A quick browse through our photo archives and we knew week-old politician Aditya Thackeray loves his T-shirts. But for last Sunday's anticipated Shiv Sena Dussera rally, he picked a sky-tint linen kurta; lapel sleeves and a high collar adding a relaxed feel to every Indian politico's favourite garment. Shweta shiware decodes the signal his first public rally dress code sent out

The past, present and future of Maharashtra's original controversial political partyu00a0-- the Shiv Senau00a0-- stood in symbolic strength at the recently concluded Sena Dussera rally held at Shivaji Park, Dadar. Although an annual affair, this year's rally was an anticipated one since it marked the 'return' of Sena supremo Bal Thackeray, now 83, to stage.

The sidelight, one that had managed to stir curiosity even among those disinterested in politics, was his 20 year-old grandson Aditya's Thackeray's induction as the head of the party's new youth wing, the Yuva Sena.
Giving plenty of time to photographers to click their favourite angle as the trio posed for a shot, the Thackerays were more than a picture of generations. They were a comment on dressing.

While senior Thackeray turned up in his predictable full sleeved, white, just-out-of-laundry crisp kurta (his saffron stole over one shoulder, rudraksha malas in place), son Uddhav picked a Chinese collar khadi weave in ivory.u00a0

"Looking poor is no longer a qualification to be a politician. Aditya's attire signals a change. It speaks of the
connect that the youth want to make with their leaders.

It's about reaching out to more than 50 per cent of India's population, especially in the urban metros," says veteran menswear designer Narendra Kumar, who has dressed Bollywood headliners Amitabh Bachchan and John Abraham.u00a0

What's interesting is why Aditya overlooked saffron (the colour of the party, and the ideology it propagates) to choose blue? Fashion experts recommend wearing blue to job interviews; they say it's a shade that stands for loyalty. It's also a hue that denotes the conservative. On a higher spiritual plane, blue evokes inspiration, sincerity, even truth.

The Western contemporary touch to traditional was sealed with a pair of Tag Heueru00a0spectacles; one from what's believed to be an enviableu00a0collection of watches and eyewear.

The high collar reflecting strength was balanced out by relaxed lapel details on the sleeves and fabric potli buttons.

The pink Lacoste tee and a sporty T-shirt with number 3 emblazoned on the shoulders (he wore this on two different visits to the BMC headquarters) wouldn't have held for a rally, he knew. His choice of garment for the launch of Halke Halke, his music video, was a trendy white kurta with pronounced embroidery on the neckline. For an interview with MiD DAY, he had chosen to slip on a Popeye tee.

That's a far cry from
archaic politician garb. Even the Congress party's young and powerful face Rahul Gandhi (incidentally, a national daily pitted Aditya against Rahul in press coverage that marked the aftermath of the rally) never trusts
anything but a crisp white kurta-pyjama when he leaves his 12, Tughlak Lane residence, but a grey tee and run-down denims do fine when he's off on a no-agenda evening at a close friend's impromptu party.

It's immature to expect Aditya or any young politician serious about grabbing political points to throw caution to the wind, predictability to dragons and dress in what he likes bestu00a0-- white shirt and jeans. Clothes are a message woven in fabric. They demarcate the serious from the trivial, even if only at face value.

"There is tremendous value lent by some of India's early politicians to fashion," says menswear designer Raghavendra Rathore, probably running through an image of Jawaharlal Nehru in his head.

"Today's young politicians represent a defining change that is sweeping across all spheres, not just fashion. The use of fashion to cast an impression is a tool of immense potential," he says. Finally, looking good is an advantage, no matter what you do for a living, believes Kumar. And politics is, after all, a job.

Up close

The shirt collars and potli buttons add an individualistic edge to a regular kurta

Like the senior Thackerays in the family, Aditya wears his wristwatch dial-side down

The lapel detail on the sleeve makes the kurta a young and contemporary one

The glasses, we are told, are a pair of Tag Heuers

The guy who loves his tees

August 2009
Aditya at a fund-raising musical night organised by a BJP leader. Wears a simple round neck red tee.

April 2010
Aditya with mother Rashmi at an event that brought artists and musicians together to celebrate 50 years of samyukta Maharashtra. Wears a fresh green tee with a boyish logo.

October 2010
Aditya at home photographed during an interview. Wears a saffron tee with a cheeky 'you bring out the tiger in me' tagline.

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