11 Famous places for shopping in India !!!!

“A person who thinks that money cannot buy happiness, simply doesn’t know where to shop,” goes a common quote. Shopping is a therapy which serves even more fruitful when one knows the exotic locations for shopping. So, here is the list of some of the best shopping locations from all the corners of India, along with their exquisite details.

1. Anjuna Flea Market, Goa

It is the most famous flea market in Goa. Tourists throng to this place in large numbers because of the plethora of items they get to buy here. Starting from fruits and vegetables to clothes and electronic gadgets – this market offers them all, and for quite low prices. It is open only on Wednesdays, and is the favorite go-to place for the shopaholics who travel to Goa.

2. Crawford Market, Mumbai

It is located in Mumbai’s Fort area, and to the north of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. It is one of the most renowned markets in India. This market is divided into lanes which sell specific items like fruits, vegetables, imported toiletries, imported chocolates, dry fruits, pets, wholesale gift packaging material, hookahs and party essentials. It is surrounded by markets such as Manish Market which is known for electronic gadgets available at a cheaper cost, Abdul Rehman Street which abounds in stationary, toys, fashion accessories and gifting options, Lohar Chawl which provides lights of whatever shape and sizes for whatsoever occasions, Sutar Chawl which provides party essentials, Mangaldas Market where one can find good quality saris, drapes and other fashionable ensembles and Zaveeri Bazaar which specializes in jewellery.

3. Colaba Causeway, Mumbai

Colaba Causeway is the haven for shopaholics. It is located in South Bombay’s Colaba area. The ideal name of this street is Shaheed Bhagat Singh Street. It abounds in clothes, accessories and home decor. It also lies in the vicinity of Leopold Cafe and Bademiyah Kebab Corner which are renowned for their exquisite dishes and refreshments. Shopaholics can never get enough of Colaba Market and the myriad of items available to be bought there.

4. New Market, Kolkata

New Market is the favorite destination of shopping in the city of joy, Kolkata. It came into existence during the colonial era, and enjoys widespread patronage till date. From the littlest of accessories to fine pieces of clothing and home decor, from fruits and vegetables to the stalls of trinkets and soft toys on the streets - the labyrinthine structure of New Market abounds in everything. There are numerous food joints strewn all over the area to offer refreshments. The Jewish confectionery shop ‘Nahoum & Sons’ is well renowned for its mouth-watering sweet dishes like plum cakes, brownies and pastries. Shops like Bombay Silk House, Dayaram and Co. and Ghanashyam specialise in saris. There are roadside stalls which are cheap, and there are malls in the New Market where shopping can be a bit costly. But none of it seems to deter it being one of the best shopper’s stop in Kolkata and undoubtedly, in India too.

5. Dilli Haat, Delhi

Delhi being the capital of India and one of the leading metropolitan cities of India, is naturally the hub of many famous destinations for shopping. Dilli Haat is one of them. It is basically an open air market with stalls set up for selling footwear, handicrafts, clothing and accessories. There are three Dilli Haats - one is situated in INA Market, one in Janakpuri and the other in Pitampura. The overall atmosphere of Dilli Haat invokes a traditional sense of fashion among the shopaholics. Along with shopping, people can also enjoy the various cultural performances staged there, and hence, it is one of the most favorite shopping destinations for people.

6. Pondy Bazaar, Chennai

The metropolitan cities of India are usually a hub of shopaholics, and so is Chennai. Pondy Bazaar is located in T. Nagar and is one of the top shopping destinations in Chennai. It abounds in crockery, jewellery, cotton garments, elegant footwear, leather bags and various other accessories. It is also a hub for providing the costumes for various classical dances. Considered to be one of the liveliest places in Chennai, this place is most definitely a shopper’s paradise.

7. Aminabad, Lucknow

Lucknow cannot really boast of housing multiplexes and malls, but the labyrinthine markets of Lucknow have a charm of their own. Lucknow is known for its Chikan work, and what is a better place to find Chikan work than Aminabad? Chikan is a popular thread work that is done by the skilled craftsmen of Lucknow. It involves embroidery with gold and silver threads and also involves crystal work on the clothes, mats, table cloths and bed sheets too. Along with Zardosi, Chikan work is one of the most sought-after-thing by shopaholics in Lucknow.

