Gilbert Madhavan - Fine And Dandy

Dapper Gent Gilbert Madhavan keeps to classic silhouettes but isn’t afraid to experiment with prints, textures and textiles.

- Karen Tee

Gilbert Madhavan had his fashion awakening while he was living in the Caribbean in the mid-2000s. The 63-year-old hospitality veteran was then stationed at Raffles Hotel on the uber-exclusive island of Canouan in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Billed as the luxury getaway for the rich and the famous, many of the resort’s guests came from global capitals such as New York, Paris, London and Milan. “At the weekly residents’ cocktail events, every guest would show up, so it was important to dress well,” says Madhavan, who is currently the general manager of One Farrer Park Hotel. During his four decades in the hospitality industry, he has also worked in Australia and Asia, spending 16 years with Raffles Hotels & Resorts where he opened and managed Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

“Wearing statement pieces would also be a good conversation starter, so I started to get more adventurous, wearing colours and prints instead of a black and white suit.”

He would frequently shop at fashion capitals, as one of the perks of the job was travelling there to meet potential guests. He continues to rank classic designer labels among his favourites, saying: “Versace has very unique suits and shirt designs. I love Issey Miyake for his colourful and ‘playful’ outfits, Roberto Cavalli for interesting prints and well-cut suits, and Etro for colourful shirts.”

No wonder his impeccably fitted suits – which include bespoke creations by Tom Ford – are always styled to be a cut above the rest, be it through the masterful use of a standout print, unique embroidery or statement shoes. He distils his sartorial secrets for The Peak.

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