REVAMP
A
presentation
YOUR WARDROBE WITH THE LATEST IN CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES
SHOP AT A SELECTION SOME OF THIS YEARS BEST EXCLUSIVE STORES
BUY MUST-HAVES FOR YOUR HOME AND GARDEN
LUXURY AND
STYLE PUT ON YOUR SHOPPING SHOES, SHOP AWAY THOSE BLUES
Contents
Paprika Media Pvt.Ltd Essar House, 11 KK Marg, PO Box 7964, Mahalaxmi, Mumbai 400 034 General Enquiries and Listings (91 22) 6660-1111 Subscriptions (91 22) 6660-1200 feedback@timeoutmumbai.net
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Business
Shopping, while therapeutic can be quite the chore. Regardless of how much of a shopaholic you are, there are the endless stores that never seem to have what you want, fashion that never looks good on you, the bafflement of choosing gifts and the endless worry that you are not making the right shopping needs. This guide attempts to eliminate the few woes that shopping entails and concentrate only on the good stuff. You can now visit the year’s very best stores from three cities- Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai and find just what you need. This guide covers four broad categories: Apparel, Lifestyle, Cosmetics and Jewellery and Fashion Accessories. Looking for garden accessories like glass grasshoppers to hang from the trees in your garden? Take a look at the Lifestyle section for must have home accessories and impulse stationery buys. Dress to your personal style statement with a little help from our Apparel section. Learn about the latest in beauty and makeup and linger over the breathtaking jewellery and fashion accessories that we have featured. Happy shopping! Cover credit: Rajdeep Ranawat Website: www.ranawat.com 24 Shop in Style
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Head Office Deputy Editor in Chief: Jaideep Giridhar (jaideep@paprikamedia.com) Publisher & COO: Rajnish Rawat (rajnish@paprikamedia.com) Chairperson: Smiti Kanodia (smiti@paprikamedia.com) Printed and published by Rajnish Rawat on behalf of Paprika Media Pvt Ltd at Essar House, 11 KK Marg, PO Box No.7945,Mahalaxmi, Mumbai 400 034. Printed at Ganesh Mudra 208 Atlas Mill Compound, Near Reay Road Station ( W ), Dr. Baristor Nath Marg, Mazgaon Mumbai – 400 010. The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for errors and omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the readers in particular circumstances. The ownership of trademarks is acknowledged. No part of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publishers in writing. An exemption is hereby granted for extracts used for the purpose of fair review.
wear including saris featuring the footprint motifs, Sabbah Sharma’s dresses and footwear (our favourite one had sequinned fruits all over) and Miriam Strehlau’s latest collection of shrugs, skirts, and dresses made from bandhini tie-dye fabrics and khadi cotton towels. For men, there are shirts and shorts by Human Behaviour and WETHEPPL ( ` 3,400-4,500). Look out for in-house brands The Quirk Box, a technicoloured kitschy label along the lines of Play Clan (from ` 360) and No Nasties, a line of organic cotton T-shirts ( ` 1,199) with funky prints. 5/5, Grants Building, First Floor, opposite Cafe Basilico, Arthur Bunder Road, Colaba, (6565-0444, www.attic.in). Daily 11am-8pm. Also visit www.thequirkbox.com and www.nonasties.in.
Apparel
Shopping brings on a kind of universal happy glow wherever you are and whatever your style statement. In this section, we’ve rounded up a selection of shopping haunts – from Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore – that will cater to the flea market lovers among you as well as the high-street fashion shoppers. We’ve also listed brands and collections to look out for this festive season so that you can make informed shopping choices and have a tremendous amount of Atosa Multi-designer store Atosa fun in the bargain.
Mumbai Attic In 2008, sisters Rixi and Tinka Bhatia and Amrita and Shweta Deliwala (the R-A-T-S) set up one of the city’s first alternative fashion and lifestyle design stores in Santa Cruz. Don’t get
Atosa
26 Time Out India Shopaholic
us wrong, we loved the space, but, boy, are we glad their second store is located just off Colaba Causeway. It’s no fun navigating tiny by lanes and asking for directions at every corner. The Colaba store almost double the size of the first one, has products from a lot of new designers. You can shop for Masaba’s Indian
housed in a charming little twostoried house on 20th Road in Khar, is a substitute for Zoya, which shut shop recently at D’Monte Park Road. After five years of running Zoya, Aparna Badlani and Azmina Rahimtoola decided they wanted to make women feel like royalty every time they dress up, like the Persian princess Atosa. The store, spread across 1000 sq-ft, stocks
collections of Indian designers like Savio Jon, Nachiket Barve, James Ferreira, Wendell Rodricks and Arjun Saluja as well as selected pieces by South-East Asian labels like All Dressed Up, Chai Gold and Desmond Yang. Atosa also stocks a great range of casual sandals by Kokomo (from ` 2,650) and dressy shoes (from ` 2,950) by Kaliraha in gold, silver and bronze with embroidery, very easy to pair with Indian outfits. Aman Villa, 6-B, Anant Vihar Co-operative Society, 20th Road, Khar, (W) (2642-0888). Mon-Sat 11am-8pm.
Denizen by Levi’s Denizen, the new and more affordable denim brand from Levi’s, has its very own stand alone store at Phoenix Mills. Jeans by Levi’s cost upwards of ` 2,500, but at Denizen, they start at ` 799 and nothing in the store costs more than ` 1,399. So, the jeans come with little or no frills – no stone washes, embellishments or ripped denims. Denizen only offers plain solid-coloured classic fits. For women, there are five different types of skinny fits for different body types and some regular straight cuts. There’s a wider range of blue and black jeans in straight and slim fits for men. Chinos are available in beige, black and olive green
The Love Trust
( ` 1,399). They also have a small collection of checked shirts ( ` 799-1,099) and striped T-shirts ( ` 499) in fun colours. Grand Galleria, Ground Floor, High Street Phoenix, Phoenix Mills Compound, Lower Parel, (6635-0562). Daily 11am-9.30pm.
Etro Etro offers a complete menswear collection and a few accessories for women. Everything here is a little whimsical and quirky, just the way we like it. The silk ties ( `6,900 onwards) come in a riot of colours and prints and are arranged just like a colour wheel. Look out for T-shirts with crowned owls and donkeys, cuff links with metal turtles, roosters, bunnies and comedy and tragedy masks ( ` 9,000 onwards). Leather wallets and iPhone cases get a
pop treatment with lime-green lining on the inside and purple on the outside ( `16,000). Belts ( ` 9,000 onwards) are only for the truly flamboyant with gold buckles big enough to be spotted from miles away. Shop Number G7, Palladium, Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel, (4341-2284). Daily 11am-9pm.
Kidology & Mignon Meghna Arya Miglani says fashion isn’t just for grown-ups and there’s no disputing that statement when you drop into Kidology & Mignon, her designer boutique for kids in Bandra. Surrounded by frilly frocks, miniature versions of jodhpurs and pin-striped suits, you may actually begin to believe that the little ones need a wardrobe upgrade. Miglani, a 28-yearold graduate from the National
Institute of Fashion Technology, runs Mignon in collaboration with the Delhi store Kidology, hence the double-barrelled name. The store features a small play area outside and chalkboard surfaces inside to keep the kids entertained while parents shop. Kidology is a ready-to-wear label for girls and boys (6 months-10 years) with signature designs by Gaurav Gupta, Gauri & Nainika, Malini Ramani, Ritu Kumar and Namrata Joshipura. The Mignon section offers custom design and tailoring services (from ` 2,500) with a range of fairytale dresses and gowns along with Indian wear options such as casual kurta-sets, embroidered ready-made saris and chaniya cholis for girls. The store also has matching accessories including headbands, handbags, shoes, sandals, hats, belts, bow ties and jewellery. 2 & 3, Sunbeam Building, behind Bandra Police Quarters, Perry Cross Road, off Carter Road, Bandra (W) (6556-5656, www.kidology.in, www.mignon. co.in). Daily 11am-8pm.
( ` 1,450-2,250). The floral prints, machine embroidered flowers, use of anchor stitches and pleats, pockets, sashes, belts and fold-up sleeves we saw here have been regular features in Indian-fusion wear this year but a few prints did surprise us – a short kurti with digital ikat print in gorgeous aquamarine and teal ( ` 1,950) and a top with tiny Buddhas all over available in neon pink and orange ( ` 1,750). The use of such printed fabrics on the clutches and sling bags with metal straps ( ` 2,250) are a refreshing change. The topquality materials ensure that the clothes don’t require dry-cleaning. Shop No 7, Chinoy Mansion, next to Subway, opposite St Stephen Church, Warden Road, Kemp’s Corner, (32959819). Daily 10am-8pm.
The Love Trust
With over 25 years of experience in manufacturing cotton silk, viscose and polyester fabrics and scarves for international highstreet chains and department stores, Alok Exports, the parent company of this fusion fashion store Love from India, has diversified into the retail space with a collection of tunics, kurtis, scarves and stoles
Designer Nandita Mahtani’s The Love Trust is no ordinary store. It aims to raise funds for her charitable trust that supports various causes, such as education of the girl child and vocational training for young adults. Here, designers can donate apparel and accessories from their old collections, samples and fashion shows, which will be sold at discounted prices. Designs from Mahtani’s label Ananya, which sell upwards of ` 5,000, can be bought for as little as ` 500-1,000.
reach in Bangalore with five existing stores at Mantri Mall, Brigade Road, Park Sqaure: ITPL, HSR Layout and Indira
Nagar, and three more stores expected to launch by the end of this year at Brigade Orion Mall, Market City and Koramangala.
Love from India
CLOTHING FROM CELIO* Gentlemen, it's time for you to suit up or grunge down. Whatever your style quotient, Celio*, the Leading international menswear brand from France has something for you. Ever since the brand came to India in December 2008, Indian men have found that as far as keeping up with the trends go, this brand is key. Celio* defines their style of clothing as youthful and trendy and we can certainly vouch for that. Check out their line of sportswear and casual wear, fuss free and manly while keeping a certain unique stylish flair. The brand believes that every man has his own way of expressing his personality and it needs to create a harmony between him and his clothes. Celio* consistently strives to
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do this - to provide the best to its customers through its range which offers quality, variety of models, colours and cut. You can now shop for clothing from Celio in every key metropolitan city in India. Celio* has four stores in Delhi strategically located in the shopping hubs of the city - the DLF Promenade, Khan Market, Janakapuri and including one in Great India Place, Noida. Mumbai has a whopping seven store presence for the brand spread across the key areas in the city. The latest addition to this wide presence will be the launch of the Celio* store at Market City,Kurla and the flagship store in Linking Road, Bandra. Celio* also has extensive
Unlike thrift stores abroad that stock second-hand and “gently used” clothes, Mahtani said the Love Trust will only stock unused pieces and has a rotating collection with clothes by her designer friends like Manish Malhotra, Surily Goel, Rocky S and Shaina NC. Label lovers can expect to find a huge collection of tops, dresses, kurtas and kaftans in rich chiffon, cotton, georgette, crape and raw silk fabrics in bright, fun colours, perfect for the summer. Every garment is in spotless condition and the store is just the place you duck into when you don’t want to spend too much on an embroidered kurta or when you’re looking for a last-minute cocktail dress. Shop No 2, Maria Apartments, off Zig Zag Road, Nargis Dutt Road, Pali Hill, Bandra (W) (26486045). Mon-Sat 11am-7pm. Email thelovetrust1@gmail.com for details.
Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna’s store with its stark-white walls, is largely underwhelming, except for one surface with hundreds of picture buttons featuring Hollywood actresses Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe. The clothes, however, tell a different story. If you’re looking for bling you won’t be disappointed with dual-tone sequin-sheeted dresses (from ` 29,500) in grey, silver and dull gold. A gorgeous body-hugging jersey dress with button detailing ( ` 19,500) and funky white shift dress with black ink blots all over ( ` 14,500) especially caught our eyes. For men, they’ve got a select range of cotton and linen shirts and jackets. The cotton shirts and linen jackets ( `15,500) in white and beige are ink splatter, burned paper and smoke prints. The dressier ones come with matte sequin detailing, which is great for pairing with suits. D7, Shop No 6, Turning Point Co-operative Housing Society, junction of 1st and 16th Road, Khar (W) (2648-5622, www. rohitgandhirahulkhanna.com). Daily 11am-7.30pm.
Mal – The Store It’s hard not to fall in love with a store that only stocks designer wear for children. Even though Mal is hardly a place to shop for basics and casual wear for the little ones, it’s great for special occasions like first-birthday parties, festive or wedding receptions. The multi-designer store currently stocks Raghavendra Rathore’s collection of shirts, kurtapyjamas, dhotis and his signature bandgalas for little boys, and body suits, sexy chanya-cholis, lehengas, sherwanis, tutu skirts and ready-made saris by Masaba Gupta. We absolutely loved the nightwear from Hema Patel Shroff’s label, Amba. It featured block printed chappals in pop colours on kurta-pyjamas and Sonali Mansingka’s fun dresses with super-cute animal-shaped silk brooches. The store also has a limited range of maternity wear from All by N by Noriealla Al Hariri, HB Couture and Ibella by Ramona Narang. 50, Bhagwat, Second NS Road, JVPD Scheme, Vile Parle (W) (6529-4424). Daily 11am-8pm. Casual wear from ` 995, formal wear from ` 2,500.
Masaba Designer Masaba Gupta’s store at Juhu stocks the eclectic festive collection that she showcased at the Winter-Festive 2010 Lakmé Fashion Week. We absolutely loved the brightcoloured saris with patchwork in
32 Shop in Style
Sisley Sisley
cotton, silk, net and georgette featuring funky prints and the sexy mix-and-match blouses. There’s also a whole range of kurtas, shirts, flared trousers and jumpsuits available in similar prints and crazy designs embellished with kanni and moti work. Gupta has a few pieces for children too, including fun tutus and even little bodysuits in silk and cotton. The store is currently stocking a limited edition range of party wear for Christmas and New Year. Masaba Flagship Store, New Sujata Co-operative Housing Society Ltd, Unit No 8, Plot No 28, opposite Granth Book Shop, Juhu Tara Road, Santa Cruz (W) (6529-8694, www. houseofmasaba.com). Daily 10.30am-8pm. From ` 3,000.
