bpb Review: am:pm at D7

Here are the hues of summer, white and aqua, navy and lavender, red and a pale, warm yellow. Set against the swooping white lines of am:pm’s just-opened Mumbai store, they make a compelling case for a whole new wardrobe, one that stretches from work to cocktails, moderately expensive to brow-raisingly exorbitant, a.m to well... p.m.

Fit Or Miss

Concentrating on Indian wear and confined to the abovementioned colour palette, am:pm offers simple tunics made enchanting with quiet details like an asymmetric yolk or barcode of pinstripes, a pretty bird sown over the nape of one kurta, buttons scattered over another. There are also some dresses, including an incongruous white lycra sheath with navy piping and much draping (Rs 8,000) – a bizarre misfit here, it seems much more suited to Morphe or even the Cue store next door.

Other weird, one-off pieces pepper the racks, like a baby pink ombre kurta in crushed chiffon that might have opened a collection in 1999 (Rs 8,500) and a thick, stiff navy satin dress with a dreadfully matron cut.

A Few of Our Favourite Things

Skirt around these and you’ll find many treasures, including an incredibly well-fitted navy tunic embellished with white sequins laid out in chromosome strands (Rs 7,800); yellow shirt furrowed with tiny pin tucks (Rs 6,950); jersey sheath with embroidered chiffon overdress (Rs 22,000); and a white maxi with nipped waist and full skirt, straight out of The Sound of Music (all that was missing was a blue satin sash).

Also available is some disappointing footwear, gladiators with cut-outs and metallic chappals sporting big leafed flowers. Not only are these terribly outdated but also badly finished, a sharp contrast to the carefully crafted clothes.

Finishing Touch

Even as a standalone store, am:pm is worth a visit. But because it’s located at D7, a maze of interconnected designer shops, you have the added advantage of wandering into stores by Pratap and Cue, Ranna Gill and Namrata Joshipura. Wander we did, and came back with some eye candy to whet your appetite before you go see for yourself. Find it here.

Getting there: D7, Turning Point building, Khar Dandar Road, Bandra (W), Rs 7,000 for a kurta.