Sew Me!

The vintage sewing machines are cool, but we’re not quite sure how empty Snapple bottles, beer pints and old records fit into the decor at Mineral, designer Priyadarshini Rao’s flowery new flagship store for women's apparel in Bandra. I’ll get that ruffled shirt in baby brew please.

Runny Yoke

Adding a peaceful sea-green hue to Bandra’s busy Linking Road, Mineral opened a few days ago with casual designs and a handful of denims. While the floral dresses with crochet detailing will immediately evoke Chemistry's racks, the kurta tops and multi-hued cotton shirts bring on flashes of your last visit to an export surplus store.

We suggest you stay away from the dowdy, loudly-printed floral tops, badly finished tanks with sequins and cotton shirts that are available in almost every colour. In fact, you’re tempted to turn away from a lot of designs here, but the well-styled photos of models in the store make you re-consider many. Like for instance, the printed shirts teamed with wide-leg denims or military green pleated pants. Also, see sexy chiffon shirts with high yoke and fun sleeves (Rs 1,500) and layered long skirts. Shelves are also filled with basics - plain coloured tees (Rs 1,000) and ribbed tanks (Rs 699). If you can fit into the adorable sail boat dress in the teen section, ride the high seas and those high hopes.

Wicker Park

When you ask and find that the pretty candy-coloured wicker tote is not on sale, you will be taken to a largely blah bag section, saved by the cool laptop bags in distressed leather (Rs 2,199) and a giant nautical shoulder carry-all.  Like any jewellery rack today, the one here too houses that ubiquitous owl on a necklace (Rs 500), as well as a few beaded and charmed baubles. There’s also a small section dedicated to eye wear.

If you don’t visit Mineral, you’re not missing much. But if you do get drawn in by that sea-green we told you about, you know what to browse. And remember, that brew on the shelf is just a tease.

Getting there:  Mineral, main Linking Road, next to Baskin Robbins, Bandra (W), call 26423858, some designs also available at Shoppers' Stop outlets, Rs 2,500 for layered skirt.