Paul&Shark With the launch of Paul&Shark’s flagship store, Palladium’s Ground Level is one step close to being retail heaven for label-
lovers with deep pockets. The Italian sportswear company best known for its yachting apparel offers menswear and has casual shirts, T-shirts, windbreakers, jackets, jeans, trousers and shorts in orange, pink, purple, blue and green and formal shirts and trousers in sober shades. An entire section of the store is dedicated to a bold nautical theme in red, blue and white. We especially liked the distinctive “shark” logo all over a navy blue tie ( ` 9,590), a polo-neck T-shirt featuring multi-coloured stripes ( ` 13,590) and a vintage leather helmet ( ` 30,590). The store also has footwear, shoes, belts and bags ( ` 6,990-36,990). The good news is that most accessories by Paul&Shark are created for extreme conditions and are guaranteed to last very long. Paul&Shark, Palladium, Ground Floor, High Street Phoenix, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel (6673-0693). Daily 11am-9pm.
A member of the Benetton group, Sisley caters to those that grew out of Benetton, but still love their style philosophy. Sisley’s outlet is spread out on a single level and stocks clothes, shoes and accessories for men and women. The interiors are dominated by blacks and whites, giving the store a spacious, uncluttered look. It remains one of the few establishments where there’s as much stuff in the menswear section as in the women’s line up. Sisley’s look is one of muted chic. There are cotton pastels and khaki tones with very few prints, lots of crisp shirts, casual shorts and T-shirts. Sisley’s collection is a tad more expensive than United Colors of Benetton and is most likely to appeal to fans of labels like Zara, Mango and Gas. Sisley, Mezzanine Floor, Palladium, Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel. (6749-3001). Daily 11am-9.30pm. ` 1,299 onwards. Also at Malad.
Shray So far, Raghuvanshi Mills has been the kind of place you went to just to browse designer furniture, wallpaper and lighting. The arrival
of multi-designer boutique Shray changed that. Unlike stores at Palladium and Skyzone, Shray has no competition and lots of space – 2,500 square-feet, to be precise, and a very high ceiling – to its advantage. There are plenty of heavily embroidered churidarand salwar-kurta sets and saris, perfect for wedding functions, by Namrata Joshipura, Payal Pratap Singh, Anita Mody, Rriso by Sonu Dharnidharka, Ritika Mirchandani, Saffron by Nidhi Tolia, Minaxi by Minakshi Dadoo and Swapan & Seema. If you’re looking for something less traditional, they’ve got Cherie D’s range of saris, blouses and cocktail dresses in pastel shades with Swarovski and stone embellishments. But we’ll probably go back to the store for their collection of accessories by Vasundhra Mantri, The Jade Tree, St Erasmus and En Inde. We liked the colourful lac and acrylic bangles (from ` 180) by Jamini Ahluwalia, metal cuffs (` 3,333) by Radhika Poddar and delicate silver and gold-plated earrings by Jaipur’s Lala Tholia. First Floor, Raghuvanshi Mansion, Raghuvanshi Mills Compound, Lower Parel (4004-7800, www.shraythestore.com). Daily 11am-7.30pm.
Straps and Strings Lingerie shopping was born when Adam and Eve first picked up those fig leaves. Since then it has become a bit of a nightmare,
Tassel Style Lounge
what with all those mirrors, funnysmelling trial rooms and closedcircuit television paranoia. Buying bras has always been an arduous chore. So stop doing it. Instead log on to strapsandstrings.com, India’s first lingerie shopping site. It sells brands like Lise Charmel, Chantelle, Mimi Holiday and Cosabella. There are lacy knickers, thongs, boy shorts and bras, as well as waist cinchers, suspenders, garter belts and stockings on the site. Bon Bon’s waltz T-shirt bra in white lace does its job while looking adorable at the same time (` 2,999). Lise
JOHN MILLER - THE 2011 AUTUMN WINTER COLLECTION John Miller is all set to wow you with their new 2011 AutumnWinter Collection, interestingly called Good Looking Rascal. The collection will be out in stores this season and focuses on catering to the style mantras of the cool irresistible charmers among you. From within this bold and edgy new range, you can choose to pick up the Dress Your Personality Shirts. Solid colours and clean- no-fuss lines define this line and you can take your pick from shades like Creative Yellow, Bold Black, Precious Blue, Royal Purple, Harmony Green and Confident Red. The party-goers have reason to party even harder, with John Millers Celebration Shirts. The Interview Shirts are professional but bold and The
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All-blue Signature Line Shirts, The true blue range, are a definite must-have for a formal wardrobe. The line of Sweater Shirts guarantee a cool, devil-maycare look for the coming winter months. They work well at clubs and look smart even for evening festivities with a mixture of block knit patterns and zany stripes. The John Miller line of trousers are fashioned from crease-free material and are available in The auto-adjust line - Trousers that can change with your waistline and the Super Crease line that ensures you look superlative all day. We know you already feel like a good looking rascal, (Think Rhett Butler from Gone with the Wind) but now you can dress like one too.
Charmel’s Soir de Venise retrostyled briefs are sexy without veering down trollop lane. There are short kimono robes as coverups and colours across the spectrum, from sunny yellows and chartreuse to peony pink. The site has a try and buy policy so you can return your purchase within the week if it doesn’t fit right and a “Gentlemen’s gift guide”, which will gently nudge your benefactors toward things you might actually consider wearing. www.strapsandstrings.com
Shopping for shirts to wear to the office can be a complicated process even though most brands and department stores fill up entire rooms with them. Only they offer the same patterns in the same old colours. So, the guys behind TheStiffCollar.com have taken it upon themselves to simplify it for you by narrowing down the options. The online store just stocks 12 different shirts in solid colours, stripes or checks in white, blue, yellow, purple and light pink because “cerulean is just a fancy way of saying sky-blue and it allows the manufacturer to charge ` 200 more”. Available in four sizes, small (38), medium (40), large (42) and extra-large (44), and priced at just ` 899 each, they are definitely worth a try. Visit www.thestiffcollar.com
Ambedkar Road. A cross between Good Earth and Fabindia (though not as expensive), The Shop offers home accessories, linen, spa products, block- and screenprinted apparel for adults and kids, as well as toys and a few pieces of furniture. Their speciality is the French chintz block printed florals in bold colours. Each room of the quaint little bungalow has a separate theme with pieces featuring these prints. You enter into the living area with a range of curtains, bed sheets, quilts, table covers (`120-3,800) on display along with Kama Ayurveda’s bath products and some stationery including clipboards, folders and journals featuring The Shop’s characteristic prints. There’s also Nourish’s super cute organic soaps shaped like a foot for feet or like a hand for hands. In the dining marvel at the wide variety of Golden Bridge crockery from Pondicherry, wooden bowls, spoons and ladles as well as the Earth Store’s Khus flavoured loofah and natural dried ginger, papaya, pear and amla candy. Two rooms at the back stock kurtas, kimonos, shirts, skirts, tops, tunics, harem pants, and scarves for women (` 350-5,000) as well as boxer shorts, kurtas and shirts for men. 56/116, Drego House, Ground Floor, Ambedkar Road, Bandra (W) (2648-7887, www.theshopindia. com). Mon-Sat 11am-9pm, Sun noon-9pm.
The Shop
Tassel Style Lounge
Delhi’s export to Mumbai is a charming little lifestyle store called The Shop on Bandra’s
Tassel Style Lounge describes itself as NoBo’s (North Bombay) first multi-designer boutique, for
TheStiffCollar.com
Evoluzione
those who don’t like to travel to South Mumbai just to get their hands on the latest designer-wear. The store currently stocks the usual suspects – Atithi Gupta, Bhu:Sattva by Digvijay Singh, Harangad Singh, Péro by Aneeth Arora and Vizyon. We especially love the dresses and tunics by Rajat Tangri and Nachiket Barve in bright pop colours and Bungalow 8’s super-comfy and superchic line designed by Mathieu Gugumus-Leguillon. The store also has a range of tunics and jewellery by designer and store owner, Megan Ryley. With a label called the Divine Life of Ryley, Ryley is determined to indulge NoBo residents in luxury shopping. No 242, SVP Road, opposite Versova Telephone Exchange, Andheri (W) (6504-6001/ 98331-52621). Daily 11am-7pm. ` 3,000- ` 12,000.
Vaya Shopping for a sari during the festive season is no easy task. Most shops are crowded and visiting one means waiting your turn to be seated and getting a salesperson to help you find exactly what you’re looking for. It’s noisy, confusing and timeconsuming. But it doesn’t have to be that way anymore. Vaya is hoping to change the way you shop. Located on the lower level of a sprawling bungalow on SV Road, Vaya arranges its saris according to fabric on neatly organised racks. Every sari comes with detailed information on the designer, the material, where it comes from and the price, so you probably won’t need anyone to show you around. Vaya stocks saris and suit pieces by Rehwa, the Indian Emporium, Bailou and Tussar by Indira Broker, all of which could previously be found mostly at travelling exhibitions. Maheshwari saris (from ` 1,600) come in every colour imaginable with gold or silver thread. Also
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on display are simple cotton silk suit pieces (from ` 1,150) and dupattas (from ` 600) by the Madhya Pradesh based collective, Rehwa. The store also houses a huge collection of wedding saris, from pure silk Kanjeevaram (`14,000) to rich Benarasi (` 9,500). Jeevan Kiran, SV Road, Bandra (W) (2643-6556). Mon-Sat, 11am-7pm.
Vero Moda Vero Moda (Spanish for ‘true fashion’) stocks everything from Sunday-morning shorts to Saturday-night stilettos. Everything is unfailingly trendy. Cute batwing blouses, striped singlet-dresses that stop well before the knee, skinny jeans and thin T-shirts. They also have looseknit cover-ups, black jackets and flimsy floral blouses with attached camisoles. There are also cocktail dresses and cowboy shirts and bags, sunglasses and trinkets.
They have everything – even six mannequin bottoms, clad in tight denims, looking down on us from a high shelf. Vero Moda’s gig is ‘fast fashion’, a selling strategy that essentially makes runway styles quickly available and affordable through bulk manufacturing. Though much of what we saw was very wearable, even fashionable, it didn’t look like it was something Diane Von Furstenberg or Marc Jacobs had sent down the catwalk in recent months. We absolutely loved the flouncy, flirty miniskirt that looked like a watercolour in motion, their jeans and their patent clutch bags from sister-brand Pieces (available in pale pink and grey). First Floor, Palladium Mall, High Street Phoenix, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel (4347 3780, www.veromoda.com). Daily 10am-9.30pm. Also at Santa Cruz.
Vyoum Ritu Seksaria has come a long way since she started designing wedding ensembles 15 years ago. Her 1,500 sq ft boutique Vyoum showcases some of her best designs. The saris and lehengas in crepes, georgettes, silks and net fabrics are heavily embroidered and deeply elaborate. The designer also creates sherwanis for men and the in-house fashion consultant said that most designs in the store can be customised. Vyoum also stocks traditional, formal Indian kurta sets, kurtis and tunics by designers Abhijeet Khanna, Anita Mody, Bon Bibi, Chhaya
Modi, Shyam Narayan Prasad, Nikasha, Nikki Mahajan, Sonali Mansinghka, Divya Anand, Shweta, Mesmerize and Ra by Aditi. The accessories at the store are stylish and better priced than the apparel. Choose from tasteful but luxurious clutches, crystalencrusted hair accessories and shoes. 2/A, Ganga Niwas, VL Mehta Road, opposite NMIMS, next to Dena Bank, Vile Parle (W) (2616-0143/81086-66024). Mon-Sat 10.30am to 7.30pm.
Zara Mumbai’s shopaholics will remember 2010 as the year of Zara’s India debut. However, the Spanish high-street brand’s June launch received mixed reactions. While some shoppers were happy that they no longer needed to take international trips to stock up on their favourite T-shirts and dresses, many others lamented the loss of the label’s exclusivity. Zara has since managed to retain its popularity (despite zero advertising) by introducing new stock for men, women and children every two weeks. Zara, Palladium, High Street Phoenix, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel (4347-3850). Daily 11am-10pm.
FALL WINTER 2011 COLLECTION With cold winter months around the corner, you’ll welcome the new Fall-Winter 2011 collection from Nautica. This new range of trendy clothing will stick to its dedication to clean, classy style with mature patterns, trendy lines and colours both muted and strong. The essence of the new range of Nautica is inspired by the Boathouse whose tradition is to celebrate life after the sail. The new collection for men offers you the best of the season with variety along with class and comfort. With unique designs and varied options, the new range boasts of pieces that fit every occasion. The fresh vibrant colours are inspired by the open sea and blue sky
that a day spent sailing entails. Deep, warm jewel tones, like Autumn Sunset, Yacht Yellow, and Icelandic Orange make a splashy statement while the icy cool colours of Blue Rain, Noon Blue, Voyage Blue, Iceberg Blue, and Metal Grey makes you stand out in a crowd. Denim lovers can rejoice with utilitarian detailing and texture, making the look more current and rugged all at the same time. Blue and black
finishes are new, with grey still being an essential wash as well. Available at all Leading Nautica Stores.
