Have you ever wondered what you might look like and dress like if you lived in a different part of the world?
The way you look now is almost certainly influenced by the culture and beauty trends of where you live, even if you would hardly class yourself as a dedicated follower of fashion.
To find out how differently people all around the world style themselves, Groom+Style sent generic photo model headshots of a man and a woman to fashion experts and graphic designers from 27 countries asking them to transform the people in them to look according to the beauty standards of locals.
And the photo manipulations are fascinating.
While in Costa Rica, the emphasis on natural beauty means that the photos are hardly changed at all, the Belarusian designer turned the male photo into a suntanned action hero, complete with a cigar. Meanwhile, in Israel, the current fashion trends seem to be for men to look like Chris Pine and women to look like Mariah Carey.
You’ll certainly come away with a new perspective on Lithuania, where nose rings seem to be very ‘in’ nowadays for both sexes, along with a Bohemian style and serious facial hair. Beards of all shapes and sizes are generally still on-trend, from the full bushy ones in Namibia to the more sculpted and moisturized stubble in Mexico and Australia.
Speaking of hair, while the man’s style only varies slightly, his female counterpart undergoes many transformations around the world. Hair up, hair down, in buns, ponytails, wearing a variety of headgear… it’s all going on.
Some of the more subtle changes are the most interesting, where eyes and even facial structures seem to undergo some photo editing, while there’s a lot to learn about the countries from some of the backdrops that been added.
Now that you’ve seen them, which country’s style do you think would suit you the best?
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Image credits: groomandstyle
#21 India
Indian fashion has returned to its roots, as reflected in our designer’s choice of traditional elements. Heritage fabrics, bright colors and Indian craft are big internationally and recognized back home, too. Designer Anurag also points out that vintage allows people to be unique – and that one ‘unseen’ touch he would add is a pocket watch for the gent.
Report
-17points
#22 Malaysia
Our Malaysian designer gave the models a stylish, young, modern look. Both models sport black hair with a soft curl for added elegance. The man’s facial hair and woman’s accessories make the models more attractive to the Malaysian eye. Malaysia is a forward-looking, wealthy country, with state-of-the-art architecture and fashion, as reflected in these shots.
Report
-18points
#23 United Arab Emirates
Our UAE designer, Tetiana, chose to imagine our models as celebrities on the cover of a magazine. But she was keen not to lose their natural beauty beneath artifice since the natural look is regaining popularity globally. Tetiana added detective movie-style accessories for the man, and a diadem crown and earrings for the woman – reflecting how Hollywood ideals reach distant shores.
Report
-26points
#24 Qatar
Nepalese people account for the second-largest expatriate population in Qatar, and their influence is felt in the country’s evolving culture. Our designer is a Nepali man living in Qatar, and he has included Nepali hats and Tika (Hindi forehead markings) for his models.
Report
-30points
#25 Poland
Natural and youthful makeup is very fashionable in Poland right now, so our Polish designer (Sarah) has added blush to the female model’s cheeks and nose. The bowed scarf has also been big with women and girls in Poland. The male model’s beard reflects facial hair trends of recent years, while his classy and mature look conforms to Sarah’s personal preferences. Sarah says she would not have edited the photos the same way five years ago – fashion and style move pretty quickly.
Report
-31points
#26 Mexico
In Mexico, the summer hipster look reigns. Our designer added casual, over-the-shoulder braids for her, and an attractive clean-cut beard and blow-dried comb-over for him. Mexican fashion is currently all about bright patterns, heritage motifs, frilly dresses, and traditional craft. But a crop of exciting young designers is busy working on diverse ideas. From clean lines to dramatic flourishes, you can never second-guess Mexican style.
Report
-45points
#27 USA
Our American designer took things to the street, giving the female model an urban, playful look with the wholesome smile and freckles of a grown-up Mickey Mouse Club icon (think Britney and Justin). The male model is given the British dandy look favored by Andre 3000 and Brad Goreski. You can bet there’s an umbrella just out of shot.
Report
-94points
