Reliance Trends

The store at Avani Riverside mall has a wide collection of kurtis, salwar kameez and western wear for women. The new Panchi brand has kurtis with bird motifs either printed or embroidered on them. Short tunics in vibrant colours are available here as are multi-coloured straight as well as flared or ‘gher’ kurtis. A separate stand is dedicated to black and white items. There are eight different combinations in black and white in this collection. Flared or anarkali salwar kameez sets with dupatta mainly in white or white and maroon combination are popular this year. These are in fabrics like cotton and cotton silk. Kerala cotton salwar suits in white and golden are also here. In western wear, printed jeans can be teamed up with cotton or georgette tops. Printed capris and hot pants fly off the shelf. Georgette shrug-cum-jacket to be worn over short sleeved T-shirts look pretty. Short dresses in cotton or chiffon and Palazzo pants are popular.

The children’s section is teeming cotton dresses. Full sleeve tops worn with denim shirts are in plenty. Pink jumpsuits look attractive as do the georgette tops with stone work round the collars. These can be teamed with jeans or hot pants. Pretty red dresses have blue jackets over them. However these can be bought together or separately. Flowers bloom on the Apple Eye brand party dresses available in pink and white. Kurtis and jeggings are also available for little girls.

Boys look stylish in corduroys and they have a huge collection in Reliance Trends this year. Corduroy and twill blazers can be found in plenty. Corduroy pants in four colours are also available. Twill pants look stylish and are new at the store this year. Coloured jeans for girls are available in the 612 Ivy League brand at the store.

pocket pinch

Womenswear

• Panchi brand kurtis - Rs 799-1,299
• Tunics – Rs 699
• Anarkali salwar kameez sets – Rs 1,999
• Cream anarkali salwar kameez set – Rs 1,899
• Kerala cotton salwar kameez – Rs 1,999
• Black and white kurtis – Rs 1,299
• Straight cut kurtis – Rs 799 to 999
• Anarkali kurtis – Rs 1,299
• Gher kurtis – Rs 1,299
• Printed jeans – Rs 1,199
• Chiffon tops – Rs 499
• Short dresses – Rs 799 to 1,299
• Georgette jacket – Rs 899

Kidswear

• Girls’ chiffon dresses – Rs 649
• Top with denim shirt – Rs 399 (top) + Rs 799 (shirt)
• Jumpsuit – Rs 649
• Red dress with denim shrug – Rs 1,000
• Apple Eye brand dress – Rs 1,460
• Jeggings – Rs 365
• Boys’ corduroy jacket – Rs 999
• Team Spirit twill jacket – Rs 999
• Corduroy pants – Rs 699
• Cargo shirt – Rs 599
• Suspender pants – Rs 699
• T-shirts – Rs 549

Baazar Kolkata

The store at Chintamoni Dey Road at Howrah Maidan is celebrating its second Durga puja in Howrah this year. The rush has started long back and the store is packed with buyers. Young boys have a lot to choose from the different kinds of shirts this season. Casual shirts to be worn with jeans and cargos have new prints and cuts. Some old fashions have made a comeback like the ‘loadshedding’ shirts of the ’70s and ’80s, conceived on the rampant power cuts in the state. The design has come back with a little difference. Neon coloured prints or patches on a white base mark these out. Cargo shirts that have folded sleeves buttoned at the arm have a hood. Sunset has been metaphorically depicted on the ‘evening’ shirts that is blue from the shoulders with a pink body. Chinese collars are back with a new name, ‘prince’ collar shirts. In ethnicwear, men can choose from a new collection of cotton pyjama panjabi sets. Tussar sets are also available with elaborate zari and thread work near the collar. Kurta sets with a sheen are also here. However, the best are the pristine white sets with self-coloured light embroidery near the collar..

Girls will be spoilt for choice in the western wear section. Ankle-length printed jeans are trendy this year. To go with these are cotton or synthetic colourful tops. Two-piece tops with a thin belt around the waist are the latest at Baazar Kolkata. The traditional Lucknowi chikan embroidered kurtis are also in the lot along with cotton short length, short sleeve kurtis. In ethnicwear, there are the gown style salwar kameez which have a large flare and are ankle length that are worn over a churidar. These have heavy zardosi and stone work done on them. On a slightly lighter side are the chanderi or net anarkali suits which have velvet or zardosi borders. The crushed cotton anarkalis are also among the latest stock.

Little boys from one to 10 years of age can have kurta pyjama with a stylish embroidered jawahar coat on it. Printed bermudas with T-shirts are also popular. For girls, fancy long or short frocks made from net with pretty sequin work are a rage. Net anarkali and flare suits are also popular in bright colours.

pocket pinch

Menswear

• Contrast cuffs & collar shirts – Rs 495 onwards
• Cargo shirts – Rs 395 onwards
• Antique collection shirts – Rs 849
• Loadshedding shirts – Rs 795
• Evening shirt – Rs 795
• Check shirts – Rs 495 onwards
• Prince collar solid shirts – Rs 595
• Cotton kurta pyjama sets – Rs 1,095 onwards
• Tussar Kurta pyjama sets – Rs 1,245 onwards
• White panjabi pyjama sets – Rs 450 onwards

Womenswear

• Printed jeans – Rs 495 onwards
• Fancy tops – Rs 495 onwards
• Cotton kurtis – Rs 99 onwards
• Chikan kurtis – Rs 425 onwards
• Gown style suit – Rs 2,700 onwards
• Anarkali suit – Rs 1,095 onwards
• Crushed cotton anarkali suit – Rs 2,100 onwards

Kidswear

• Kurta pyjama sets with jawahar coat – Rs 875
• Printed bermudas – Rs 60 onwards
• Boys T-shirts – Rs 79 onwards
• Long dress – Rs 695 onwards
• Fancy dress – Rs 99 onwards
• Anarkali salwar kameez - Rs 75 to 1,125

City Life

The new and upcoming retail chain for middle-class consumers has opened a multi-level store at Bangabasi in Howrah Maidan recently. It has quite a bit to offer for its first Durga puja in Howrah this year. For men, the NaMo trend persists. The ‘Modi’ coat, otherwise called the Jawahar coat, is ubiquitous, available in bright colours like orange, blue, green and cream that can be teamed up with jeans, cargos and casual shirts. Checks and solids are in vogue this year. Full sleeve and half sleeve cotton casual shirts have large colourful checks.

Ladies can choose between ethnic and western fashion. Long tops to wear over jeans or trousers are a plenty. There is a lot of mix of cotton stretch fabric with chiffon and georgette. Tops with shrugs joined together make a perfect combination. Kurtis are available in cotton. Flared kurtis and straight cut ones are available in bright colours and prints. Some also have embroidery on the yoke and sleeves.

For little girls there are pretty long and short party dresses with a lot of lace and net. The baba suit is an evergreen hit for little boys between two to five years with its shorts and T-shirt or shirt.

pocket pinch

Menswear

• Full sleeves casual shirts – Rs 299 to 1,099
• Half sleeves casual shirts – Rs 299 to 899
• Jawahar coat – Rs 649 to 2,199

Womenswear

• Long tops – Rs 449 to 899
• Kurtis – Rs 129 to 299 and 529 to 1,079
• Salwar suit sets – Rs 2,000 onwards

Kidswear

• Long dresses – Rs 479 to 1,149
• Baba suits – Rs 249

Pictures by Anup Bhattacharya