Shopping is high on the list of every girl's favourite hobbies, and we'd be lying if we said we don't love coming home with bags of new clothes, and the thrill of ripping off the tag and wearing something for the first time. Whether it's after a hard day's work, after a bad relationship or even after losing a few centimeters in the gym, shopping is every woman's first love. But each one of us has our own personal style, favourite stores and our own shopping haven. And believe it or not where we shop and the kind of clothes we buy greatly reflects our personalities.

If you shop at - Local stores off the street, small boutiques and in department stores...

You are: Not a slave to fashion but prefer to invest in practical clothes that will get you through an entire day without you having to pull at edges or adjust the drooping neckline every few minutes. You fit into standard sizes and are most likely a woman on the move - balancing a home, career and a family. You work within a budget and like sensible clothes that are comfortable enough to wear through rush hour traffic, formal enough for meetings with the boss and clients and possibly straight for that dinner date after, when you have no time to change.

What's great about your look? It lends a certain style to your wardrobe without straining your wallet. You can wear them a few times and then discard without feeling any guilt. Makes you shop twice as much.... bliss!! Some styles are often export surplus or rejects, in which case they have an extremely minor defect, and the same clothes are probably being sold elsewhere at five times the price.

Wear them to: Work, college, movies, casual dinners...

What we love about these stores: The trends! Fashion at a low cost. Also the bargaining if they are from the street stores. Gives you the power to haggle with roadside salesmen, who sometimes are so fashion challenged that they don't know the potential of the clothes they're letting you grab.

What's In?

Long flowing skirts a`la Zinta worn with sleeveless tops. Short kurti tops with basic black 'n' white pants. Oversized satchel bags with beads and stonework. Embroidered mojris with western clothes. Warning: Look out for defects, such as running colours, slight tears and also for misspelled brands such as Babe instead of Bebe or Cucci instead of Gucci. You'd rather not wear a brand than wear an imitation.

If you shop at - Upmarket Indian designer's boutiques for stylised salwar-kurtas, kurtis, and western clothes...

You are: Fashion conscious to a point but do not blindly follow every trend, choosing instead to dress in accordance with your age and body type. You love good clothes but go for more feminine, elegant and comfortable styles. Long tops and kurtis are definitely the more dignified way to go. You're not too adventurous with your clothes. While you don't mind experimenting with the embroidery or sleeve length you're definite about where the top needs to end.

What's great about your look? It's a great combination of western styles and exclusive Indian embroidery, which the rest of the world is only just discovering. Indian designers understand the needs and tastes of the Indian market and since these outfits are custom made you'll get an exclusive piece that best suits you. Besides, you don't need to go on any drastic, last minute starvation plan in order to fit into them. Also great for maternity and post-delivery wear without making you look like an old maid.Wear them to: Casual lunches with your girlfriends, pujas, dinners, or while attending formal social events such as charity functions, fashion shows, business dinners, and even weddings.

What we love about these stores: The clothes are quite multi-purpose as they can be both elegant formal, or casual depending on whether you team them with black pants or basic denims. And these styles don't seem to be going out of fashion anytime soon. Besides, shopping in these designer boutiques can be quite a social event in itself with the who's who shopping there.

What's In?

Ponchos and loose tops with clingy inners. Asymmetrical styles that break the length giving you a more stylised and flowy look. Go for butterfly motifs, small flower prints, dots, circles and geometric designs. Black and white psychedelic prints break the monotony and draw the attention away from the size. Warning: Don't restrict yourself to the same straight cuts and traditional Indian sequences. Instead experiment with colours and prints that give the outfit a more western look. But wear what you're most comfortable in. And do keep a watch on the price. Designer stuff is great but sometimes they tend to quote absurd prices just for the brand name.

If you shop at - Brands Such As Morgan, Mango Or Other A La Mod Boutiques For Imported Western Wear...

You are: A party kind of girl, mostly slim and very hip. You're always game to check out the new nightclubs, but also enjoy a relaxed lunch with your girlfriends. Dressing is a passion and you dress for others as much as you dress for yourself. You enjoy being the belle of the ball and secretly love it when men ogle, but it's an even greater high when women do. You're confident and comfortable with your body and can be an adventurous dresser with no self-imposed restrictions. And since clothes are a priority, you don't mind shelving out Rs 2,000 on an average for a top every time you put on your dancing shoes, or even your running ones for that matter. After all if you've got it, flaunt it... right?

What's great about your look: It's happening and makes you feel like an instant glam doll. You love sexy cuts and bright hues and there's something about the fits that makes even a plain black top look like a man-killer. (Of course the fact that it's totally backless helps.)

Wear them to: Parties, dinners with family and friends at a posh restaurant, or on that first date to knock his socks off.

What we love about these stores: The looks-new-for-years quality. Most of these clothes are manufactured abroad. Besides, local manufacturers cannot copy these styles and fits, so you end up with an exclusive piece that spells F-A-S-H-I-O-N. And of course, the young, friendly, trendy salesgirls who help update you with the latest styles and encourage you to try on those revealing clothes that you would never dare to wear otherwise, but look great once you try one on.

What's In?

Cargos. Not just the boring beige varieties, but in all colours especially whites and pale pinks. The look is casual, sporty and chic. Pockets everywhere except where pockets should be. The latest trend sports oversized pockets on the sides, back and along the length of the trousers. Short skirts, and we mean really, really short with big pleats, frills and layers just like the ones cheerleaders wear. Warning: to be worn only if you're stick thin with great legs. And don't fool yourself into thinking you can fit into a size 'small' when you're really a 'large'. There's nothing more obscene than flab spilling out of all the wrong places.