Delhi Adolfo Dominguez’s A fantasy upscale New York loft probably looks a lot like Adolfo Dominguez’s two-storey shop. A steel and wood staircase connects the two levels, full of crate-like compartments, modern lighting and long racks of clothes. The Spanish fashion house might have a name that’s hard to pronounce, but the clothes it sells are effortlessly chic. Stressing a blue-and-grey colour palette, their formal range includes fitted shirts, dinner jackets and smart trousers. The casual section on the upper level stocks shirts in Madras checks, drop-crotch sweatpants and cotton semi-sweaters that merge checks, stripes and polka dots. Adolfo Dominguez, Ambience Mall, Nelson Mandela Road, Vasant Kunj (4087-0760). Daily 11am-7.00pm.
Boutique GAGA Boutique GAGA, a shopping website for emerging designers might just become your new shopping companion. Don’t let the name confuse you into thinking the designs are angled at Lady Gaga wannabes. It’s actually a double-barrelled acronym of the first names of the founders, Gayeti Singh and Avlokita Dayal. The site was born out of their realisation that there’s a shortage of online shopping sites in India and of affordable fashion that isn’t high
Kantha
street. Boutique GAGA rounds up talent that you won’t find at your local mall. The site features designers like T-Republic, Aziio, NY.LON, Shrea, Knight Vision, Lotuspunk, A Anya, and Sahiba Singh and supplies an option for pretty much every occasion. A mustard and grey colourblock jumpsuit (` 9,300) from Bodice is perfect for an evening out with friends while a family wedding calls for a Chanderi Kalidar salwar suit (` 6,400) from Avnni Kapur. Get a click closer to retail therapy as the site adds more outfits to its range of GAGA Originals designed by the duo. Orders can take up to 20 days for delivery, including custom
DARING CLOTHING FOR MEN -RIG Clothing brand RIG, revels in the rebellious attitude of people who like to do things differently and live life by their own definition. Rig's clothing is unique in style and projects a different attitude from denims or formalwear. Comfortable in form and function, RIG clothing is also rugged and extremely manly. RIG Clothing uses materials that are in appearance grainy and raw inspired by elements of nature. Though they portray outdoorsy functionality with lots of pockets, strong fabrics and firm and rugged stitches, our clothes allow an individual to be at ease in all sorts of environs. But before you go thinking that a jacket or shirt from RIG can only transform you into someone who looks like an extra from
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Crocodile Dundee, think again. Their apparel also features sophisticated urban design elements and stylish lines. You can therefore head out for a heavy duty trekking trip with the boys or attend a sober office party all kitted out to perfection. A typical RIG wearer makes no overt effort to sound cool or macho. In fact there is an understated self-assurance in the tone of voice that speaks of someone comfortable enough in their own skin to explore the outside with freedom. Still, the clothing screams individuality, dynamism and curiosity in every collection and speaks to the eternal nomad in you. We take each moment as it comes, composed and capable of encountering obstacles with and skill.
fitting if applicable. Delivery charges are ` 50 for Delhi/NCR orders, ` 150 for domestic orders, and differ for international orders. Visit www.boutiquegaga.com for details.
Dhara Dhara has been keeping khadikurta wearing college goers happy since it opened a decade ago. For fans of Indo-Western attire, this store is a god-send. The space is designed to resemble an ethnic village hut with a thatched roof and mud plastered walls adorned with Madhubani art. Dhara stocks block-printed cotton kurtis ( ` 595), patchwork backpacks (` 550) and Anarkali suits (` 2,500). They also undertake custom tailoring so you can add a sleeve or turn your plain kurti into a more stylish one. Dhara, UB-20 Jawahar Nagar, Kamla Nagar (4153-0494). Daily 11am-8pm.
Enchanted Can’t stand to wear your old rags to the party this weekend? Head to Enchanted, whose cheery owner Elizabeth Remmei will play fairy godmother, helping you try on one stylish ensemble after another until you find the one to woo your prince. It may not be easy to choose between swishy highwaisted pants (` 1,490), a maxi dress with a lace collar (` 890) or sexy one-shoulder dress (` 2,190). Match your outfit with a tortoise or owl necklace (` 895) or a thin braided belt (` 590). Enchanted, UB-12 Jawahar Nagar, opposite Momo’s Point, Kamla Nagar (98118-66783). Daily 11am-8.30pm.
Evoluzione Evoluzione, a 5,000-square-foot boutique takes a modernistic approach with its glass and metal décor. While a glass runway flanked by imposing mannequins greets you at the entrance, the minimal, sleek interiors let the clothes speak for themselves. A hop, skip and jump away from the Crescent at the Qutab and the Ambawatta Complex, Evoluzione will inspire you to skip those design malls altogether. The store stocks the likes of Anamika Khanna, Abraham & Thakore, Rohit Bal, Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna, Manish Arora, Rajesh Pratap Singh, and Nachiket Barve. However, Evoluzione doesn’t rely solely on big names to draw customers. Just days after Pearls Delhi Couture Week 2011, the shop’s buyer was quick to source stellar numbers from the shows of Anju Modi, Manish Malhotra and Gaurav Gupta. If you’re looking to stock up during the wedding season or taking an au courant tour of Indian couture then Evoluzione is your best bet. Evoluzione, The Kila, Seven Style Mile, Mehrauli (2664-5017). Mon-Sat 10.30am-7.30pm.
The Grey Garden Are high street brands boring you to tears? The Grey Garden might be the antidote. Even regular visitors to Hauz Khas Village might’ve missed this little cove of fashion and assorted ephemera. Located at a far hauz-overlooking corner, to get there you’ll need to walk down to the end of the middle lane, hang a right at the tea shop, meander past a small graffiti-tagged clearing and then
wander down the paved lane to your left. To your right you’ll see The Grey Garden café, a petite room gorgeously swathed with textile ceiling installations and tables evocative of taxidermists’ cabinets. Their extensive range of dresses in this store which is the brainchild of friends and collaborators Smita Singh and Shani Himanshu runs the gamut from structured ikat silk shifts to floor-sweeping ivory silk, embellished with shredded lace (most are priced around ` 9,000). A more abbreviated range for men sits at ground level, featuring extraordinary tailored shirts and a standout handmade knitted jacket with leather fastenings and elbow patches (` 6,800). There’s also a selection of draped silk kurtas (` 7,800) and soft soled canvas split-toe boots. One level up is the made-to-measure studio, featuring a hauz-overlooking, glass-walled changing room where you can be measured for custom-made clothing. 13 A Hauz Khas Village; (2651 6450). Daily 11am-7pm.
Kantha Run by the label Katna’s Kantha, this West Bengal-based initiative has a little store just off the inner lane that stocks shelf after shelf of traditional kantha-embroidered saris, stoles, bedcovers, reams of fabric and floor-coverings. All the work is done by hand, in the Muslim kantha-making traditions of Murshidabad, and the saris and coverlets all feature kantha’s distinct geometric design. A silk sari will set you back around ` 2,700 while the vibrant embroidered cotton bedspreads can run up to ` 8,000. There are also light silk stoles (` 1,800) if you want to add just a dash of this cool, geometric embellishment to your wardrobe. If you just popped in to browse, make sure you scrabble around for the teeny dhokra ornaments piled up in a bowl in the corner (` 60 each). These brass tribal figurines are made using the lost-wax casting process, where molten metal is poured into a mould at whose core is a wax model, which is then heated up and melts away, leaving a template for metal pieces. 19 A Hauz Khas Village (2651-4119). Monday to Saturday 11 am-7.30pm.
of retailing at the Neemrana store in Khan Market, Lila now has its own space. The store’s philosophy is simple: To present affordable and hip garments in non-synthetic fabrics in a welcoming place where shoppers can also enjoy a cuppa. It is this sense of community perhaps that has impelled Narayan to calculate the carbon footprint of each outfit produced by the label, a bit of information that will soon appear on every price tag. Lila is located in a dingy Lado Sarai lane, just across the road from the Qutub Minar. Climb the numerous stairs, knock on the rustic blue door and walk into a store with rust dhurries on the floor, a solitary cane chair to lounge in and bamboo racks overflowing with colourful clothes. The store has a wide range of flowing skirts ( ` 750), pyjama pants ( ` 650), pintuck tunics ( ` 1,500) and straight-cut dresses ( ` 1,600.) F-328 Lado Sarai, Third Floor, Near Aggarwal Sweets (4079-3358).Qutub Minar. Daily 10am-7pm.
No Nasties It isn’t hard to find green-minded fashion. If you know where to look that is. We, though, are looking to No Nasties’ collection of organic and socially responsible T-shirts to appease our consciences. Diti and Apu (who only use their first names) are the duo behind the brand of digitally printed, sustainable T-shirts. Their entire range uses 100 per cent organic cotton, and they’ve got
Lila If you want pure cotton clothes but have tired of the Fabindia or Anokhi aesthetic, head to Lila, the latest in cool cottons. After a year
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Shrea
the certificate from the Global Organic Textile Standard to prove it. This means that their cotton is grown without GM seeds and completely sans synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, which in turn is good news for the soil. Besides, No Nasties’ t-shirts are no-brainers style-wise. Diti designed one of our favourites herself, the mulga mulgi shirt that’s emblazoned with a folksy cherry-red print of a boy and girl (the mulga and mulgi in question). There’s also the zen aardvark, a bright blue T-shirt with a teeny samurai aardvark (designed by Adrian) and the chacha (designed by Anant), starring four variants of a belligerent, bespectacled dhoti-clad chacha. Their online store makes browsing a doddle, and everything is priced at ` 999. Consider it a contribution to your wardrobe and the world at large, both. Shop online at www.nonasties.in.
Nor Black Nor White “Exploring India through textile and art”, say Amrit Kumar and Mriga Kapadiya on their website, the two Canadian designers behind this new brand. Kumar and Kapadiya have made Mumbai their home and Gujarat their playground, and the Western state plays a starring role in their first collection. Nor Black Nor White’s spring line is an abbreviated affair, a little capsule collection of just 18 pieces that incorporate traditional Kutchi bandhini (tie-dye) work and embroidery techniques on sexy, oversize boyfriend shirts, easy-to-
wear separates and little summer dresses that’d be as fun to wear out at night as they would dresseddown for day. Every piece in their collection is thoroughly modern, thanks to their uncomplicated cuts, and rife with references to Northern Gujarat. The colourful line stands tall even outside its Gujarati context, with an energy that lends the range a sharp whiff of edgy city style. We’ve got our eyes on a slippery silk shirt, in bright orange with oversize bandhini diamonds and a boldlypatterned indigo and yellow dress that loosely skims the body. But we wouldn’t say no to their twist-back camisoles or superwide pleated khadi trousers either. See the entire collection at www.norblacknorwhite.com and place orders by contacting the designers direct at sales@ norblacknorwhite.com.
Ole Couture What’s the probability of spotting a giraffe in a leather accessories store? None at all, unless you head out to the Ole Couture store. But PETA activists needn’t worry. The beast in question is a stuffed six-foot mannequin that hangs out at the leather accessories store for no apparent reason. Around him is a vast collection of genuine leather jackets, shoes and laptop bags. Especially interesting are the colourful suede loafers (` 4,000) and laptop bags with a single bold stripe (` 4,000). 30 Hauz Khas Village (9811597696).Daily 11am-7pm.
Islamic Boutique
O Layla
OVS Industry
Head to this cheerful orangeceilinged shop that stocks ethically-sourced clothing, jewellery, bags, wraps and little oddities. It might look a little like a pre-spring cleaning garage, stuffed to the brim with rails of clothing and little trinkets littering every surface. If you find the selection overwhelming, friendly staff are more than happy to point you in the right direction. Reduce what you use and recycle all you can – that seems to be the mission statement behind this impressive local enterprise. Keep your eyes peeled for Sanchali earrings, delicate brocade-covered crescents made by village women from recycled fabric ( ` 375) or bags made by Cambodian group Khmer Life, from recycled gunny bags and hand-woven Cambodian textiles (` 2,600). Even O Layla’s ownbrand range of clothing is made from reclaimed fabric, the offcuts and discarded end-of-roll’s that they then “upcycle” into vivid, embroidered summer dresses. This commitment to ethical sourcing and sustainability means that you can genuinely shop guilt-free. 21, Hauz Khas Village (2651-3821). Monday to Saturday 11.30 am-7.30pm.
Men who are oblivious to trends and indifferent to shopping can cling to a lifesaver thrown their way by highstreet retailers like OVS Industry, who specialize in fastmoving fashion. It may not be all Italian luxury fabric and fittings but the store definitely has its finger on the trendy pulse. Pick from sporty t-shirts (` 599), formal shirts (from ` 599) and dinner jackets (` 3,599). OVS Industry, Ambience Mall, First Floor, Nelson Mandela Marg, Vasant Kunj (4087-0051). Daily 11am-9.00pm.
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Quiksilver When one lives in Malviya Nagar, not Malibu, surfers and skateboarders are pretty hard to come by. Still, that surfer-lite look has got undeniable appeal, all waveridin’, casual beachy chic. Lucky then, that Californian surf brand Quiksilver’s has thrown open the doors to their very first store, a 1,400 square foot flagship in Gurgaon’s Ambience Mall, and they’ve got all the gear for surfers and skateboarders, or those who want to look like them anyway. It’s a neon shrine to surf, sand and seafront living, complete with mini skateboarding ramp (for display, not for practising
your half-pipe). Quiksilver, the menswear line, offers classic West Coast-style cargo and board shorts (from ` 1,895), their range of washed-denim QuikJeans, classic aloha shirts and graphic T-shirts (from ` 895) as well as innumerable hoodies that you might want to hang on to for cooler weather. Girls and aspiring Gidgets can choose from the Roxy line-up, for women. The Roxy end of the store’s got itty-bitty bikinis in neon colours (from ` 1,800), short shorts (from ` 1,290) and little post-beach cover-ups that work as well poolside at a farmhouse as they do on a beach in Goa. GA-001 Ambience Mall, Ground Floor, Ambience Island, National Highway-8, Gurgaon (2446 65684). Daily 10.30am- 6.30pm.
strapless corseted bodysuit, to gold chain on a hot pink dress and muted brocades on the Indianinspired rail. Wedding season? Shrea’s Indian outfits have enough detail to carry them through the biggest and fattest of Delhi weddings, but they’re set apart by their unusual styling, which is what sets Shrea a step above neighbouring Ogaan. AnarkaLi kurtas in marigold-orange and harlequin-patterned yellow and black can be paired with churidars, but would just as easily transform into dresses. The prices might trip up budget shoppers, but even the most frugal will find something to lust after in this little boutique. 22, Hauz Khas Village (9650266466). Monday to Saturday 11am-7pm, Sundays 12-5pm. All major cards.
