festival, I’m here on an assignment for a bunch of clients 🙂

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What are we going to see you capture here?

I’m all about colors and quirks. I love people who dare to express with their clothes. You’ll see a lot of quirky styles in my work. Plus it gives you an idea of the person’s personality, and that I think is extremely exciting. You meet people without actually talking to them, you know what I mean?

What made you explore this field? Was this always the plan since your school/college days?

No, I was preparing for IIT.  I couldn’t do it, even after qualifying for AIEEE. I was too creative for that, and I wanted to work with visuals. My folks were supportive, and it’s because of them that I got the confidence to do this. They knew I loved browsing through magazines, and they bought them for me whenever they could 🙂

What do you have to say about the street style in India?

I don’t judge people based on their fashion sense, everyone has a personality of their own and there is no right or wrong. I am passionate about style, not fashion. Street style in India is a mixed bag of styles, colors and fabrics. I love it, there’s so much to see and explore! But I do feel the people here are not that open to experimenting with their looks.

A piece of fashion advice you’d like to share.

Fashion is fun, explore it.

What inspires you?

Bollywood!

What is your take on the fashion blogging industry?

It’s good that it’s growing, e-commerce websites have now made it easier for so many international styles and brands to be available. But I wish people would put in some effort into blogging. It’s not about wearing brands and posing to look pretty, a lot of information can be shared through those posts! I loved the time when blogging was about expressing your opinion rather than showing off your money.  The “outfit of the day #ootd” culture is ruining the visual world of Instagram, buying followers and likes is insane. It all lacks quality, moreover it lacks a voice.

Aren’t you a fashion blogger too in a way?

There was a time when I enjoyed being called a blogger. It was a webspace for achievers, from Mr. Bachchan to strong voices in literature, every one had a blog. There was a time when people used to wait for regular columns in the newspaper but now they could go to the columnist’s blog & can read the unfiltered opinions. As far as fashion blogging is concerned, there were some really good ones in the beginning in India. But now I want to be known as an artist, a photographer.

One project you’d love to work on?

I want to curate those behind the scenes moments in the black and white shoots of the 40s and 50s  from Hollywood and Bollywood. There’s a sense of secrecy in those pictures that makes me want to find out more.

Ok last one, what do my clothes say about me? 😀

Since the day I first saw you here in 2016, you’ve been that Bohemian soul who wants to write & travel (nope, not just another blogger)

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Hahahha, you know why I had a baller time talking to this happy ray of sunshine <3

Psst- Thanks to his work, I made it to CNN Traveller, Buzzfeed and of course, Ishtailista.

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