8. Laad Bazaar, Hyderabad

It is the most popular shopping hub in Hyderabd, and located next to Charminar. The streets in Laad Bazaar specialize in perfumes, textiles and jewellery for women. The bangles in Laad Bazaar are quite the main attraction of the place. It is the go-to place for wedding shopping in Hyderabad. It specializes in hand crafted lac bangles, which are produced in local workshops and embellished with glittering stones. This is the main attraction place for the people who would love to buy any traditional or ethnic jewellery to go with their attire.

9. Laxmi road, Pune 

Laxmi road is old and famous place for shopping. It has everything for shopping ranging from clothes/ accessories/handbags for babies to Grown ups. It is the most busiest market in Pune. Mostly this road Contain mix variety of clothes cheap to expensive, branded to local. If you want to shop for wedding then Laxmi road is the best place for it. You will get to shop all the things you wanted to shop for weddings such as Bridal sarees and dresses, traditional dresses for men and women. Laxmi road also have so many Gold jewellery shops which has beautiful designs. 

There are many tailor shops which are helpful for stitching the dresses and blouses.

10. Hong Kong Lane, Pune

If one is looking for shopping destinations in Pune, this place is definitely one of the go-to-places for shopaholics in Pune. It is located in Deccan near the Garware Bridge. It is well renowned for displaying a plethora of items such as bags, accessories and footwear. The junk jewellery in Hong Kong Lane is quite the charm of the place. Junk jewellery include beaded bracelets, criss-cross lockets and watches of all shapes and styles. It is also the hub of branded products from Nike, Reebok and Diesel.

11. Brigade Road, Bangalore

Brigade Road is a shopping destination which is usually thronged by the youngsters in Bangalore. There a number of brand showrooms, street stalls and multi brand arcades here. Those brands include Vero Moda, Lee, Van Heussen and Louis Philippe. Fifth Avenue, Mota Royal Arcade and Eva Mall at the Residency Road house assortments of various brands. In the evenings, the street stalls put unbranded clothing, shoes and knick knacks out for display. This place also has various restaurants and pubs to cater for the refreshments of the shopaholics flocking there.

Those are just some of the places which are well renowned for being the hubs of shopping in the country. There are people who visit the above places just for the sake of buying souvenirs and for the delight of shopping in the most exquisite places of India. 

The joy derived from shopping is something which cannot be expressed in words, and shopping in the right places just increases the joy manifold. This can be well justified by the words of Mimosa Rose – “If shopping doesn’t make you happy, then you’re in the wrong shop.”

Office wear for ladies

Thomas hardy once said, “The perfect woman you see is a working woman, not an idler, not a fine lady, but one who uses her hands and her head and her heart for the good of others.” The metamorphosis of women from being a home-maker to being the one who goes to the office has been quite a remarkable one. But, carrying oneself properly also seems to be the need of the moment.

Offices take up the most part of a working woman’s day, and therefore the ensemble necessary for working women must be chosen keeping in mind the clothes in which one can appear cool, comfortable and confident for whatsoever stretches of time. 

 The formal wear chosen for office must consist of crisp shirts, either monochrome or if printed, must have simple patterns of design on them which might not draw too much unnecessary attention. Light colored shirts should be teamed with dark colored pencil skirts or trousers, and vice-versa. In case of covering the neck, a scarf can be tied in a simple knot around the neck. Blazers, if added to the ensemble must match the colour of the pencil skirts or trousers.

When one opts for Kurtis and churidaars for office wear, they should be of decent and mute colors, which might not draw too much of attention. They can be teamed with either cotton or chiffon dupattas, or even a stole. Kurtis can also be teamed with patiyalas or palazzo to add to the comfort during working for long stretches of time.

As for accessories, simple studs can be used to accentuate the ears and any antique or metallic watch can accentuate the wrist. Simple jewelry with mute colors such as plain silver or platinum jewelry can also be used for accessorizing.

