My Life My Style: Manish Malhotra

Best work moment
Every time I see my creation exceeding my expectations.

Books on your bedside
I enjoy going down in history and reading more about our Indian heritage/culture. Costumes and Textiles of Awadh: From the Era of Nawabs to Modern Times and Louis Vuitton Marc Jacobs.

Massage or workout to de-stress
Massage

Favourite accessory
Bags and shoes. I am a huge admirer of Italian craftsmanship when it comes to leather goods.

Designs that have caught your eye recently
I am enjoying the "return of the vintage" and how every designer is interpreting it differently.

Your IT tools
My sketch pad, my leather pouch with all my pens, my wallet and my perfume.

Favourite spirit
I don't drink much. Occasionally when I do, I prefer vodka.

Favourite wine
I like dessert wine.

Favourite champagne
Dom Perignon

Your sleeping ritual
Watching TV to unwind in my comfortable cotton pajamas and cosy duvet.

Favourite TV show
I don't really have any favourites as there is no time to follow a particular series. The last shows I watched were Mad Men and Gossip Girl.

Best gift received
Precious notes my mother writes to me on my birthdays.

Best gift given
A pink lehenga to my niece for her engagement

Favourite cuisine
Chinese

Favourite cafe
Pali Village cafe, close to my house

Favourite restaurant
Le Petite Maison in Dubai; Nobu and Zuma in London

Your current set of wheels
BMW 7 Series

On a plane, do you prefer to network, sleep or catch up on films and reading?
Catch up on films.

Fancy coffee or masala tea?
Masala tea

What do you cook on your day off?
I am more involved in the decoration and presentation part of food.

Are you a beach or mountain person?
Both

Your ideal holiday
A quick holiday in Dubai, New York or London

What's your fragrance?
Tom Ford

You get your work clothes from
Basic In House shirts and Burberry shirts and denims

The shoemaker you trust your sole with
Louis Vuitton and Gucci

The gels and oils and lotions you swear by
L'occitane and Shiseido

Your favourite evening wear
A Bandi jacket paired with a basic shirt and well-tailored trousers

God for you is
Always with me... within me

Your ideal dance music
Bollywood + House

A few of your Goddesses are
My mother and Vaishno Devi

Alpha males you know
Tom Ford

Your favourite motto
Actions speak louder than words

Manish Malhotra
Designer