Rahi À La Mode

Most people grow up thinking a life of constant travel, front-row access and deciding what’s cool for a living only exists in films and fashion campaigns. For London-based creative consultant and luxury influencer-model Rahi Chaddha, it’s just another Tuesday.

The 33-year-old’s social calendar has him flying from city to city internationally, travel a natural extension of the same rhythm he moves through across fashion, beauty and luxury lifestyle influencing aspirational men and their taste.

When we speak, he is preparing to head to the Cannes Film Festival in France in the next couple of days, where he will be walking the red carpet. “It’s one of the few places where cinema, fashion and culture all come together on such a global scale,” says the former model and first Brown male ambassador for Dior Beauty.

We catch up with Chaddha ahead of Cannes to talk about his personal style, and what his instincts reveal about modern menswear.

As a skincare, fashion and travel creator, when did you realise you had moved from documenting menswear to actually shaping it?

I think the shift happened when I started realising people weren’t just engaging with my content, they were actually taking inspiration from it, whether that was through fashion choices, grooming, travel or the way they approached personal style. That was a really surreal moment because you stop seeing it as simply posting online and start understanding the impact digital platforms can have on culture and self-expression.

At the same time, I still don’t necessarily think of myself as someone trying to ‘shape’ menswear. I think fashion today is much more collaborative and community driven. If anything, I’m just contributing my own perspective and experiences to a wider conversation around modern masculinity, style and lifestyle. The most rewarding part is when people connect with that in a genuine way.

What does modern masculinity look like through your lens?

I think modern masculinity today is a lot more fluid, self-aware and expressive. It doesn’t have to fit into one specific mould. A man can care about fashion, skincare, wellness, travel, creativity and self-expression while still feeling confident in who he is.

I think the most attractive quality now is authenticity, being comfortable enough to embrace your individuality instead of performing a version of masculinity for other people.

What is your source of creative inspiration?

A lot of my inspiration comes from real-life experiences rather than one specific person or trend. Travelling has a huge influence on me; different cities, cultures and even the energy of a place can completely shift the way I see fashion and creativity. Like when I was at Coachella recently, it was so fun seeing how much more free-spirited and expressive people were, less concerned about dressing correctly and more focused on individuality. 

I’m also just inspired by people who are confident in their individuality and personal style without trying too hard.

Do you think social media has made personal style more interesting or just more performative?

I actually think it’s made personal style far more interesting because people now have access to so many different perspectives, cultures and sources of inspiration from around the world. Fashion used to feel more gatekept, whereas social media has democratised it and allowed people to experiment with style in a more personal way.

What I love most is that there’s no longer just one definition of what’s considered “fashionable” or aspirational. People are mixing luxury with vintage, streetwear with tailoring, high fashion with cultural influences, and creating identities that feel much more individual. Of course, social media naturally encourages people to present themselves visually, but I don’t necessarily see that as a negative. Fashion has always been a form of self-expression and storytelling, and social media has simply given more people a platform to participate in that conversation creatively.

How has your personal style changed since you first started modelling? 

My personal style has definitely evolved naturally over time. When I was younger, I was a lot more experimental and focused on trying different trends and aesthetics, which I think is part of growing up and finding your identity. As I’ve gotten older, my style has become much more refined and instinctive. I understand what feels like me now.

Where does someone begin when they want to take their personal style more seriously?

Personal style takes time and it evolves through experimenting, making mistakes and understanding what makes you feel confident.

My advice would be to start simple and focus on quality over quantity. Invest in pieces that are timeless, well-fitted and versatile, because great style is often more about how you wear something than how loud it is. I’d also say don’t underestimate the importance of grooming, tailoring and attention to detail because those things can completely elevate a look.

What’s the one wardrobe essential every man should own?

A well-fitted suit because there’s something timeless about good tailoring and the confidence it gives you.

Do you remember the first significant fashion purchase you ever made?

I still remember buying my first Louis Vuitton Damier checkered wallet. At the time it felt like such a huge purchase for me. It probably seems small now, but I remember associating it with a sense of ambition and achievement because luxury fashion was always something I admired growing up.

What’s funny is that it wasn’t really about the wallet itself, it was more about what it represented at that stage of my life. I think everyone remembers that first fashion purchase that made them feel like they were stepping into a new world a little bit.

What is the most unexpected item one would find in your suitcase? 

You’ll always find a stack of eye masks and aloe vera face sheets in my bag, especially during fashion weeks or Cannes when you’re constantly on the go and running on very little sleep. They genuinely make such a difference.

Fashion-wise, I’d probably say a great pair of black trousers. It sounds simple, but they’re the one thing I can always rely on because you can dress them up, dress them down and wear them almost anywhere.

Three skincare products you’ll never stop recommending other men to use?

It’s always going to be a good cleanser, a great moisturiser and SPF. 

If you had to wear one outfit for the rest of your life, what would it be?

A really well-tailored all-black look: black trousers, a great fitted T-shirt or knit, and an oversized jacket or coat depending on the season.

I’ve always loved monochrome dressing because it feels timeless, effortless and adaptable no matter where you are in the world.

What are you currently on a hunt for?

I think so many of us are always trying to secure the bag from Hermès! 

Any look from the early 2000s you’d like to bring back?

Honestly, I’d love to see the return of that effortless early 2000s glamour when people looked polished and confident without everything feeling overly curated for social media. There was something really fun about that era of fashion because it felt experimental, expressive and a little less calculated. The nostalgia of that era definitely still influences fashion today, just with a more refined perspective.

Credits:

Words By: Rudra Mulmule

Photography By: Fashitect & Pietro Schiavetti

Hair By: Raad Elhassan

Grooming By: Jamie Coombes using Dior Beauty

Styling By: Katie McCormick

Artist Representation: Rainmaker Consults