                                             

Comfort should be the prime concern while selecting the footwear, because shoes take you places, and one would definitely not want to be in an uncomfortable pair of shoes which might make your feet ache by the end of a hectic day. Simple, formal shoes with or without heels can serve as a viable option. For ankle-length trousers, plain shoes with no heels can help one look chic and comfortable. For Kurtis and churidaars, a decent pair of heels could serve as a viable option. 

For various traditional festivities in the office, one can either opt for a churidaar, palazzo teamed with a kurti, salwar kameez, or a kurti with a pair of jeans or leggings. For earrings, danglers or jhumke can be put on to bring out one’s ethnic side. A pair of bangles on one wrist and a watch on the other never fails to bring out one’s classy side. Footwear can be anything ranging from platform heels to plain jootis on such occasions. 

For office parties, where one has to meet and mingle with various dignitaries, any outfit that is elegant and looks decent can be quite useful. Outfits most preferable for such occasions are gowns, preferably single colored, or saris with minimal design. On such occasions, the accessories vary with the chosen outfit. Danglers and a neck piece can be used to team up with gowns and bangles and simple jhumke can be teamed up with saris. Footwear can preferably be heels which make you look elegant and also add a dash of attitude to the entire ensemble. 

What to choose for a day in the office and what not to, can be quite a tricky decision. But bringing forth a look which might radiate comfort and confidence is the best ensemble for working women. What matters is the self confidence to pull off a certain ensemble because as said by Anne Klein, “Clothes aren’t going to change the world. The women who wear them will.” 

Accessorize yourself!!!!

“A woman makes an outfit with her own accessories,” said the eminent fashion designer, Oscar de la Renta. Accessories add glamour to an outfit ensemble. Be it a chunky bracelet, a pair of loop earrings or an antique neck piece – accessories help one to stand out in a crowd of people dressed in the same, everyday look.

Just like spices add flavor to food, accessories add a flavor of their own to the outfits. They come in quite handy because when one tries a regular outfit ensemble with various sets of accessories on different occasions, every look appears to be in vogue. This is because, just by juggling with different sets of accessories, a myriad of cool and chic looks can be created. Furthermore, most people tend to believe that spending on accessories is a better investment than spending on outfits, because the more the accessories, the more the looks one gets to flaunt.

For day-to-day life, in case of working women, a simple platinum or silver necklace could be an ideal way to accessorize one for various formal occasions. Formal accessories could also include a stylish, antique watch or simple platinum or silver studs for earrings. 

Accessories could also involve the addition of a nice pair of shoes or a stylish handbag or a purse. In case of casual outings or road trips, chunky sets of accessories like bracelets, chains or necklaces could serve as viable options for accessorizing.

Black metal accessories seem to be quite in vogue for such occasions. Also, for occasions like picnics or parties with friends, an addition of a floral tiara would only help in bringing out a carefree look.

                                      

Occasions like weddings call for accessorizing in the best possible way. Be it the sleek maang-teeka falling on your forehead or the bangles sitting on the wrist; be it the nathni on the nose, or the addition of either an anklet on one ankle or payal on both ankles, everything brings out the requisite ethnicity for such traditional occasions.

Even the addition of danglers on the ears, or the addition of a small purse dangling from the side adds beauty to the traditional outfit. Simple jootis or sandals could go well with the ethnic ensemble.

For a date-night or a candle-light dinner, minimal accessory might help in adding an air of elegance required for such occasions. A simple handbag or clutch could go with the dress or gown put out for the occasion. Peep-toes or plain heels could serve as an ideal footwear option.

An outfit ensemble is incomplete without accessorizing. With the mere addition of a simple watch on the wrist, one seems to attain a proper attitude and a persona. Accessories help in adding a new trend and standing out in a crowd. They save one’s time from rummaging through a closet full of clothes. An inclusion of accessories to the ensemble generates a fresh and rejuvenated sense of styling which can never be outdated. This can be well justified by Michael Kors’ statement: “I’ve always thought of accessories as the exclamation point of a woman’s outfit.”