There's a new store in Bandra that's neither sunny nor spacious, but hopes to sell you supplies for your next beach vacation. It just doesn't feel right. Especially those synthetic-y dresses at Rekha Damani Resortwear, a new Bandra store that claims to be the only resortwear boutique in the city.  Maybe Shivan and Narresh have something to add to that?

This store stocks dresses, kaftans, swimwear and cotton tunics in a rather cramped space. We suggest you ignore the synthetic dresses and  psychedelic print kaftans. If you like bling, you may want to browse the sheer, candy-coloured kaftans with sequined collars. The swimwear collection here is limited in both design and size, but if your friend decided to elope and have a beach party tomorrow, this could be your emergency go-to place for a quick, cheap buy. While you're here you should ask to see the bright cotton tunics with Kashmiri-esque embroidery just along the neckline and slit sleeves, with a nice reggae vibe. Perfect if you're going to Live from the Console with Julian Marley in Goa next month.

We sincerely hope that the stock gets cheerier soon, considering how hard well-priced swimwear and supporting accessories are to come by in this city. Let's turn this sun-downer into a real party!

Getting there: Elavia Apartments, 33rd Road, opposite Mini Punjab, Bandra (W), caftans and tunics starting at Rs 1,050, neckpieces start at Rs 1,250.

This Scouter is determined to buy herself a motorcycle (or at the very least a baby-blue-with-silver-detailing Vespa) before the year is out, along with all the accessories that she might need with it, including a pair of headphones. On top of the pile are the very cool Redemption Song on-ear headphones by House Of Marley, suitably retro with a wooden finish and great sound, slated to arrive in Mumbai stores by the end of this week. 

House of Marley is an audio/lifestyle company headed by Rohan Marley, Bob Marley's son and former professional football player. While we love the headphones the most (see Exodus and Positive Vibration versions), the label also offers more practical earphones with cute rasta-inspired cords and names such as Smile Jamaica and Midnight Ravers. According to the company profile, all products are environmentally friendly, and part of proceeds go to 1Love, Bob Marley's charitable organization. 

Plus, these would go really well with a baby-blue Vespa. 

Getting there: Available starting end of this week at The Shop, Ambiance Sound, Lakozy Electronics, Fair Deal Electronics, The Den, Sound Tech, Sound Out and Sahakar Electronics, start at approximately Rs 2,000.

What: New Play Clan store, first floor, 137, Jeroo Building, MG Road, Kala Ghoda, Fort.

Why: One of our favourite lifestyle stores Play Clan has now opened a 1,200 square feet store at Kala Ghoda, bringing its army of mad men and whimsy of India-inspired products to South Bombay.  Among the tees and pillows, notebooks and business card holders created by this Delhi-based label, keep your eyes peeled for their new Banarasi collection featuring products like the Kashi art frame. Also at the store soon: Kala Ghoda artwork. Block print party!

When: You need a new toy Fort in Mumbai.

Mumbai living rooms have been transformed into many things over the last few years - pop up restaurant venues, salons, book reading rooms. Now, a new company wants to turn your place into a jewellery store, complete with a stylist who'll recommend dress-jewellery pairings.

This is Pipa + Bella’s “social selling” experience. Based in Mumbai and Pune, the jewellery brand does not sell out of retail stores, but through trunk shows like these, set up at home and anchored by a stylist who has tied up with the brand. “The idea is to create a personal, fun shopping environment in your own comfortable space,” adds Shuchi Pandya. A business school grad, Shuchi runs Pipa + Bella with Komal Goel, both of whom come from families in the jewellery business. Family jewels, indeed!

Two Toned

The name Pipa + Bella is dedicated to the two women Shuchi and Komal want to cater to. “Pipa  doesn’t mind experimenting, while Bella is more classic and subtle. We believe every young Indian woman is a bit of both, and so is our jewellery.” Their current collection, designed by their freelance team in New York and priced between Rs 300 and Rs 3,000, is inspired by their recent trip to Istanbul. You can also look at their bestsellers, pieces inspired by Monet and the art deco eras.

The Stylist Connection

Pipa + Bella is a good starting point for amateur or independent stylists, who want to be entrepreneurs by selling the brand’s jewellery. “They can sell online, or via trunk shows, which they organise based on their flexibility (they can work part time or full time and earn commission accordingly),” explains Shuchi. They can find women who’d like to host trunk shows at their home and invite their friends. These hostesses earn rewards like free jewellery as well. Pipa + Bella currently has nine stylists spread across Mumbai and Pune, and they plan to expand to 30 stylists in three months. In six months, they hope to bring their brand to Delhi too.

Sign Up Online

While Pipa + Bella kick-started their trunk shows in August, they officially launched their website last Monday. You’ll be able to browse through their jewellery and select what you like, after which they will then connect you with the nearest available stylist, who will help you with the checkout. You can also register as a trunk show hostess online.

If You’re a Stylist

If you’re a stylist who’s keen to join Pipa + Bella, you can register online and purchase a starter kit worth Rs. 2,499. This kit will give you eight to ten jewellery samples, continuous training, product and sales support and your own personal website which you can promote via Facebook, Twitter etc. What are the prerequisites? Anyone can become a 'stylist', and earn anywhere from Rs 5,000 a month to Rs 10 lakh a year.”

