Style Maketh The Man

Creative director, stylist, design and visual communication consultant, Nikhil D. wears his many hats with much élan!

- Nikhil D

How did you become passionate about styling?

ND: It happened naturally - I was hired as a designer by a brand through a campus interview and I realized very soon that mass production and numbers for fast fashion brands was not my medium of self-expression or the reason I studied design. I got a chance to work at a magazine and I took it up. The faster turnout of the result of creating something was what attracted me to styling initially - in design it took a minimum of six months from design table to the rack whereas a magazine was published in a month or two from conception. However, I always enjoyed making images and putting things together and thinking of back stories to give them context, so I knew I was not fooling around here. It was not a planned move at this point.

I started working at Apricot publications at the age of 21 - I worked on all fashion related articles for Seventeen Magazine and assisted at L’Officiel Hommes. That was where I learnt to write for the first time, think of trend reports, and the importance of supporting honest Indian design. I was later hired at Marie Claire India where I was Style Editor and did everything from product pages in the front of the book to the covers, trend reports, real people stories, fashion editorials, beauty shoots and interviews, thanks to a very supportive Editor, Neena Haridas. I learnt everything by observing colleagues and from making mistakes. Most importantly, I created a style of work that was distinctive to the point I wanted to make with my shoots and projects. When I felt I needed to grow further I left the magazine.