Shrea
Surreal
While Shrea’s as small as all its neighbours in the village’s inner lane, unlike most of its neighbours, this light, bright store feels spacious and serene. Rails abound with delicate silk dresses in sugared almond shades of pistachio green, dusky pink, dove grey and dusty purples. They’re all endowed with a dusting of embellishment, from delicate fringing on epaulettes and peacock-feather trim on a
What do Salvador Dali and V (from V for Vendetta) have in common? Moustaches like scimitars is one, and they’re also both jostling for space on Saurabh Sharma’s shirts. Sharma said his “extreme fascination with Surrealism” began when he was still a boy. This NIFT graduate has worked with some of Bollywood’s finest (Arjun Rampal, Amitabh Bachchan, Sunny Deol) through a stint at a design firm in Mumbai,
pleat in front to accommodate the bump. The sundress (` 750) with elastic at the back definitely made the cut. 46/1, Church Street Junction (4112-1555). Also at 1029/41, 27A Main, 100-Foot Ring Road, Jayanagar (2245-2258). Tue-Sun 10am-8pm. All major cards except Amex.
Prajwala
Prajwala
but recently branched out on his own. Surreal at DLF Promenade Mall, Nelson Mandela Marg, Vasant Kunj (4617-8890); Daily 10.30am -7pm. DLF Mega Mall, DLF Phase-I; Great India Place, Sector 38A, Noida (95120-32467). Daily 10.30am -7pm.
Bengaluru
girls aged between 6 months and 14 years. There are also a few pieces of dress material for the mothers, but that’s pretty much all they can expect from Raghuram and her 25-strong team of embroiderers and weavers. 2230, 23rd Cross, 9th Main, Banashankari 2nd Stage (2667-1092). Daily 10am-8.30pm. All major cards.
Ambara
Deepika Govind
You don’t necessarily have to shop in Ambara; you could walk around exploring each room or look at the art on the walls and still be perfectly content. There is a room that is dedicated to the brand OMO, designed by Arathi Shantakumar.Shantakumar’s creations are a little eccentric, but always fun. The prices which range from `100- `15,000 mean that you will be able to purchase something whatever be your budget. 119, Annaswamy Mudaliar Road, Ulsoor (2557-2829). Mon-Sat 10.30am-7pm. All major cards.
Deepika Govind’s boutique offers women the option of several little black dresses – and you can be sure that, in this Bangalore designer’s hands, the wardrobe staple will never be boring. The designer does custom fittings and personalised designs made to order too. Her collection of quirky kurta sets, long quilted jackets, tunics and sarees might have you sorted for most occasions, Govind said she’s recently turned her attention to weddings. Don’t miss her earthy line of fossil jewellery strung on cord, or the playful selection of vibrant, recycled paper baubles. 21/ 11, Craig Park Layout, MG Road (2532-1786). Mon-Sat 11am-7.30pm. All major cards. Also available at the Bengaluru International Airport departure lounge.
Baalika Like the average age of the people she caters to, Latha Raghuram’s store, Baalika is about seven years old. There are little frocks, salwar kameez sets, ghagras with cholis, among others, all of which seem very “ethnic Indian” in their embellishments and motifs. Raghuram pulled out frocks with strawberries on them to show that wasn’t entirely the case, but admitted, “Our styles are western, but we do give an ethnic touch to most of our frocks, wraparounds and capris.” The dresses are for
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Desi Desi stocks Udupi sarees, Dastkar creations from Andhra Pradesh, homespun bed-linen, homemade pickles, khadi kurtas and the like. You buy into a larger movement when you shop at Desi. The store is a part of the Charaka
co-operative, which supports and markets products created by poor weavers in Heggodu (Desi stands for Developing Ecologically Sustainable Industries), and provides the weavers of the village an additional income of about ` 70 a day. Patalamma Temple Street, Near South End Circle, Basavanagudi. 2656-7155. Credit cards accepted. 10am – 8pm. Monday holiday.
Islamic Boutique This shop on Mosque Road is purdah paradise right from the pristine cotton prayer dress that costs ` 250 to the lush abaya (burkha) which begins at ` 1,500. The shop in its own words provides the devout with the latest “fashion without losing culture”. The abayas vary from crystal to gold wire zardozi. An under-hijab cap keeps hair away from view and can be had for ` 150; the begum who loves bling will gloat over the super shiny sequined net shawl available for ` 450. Islamic Boutique by Porschop, opposite ICICI Bank, Coles Road, Frazer Town (4125-2760). Sat-Thu 10.30am-10pm, Friday 2.30-10pm. All major cards.
Pari’s Kalpana Rao’s store Pari focuses on Indianised maternity clothes. She sells 14 styles of kurtas, skirts and pants, coloured in bright vegetable-dyes, all geared to fit the pregnant woman, alongside stuff for infants, maternity underwear and tummy control. There’s the “kimoni” (` 675) that looked like a kimono with a box
Prajwala showcases an array of kurtas and tops (`450- ` 900) available in S, M, L and XL, which come in both subtle and vibrant colours. Look out for the summery balloon tunics, and Western blouses with traditional thread borders. The store also stocks over 300 Mangalgiri or “south cotton” sarees (prices start at ` 800). 463/23, 8th B Main, 30th Cross, Jayanagar 4th Block (4219-8440). Daily 10.30am-8pm. All major cards. Visit. http://prajwalahandloomcottons.blogspot.com/ for more details.
Sakhi Chandra Rajendran’s boutique Sakhi has on its shelves an avantgarde interpretation of traditional saree fabrics. Here, chiffons, tussar silks and kanjeevarams embrace cut-work borders of shocking fuchsia, green, cobalt blue and mustard. When draped, it all falls into place, as the blocks make for contrasting pleats and drapes, while the cotton kalamkari borders add a muted weight to the flighty chiffon. There are half-andhalf sarees here too, where the top half contrasts with the bottom half of the saree. 305, 6th Main, Indira Nagar (4115-5551). Daily 10.30am8pm. All major cards. Visit www.sakhifashions.com for more details.
Studio Mom Kusum Gupta runs Studio Mom, a tiny garage store, now an established name in maternity wear in the city. Be prepared to hunt for something that suits your style among racks of clothes that include frilly tops and super-bright neon coloured T-shirts. Try on the cotton tops with small floral prints (`400), which promise to be perfect for the summer. Check out the cotton Capri pants in neutral shades that cover your bump while making you look surprisingly skinny (`595). 475, 13th Main, 3rd Block, Koramangala (2553-6640), Mon-Sat 10.30am-6pm. All major cards.
list of outlets in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru.
Cosmetics They say it’s what’s on the inside that counts but we doubt Helen of Troy is remembered for her do-good ways. This section is going to help you look and feel fabulous this season as we round up the best beauty and cosmetics brands. This section features some of your old favourites and new beauty launches that make for great buys. Pamper yourself with luxurious bath products, get a new hair style, or simply give yourself a makeover. Now that we’ve picked out which beauty and cosmetic brand will make you best friends with your reflection in the mirror there’s nothing that’s going to stop you from dazzling this season.
Beauty Buys Surf Baby Collection and MAC Semi Precious Collection from MAC: MAC is known for their quality cosmetics and unique ranges. This season, you’ll be spoilt for choice with two lovely collections in stores now. The Surf Baby Collection is our personal favourite with a range of products guaranteed to keep summer
MAC
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in your hearts even when it’s dreary and cold all around you. My Paradise Cheek Powder will highlight those cheekbones and lend a bronzed glow to your skin. Their Summer Stash of Crushed Metal Pigments for your eyelids that will leave an entrancing effect. The Hibiscus Lipstick in a lovely coral shade and the Splashproof Lash Mascara that just won’t smudge will be your new best friends this winter. It’s also a good idea to LOOK OUT FOR THE NEW -s!s# Semi Precious collection. Comprised of a gorgeous array of twelve Mineralize Eye Shadows, four Mineralize Skin finish and three Mineralize Blush, they are inspired by the naturally beautiful form and mystery of Semi Precious Brazilian Stones. In addition the collection will feature 4 Lipsticks, 5 Cremesheen Glass, and repromotes of Zoom Fast Black Lash Mascara, Mineralize Satinfinish SPF15 Foundation and Mineralize Face and Body Lotion. With outlets across three cities and more than helpful shopping assistants, you can shop for products that suit every skin type and tone. Visit www.maccosmetics.in for a
Estee Lauder At Estee Lauder you can shop for skin care products, make-up and fragrances and find that the brands dedication to quality makes for a great shopping experience. Try the Estee Pure Eye Shadow Colour palette, for eye colour that works well for day looks as well as parties. Visit www.esteelauder.in for a list of outlets in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru.
L'Oreal Paris French Make-up brand L'Oreal Paris claims that it has “beauty tailored to your specific needs.” And we have to say we agree. With skin care products that are the best antidotes to our cklimates. Make-up that covers everything between everyday wear and red carpet looks, new ranges that bring us something different — We can vouch for their products that suit your every need. We recommend, if nothing else, investing in L’Oreal Paris waterproof gel eyeliner that lasts long and is easy to apply even L'Oreal for those among you who don’t have the steadiest hands. Their Pearl Perfect Night Cream gets our vote for keeping your skin hydrated while taking care of dark spots and blemishes. Visit www.lorealparis.co.in for a list of outlets in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru.
Lakme Bid adieu to bad hair days, because Lakmé has launched its new Catwalk Sleek Mystique collection, featuring six sulphatefree products infused with lychee extracts, Japanese honeysuckle and rice bran oil for glossy, frizz free hair. There’s a moisture-rich shampoo, conditioner, style prep (to fight fluff), blowout balm (to tame unruly locks without sacrificing volume) and a protective hot iron spray. The brand which has become a household favourite still continues to wow us with their range of cosmetics, skincare and haircare.
Visit www.lakme.com for a list of outlets in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru.
Revlon It’s impossible to think of Revlon and not get nostalgic. For many of us, it was our first swear-by brand especially when it came to nail lacquers and lip colours. Check out their Just Bitten™ LipStain by ColorStay, a two-in-one lip colour that combines a stay-put stain with soothing balm to give you long lasting colour. A doubleended applicator provides precise application and the translucent balm adds moisture and shine. In 10 flattering shades, this stain’s perfect for a sheer lip or can be layered for heavier colour. Visit www.revlon.com for a list of outlets in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru.
Chanel If you’ve always dreamed of owning a product with the classic interlocking CC logo then the day Chanel came to India was your lucky day. Though pricey, the make-up, skincare and fragrances by Chanel are known to set trends. We love the Inimitable Intense Mascara, the Rouge Coco hydrating crème lip colours, the Le Vernis nail varnishes and the classic Les Tissages De Chanel blush. Palladium, Ground Floor, High Street Phoenix, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai (4004-8534). Daily 11am-9pm. Hotel Imperial, 1 Janpath, New Delhi, 4111 6840. MondaySaturday: 10.30am- 8pm.
Custard creams from Tathaastu The ultimate solution to scaly winter legs. Their sulphate-free, propylene glycol-free, DEAfree and artificial colour-free body custards are laced with essential oils and super strength emollients to create thick, whipped body creams that will keep your pins in top condition through the harsh winter months. Tathaastu Store, second floor, DLF Promenade, Vasant Kunj,
comes with a built-in brush and mirror. Extra Virgin Minerals™ Liquid Foundation is perfect for a light to medium application and is made from an exclusive combination of pure mineral pigments and Community Fair Trade extra virgin olive oil and marula oil. The Extra Virgin Minerals™ Loose Powder Foundation lasts longer and blends easily to give a radiant finish. Visit thebodyshop.in for a list of outlets in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru.
Body Scrub and Mask from Lush Lush
New Delhi (4652-0499). Daily 11am-7pm. ` 1,250.
Naturally beautiful Put the brakes on carcinogens, petroleum, sulphates and synthetics in your beauty regimen and kick your skin into gear with all-natural products. It’s time for The Nature’s Co. to take the wheel. With 100 per cent natural beauty and wellness products, the eco-brand has two special hampers on sale to introduce you to their green goodies. Choose from Choco-licious and Berrylicious, good-for-you goodies that are almost pure enough to eat. The Nature’s Co., Select Citywalk Mall, second floor, District Centre, Saket, New Delhi (4615-0601). Hampers are custom made so prices vary.
Maybelline New York’s new Fruity Jelly lipglosses. The delicious flavours of Cherry Kiss, Mad about Melon, Crazy for Caramel, and Tempting Toffee are sure to make your lips more kissable. Visit www.maybelline.co.in for a list of outlets in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru.
award-winning pure coldpressed extra virgin olive oil and ultrafine mineral pigments. The mineral pigments make the foundations incredibly easy Extra Virgin Mineral to blend, which means that Collection from The the results are Body Shop flawless and as non cakey as The Body Shop has come to can possibly be. The compact stand as an umbrella term for foundation, Extra Virgin everything to do with beauty. This Minerals™ Compact Foundation season, keep an eye out for their range of mineral make-up which will feature foundations made from an exclusive combination of
L'Occitane Dab yourself with L'Occitane’s Green Tea with Jasmine, and the sweet smelling fragrance will keep you spring fresh and lightly perfumed. The blend is available in a range of products, including perfume, soap and hand cream. Visit www.loccitane.com for a list of outlets in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru.
