Club 21 x Shentonista: Travel With Paul Smith — Going With The Flow

Darius, Real Estate.
Suit from Paul Smith S/S2016’s ‘A Suit To Travel In’ collection; leather shoes, brass cufflinks, leather bag all from Paul Smith; Darius’ own white shirt, shades, and pocket square.

Darius admits to being more relaxed when it comes to his style, nowadays — you might see him in a carefully pressed suit, for example, but with his hair tastefully undone and with sneakers on his feet instead of dress shoes. It all depends on the occasion, of course, but when he’s travelling all he wants to do it let loose and let go. It seems that Darius is content to let life take him along for whatever adventure it has in store for him, and he’s more than happy to just ride with it. We speak to him to find out more.

Shentonista (S): What does travel represent to you? Why do you like to travel?

Darius (D): It gives me the opportunity to explore, experience different cultures and of course, see the world.

S: What’s your favourite place to travel to, and and why?

D: One of the most beautiful places that I’ve been to is Hawaii. I’ve been there a couple of times, and spent my honeymoon there. I love the place because they have perfect weather all year round; you have the sun, and if you want something cooler you can always go to the mountains. They are lots of hidden treasures like waterfalls and ice pools in Hawaii.

S: How would you describe your dream travel experience or trip?

D: Something that’s fully paid for! (laughs) I’ve never been to South America, and I would love to go. I heard it’s beautiful there. If you’re talking about dreaming, then of course, everything would be fully paid for and planned out, and we can just go and enjoy ourselves. That would be amazing.

S: Are you more of a nature person rather than a city person?

D: Yes, but not for long, because I will get bored if I’m in nature for too long. Deep down I’m a city boy lah.

S: What’s something you learnt while you were travelling?

D: Something I’ve learnt is that, when we over-plan sometimes, we may not enjoy the trip in itself. So we do plan, but we’re quite easygoing with it, and when things happen we just go with the flow. What’s important is who we’re travelling with, and how we enjoy time with that person. I travel most with my wife. We like to go to places we’ve never been before — even if we’ve been there, we’d explore places that we haven’t explored yet, and discover new things.

S: Between the both of you, does one tend to plan a little more than the other?

D: I’m more of the planner. I find the deals, the hotels, the flights and all. That’s why when we go, we feel more at ease since everything is already planned. Bel, my wife, is the one who really just goes with the flow and says, “Let’s go to this place!”

S: What’s your favourite mode of transport and why?  

D: I would think driving, since I drive. Even when we’re overseas, when we do long road trips, we do get to see more things by driving around by ourselves rather than sitting on a train or plane. You have the autonomy to stop whenever we see something beautiful. When we were travelling in Los Angeles, for example, we just stopped whenever we wanted to.

S: Do you use any alternative modes of transport, like do you skate or cycle? Do you wish you could incorporate them into your lifestyle?

D: I would wish to cycle more if our roads permitted it, because it does contribute to a healthier lifestyle and is also cheaper. Unfortunately, I don’t think the infrastructure and weather permits it yet.

S: When you’re packing for a trip, what’s your packing process like? Do you have any tips? How do you manage to stay stylish even when travelling?

D: Of course, it depends on the location that we’re going to. We try to travel light. We have an interesting form of packing: we decide what we’re going to wear each day, and we ziplock our outfits according to the different days. So “Day 1”, “Day 2”, “Day 3” and it’s all done.

S: Do you have any tips when it comes to balancing comfort and style?

D: I tend to veer towards comfort. But having said that, you cannot compromise on style because you don’t want to look like a hobo when you’re travelling (laughs). I guess when travelling, it’s important to pack and wear whatever you’re comfortable in, pertaining to the place you’re visiting. But at the same time, don’t be too strict, because at the end of the day you’re on a holiday. You’re travelling to relax lah.

S: Menswear usually has its own set of rules. What are some rules of thumb to follow, or things that you’ve noticed other men don’t pay attention to? 

D: If you’re wearing a suit, make sure your belt matches your shoes, for one. I also always believe it’s all about the fit: not the brand, not about where you bought it from or how expensive it is, but how it fits you. It could be a $5 t-shirt, but if it looks perfect under a navy-blue blazer, that’s fine.

S: What are other things you’d consider when it comes to a suit?

D: Versatility — can the suit match with anything else, or can it only be worn one way? For example, a black suit, I believe, is very formal and more suited for black tie events. However, with navy blue or warmer colours, you’re able to mix and match. Even khaki pants can be worn with a navy blue blazer, and more. Play around with the usability of that suit, because you shouldn’t only wear it once.

S: What’s your biggest fashion faux pas? How do you think your style has evolved over the years?

D: My style has evolved into something more relaxed (laughs). Mostly because of Singapore’s weather. I tend to wear things that are more loosely fitted, more airy, and I can get a little lazy with styling my hair, which I fix by wearing a cap.

S: So previously what was your style like? Would you be super well put-together?

D: It depends on the event. I may wear a blazer, pants, and proper shoes. Now I’m more into sneakers. I’ve always been a sneakers kind of guy! But really, now I just go with the flow.

S: What’s your favourite part about your job?

D: The clients that I get to meet. My current clientele doesn’t belong to your usual demographic, so I get to learn a lot from them. I sell property that only Singaporeans can buy, and as a result the pool is a lot smaller.

S: What’s the biggest lesson that your work has taught you or that you’ve learnt so far? 

D: Failure is definite. There’s no such thing as instant success. What I’ve learnt is to persevere, to constantly do what you’re meant to do. Ultimately the fruit will manifest, and rewards will come. Don’t give up.

S: What kind of journey do you hope 2016 has in store for you, whether it’s in your career, in life, or to new places? Any plans or projects you’d like to share about? 

D: I would hope to afford a home in Singapore, that’s my number-one priority. Build my relationship with my wife, and hopefully in the future, plan for kids, but not just yet. We love to travel, and even thought about taking a 6-month break just to travel around the world. We don’t know what might happen — again, we just go with the flow.

This is a Shentonista project for Paul Smith and Club 21. 

Join in the conversation: hashtag #TravelWithPS on any travel-related Instagram post and stand to win one of three exclusive Paul Smith notebooks. Whether it’s your travel essentials, your daily commute, or a shot from a trip, let your sense of adventure guide you. The contest runs from 1st – 15th March 2016.

During this same time, pop by the Paul Smith Mandarin Gallery and Hilton stores to shop the new Spring/Summer 2016 collection, and mention #TravelWithPS to receive an exclusive 10% off selected items* from 1st – 15th March 2016. 

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