India is redefining fashion the prêt-a-porter way. Vinod Kaul explains how.

Flashback, 2000:You saw a designer outfit and imagined yourself wearing it. But where in the world were you going to buy it from? Where was the money to buy it? To top it all, where did you think you were going to go wearing it?

Present, 2004: You want to shop for Rs 1,500. You walk into a mall to check out office wear options. Enter Shopper's Stop; you realise that you can buy a Rohit Bal label for that money! You saunter down further and enter 'Be', where a saleswoman tells you about five other designers that fit your budget and taste. And then, you can buy more of such labels at Pantaloon's Springboard!

Future, 2006: You wake up in the morning and ponder over what to wear to work and your options comprise Rohit Bal, Priyadarshini Rao and more. You are the same person; so what is it that has led to this change? Higher disposable income coupled with designer wear becoming more wearable, available and affordable. Prêt-a-porter or ready-to-wear is the new mantra for your wardrobe. With just a little extra money you can now get your favourite designerwear in your wardrobe in the form that you like.