Maybelline New York Fruity Jelly – Lip smacking It’s time to pucker up for
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The Body Shop
Lush, the UK based brand has a set of scrubs designed to give you a thorough cleansing. The Brimstone Body Scrub contains Sulphur Powder, China Clay and Sea Salt and manages to effectively exfoliate and unclog your pores. The Glorious Mud Body Mask needs to dry on your skin, before it can be rinsed off to give you a polished postspa like glow. Visit www.lushindia.com for a list of outlets in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru.
KLINIK ESTHETICA Dr. Ajay Rana who is director of the Klinik Esthetika Chain of Cosmetic Clinics, is probably the best person you can trust your skin with. A dermatologist and aesthetic physician with extensive experience both in India and abroad, Dr. Rana founded the Klinik Esthetika clinics in Delhi in 2009, which since then has been a leading name in laser and cosmetic equipment.
GA Document, the Scandinavian magazine conditions and the Dutch journal Monu. 104 Ramnimi, Mandlik Road, near Cotton World, Colaba, (22822211). Mon-Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 1-8pm. Books from ` 2,000, magazines from ` 1,500.
Lifestyle There are some purchases that you don’t really plan and we’re not talking about the odd impulse buy. Sometimes a glass grasshopper that can be hung from a tree in your garden is just something you have to buy, even if you don’t have a tree, much less a garden. This section will be your guide on where you can find these delightful nothings as well as tell you where you can find the best furniture at great prices and unique gifting options that break away from the ordinary.
Mumbai Apostrophe One of the quickest ways to give the house an all new look is to simply change the furnishings. So if you’ve already geared up for the annual pre-festive clean-up and scheduled the paint-job, you can head to Apostrophe’s latest showroom at Kemps Corner to find furnishings that will complement your home. The company has been exporting luxury fabrics for the last three decades and you’ll only find their most exclusive designs at the new store. This season, their line of curtain fabrics includes a range of pure silks (` 3,000 per metre) with over-sized motifs and embroidered silk sheers with floral patterns (` 1,950 per metre) in gold-beige and blackgold combinations. Some of our favourites include their range of pin-tucked silk fabrics which create unusual square and wave patterns (` 2,250 per metre) as well as sheer fabrics appliquéd with velvet motifs (` 2,850). For kids’ rooms, we loved their simple checked patterns in baby pink and baby blue (` 1,950 per metre). Each design is available in at least five different colours and the sales staff help you pick upholstery for existing sofa sets and chairs (from ` 750 per metre), matching quilts (from ` 25,000) and cushion covers (` 1,500 for a set of two) to complete the look. Before you leave, don’t forget to buy the in-house lining (` 150 per metre),
the company claims it helps reduce the furnishing fabrics’ wear and tear, so they last longer. Shop No 5, Joshi House, opposite Shalimar Hotel, August Kranti Marg, Kemps Corner (2309-7600, www.apostropheluxury.com). Mon-Sat 10.30am-8.30pm.
Art & Design Book Store Within the tiny confines of the Art & Design Book Store, as the name suggests, large volumes on art, architecture and design find shelfspace. Most of the 1,500 books in the brightly-lit 350-square-foot store have been imported from across the world, including tomes from popular publishing houses such as Taschen, Prestel and Thames & Hudson along with titles by niche presses like the German publisher Birkhäuser and the Japanese company Toto. The store is owned by architect and book fiend Pranav Upasani, who also launched his publishing house Foundation For Architecture in 2009 with the release of the first monograph on innovative Indian architect Nari Gandhi, which is available at the shop. The store’s stock includes books on architecture icons such as Le Corbusier, Alvar Aalto, Zaha Hadid and Tadao Ando as well as some intriguing editions on art deco, exhibition design and typography. Apart from books, design junkies can pick up journals such as the Japanese periodical
Design Temple Fans of Design Temple will love the design firm’s flagship store in Colaba. It’s the only place in the city where you can find their entire range of quirky products – the most popular items are usually sold out as soon as they hit the shelves at stores like Good Earth. We were pleasantly surprised to find old favourites like the Akshar Pencils (` 350), the Black Tongue Cleaners (` 225) and the First Vaid storage tins (` 500) alongside the more easily available Parrot diaries (` 1,100). The limited edition Animania range is also available with posters (` 2,000-5,000), English and Hindi alphabet flash cards (` 550-700), playing cards (` 900), funky Tiger print rugs (` 27,500-45,000) and cushion covers (` 3,000 for a set of two) made from dyed wool. In the next few weeks, the studio’s furniture line including the Holy Book shelf, Banana Leaf table and the Paisley lounger, will be put on display. The store also houses a cafe with design magazines and computer stations as well as an art gallery with the design studio’s graphic art prints currently on display. No 2, Churchill Chambers, behind Good Earth, Mereweather Road, Colaba (2282-1001, www.designtemple.com). Mon-Sat 11am-7pm.
Eternal Gandhi Travellers heading abroad can now take along something that will remind them to practice austerity on their trip and keep the shopping sprees to a minimum. The just-opened Eternal Gandhi souvenir shop by the Aditya Birla Group is strategically located inside the departure lounge of the international airport, and stocks around 50 Bapu-inspired products. The list is exhaustive. There’s ceramic Gandhi statues, puzzle cubes, wristwatches, statues of the iconic three monkeys, khadi shirts, mugs, bookmarks, magnets, notepads, calendars, paperweights, key chains and pens. Some of the collectibles bear messages of peace and non-violence, such as the watch with the word Ahimsa at the centre and “Non-violence: bravery at its peak” below. There is also a crystal cube with figurines of the three wise monkeys inside, reminding one to “speak no evil, see no evil, hear no evil”. Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Western Express Highway, Sahar, Andheri (E) (6685-9045) Daily, open 24 hours. Mani Bhavan Gandhi Sangrahalaya, Laburnum Road, Gamdevi (2380-5864, www.gandhimanibhavan.org). Daily 9.30am-6pm. Bombay Sarvodaya Mandal’s Gandhi Book Centre, 299, Tardeo Road, Nana Chowk (2387-2061, www.mkgandhisarvodaya.org). Mon-Sat 11am-8pm. Mumbai General Post Office, P D’Mello Road, Fort (2262-0693, www.indiapost. gov.in). Mon-Sat 10am-6pm. ` 100-2,000. Apostrophe
Freedom Tree Freedom Tree is the most colourful and affordable store in Raghuvanshi Mills. It’s the kind of place you can walk into and purchase a dining table and chairs (` 29,000) without having to break the bank. Freedom Tree is the retail extension of Freedom Tree Design Studio, a niche Trend and Colour Design Consultancy founded by NID alumnus Latika Khosla. Here, low seating coffee tables (` 5,740) come with toxic yellow, lime green and mauve coloured tops, blue bedlinens in geometric prints work with green cushion covers (` 340-2,200) and floor rugs made in Andhra Pradesh feature modern but striking ikat, simple kantha and digitised filigree patterns in pink and purple (` 640-5,800). All products are handmade and hand-painted in Uttar Pradesh and are lead-free, microwave and dishwasher safe. Plus they don’t come in matching sets so you can pick and mix absolutely anything you like – pop coloured plates, bowls, mugs, tea pots and cups in purples, oranges, blues and greens or even pickle jars, salad bowls, butter dishes, swish pie dishes and cake stands you won’t find anywhere else. Building No.28, First Floor, Raghuvanshi Mills Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai (2498-4443, www.freedomtree.co.in). Daily 11am-7.30pm.
Hamleys The iconic toy store replaced the Bowling Company at Phoenix Mills last year. The 22,000 sq-feet store is a dream come true for children. Pester power can be tested at whole aisles devoted to stuffed toys, board games, craft kits, a Kodak photo studio and even a Barbie salon and spa by Jawed Habib. Young boys have been fighting their dads to test remote controlled cars, helicopters and the huge Hot Wheels racing track. The first floor has a small
Hamleys
collection of children’s books, DVDs and video games. We love the science project kits, the travel versions of chess, mah-jong and backgammon and the pocketmoney section, where kids can buy toys with their allowance. Hamleys, Courtyard, High Street Phoenix, 462 Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel (4347-3444).Daily 11am-10pm. From ` 49.
Hermann Miller We would recommend a visit to the new Herman Miller showroom in the Raghuvanshi Mills compound to two kinds of people – human resource executives and design enthusiasts. The 3,500 squarefeet store is like a mini museum, home to some iconic furniture found in design museums across the world including the Modern Museum of Art (MoMA) in New York. On display and for sale are some of the furniture brand’s bestsellers like the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, the Eames Moulded Plywood Lounge Chair
Freedom Tree
and Eames Walnut Foot Stools, shaped like chess pawns, by award-winning designers Charles and Ray Eames; the Goetz Sofa by Mark Goetz and chairs by George Nelson. We wished the store’s collection of miniature furniture – including the Eames Lounge and Ottomon, the Eames Wire Chair, the Eames Walnut Foot Stools, the Nelson Marshmallow Sofa and the Nelson Coconut Chair – was on sale. The store also has several options for colourful office work stations, conference rooms and office chairs, which come with a 12-year warranty. Raghuvanshi Mills Compound, Prathamesh Tower, Office No 201/203, A Wing, 2nd Floor, above Hyundai Showroom, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai (2497-0208). Mon-Sat 10am-7pm.
Home Collective Home Collective, the home accessories store at Chowpatty is only a couple of weeks old but it packs quite a punch. The space is a design lover’s paradise with the latest collection of products by popular international brands like Fred & Friends, Mastrad, Emsa, Blomus, Rosti and Chef’n. But be warned, it’s going to be difficult controlling impulse buys here, especially since you can justify every purchase with its ingenious utility. Take, for instance, Emsa’s snack bag clips (` 265), which come with a spoon and a round indicator, a nifty mechanism which helps you keep track of how often you’ve eaten out of the bag for times when you’ve got the munchies. Or Dine Ink (` 665) by Fred and Friends, a pack of three
ball pens with caps shaped like a spoon, a fork and a knife, for all the times your plastic cutlery mysteriously disappears during the office lunch hour. You can also get a slick-looking lunch box by Black+Blum or a Lunch Pot (` 1,780). The store also has an excellent kitchen accessories section where we spotted Mastrad’s three-grid cheese grater (` 935) and hot plate (` 1,645). If you’re looking for presents, try some of our other finds by Fred and Friends which include Fill-A-Lily (` 599), a gorgeous flower-shaped funnel and Toothpiks (` 499), tooth picks actually shaped like teeth with one side shaped like a spoon to scoop dips at parties and Fill ’Er Up (` 1,110), a piggy bank that looks like a fuel tank with a fullyfunctional needle to measure your savings. 29-A, First Floor, above Brij Mandal Hall, Dr Atmaram Rangekar Marg, Girgaum, Chowpatty (66555390). Mon-Sat 11am-8pm, Sun 11am-6pm.
Le Mill French expats and fashion experts Cecilia Morelli Parikh, Julie Leymarie and Aurélie de Limelette say they didn’t just want to set up a concept store, they needed to. The 15,000-square-foot store is spilt across two levels, stocks apparel, accessories, textiles, precious jewellery, furniture, carpets, cutlery, ceramics, books and stationery and aims to cater to all tastes and budgets. At Le Mill, you’ll find quirky furniture by Thierry Colson and Obataimu,
coffeetable books by Assouline, candles by Delhi-based Illuminati, durries by Jaipur rugs (from ` 7,000), ceiling lamps by Finish design studio Muuto (from ` 3,000) and funky acrylic tableware by French brand Sabre. The store has women’s wear by Nor Black Nor White, Londonbased Saloni Lodha’s fun dresses, select pieces from Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen’s brand The Row, Neha Malhotra’s extremely fun animal print dresses in yellow and pink, French brand Heimstone’s cool jumpsuits and dresses as well as capsule collections by Anamika Khanna, Rajesh Pratap Singh and Savio Jon. Apart from high-end jewellery by Usha Shah and Jade Jagger, Le Mill also offers avant-garde jewellery by Mawi and En Inde (from ` 7,000) and sunglasses by Cutler and Gross. 17-25, Nandlal Jani Road, next to Wadi Bunder New Railway Bridge, Wadi Bunder, Masjib Bunder (E), Mumbai (2374-2415/ www.lemill.in). Daily 11am-8pm.
Maison by International Furniture Brands A visit to Maison by International Furniture Brands, the new furniture boutique at Raghuvanshi Mills, isn’t for the faint-hearted. At this 3,500 square-foot showroom, you don’t dare to ask for prices, especially since everything
from dining tables to duvets are imported straight from some of the biggest design houses in Europe and the US including Fendi Casa, Cavalli, Christopher Guy and Bolier. But if you want a glimpse into what goes into the making of the homes of the rich and the famous, we suggest you put on your Sunday best and make your way to the old cotton mill structure with the perfect triangle-shaped gable roof. At present the store stocks the classic range, previously available at their showroom in Poonam Chambers, Worli, with over-thetop, Baroque style sofa sets from the Visionnaire Collection by Ipe Cavalli. You can also spot British furniture designer Christopher Guy’s patented Chris-X leg design chairs, which feature hind legs of the chair in a criss-cross pattern. If these iconic designs don’t give you a complex, make your way up to the mezzanine level which stocks a wide range of home accessories and furnishings including cushion covers by Fendi. If you’ve got an eye for pretty things and an undying love for labels, we won’t stop you from visiting Maison. Raghuvanshi Mills Compound, Block 22-23, First Floor, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel (4004-2565, www.ifbrands.in). Daily 11am-7.30pm.
