Dash of style

Men’s grooming, collar popping and carrying a purse? Tengku Sofiah Aishah talks to two hunks to find out more

MEETING TV personalities Henry Golding and Remy Ishak in person, I was surprised that I managed to maintain my composure. Looking as sharp as they do onscreen, they enlighten me about grooming.

“Nowadays, skincare is not only restricted to women as men need to look good too when we go out and meet people,” says Remy.

“Grooming is very important. It has become an everyday thing and it makes you feel like you can tackle the world,” adds Golding.

For the latter, it is not about the amount of time you spend on it but doing the necessities.

“There are a couple of key products to use such as facial cleanser and oil control; a two-minute regime should do it,” says the youngest of three siblings.

As far as deodorant goes, both prefer spray deodorant to roll-on. “Simply because it dries faster,” says Golding with a chuckle.

“It is also more convenient to bring spray deodorant on set to freshen up,” says Remy.

Personal grooming is not just a matter of bathing and smelling nice but it also involves selecting appropriate outfits for the right occasions.

Believing in the “less is more” principle, both describe their styles as simple and agree that they have passed the era where they want to dress up too much.

“Being a minimalist in fashion does not mean that we take things lightly. It is just that we are more comfortable this way. I don’t like looking too crowded with my outfit,” says Remy, who played the hearthrob Adam in TV drama series Nur Kasih .

“When we were younger, we’d probably wear a necklace, bangle and all that but now a simple watch is all we need,” says Golding who recently joined Remy as ambassadors to men’s skincare brand, Dashing.

SUIT STAPLE

Although most suits look the same to me, they seem to be a wardrobe staple to these guys. I guess suits to men are like shoes to women.

“I have way too many white shirts. It is all about the cut,” says Golding who keeps his suitcase quite minimal and classic when travelling, so that he can mix and match. The Sarawak-born host also makes sure that he always brings his swimming shorts.

Apart from suits, Remy loves shoes. “I have a lot of shoes,” he admits. “I prefer to wear boots with jeans since I am involved in a lot of other jobs as well.”

Guys, if you have been having doubts about wearing boots, hesitate no more. Golding chips in: “I think boots go with everything. It’s casual and can be dressy as well.”

Although Remy has his own personal style, he also gets fashion tips from magazines.

“Change in style is definite. It has much to do with the way you mature and the people you mix with,” says the 30-year-old actor.

While Remy is a planner, Golding is a more of an impromptu guy. “I add to my wardrobe as I go along. It’s always nice to see what’s new but you know yourself best. I try to maintain a consistent sophisticated style,” he says.

POP MY COLLAR

Unless you are a rebellious teenager, popping your collar is so 1990s and the guys agree with me.

“When I was in England, guys popped their collars, a sign of a rebel. I’m not really into it,” says Golding.

Remy says: “I feel collar popping is more of a polo thing. Some girls who watch polo think it’s cool. I used to do it when I was a kid just to be rebellious.”

BELT UP

A belt is a must for men and not just when the waistband is too big for you. “I never go out without a belt. I feel incomplete without it,” says Golding.

Remy adds: “Me too. No big buckles for me. I prefer to keep it simple.”

As for hairstyles, men don’t really have many choices.Fortunately, they both say hair is not their strongest point.

Golding says: “I normally go for something easy because I’ve got tough hair. Some guys have really nice hair. They look awesome without much effort.”

Remy agrees: “So is mine. I can’t grow long hair. It is best to keep it short.”

Personally, I think only K-Pop singers can pull off long hair and fancy hairstyles. If women wash their hair on alternate days, these guys shampoo daily because they use hair wax — once a day for Golding and twice for Remy. Neither go  for any hair treatment.

BAG THE MAN

Mobile phones are getting bigger instead of smaller and men can no longer fit them in their pockets. The question is: Is it acceptable to carry a man purse?

“If it suits someone’s lifestyle, why not? I use satchels because I always take my iPad with me. You never know when something is going to come up. Even when we want to be away from work, we still have to be in touch with some people,” says Golding.

Remy adds: “Everywhere I go, I bring a small bag to keep my stuff.”

If you are not a gym junkie, don’t worry. Golding isn’t either. “I don’t go to the gym often but I am more active in general. I feel restricted when I go the gym,” he says.

Instead, he finds other ways to keep fit and maintain a desirable physique without rigorous gym routines.

“I try workouts that I can do whenever I have the time. If I’m in my hotel room, I’ll spend 15-20 minutes doing body movements like push ups and sit ups,” he adds.

This requires a certain degree of discipline considering  there aren’t girls to impress, unlike in the gym.

On the contrary, Remy will spend  two hours daily at the gym. “I’ll be at the gym until I have spent all my energy. I feel incomplete if I don’t workout for one day. It also gives me confidence,” he says.

The duo don’t have specific diets. “You should never say you cannot eat something — just be careful of what you have a lot of,” says Golding.

“It’s true. We can eat anything as long as we balance our eating habits with exercise,” says Remy.

When they are not busy shooting, these guys like to go rock climbing. While Golding goes exploring mountains like Mount Fuji, Remy’s busy schedule doesn’t allow him to go out of Kuala Lumpur.
“If time permits, I go cycling in Putrajaya or Mont Kiara,” he says.

CALL OF CONFIDENCE

What makes a man confident?

Golding says: “Confidence is not something everybody is born with. But it can be developed. It is a value of one’s self, how you think of yourself, the way you act, your character, your morals — it’s a collection of things.

“To be confident is to believe in yourself and not to let anyone say otherwise, and to know you’re doing something to the best of your ability. Especially for a man, it is a feeling, a very important characteristic that all men should be proud of.”

For Remy, it’s the drive to make a person feel better and comfortable in his own skin. “Something you feel  inside that takes you to another level and makes you more motivated. Going through tough times gives one more confidence,”  he says.

Confidence is more important than good looks and money and it lasts longer too.

That said, the confident duo have their fair share of embarrassing stories. “I think it is very embarrassing when I can’t answer a question from a woman,” says Remy.

His recovery strategy? Change the topic!

Golding too had a similar experience. “A woman came to me and asked: ‘Why haven’t you said hello to me yet?’ and I was at a loss for words. It was embarrassing to be caught off guard,” he says.

While physical appearance is important, we should also look beyond that and learn to groom ourselves on a social level.

“When we first see someone, we can’t help but judge them by the way they look. It’s terrible but it’s a fact of life. And then we get to know their personality,” says Golding.

Rules of attraction

What makes a woman attractive?

“A woman who is in charge of her life. She knows exactly what she wants to do and where she wants to go in a relationship. Someone who is active and fit, and it is not just about looking good. It is her lifestyle,” says Golding.

“I like independent women. Someone who is not clingy and can do things on her own,” says Remy.

“Sometimes, a woman’s scent can tell us her personality. Whether she is strong or placid, bold or reserved,” he adds.

Nevertheless, a certain amount of cling won’t hurt as long as it is not suffocating.

“Every guy wants his woman to be proud of him and it makes us proud to go out of our way to be the gentleman and provide,” says Golding while Remy nods in agreement.

Which celebrity would they like to go out with if they were a woman?

They both took quite a while to come up with a name and most women would approve of Golding’s answer: British actor Jude Law.

“I think in life we should always have a role model. Someone we aspire to or inspires us. I am fascinated by his (Law) mannerisms. I appreciate his style and the way he acts.”

Remy’s choice is interesting too. “I like Clive Owen’s charisma. He has some sort of an aura around him no matter what role he plays.”

 

Golding admires actor Jude Law's mannerisms

PHOTO BY MUNIRA ABDUL GHANI

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