The Lights of Others

Pulled like moths to a flaming red-orange dress at designer Drashta Sarvaiya’s new flagship store, we were glad to have finally found our bright Diwali buy for the year. The yum satin-silk sheath’s Rs 13,560 price tag though, made us return it to rack (temporarily) and hope for a hefty Diwali bonus at the office. Is anyone listening?

This and other fierce frocks light up Drashta, a Khar women’s fashion store run by its well-known namesake who, for the uninitiated, graduated from NIFT, previously worked at Ogaan, participated in India Fashion Weeks, showcased in Paris and found patrons in celebrities like Sonam Kapoor, Shruti Hassan and Deepika Padukone. Drashta opened just ahead of the festive season not with blinding bling, but still enough wattage to make you happy. There’s a mix of Drashta's old and new collections, while a chunk of the latest is on a work trip to Paris with the designer, we were told at the store. They’re expected back at the end of this month.

Zips Don’t Lie

Neither the store nor the stock is overwhelmingly large, which makes browsing simple enough. We knew instantly what we were going to try, buy and try but not be able to buy. On the racks you’ll spot structured jackets and dresses, and also flowing, wispy garments many of which seem to be deliberately left unfinished with exposed zippers and frayed edges.

While the quilted cropped jackets – one of the designer’s favourite ways to treat fabric – are fun for a Mumbai winter, we’re wondering whether the part-velvet dresses will ever be able to befriend the city’s humidity. bpb loved Drashta’s feathered friends – a skin-coloured top and teal blue dress with plumed and shiny stoned front - and also mint-hued blossom dresses with swirls of pink flowers and tulip hems, pretty enough for a stroll in the Garden of Eden.

Building Colour Blocks

Colour blocks present themselves as buoyant nautical blue skirt with green zip and side cowl; double breasted satin jacket (with nude cycling shorts!) and maxi crafted in the colours of old lace and pink flesh. Personally, we couldn't get on board with the drape-y corset dresses where too many things seem to be happening at once. There’s also a random smattering of kurta-like garments with gold flowers. What we didn't spot on the racks though, were these mad semi precious-stone embellished leggings that are for sale on Drashta's online store.

The accessories here – mostly bib necklaces – aren’t as radical as the clothes but definitely more affordable at Rs 2,500 for an electric blue bib dressed up with gold flowers.

Priced Possessions

It was refreshing for us to write, as it may have been for you to read, about a new Bandra-Khar store that doesn’t stock Bangkok bounty. Looks like home is where the art is.

Getting there: Drashta, B4, Snow White CHS, 18th Road, in the lane opposite Fabindia, Khar (W), call 26480838 or visit http://drashta.in, Rs 9,000 for a quilted jacket.