21-year-old Bibek Khadka entered the world of modeling in 2016 after winning Next Models Nepal’s Model Hunt competition that year. Currently a BBA student at Ace College, Khadka has also recently started acting, with a few movies and plays under his belt. Here Khadka talks to The Week’s Anweiti Upadhyay about his style and clothing preferences.
How would you describe your style?
Honestly, I don’t really have a particular style. I can and will wear anything as long as I feel confident and comfortable in it. I do tend to like looser clothes because they’re easier to move around in than tight clothes. Because I’m a model, I’m told to wear weird and unconventional clothes all the time. So, I’m used to wearing unorthodox pieces and clothing combinations and have incorporated that into my everyday style as well. I have actually been told (many times) that the way I dress isn’t very fashion forward. But since I feel good in what I wear, I don’t care about ‘looking fashionable’ in other people’s perception.
What do you take into account while getting dressed every day?
The way you dress and present yourself is the key factor that plays into how people perceive you – especially those people that you meet once for a project who don’t know you that personally. So, I always consider where I’m going, who I will meet there and what I’ll be doing when I get dressed. If it’s a meeting or a formal event, I dress up in tailored suits and dress shoes and if I’m just going to college then I wear something very casual and comfortable.
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What is your one tip to looking good every day?
It’s a little cheesy but I feel like it isn’t the clothes you wear that make you look good. It’s you (the wearer) that makes the clothes look good. After working as a model for over three years, I have realized that if you look confident then you can pull off even the most ridiculous and questionable clothing. So, my tip to looking good everyday would be to avoid clothes that make you feel uneasy and uncomfortable. If you don’t feel good wearing something, just don’t wear it.
Where do you look for fashion and style inspiration?
Like I mentioned earlier, I’m not someone who is up to date with trends. But I do surf some fashion sites to know what’s new in the fashion world. I also follow a lot of people I consider to be fashionable on social media sites – so I see what they are wearing while I’m scrolling through my social media feed. I have to meet a lot of people daily for work so I observe what they are wearing as well and, if I like something, I might incorporate that into my wardrobe as well. I don’t really have a specific individual whose style I idolize. I look around me and pick up things from a lot of sources. Then I combine bits of that with things I like wearing on a regular basis and create my own outfits.
What are your go-to summer pieces?
I wear slippers a lot during summer. They’re comfortable, light and perfect for the hot weather. Otherwise, I usually wear a pair of white sneakers as I think they are stylish and the color (white) is very appropriate for summer.
I also wear a lot of loose and oversized tops and t-shirts. Nothing special there, they are just basic t-shirts made out of cotton – again appropriate for summer. I also find the orange and yellow kurtis worn on religious occasions comfortable so I wear those failry regularly as well.
What are some other things you do to maintain your appearance?
I do my best to take care of my skin properly. I cleanse and moisturize it daily and put on sunscreen before I head out. As I have to wear a lot of make up for work, I take a break from it and don’t use make up when I’m not working. I’m also big on accessories. I think well matched accessories can elevate an outfit. So, I stack on some rings and wear my watch before I head out for the day. I also exercise regularly to keep myself fit and in shape. I’m a sporty and athletic person in general so that isn’t a problem for me.
What Khadka wears to:
College
My college doesn’t have a uniform so I can wear whatever I want to. Usually, you’ll find me in a pair of jeans, sneakers or slippers (depends on how I’m feeling that day), a loose shirt or t-shirt and a snapback.
Formal occasion or meeting
I wear a button up shirt, a tailored suit (blazer and trousers), a waistcoat, a simple and classic watch and a pair of dress shoes. I like keeping things simple when it comes to dressing for a formal occasion.
Hanging out with friends
It’s very similar to what I wear to college – a pair of shorts, an oversized top, slippers and a watch. I like to keep it comfortable and casual.