Peacock Life The store is run by interior designer Shabnam Gupta along
Peacock Life
with her mother, Neelam Sagar, a landscape artist and her sister, Ganga Kadakia, an artist. Together, they offer complete home solutions – so you can shop for home accessories and furniture, plants and garden accessories and small works of art. The store’s interior section, split into two levels, has a mix of eclectic furniture, lighting and small knick-knacks for the home. Some of our favourite products include their range of yellow-light fibre ceiling lamps shaped like bulbs and droplets (` 1,5006,000). If the in-house designs seem familiar, it’s because Gupta has also designed the interiors for restaurant chain WTF! The store stocks a range of furniture including sofa sets, dining tables and chairs made from recycled wood (from ` 3,000). Alternatively, you can pick
ORTHO GEL MATTRESS FROM FOAM HOME The only way to tackle a day filled with a million things to stress out about is a good nights rest and the latest Ortho Gel Mattresses from Foam Home does just that. The latest Orthogel Mattresses revolutionise comfort and ensure that this season you will sleep like a baby. The Ortho Gel is a comfortable ergonomically designed mattress that gives the perfect kind of support to your spine. Its multi zonal construction
distributes your body weight evenly to eliminate pressure points and those morning aches and pains. Ortho Gel has combination of various cushioning materials like Techno gel, Visco elastic Foam (NASA FOAM) & High Load Bearing (HLB Grade) Foam which absorbs your body weight perfectly, so your mattress doesn’t bounce you awake every time you move in your sleep. The thermal conductivity that
an Ortho Gel has, absorbs your body temperature perfectly so you don’t have to toss and turn in the summer or curl up into an uncomfortable ball in the winter. The absolute cutting edge in the science of sleep, you can’t go wrong with this mattress from Foam Home, designed specifically to take care of all your sleep needs. Foam Home has been a pioneer in products like the High Density Foam Mattresses, the Bodysensor Mattresses and now the very latest TechnoGel Mattresses. This season look out for the whole new range of sofa beds from France.
from pop-art paintings and art prints (from ` 500) by Kadakia, who often uses film stills and portraits of actors from her father Ramanand Sagar’s movies. The outdoor section of the store has stone sculptures and fountains for gardens in big homes. But Sagar also offers options for small apartments including quirky options like plants growing in dried coconut shells and wooden boxes, which can be hung from the ceiling. 31-N, Laxmi Industrial Estate, near Fame Adlabs, New Link Road, Andheri (W) (2632-3331, www.peacocklife.com). Mon-Sat 10.30am-8pm.
Play Clan Our favourite store from Delhi finally decided to show us some love by setting up shop in Bandra this year. What’s not to love at Play Clan? Cool murals of Munna from Rangeela, Raj and Simran from DDLJ and Gabbar and his gang from Sholay are all part of Play Clan’s grand Bollywood makeover. Himanshu Dogra and his team at Illum Design describe Play Clan as a fashion, art and design store. The store currently stocks kitschy T-shirts, dresses, underwear, mugs, prints, stationery and tote bags from the Men-o-Drama and Patanjali yoga lines. Also available are the last few pieces from the popular Hey Bhagwan series featuring cartoon versions of Hindu gods and goddesses like Ganesha, Shiva, Laxmi and Durga. We especially love the Mumbai themed postcards, cushion covers and journals that feature maps of Crawford Market, Colaba and Bandra and also the Rajinikanth iPod covers and lighters. Play Clan, Libra Tower, Ground Floor, opposite St Peter’s Church, Hill Road, Bandra (W) (2640-1675, www.theplayclan.com). Daily noon-9pm. From ` 295.
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Half Price Bookstore
swirls, graphics and even polka dots and holiday styles decorated with Christmas trees. Many are dishwasher- and microwave-safe. But don’t worry about breakage – an entire industry has sprung up around supplying Noritake china replacements, single pieces and even discontinued or older patterns so that your 95-piece dinner set is always complete. Noritake, available at Legend, L-5 Central Market, Lajpat Nagar II (4155-3835). Daily 11am-8.30pm.
Half Price Bookstore
Shaastra Shaastra, Bandra’s latest home accessories store, is a treasure trove of traditional handicrafts, religious artefacts and vintageinspired knick-knacks. You can tell it’s a labour of love for owner Gauri Rao, an ex-employee of the Bharat Petroleum Corporation, who waited for over 30 years to turn her passion for art, antiques and handicrafts into a business. Rao personally sources brass, powdered marble and wooden statues and figurines as well as paintings and wall hangings from across the country. This festive season, we recommend a visit to the store that stocks a range of reusable lamps and diyas with stone work (` 200), simple pooja thalis (` 200-650) and gorgeous torans (` 450). For those looking to make additions to the temple at home, they’ve got a huge collection of miniature figurines of almost all Hindu deities in metal (all priced under ` 500). For the less religious and more adventurous, we spotted railway clocks (` 1,950), wind up telephones (` 5,000) and antique locks (` 500). Shop No 2 A, Rizvi Mahal, Waterfield Road, Bandra (W).
The Charcoal Project Hrithik Roshan claims that his wife Sussanne Roshan’s new home store is like a design museum and that he would like to charge people to enter. There are lifesize metal sculptures of Olympic athletes, even larger headboards made to look like reindeer and a
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bowl-shaped papasan chair with a Union Jack theme. The store also stocks pieces by Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla (we liked their neon-coloured chairs and tables, ` 58,500) and Andrew Martin. Can your apartment accommodate shiny coffee tables shaped like letters that can be arranged to read L-O-V-E, S-E-X-Y, and R-O-C-K-S-T-A-R? Got room for larger-than-life boudoir mirrors, vintage stage lights, old anchors or eagles, vultures and gargoyles suspended from the ceiling? We were tempted to buy a vintage Hermés typewriter (` 3,800) and black heart-shaped metal locks (from ` 1,950). The store even has a café called “The Mad Tea Party” with baked goods from Le Pain Quotidien and an extremely funky installation made from colourful teapots overhead. But if you love design and are looking to find a wonderland and a mad tea party, The Charcoal Project is as good a rabbit-hole as any. Unit No 1, D Mall, next to Courtyard Restaurant, Veera Desai Road, Andheri (W) (6193-6198). Daily 11am-7.30pm.
Delhi China from Japan For years, women who entertain have been lugging large quantities of bone china and porcelain dinner sets back home to Mumbai from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Germany or New York, and single-handedly sustaining
the bubble paper industry as a result of their diligent, airlineresistant wrapping. It’s required, of course, when you’re spending anything between ` 15,000 and ` 100,000 for dinner plates that have attracted millions of fans across the world and have inspired museums, books, websites and private antique collections. But that’s Noritake for you: a brand of china that’s come to symbolise everything from ultrasophisticated tea parties to the opening up of the Japanese economy to international trade in the late-nineteenth century. The china is absolutely beautiful: fine bone china in shiny white, ivory and cream decorated with trims in gold and platinum; graceful, intricate designs of flowers,
This bento box-sized store dishes out literary stash at discount prices. Sitting on level 1 of Select Citywalk Mall’s parking lot, the Half Price Bookstore’s USP is exactly what its name suggests. There’s self-help and cookery books, elaborate coffee-table volumes on design, photography and architecture and a small selection of fiction and non-fiction volumes, all sold far below their ticket price. The price cuts on what is available are pretty impressive and will save you a pretty penny. Patrick French’s biography of VS Naipaul, The World Is What It is, costs a mere ` 295 here. Compare that to its price at Bahrisons in the mall right next door: ` 750. But when we visited our eyes went straight to The Complete Cartoons of The New Yorker. Issued as part of The New Yorker’s 80th-anniversary celebration, this massive volume is a compilation of all the satiric cartoons that have appeared in the pages of that magazine over the years. At the Half Price Bookstore it’ll cost you ` 1,700, as opposed to its standard price of ` 2,700. There’s also a section, admittedly small,
FURNITUREWALLA Furniturewalla, the household furniture brand has two new collections to add to their repertoire. This season, look out for Acero Collection which features a range of uber luxe coffee tables and bar chairs in an ultra chic design. The coffee table in this line can have either two or three layers which can be moved and adjusted according to your space. The coffee table tops are round and in a highly polished stainless steel or black tempered glass. The bar chairs are stylishly designed with single arms in high polished stainless steel. The Unico Collection is a range of luxurious sofa
sets in three-seater, twoseater and L-shaped designs in fabric with matched cushions to complement and adjustable head rests in rich contemporary design. Both these collections are available at all Furniturewalla outlets. Visit www.furniturewalla.com for details.
that stocks DC Comics (mostly the Batman series) for just ` 15. Select Citywalk Mall, Basement Level One, Lower Ground Floor, below Pantaloons, District Centre, Saket (4102-9379). Daily 10.30am-11pm.
MOVA1 The brainchild of interiors designer Varrun Motihar, this spacious ground-level gallery provides an airy backdrop for MOVA1’s own collection of furniture as well as pieces by contributing designers. Sit, flick, and play among woven chairs, modular coffee tables and gigantic wire mesh art installations or peruse shelves of bronze figurines, carefully selected by Motihar’s mother to complement the furniture in-store. The designs at MOVA1 mix and match various modern styles, from tables that use Japanese joinery techniques to clean, structural Bauhaus-inspired pieces. Our favourites? A double-seater crosslegged sofa of black oak and beige linen cushions (`56,000), with an aesthetic wasn’t exactly crafty, but of a less-is-more, whittleddown vibe. For tree-huggers, or just those who like their furniture responsibly sourced and created, MOVA1’s Beige collection is all made with Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood (indicating that the wood used to make the product comes from a sustainably managed forest). MOVA1’s services extend beyond furniture. They also offer “Contract” services, if you’re considering a full reworking of your home. They’ll see an interior design project through from conception to purchasing and liaising with specialised contractors and engineers, sparing you the
bother of dealing with fiddly supervision on an hour-tohour basis. MOVA1 Studio, 2 Ashoka Crescent, Golf Course Road, DLF Phase-I, Gurgaon (95124-4477 534). Email info@mova1.net.in or mova.intarc@gmail.com.
Furtados
The Museum Shop The National Museum is one giant diorama of Indian civilization. Its massive collection extends all the way from prehistoric artefacts to contemporary tribal and folk art, including 800 sculptures from across the ages. The shop is a walk-in treasure chest, filled with bronze statues, stone busts, cushions, bags and jewellery, all inspired by (or replicas of) the museum’s displays. Start browsing the eclectic collection with the tablet seals displayed on the right: the Indus Valley bull seal is a familiar scrawl, but you’ll also see casts of a coin from the time of Sher Shah Suri and an Ashvamedha horseembossed coin that’s inspired by a fifth-century gold medallion on display in the museum. The most impressive of the lot are the Chola temple-style bronze statues, among the most expensive pieces in the shop (` 20,000 onwards). You’ll also find posters of seventeenth-century art, Mughal prints (`150 onwards) and pencils (` 90) capped with handcrafted wooden parrots. With our picks (parrot pencil and silver-encased cowrie earrings, `400) we joined the queue at the cashier and admired a framed wall hanging with metallic relief work of the bull seal (` 80,000). Sigh. One day. The National Museum, First Floor, Central Vista, Janpath. Tue-Sun 10am-5pm.
Bengaluru Craft Corner Shop at Craft Corner for the lovely handmade paper it stocks. With no flashy interiors or fancy lights to distract you, exploring the tiny apartment-like space is a delight. In the main room on simple shelves are stacks of handmade products. The tactile joy of handling the stuff on these shelves is what the owners, Mala Sathyanarayanan and Leena Munot, encourage. Their brand Paper Nothings is 12 years old, and has products made of a wide assortment of paper. Handmade sheets of plain, textured, coarse, decorative and block-printed paper have been turned into notebooks (starting at ` 225), picture frames (` 250 for a set of two), memo boxes with built-in pen holders (` 175), bookmarks (` 15), rolled paper pens (`15 each) and coasters (` 200 for a set of 12) that look like ganjifa playing cards. #17, 1st floor, 2nd Main Road, Domlur 2nd Stage, (Off 100 ft road) (4112 6411) Mon - Sat: 8.30am-4.30pm.
Chumbak A sadhu on a bed of nails, a snake charmer and a sunbathing hippie can all make themselves at home in your kitchen, or at least, on your fridge. These Chumbak designs feature on a range of over 14 products, including wrapping paper (` 30 a sheet), bookmarks (` 35 for a set of four), A6 notebooks (` 60) and mouse pads (` 120). We love the lightweight Chumbak tins featuring turbaned sardars (` 200) that can store anything from biscuits to jewellery, but the highlight of their collection is the travel pen (` 65; pick from Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore). These ballpoints have a pull-out scroll in them, with quick tips compiled by locals on where to eat, what to shop for and sights to see specific to each city. Visit www.chumbak.in; products will be delivered anywhere in India within 48 hours (postage charges extra for orders under ` 1,500). Chumbak products are also available at Levitate, Mother Earth and Amber. Mail shubhra@ chumbak.in for more information.
HOLIDAY GETAWAY AT RAMADA RESORTS The festive season in the city can be hectic and if you find yourself dreading the hullabaloo before it’s even begun, then a quick holiday might just be what you need. Book yourself into Ramada Resorts and head to Goa for a getaway you won’t forget in awhile. This fully self contained beach resort is spread over 24 acres of well manicured gardens, a Par 3 nine hole golf course and vast sun drenched lawns. Located on the pristine white sands of Varca beach in Goa, the atmosphere is charged with a vibrant holiday spirit.
At check-in, the first thing you notice is the inviting 80 feet high atrium lobby, built in classical Portuguese architectural style. The rooms, each with a balcony overlooking breathtaking views, are comfortable and equipped with contemporary facilities. You can dine in style and enjoy a magnificent sunset from The Beach Shack and the Oriental Bar. Located by the serene white sands of Varca beach, the 199-room resort sprawled over acres of refreshing green, is an architectural treat. Visit www.caravelabeachresort. com for details.
