By Nonita Kalra
To study the evolution of mankind, and the progress home sapiens have made toward civilisation, all one has to do is look in the direction of the male traveller. In his unnatural habitat of an airport/aircraft. We have made great advances in the direction of refinement. The man on a plane in 2014 is a far cry from the paunchy, coarse man of yesteryear who assumed the entire fly zone was deaf and therefore spoke loudly at everyone, his phone, the crew, his fellow passengers. He was also the kind of lovely man who assumed he could use a lady’s rear end as a resting place for his stomach because he lacked any concept of personal space. In most countries, this degree of familiarity is regarded as a sexual offence.
He isn’t extinct, but he has gone into hibernation and surfaces when least expected. Today’s business traveller (I insist on making this distinction because he is the guy reading this piece on the 6 am flight heading for his first meeting in Gurgaon) is actually a pleasure to travel with.
Let’s start with the superficial. He is a much better dressed companion. Gone are the high-waist pants that sat precariously on a generously spreading middle, trousers are now worn where they should be. Now there is a waist, thanks to the gym being a regular part of the business traveller’s itinerary. Pleated pants, that ghastly 1980s fad that stayed on in Indian closets for nearly 25 years, have been replaced with slimmer, more narrow fits. And the appalling adherence to sneakers has been replaced. Whatever booted out that trend was a welcome relief. The explosion of retail, the proliferation of malls, means that you are always being pointed in the direction of current trend. And that is not a bad thing if you lack the ability to dress yourself.
The traveller also gets the Businessman of the Year award because he is much better behaved. He now keeps to himself. No more spilling out all over his seat (the most valiant battles have been fought for elbow room on the armrest, especially if you are in the middle row). I attribute this new chivalry to the fact that those working in the corporate sector have received the same mandate: Be glued to your BlackBerry. Your job and world peace depend on it. The truth is far simpler. They are probably staring at their phones wondering why they are still using this ghastly technology when the world has moved on. To the lovely new iPhone 6.
So is this new species a creature of perfection? If we are splitting hairs, then there is room for improvement. At a trivial level, it would help if they paid attention to their manbags. Why do most men insist on laptops in appalling, bulky things made of Rexine? Invest in Samsonite. Or Rimowa the metal and polycarbonate hardtops made by the Germans are the last word in chic. If you like backpacks, TUMI is light and stylish. There are options and they are available at the airport.
Shop your style just before you board a flight. Then you can use this lovely luggage to learn a lesson in etiquette. Undress before you hit the line for Security. Take off that watch. Empty your pockets. Remove your watch. Put them all in your bag. Then with your empty hands take your laptop out and keep it ready for the checking. Don’t you know it is rude to keep a lady waiting? .
The lifestyle journalist and former ELLE editor-in-chief helps you deal with society’s curveballs
To study the evolution of mankind, and the progress home sapiens have made toward civilisation, all one has to do is look in the direction of the male traveller. In his unnatural habitat of an airport/aircraft. We have made great advances in the direction of refinement. The man on a plane in 2014 is a far cry from the paunchy, coarse man of yesteryear who assumed the entire fly zone was deaf and therefore spoke loudly at everyone, his phone, the crew, his fellow passengers. He was also the kind of lovely man who assumed he could use a lady’s rear end as a resting place for his stomach because he lacked any concept of personal space. In most countries, this degree of familiarity is regarded as a sexual offence.
He isn’t extinct, but he has gone into hibernation and surfaces when least expected. Today’s business traveller (I insist on making this distinction because he is the guy reading this piece on the 6 am flight heading for his first meeting in Gurgaon) is actually a pleasure to travel with.
Let’s start with the superficial. He is a much better dressed companion. Gone are the high-waist pants that sat precariously on a generously spreading middle, trousers are now worn where they should be. Now there is a waist, thanks to the gym being a regular part of the business traveller’s itinerary. Pleated pants, that ghastly 1980s fad that stayed on in Indian closets for nearly 25 years, have been replaced with slimmer, more narrow fits. And the appalling adherence to sneakers has been replaced. Whatever booted out that trend was a welcome relief. The explosion of retail, the proliferation of malls, means that you are always being pointed in the direction of current trend. And that is not a bad thing if you lack the ability to dress yourself.
The traveller also gets the Businessman of the Year award because he is much better behaved. He now keeps to himself. No more spilling out all over his seat (the most valiant battles have been fought for elbow room on the armrest, especially if you are in the middle row). I attribute this new chivalry to the fact that those working in the corporate sector have received the same mandate: Be glued to your BlackBerry. Your job and world peace depend on it. The truth is far simpler. They are probably staring at their phones wondering why they are still using this ghastly technology when the world has moved on. To the lovely new iPhone 6.
So is this new species a creature of perfection? If we are splitting hairs, then there is room for improvement. At a trivial level, it would help if they paid attention to their manbags. Why do most men insist on laptops in appalling, bulky things made of Rexine? Invest in Samsonite. Or Rimowa the metal and polycarbonate hardtops made by the Germans are the last word in chic. If you like backpacks, TUMI is light and stylish. There are options and they are available at the airport.
Shop your style just before you board a flight. Then you can use this lovely luggage to learn a lesson in etiquette. Undress before you hit the line for Security. Take off that watch. Empty your pockets. Remove your watch. Put them all in your bag. Then with your empty hands take your laptop out and keep it ready for the checking. Don’t you know it is rude to keep a lady waiting? .
The lifestyle journalist and former ELLE editor-in-chief helps you deal with society’s curveballs
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