Out & About

In touch with traditionWith Diwali round the corner, stores housing traditional sarees have come up with their best collections and thoug...

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In touch with tradition
With Diwali round the corner, stores housing traditional sarees have come up with their best collections and though the response is not as great as was expected, thanks to a sluggish economy hit hard by recession, yet, for the discerning buyer, the range is well worth a dekko.

The Handloom House in Sector 17 has a good collection of Narayanpet — typical Maharashtrian sarees, which come in the range of Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,500. Not very expensive considering the silk used and the combinations which are unusual yet retain the traditional touch. Patolas and Ikkat sarees in all kinds of shades, from the bright golden-yellow and red to green and red combinations and beiges to fawns, with a touch of red or orange also make for an ideal gift or dress-up for the do.

Also, check out Uphaar for Jamdanis and Jamavars, which form an integral part of wedding trousseau. Though priced steeply at Rs. 10,000 and above, with a little discount, those making purchases for weddings can consider the option.

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Gulatis in Sector 17 is also offering discounts on its range of sarees and it’s crepes and light-weight chiffons and printed silks make for a good bargain.

In Sector 20, Co-optex houses a range of traditional South silks, Balucharis and Patolas. The range offers a wide variety of choice not only in silks but also by way of prices. Balucharis varying between Rs 3,000 and above, of course with a little discount, make for a worthwhile buy this season.

So check out all the lovely stuff available and deck up yourself for the festive occasion in style that is traditional yet contemporary.

Changing trends
Chandigarh is emerging as one of the fastest growing markets for the dress conscious. And an example of this is the large number of clothes stores that are opening in the City. And what you observe here is the emergence of trends like total customer satisfaction, convenience and targeting a particular segment.

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The latest segment here is women and kids. And why not, they are the the highest consumers of fashion wear. In the last one week only, Chandigarh has witnessed the inauguration of two exclusive stores for women and children.

Catwalk and Mickey and Pals
Catwalk, which was inaugurated just three days back in Sector 17, has clothing and accessories exclusively for women and children. And the unique part of Catwalk is that it has only western wear for women. So all you ladies who were starved of angrezi kapde can visit the place and splurge. The major attraction for the coming winters are sets of trousers and coats for women which are cut in classic shapes and are very stylish and contemporary.

There is a wide range of winter wear in the form of cardigans, pullovers and sweaters. The materials in vogue are velvet, pashmina and cashmilon. But what is a must see are the vibrant colours of these apparel. But what one misses in the store is the display concept which is very common and lacks colour.

The top floor of the store is exclusively for children. There is a large variety of clothes and accessories for children in the age group of 0 to 13 years old. So young mothers can walk into the section and can pick up everything from clothes to prams to toys and bottles. A hassle free shopping experience seems to be the USP of these new concept stores.