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Daily Dump If you’re a Bangalorean who wants to do your bit for the environment, then a stop at Daily Dump, Poonam Bir Kasturi’s composter store should be a priority. Kasturi, who is a designer, and the founder of Daily Dump teamed up with a family of potters in the village of Palamner on the outskirts of Bangalore to design a composter. Vegetable peels, uneaten food, leaves and even paper waste goes into the top pot and falls through various sizes of mesh as it decomposes. Priced between ` 600 and ` 1,000, composters come in various avatars; mota lotas, kambhas and gamlas, some painted, some not, some for kitchen waste and others to compost leaves. 2992, 12th A Main, HAL 2nd Stage (4115-2288). Sat-Mon 10.30am-6pm. All major cards.
Eka Eka has such calming interiors that just a walk around the store is therapeutic. Begin at the incense shelf on one side of the billing counter- one of the most affordable gift zones. The aroma sticks cost ` 20 per packet and the small pyramids sell for ` 195. The smells range from cranberry, lemon grass to blueberry and sandal. The store stocks lovely crushed skirts, silk kurtis with kalamkari and stoles, all designed in Auroville, Pondicherry. Eka hosts an eclectic collection of Maya Bazaar’s jewellery which can be picked up for as little as ` 100 (for a bracelet). 19 Gangadhar Chetty Road, opposite RBANM Grounds, near Ulsoor Lake (2554-4371). Daily 10am-8pm. All major cards.
they don’t have to be shatteringly expensive. You can also pick up novel visiting card holders, candle stands and little sun catchers from her leftover coloured glass. 204/6, Chinar Mansion, 3rd Main Road, Defence Colony, Indira Nagar (98458-71013). Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm. No cards. Fiveday workshop ` 6,000, inclusive of course material. Visit www. glasshopper.in for more details.
Glenands Glenands is a pet lovers dream. Displayed from floor to ceiling is everything a dog or cat owner could possibly need.One wall is covered with chew bones, in a far corner are the ubiquitous squeaky toys and trinkets and there are shelves packed with varieties of grooming supplies. And of course, Glenands brand of dog biscuits (` 90 for 700 gm). 48 Church Street, KSFC Building (2558-6932). Mon-Sat 10.30am–2pm, 2.30pm–8pm. All major cards.
Hybiscus As you walk up the garden path at Hatworks Boulevard, you’ll be greeted by the tinkle of wind chimes and burbling water features. According to owner Anita Shah, Bangaloreans are seriously seeking to create their own tranquil spaces: the lava stone and cast cement Buddha statues that meditate around the lawn are one of her best-selling products. 32, Hatworks Boulevard, Cunningham Road (4113-1500). Mon-Sat10am-7pm, Sun 11-6pm. All major cards.
Jenny Pinto
Furtados in Bangalore launched in January and is the largest of their chain of nine stores across India. The ground floor is dedicated to pianos, organs and music books; the first floor houses guitars, amplifiers, percussion instruments and accessories. 116/C–1, 5th Block, KHB Colony, Koramangala (4110-4304). Tue–Sun, 10am-8pm. All major cards.
An advertising filmmaker, Pinto now turns banana trunks to pulp and then crafts individual sheets of textured paper by hand. At Jenny's Paper studio you get to leaf through paper samples that look like leaves twisted by petulant gusts of wind, with sand-like patterns that look like they were made by waves and shadows of bamboo thickets. Jenny’s Paper Studio, Harlour Road, off Sarjapur Road, Bellandur Gate (6559-0399). Prices on request. Email pinto.jenny@gmail.com.
Glasshopper
Namma Angadi
With Glasshopper, Saaraus Nirhali hopes to break some preconceptions: for one, stained glass products can go beyond floral panels and lampshades, and
Namma Angadi is the store of the institution CWC, whose offices are right across the street. The blue gates of the store will most likely be padlocked – you need
Furtados
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to have called in advance and made an appointment. Namma Angadi was set up in 1993 to help craftsmen based in the villages of Karnataka. At the store, you’ll find bric-a-brac made of wood and terracotta, handcrafted jewellery, kurtas, rugs, baskets, trays and toys made of bamboo. At the store, you can place orders for their “Lavancha” products (medicinal oils), bottles of raw honey, soapnut powder, and kokkum (punarpuli) as well. All prices negotiable, preferably at bulk rates. 303/2, LB Shastri Nagar Regional Resource Centre, Vimanapura Post (2523-4611). By appointment only.
The Orange Bicycle
Ohana
Something Else/Oriental Haveli has two identities but inside there’s no real distinction as products from both stores are present on all four floors. Oriental Haveli specialises in antiques. Try this store if you like investing in collectibles. 45, 4th Block, 100-Foot Road, Koramangala (2553-6239). Daily 10am-8.30pm. All major cards.
Ohana is one of the few flower shops that sell flowers by subscription. For one- time buyers, there’s a range of options: birds of paradise, carnations, roses, orchids, lilies and anthuriums. B-25 The Leela Galleria, Leela Palace, Airport Road (3290-6030). Daily 10am-10pm. All major cards. Visit www.ohanaflowers.com to place orders online.
There is actually an orange bicycle in The Orange Bicycle. The second-hand Ladybird peers jauntily out of the store window and is the only thing not for sale. The store houses products from around 80 designers from across the country. There’s Workshop Q for fun frames made out of scrap, NSG, for laptop bags that are far from corporate, and Art N Light, for decoupage trays. 3353, 5th Cross, 12th Main, HAL Second Stage, Indira Nagar (4125-5242). Tue-Sun 11am-7.30pm. All major cards.
Something Else/ Oriental Haveli
Something Else/ Oriental Haveli
Crew Republica
Jewellery and Fashion Accessories Tis the season to go all out with all manner of deliciously shiny baubles. Visit these tried and tested jewellery showrooms to get your annual bling fix. You can also learn where you can go accessory shopping - yes we’re talking handbags, hair accessories, belts and shoes to fit any occasion. We will admit it: this section is a little partial to the ladies, but the gentlemen needn’t fear. Learn where you can pick up leather goods, shoes and the very latest collections in watch brands.
Crew BOS Products, a Delhibased exporter of leather goods, launched its first freestanding store, Crew Republica, at High Street Phoenix this year. With experience from supplying fashion accessories to leading brands such as Fossil, H&M, Esprit, Next and Zara, the company has created a line of trendy, yet affordable, leather accessories. For women, there’s a wide range of leather bags, belts and wallets in fun colours like blue, green, pink and purple and leather sandals and slip-ons. There’s also a line of cute canvas bags featuring flowers, hearts and butterflies for young girls. Men can pick from a huge selection of business and casual footwear, wallets and laptop bags in genuine leather. Grand Galleria, Ground Floor, High Street Phoenix, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, (2497-6961). Daily 10am-10pm.
NY Citi Women’s wear brand Madame has launched its first standalone accessories store, NY Citi, at Mega Mall in Andheri. Modelled after international
accessory brands like Claire’s and Accessorize, the store stocks every kind of accessory imaginable: junk jewellery, hair accessories, clutches, bags, wallets, scarves, belts, hats and sunglasses. Our cool finds included a pair of silver earrings shaped like mobile phones (` 199), vintage-style dull-gold hair pins (` 145) featuring coloured stones in every colour and rubber bands with huge flowers and animal prints (` 199-325). The store also has a surprisingly large number of hair bands (` 99-299) (the thin ones feature ribbons, suede, animal prints, floral prints and flower-shaped brooches). Even though NY Citi’s accessories don’t match the quality standards set by international brands, there’s still plenty to shop for. We found metallic nail art (` 299) and everyday essentials like bare socks and toe socks in black and nude (` 125-155). The oversized canvas totes, which also serve as day-trip bags, have floral prints straight out of That ‘70s Show (` 599). Mega Mall, Ground Floor, opposite Oshiwara bus depot, New Link Road, Andheri (W), Mumbai (32251353). Daily 10.30am-9.30pm.
NEW COLLECTION FROM LONGINES
Tanishq
Mumbai Audelade Audelade means “over and above” in French and that’s exactly how we’d like to describe the pricing at this new store – it’s over and above our imaginations. If you’re in a mood to splurge shamelessly and without looking back, then Audelade is your best bet. The Indian brand’s debut store is described in their own words as “a world beyond luxury”, which makes its location at Worli’s notso-luxurious Atria Mall baffling. Their footwear and bags are all
woven with real gold and silver. For women, there’s a range of knee-high boots and sandals along with a few clutches and potli bags and long satin gowns we’re hoping to never see on anyone. For men there are dressy shoes and suits priced upwards of ` 30,000. There’s also a range of cushion covers and other home accessories. Atria Mall, First Floor, Dr Annie Besant Road, Worli, (2481-3771, www.audelade.com). Daily 10.30-8.30pm. Footwear from ` 17,000, bags from ` 20,000, clothing from ` 30,000.
Based in St. Imier in Switzerland since 1832, Longines can look back on more than 175 years of non-stop craftsmanship in exquisite timepieces. Longines is a member of the Swatch Group Ltd, the World’s leading manufacturer of horological products and this time they bring to you the very best in wrist watches . This season, a model set with diamonds has been added to the Longines DolceVita collection. The dial and the case of this new model is set with diamonds, giving the piece a touch of opulence. The Longines Master Collection is a tribute to the brand’s long watchmaking tradition. With a diameter of 40 mm, this model subtly combines steel and yellow gold. The silver-finished “barleycorn” patterned dial makes an elegantly contrasting background to the moon-phase
display. This Longines Master Collection model features a transparent case back through which its scintillating movement can be observed. The Longines PrimaLuna collection, a marriage of steel and rose gold also has some interesting new models out. With the addition of diamonds, the clean finery of steel and rose gold, these Longines PrimaLuna models are fitted with a silvered flinqué dial, a mother-of-pearl dial or a white dial and hands either in blued steel or echoing the warm tones of the rose gold of the case. The Conquest line from the Longines Sport Collection, has been given extra sparkle thanks to a spray of diamonds around the bezel while a second model combines the brilliance of these precious stones with the strength of ceramic. Available at leading Longines Outlets.
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Tanishq Tanishq’s 22,000 square-feet showroom prides itself on housing a kid’s play area and a men’s lounge. We understand the need for keeping the kids busy while seducing their mums with over 20,000 pieces of precious jewellery, but distracting husbands and partners with flatscreen TVs and sports magazines while women shop is nothing short of evil. Still, we’re pretty sure the men’s lounge will be severely underused – it’s going to be difficult for a man to relax at a store that has one floor dedicated to just diamonds and solitaires and the other spilling with gold and platinum jewellery. There’s also the engagement ring counter with solitaires (0.25-2.50 carat) to worry about. Unlike the jewellery at your family jeweller, the designs at Tanishq, for everyday casual wear as well as heavy pieces for special occasions, feature contemporary styling. We spent a good hour browsing through the earrings’ section and fell for a white gold pair with droplets made from fleshtone onyx gems. We were grateful for the children’s section which stocks tiny pendants, earrings, bracelets and anklets (from ` 1,500-6,000) with delicate flowers and adorable animals incorporated into the designs – ideal presents for baby showers, birth announcements and birthdays. Vastu Prestige, near Fame Adlabs, New Link Road, Andheri (W), (6199-6666, www.tanishq.co.in). Daily 10.30am-8.30pm.
WHITE WATCHES FROM RADO This season, clean white is the colour of choice for your Rado watches. Look out for these ranges in Rado Watches in white and add a contemporary twist to your style mantra.
Tashi In less than two months of its opening, Tashi had a fresh new stock of trendy shoes. There’s no denying there are too many shoe shops in the city, but Tashi stands out because of its wide range and pricing – designs that look like Nine West and Charles & Keith but with Bata price tags. You’ll find everything from comfy casual flats and kitten heels for work to patent leather peep-toe and stilettos in bright colours. The upper level of the store stocks casual and formal footwear for men including handcrafted leather shoes and canvas lace-ups. Tashi, 352, Linking Road, next to Satguru’s, Bandra, (2648-5272). Daily 10am-10pm.
The Rado Integral, a refined beauty is fashioned in white gold or silver and is a combination of understated luxury. For elegance with a touch of indulgence, the Rado Centrix White is an excellent choice. Otherwise crisp and clean in design, this watch has a look defined by its open yet usable design. Still, the diamond encrusted dial lends a tasteful yet opulent feel to the entire design and will add a touch of class to any ensemble. The Rado Ceramica White with its silver
Delhi Cameo by RUX custom jewellery Win some serious gift-giving brownie points with Cameo by RUX’s range of custom jewellery. A modern take on the cameo, these resin bangles and 18-carat gold and platinum rings are fashioned from 3D portraits of anyone’s profile. All that’s needed is a photograph. A good one, of course. Upload your selected image, choose a colour (or metal, if you go with the rings) from their online store and voila you have a finely-crafted, custom-carved wearable portrait. Each Cameo by RUX piece reflects the contours
HANDBAGS FOR THE FESTIVE SEASON- HIDESIGN The Colorado is Hidesign’s first handbag with solid brass inspired handles. Choose between a moon white Colorado hobo with sleek handles or a fashionable evening bag in fire engine red. When it's time to light up the room, Hidesign’s classic bag The Crystal is a great buy with its stylish flap design detail. The Acropolis with its sleek shape is bound to add a touch of elegance to your attire. The bag is bold with its brass rivets and contrast hand-stitched detail. The classic Virgin Line also makes an appearance this season, in all its fiery red glory. This classic bag is crafted in oil rich faux Elephant embossed leather and complimented by contrast hand stitch detail.
