Eclectic Energy
The Oriental, military and ultra chic come alive in Siddhartha Tytler's designs (quite common this season though). But he takes a different route with the play of pink chikankari combats worn with Oriental jackets. The jackets are cut in a military style (now that sounds interesting). Sharp silhouettes (like the ones on the right) are his forte and embellishments like chains, buttons and zips, his first love.
Available at 1 M G Road, New Delhi


‘W’ Stands For Winter
Tired of bulky winter clothes? W, the brand by TCNS Clothing Company has an answer to this. On offer: Kurtas (Rs 500 to Rs 600), pants (Rs 300 to Rs 400), reversible coats, short coats and striped shawls (Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000) with interesting weave effects in fabrics like rayon, polycot and silk viscose. Affordable prices assure you live through the winters with a smile!
Available at flagship stores and multi-brand outlets like Shopper’s Stop, Globus, Lifestyle and Pantaloon

Ah! Italian Class Italy strikes again! The country is synonymous with style. Giovani, a label for men and women has a line of slim-fit suits with narrow lapels (they are in vogue), shirts with embroidery, jackets with bold stripes, long coats and pinstriped skirts. You can find creations in textured fabrics, wool and its blends, linen, velveteen, suede, pure silks and silk-mohair blends, polyamide, viscose and crepe.
Available at Sehgal brothers, Big Jo’s, Mohanlal Sons and Gujralsons in New Delhi

Hearty Hands
How many times in a day do we think about doing something for people who are less fortunate than us? In our fast-paced lives, our best contributions are meant for the collection boxes held out to us by children at traffic crossings. But despite financial troubles, Kolkata-based Srabani Dasgupta-Mondol thought beyond. Today she provides work and employment to several junior artists, their wives and poor villagers. With their help, she creates fine artistry on saris (a style that never goes out of fashion!).
Srabani began stitching kantha (a recognised word in the Indian fashion industry — it’s Bengal embroidery done on quilts) 13 years ago, sitting in a small room in Kolkata. How are her saris made? First pencil drawings are made on the sari as if it was canvas, then the colours of the threads are decided and finally the sari is embroidered. Srabani employs poor junior artists to do the pencil drawings and their wives to complete the embroidery. She makes sure both are paid separately. This helps the artists’ wives to be financially independent. Srabani was born into a family of artists and has chosen kantha to depict art, so every time you wear her creations, you are actually wearing art!
Srabani retails though exhibitions held across the country.

Neo Creator
Young and restless is Gurpreet Nagi, the fresh sprig who walked into the fashion circles with élan, a few months ago. After the sneak preview of her creations at Athena, the hip lounge in Mumbai, she has now come up with a range of embroidered kurtas and tops. She works extensively on Indo-Western and ethnic clothes with embroidery and unique embellishments.

She also has her creative cells working overtime on designing of accessories. Creating shoes is another facet of Gurpreet. The embroidered navy sleeveless upper teamed with a pair of jeans and riveted belt in the picture looks quite cool, we must say!
Available at Gfashions, B-22 Satyam Shopping Centre, M G Road, Ghatkopar (E), Mumbai


Close To Your Sole
Want to know what the shoe experts predict for this season? It’s time for a paradox: reveal and hide skin, at the same time! And clogs, mules, pumps, sports shoes, sandals and flip-flops would do just that for you. Here are variations from a few brands...

‘Stryde’ in style into the night! Stryde, the brand from Tata International, has a range of square-toed party shoes for men named Grand Canyon crafted out of two-tone printed leather. Priced at Rs 1,699, these shoes promise to reduce stress and offer a snug fit. The shoes are available in Stryde showrooms and multi-brand outlets across the country.

They said green is the colour of hope and brazen apple green topped the charts. Inc 5 had these colours and more in its range of embellished sandals (both heels and flats). If you are the brash type, then you could try the design with beads and huge leather flowers. And if you have subtle tastes then the small poppy-like white flowered ones are the thing for your feet!

Then there’s Rocia, the range from Regal shoes, offering sexy stilettos and platform heels just when you thought that platforms were out. Tangy orange, bubblegum pink, shocking fuchsia and deep yellow are some of the colours the collection flaunts. Priced between Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000.

News Flash!
• An underwater camera, loads of baggage, five supermodels and Vijay Mallya were the elements for the Kingfisher Swimsuit Special 2004 (a calendar). Shot by Atul Kasbekar, the shoot had a combination of fashion, surf and sand. Just spot the models in the picture with embroidered swimsuits (next time you are on the golden sands, you could also trot around in a skimpy embellished style!)
• Our designer Rohit Bal has a lot more to offer than just couture and prêt! He designed uniforms for the barmen of Agni, the cocktail lounge at The Park, New Delhi. Their chunky belts, ombre shirts and flaming jackets set the scene on fire.
• Fashion and music went hand-in-hand at Aura, the restrobar in Rodas Hotel, Powai, Mumbai. Subhash Sarkar, a new kid on the block, provided the fashion input, while the crowd rocked to the music of Brown Indian Band (have we heard them before?). Now you know where to knock if you are a budding designer or a musician!