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In softer hues of amethyst the Hidesign Logo bag, in vegetable tanned faux Croco leather is enhanced by Hidesign logo inspired handle detail. You could flaunt the Nancy hobo, crafted in fashionably smooth leather and
enhanced by solid brass lock or the Amanda, a classic grab bag which comes in amethyst and aubergine. In anticipation of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Hidesign has launched the ‘Pink Ribbon Collection’ – a Hot Pink line of accessories to help further the cause. These Limited Edition styles are now available at all Hidesign stores across India until the 15th of November. The styles range from stylish handbags, chic cross bodies and signature travel bags. Log onto www.hidesign.com for free delivery of the bags anywhere within India. Hidesign will direct 20% of its sales from this collection towards raising awareness and prevention of cancer.
or gold metallization dials is a distinguished statement piece. The Rado True Thinline has a design that is futuristic and stylish. Demanding and challenging in its manufacture, the Rado True Thinline will offer all the key properties of high-tech ceramics, such as luxurious comfort and strength, as well as adding a new dimension of being lightweight to the extreme. Express yourself with Rado’s Swiss made white watches and celebrate elegance style and class. Available at all leading outlets.
of your face (or whoever’s face you choose), and you get a cool, clunky resin bangles, available in a rainbow array of colours. You can keep your loved ones at arms length at all times, and we reckon the rings would make fantastic, and very personal, wedding bands. But at $1,700 a pop (approximately ` 72,000), the rings certainly aren’t lunchtime buys. The effect is probably best with people who have pronounced features, so if you’ve been bemoaning your strong Punjabi nose, stop immediately. It’s all the better to commit you to resin in. Order online at www.cameobyrux. com.
Nappa Dori A cool little shop run by NIFT grad Gautam Sinha, Nappa Dori literally means “leather and thread”, and you’ll find gorgeous, handcrafted Indian leather goodies in-store. With wooden flooring and Billie Holiday warbling on the speakers, Nappa Dori might be small, but it’s incredibly browse-worthy, and you might find yourself lingering over the retro-styled steamer trunks (as we did), in bright pop colours with leather strap and buckle fastenings (` 8,800 for a large trunk, ` 5,500 for the mini version). We’ve also got our eyes on the hardy canvas doctor bag (` 6,500) that’s large enough for a weekend away and durable enough to weather being flung in the back seat. Canvas travel tote bags are screen printed with landscapes and cityscapes (` 2,800), but if travel isn’t on the cards for you, consider Nappa Dori’s smaller leather accessories: suede pen cases with magnet fastenings (` 750)
SENORITA COLLECTION FROM LIBERTY FOOTWEAR
Jute Cottage
that would double up nicely as ladies’ wallets, or a pencil case (` 650) that made us want to go straight back to school. 4, Hauz Khas Village (9810400778). Daily 1130am-1030pm.
Vans Your poor sense of balance may have shattered your dreams of becoming a professional skateboarder, but who says you can’t dress up like one? Even in this city, the post Quicksilverinspired surfer chic means that Delhi dudes can whizz around town in cool casuals from Vans. Breeze into the store and pick up a pair of colourful shoes along with a lesson in sneaker history. The store display includes a showcase filled with newspaper clipping, old photographs, posters, skater memorabilia and first-gen deck shoes. Stake your claim on Vans’ trademark #44 style deck shoe which has remained unchanged since 1966 (every pair is pretty much indestructible, too, made with grade ten duck canvas and soles of thick crêpe rubber). Ambience Mall, First Floor, Nelson Mandela Marg, Vasant Kunj (4087-0151). Daily 10.30am-9.30pm.
Venus Collections Ribbons, bows and bling have this terrible quality of making us feel like a little girl, and a giddy one at that. Still, if you like your girlie goods, then wander into Venus Collection which has been around at least a generation. Big clips, small clips, funky clips, floral clips– the basement has boxes and boxes filled with hair accessories. There are metalstudded headbands (` 299), soft pom-pom headbands (` 399), feather combs (`199), rosette earrings (`50) and much more. The tiny store also has a humongous – and we aren’t kidding when we say this – collection of cosmetics and perfumes. We suggest that you visit to get yourself a fix of the best budget shopping that you’ve done in a while. We’re sure that you’ll end up buying in bulk. UB-5 Bungalow Road, Kamla Nagar (4709-8797). Monday to Saturday- 11am-7pm.
Bengaluru The Ants Shopping has been known to solve many problems, but reducing Bodo militancy hasn’t been one of
JEWELLERY AND WATCH FROM CK This season you won’t have to look far, where timeless jewellery is concerned. Calvin Klein brings to you a set of jewellery that is tasteful, simple and elegant. Make sure you liger over ck enlace, a set of bangle, ring and earring. The delicate open bangle that adjusts for a perfect fit and a sleek ring are available in polished stainless steel or yellow gold PVD. Creole shaped,
polished stainless steel earrings have a post closure that mirrors the fine finish of the bangle and ring. The ck enlace watch for women is feminine and sensuous. Available in small and medium sizes, the watch closes with a jewellery buckle and has polished hour and minute hands that rotate smoothly around a black, silver or PVD Gold Dial. Available at Calvin Klein Outlets.
A happy girl is a girl who is wearing her favourite pair of shoes. Senorita, the party collection of women’s footwear from Liberty, is designed for young ladies who want to stand out but not break the bank. With affordable footwear that caters to every style and occasion, Senorita is a girl’s dream come true. Glamming up an outfit with a pair of black stilettos is pretty easy, but gold accents and strappy detailing makes that much more of a difference. If heels are not your
them. Not until the Ants marched into Bangalore, at least. The store, which is just off 100-Foot Road in Indira Nagar, provides a livelihood to Bodo weavers from Northeast India. Browse through the grass reed baskets (` 350 to ` 600) from the polo and hockey-playing Meitas; perfectly rounded grass woven boxes (` 180 to `600) from the matrilineal Khasis, earthy chic skirts from the Mizos (` 600 to ` 1360), tribal jholas and Bohemian bags (` 200 to ` 450), woven kurtas (` 550 to ` 680), and Eri silk blouses (` 700 to ` 1,200). Also, their microwave-stove-oven friendly Thangkul black stone pottery pots, pans and mugs (` 800 to ` 1,300) are good, eco-friendly reasons to visit the store. 2023/B, 1st Cross, 14th A Main, HAL 2nd Stage, Indira Nagar (4171-5639). Tue-Sun 10.30am-8pm. All major cards.
style, try a pair of platform wedges which can be formal and classy, but fun and flirtatious at the same time. We particularly liked the warm toned pair of heels with ankle straps that will spice up an Indian Outfit but can also work with knee length skirts or bohemian dresses. What particularly caught our attention was the pair of pretty, fresh white stappy sandals, perfect for a cotton dress, jeans or skirts. If youthful and trendy is your style statement, then the Senorita Collection was made for you.
Bhavani Kangan Stores It’s no mean feat to emerge unscathed and smiling after catering to every whim and tantrum of the bride-to-be and all her female family members. That’s what Jogi, who owns Bhavani Kangan Stores, contends with every day. Going by the name of the store; kangan is bangle in Hindi), it stocks bangles in all kinds of colours and bling levels, plastic ones that college kids sport, antique fare with flashy faux stones appropriate for Sanjay Leela Bhansali productions (` 200- ` 250 for a single thick one), thin metal ones in every colour to match with the most vaguely-shaded outfit (` 19- ` 400 for a dozen), lacquer or clay sets brought in from Kolkata (` 75- ` 1,500 for a set of six), Punjabi choodas (` 75- ` 2,000
CERES If its timelessness you’re looking for, then CERES fits the bill with its exquisitely crafted jewellery that will bring an extra something to every occasion. The summer wedding collection launched earlier this year had some eyeball-grabbing statement pieces inspired by all the mystique and opulence of ancient royalty. It’s easy to see, why CERES gems hold so much appeal - there’s a unique
quality to the clarity, cut and definition of their stones and their pieces are classified by the brilliance of their design. Their blue legacy collection boasts of sapphires of the finest cut set in either white or yellow gold. Make sure you take a look at their chandelier earrings and solitaire engagement rings. Available at CERES Outlets.
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for two dozen) and, of course, glass staples for south Indian ceremonies (` 6- ` 75 for a dozen). 16, 9th Main, 3rd Block, Jayanagar (2663-5074). Daily 8am-11pm, Tuesdays 8am-2pm. All major cards.
Jute Cottage It’s not just the free gift wrapping service that entice shoppers at Jute Cottage; the prices are a major factor as well. No handbag here costs more than ` 400 and their trendy earrings can be had for as low as ` 25. You can pick handbags, string purses, pouches
CALVIN KLEIN This season, Calvin Klein, one of the first names in quality Swiss made time pieces, have a new collection in watches. Each line follows the design sensibility of timelessness that is particular to the brand but you can expect a lot more with these watches. The ck recess is for the gentlemen partial to an ageless sense style. The watch is presented in sleek and polished stainless steel case and boasts dials in grey, silver and black. The integrated strap with deployment buckle is available in stylish black or brown leather. The ck strive is the picture of elegance, with its luminous polished hands and bezel accentuated with a logo at 12 o clock. The watch is finished with a metal bracelet and a black or brown leather strap and is available in lady, lady chrono, gent and gent chrono. Available at Calvin Klein outlets.
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for mobile phones, folders, totes, shoulder bags, wine bottle sleeves, footwear, carpets and even jewellery and not burn a Louis Vuitton-sized hole in your wallet – these are all available for under ` 60. The designs range from a ‘60s influenced psychedelia to a contemporary colour palette that allows the bags to be accessorised with both casual and work outfits. 295/1, Cambridge Layout Ulsoor. 2530-8694. 10.30am – 8pm. Credit cards accepted. Sunday closed.
Mrinalini Cariapa
SWATCH TIMEPIECES FROM THE LIFESTYLE COLLECTION The trendy Swiss fashion watch and jewellery maker, Swatch has unveiled a refreshing array of fifteen new Swatch watches and five new families of Swatch Bijoux for its Lifestyle Collection. Trendy and new, these new creations offer cutting-edge colours and fashionable forms with easy-to-wear materials. The five Irony Chronos, one of the ranges in the new collection present the classic Swatch Irony look and feel. The look is textured with coloured dials set off by bracelets fashioned from stainless steel. Brushed and polished surfaces ensure a refined finish. The Five Irony Lady models are defined by their elegance, with minimalist dials in a range of fashionable colours, a stylish Milanese spiral mesh bracelet and a coloured cabochon set in the
Mrinalini Cariapa works predominantly with silver, and according to her, her label Flames of the Forest is characterised by the different textures she introduces to the metal and the unusual stones she has a penchant for. Cariapa is as likely to use a lump of iron ore as she is to use jasper stone, fossil pieces and meteorite fragments in her pieces. The designer creates earrings, rings, pendants and necklaces, and when she’s not busy planning exhibitions of her work, she holds courses for those interested in learning how to make their own jewellery. Call Mrinalini Cariapa on 9880673144 to make an appointment. Flames of the Forest pieces range There are also nose-rings from `400- `2,000. (` 250 onwards), earrings (` 620 onwards) and jadas (`5,700 onwards) to thread Nita Rai Jewellery through the plait. A little over 16 years ago, and Sunrise Silver Craft, 15 Raja a couple of years after she was Market, Avenue Road (2222married, this interior designer 2009). Mon-Sat 11.30am-8pm. changed tracks and signed up for a jewellery designing course at the All major cards. JD Institute of Fashion Technology, Delhi. Rai shifted to Bangalore a The Tuckshop decade ago and since then has been catering to corporate clients, When you visit The Tuckshop, Whitefield’s expat community and you can help yourself to free homemade cake and a mug other residents. Rai works with of coffee, but the store is no pearls, gold, gold-plated silver, rubies, and emeralds, as well as canteen. It only takes its name semi-precious stones. from a school tuck shop in G-503, Renaissance Jagriti, Chandigarh, which owner Raina Whitefield Main Road, Whitefield Sahu remembers as “a wondrous (98451-92876). Visits by little place that somehow had appointment only. All major cards. everything in it”. At first glance, it looks like the store has turned out to be as eclectic as Sahu could Sunrise Jewellers have hoped: apart from export Sunrise Jewellers is the place to surplus clothing for men, women go to if you’re looking for temple and kids, it houses shoes, bags, jewellery. The imitation pieces are home accessories, jewellery, art made from silver, brushed with and even the odd balloon. gold foil and inlaid with artificial Varthur Main Road, near S4 stones, and conventionally have Supermarket (98803-53670). motifs of mangos, peacocks Mon-Sat 10am-7pm; Sunday visits and snakes. Necklaces range by appointment. No cards. Visit from ` 1,000 to ` 6,000, while www.tuckshop.in or write to raina. headpieces begin at ` 3,500. sahu@gmail.com.
crown. Rounding out the watch department of the Lifestyle Collection are five new Originals Lady watches with polka-dot patterned silicone straps in five cool colours. Swatch launched its first collection of bijoux more than ten years ago, and the popular and versatile accessories take a prominent place in today’s Lifestyle Collection, with five new families offering a broad choice of complementary pendants, bracelets, rings and earrings. The new bijoux exhibit the brand’s celebrated flair for innovative designs formed of stainless steel and a variety of materials ranging from black leather to coloured polymer clay and white crystals. The result is a Lifestyle Collection with a delightful mix of fashionable bijoux and trendy watches to suit all tastes. Available at Swatch Outlets.
Utkalika Orissa State Emporium Utkalika is the only governmentrun emporium for Orissa handicrafts in Bangalore. The emporium sells white-metal jewellery Odissi dancers, consisting of a belt, two bangles, a maang tika, earrings, necklace and three armlets. Utkalika Orissa State Emporium, 101 Centre Point, 56 Residency Road (2558-2744). Daily 10.30am-7pm. All major cards.
MMTC'S FESTIVAL OF GOLD Delhi-ites have a reason to rejoice. The largest Exhibitioncum-Sale of exquisite Hallmarked Gold jewellery will be coming to the city this festive season. Take your pick from one-of- a-kind pieces from over fifteen states of India. Convention Hall, The Ashok, Chanakyapuri .7pm onwards. Exhibition will continue till 24th October.