Getting there: Visit www.pipabella.com or the Facebook page here.

What: Wall pockets by Sahil & Sarthak, available at Yellowtrunk.com, Rs 999 each.

Why: Geez, you lost your keys again! Where are those paper clips when you need them? Is there no wall in this house where you can tape secret sex scrolls? Two words: wall pockets. Perfect to store odds and ends, these are made on order by Delhi-based designers Sahil & Sarthak and are apparently crafted from the same material used to make vessels for Manipuri kings and queens. Royalty clan(g)! Our favourite shapes are the kettle and cups.

When: You want a general compartment.

Mumbai’s super set – brand managers, restaurateurs, interior designers - lets you in on their shopping lists for the holiday season. From ‘Parsi Rose’ chocolates and scents that smell like the Nile garden to honey subscriptions and tandem cycles, get ready to steal some neat gifting ideas.

Yamini Namjoshi, brand manager of Bandit Queen  
Dodo Jewellery: I love the Italian brand’s charm silver and gold bracelets. Each design is beautifully crafted, but there’s a casual sophistication about them. Available at Le Mill, 17-25 Nandlal Jani Road, off P D'Mello Road, Wadi Bunder, Masjid Bunder (E), call 23742415, starting at Rs 10,000 per charm/pendant.

Un Jardin Sur Le Nil perfume: Hermes has a range of perfumes inspired by various gardens of the world. This one, named after the garden by the Nile, has a lovely mix of citrus and spice notes—a kind of unisex fragrance. Available at Hermes, 15A Horniman Circle, next to Asiatic Library, Fort, call 2263009, Rs 6,650 for 100 ml.

Gift Voucher From Strand Book Stall: The safest, coolest gift ever! There’s no end to the number of books one can own. And no one ever feels guilty about buying books. Available at Strand Book Stall, Dhannur, Sir PM Road, Fort, call 22661719, starting at Rs 250.

Honey from Under the Mango Tree: Gift an annual subscription to Under The Mango Tree’s guilt-free honey, and your giftee will get a jar of goodness, a different flavour every month! I personally love the neem, desert flower and mango blossom flavours. Available at Under The Mango Tree, Rs 3,500 per year for 500 gms bottles, Rs 2,200 per year for 200 gms bottles, Rs 250 for Diwali pack (set of three 50 gms bottles)

Duck Feet Egg Cups: I love them just because of the feet! These ceramic cups by Roos Van de Velde look fun and surreal. Available at Bandit Queen Showroom, 130 Dinshaw Petit Lane, Kalachowky, call 7738341423, Rs 4,500 per cup.

Sujata Assomull Sippy, fashion columnist, brand consultant and bon vivant
Ekaya’s Banarsi Saris: These silk saris, with their unusual motifs and colours, make for great holiday gifts. Their flagship store is in Delhi, but you find the best of their drapes at www.perniaspopupshop.com . See blue and beige handloom sari with rani pink border. Available at www.perniaspopupshop.com, start at Rs 10,000 (approx).

Mugal-E Azam Playing Cards: Fun playing cards from Playclan. Available at Play Clam, Shop 4, Libra Towers, Hill Road, Bandra (W), call 264016795, Rs 395 per pack.

Soundarya Facial Serum: Forest Essentials Wonder serum with 24 Karat Gold is a fun spin on buying gold for Diwali. It was gifted to me last Dhanteras and kept my skin radiant until Christmas. Available at Forest Essential stores in India, or buy online at www.forestessentialsindia.com, Rs 2,495.

Ayaz Basrai, founder of The Busride Design Studio
Tandem Cycle: This was a gift from the nutcases at the studio. It’s unstable, but good fun to ride around Bandra, especially when its tiny bylanes are all lit up during the holidays. Available on special order from Pro 9 Bicycle Studio, Sherly Rajan Road, off Carter Road, Bandra (W), call 09221159363, price on request.

Sound Responsive Shiny Disco Ball: This is a must have for your house parties. Available at Al's Tattoo Parlour, 1 Natraj 68, Hill Road, opposite St Peter’s Church, Bandra (W), 26443326, Rs 1,500.

Roland Octapad SPD 30: Mine was a gift from my wife for my last birthday. It’s a fun starter pack if you're vaguely interested in creating music, and it’s extremely intuitive to use and operate. You can use its new loop systems to create quick percussion-based tracks. Available on order from most music shops like Bhargavas and Musician’s Mall, price on request.

Shivangini Parihar, owner of The Summer House
Lomo Camera: Capture Holiday lights and delights with the fun range of Lomography cameras.  Available at Attic, Bir Sagar, 17th Road, Santacruz (W), call 32169292; Sanctum, Vasant House, 19th Road, Khar (W), call 26495775, starting at Rs 4,000 (approx).

Sita’s Ramayana: Lest we forget why we celebrate Diwali, the Ramayana is a good way to refresh your memory. But Sita’s Ramayana, a cool graphic novel illustrated in the Patua scroll painting tradition, is the perfect gift for the holiday hipsters. Available on Flipkart, Rs 452.

LED balloons: A bouquet of LED balloons is a much cooler way to light up your balcony than traditional lamps. Available at Party Hunterz, shops 1,2 & 2A, Shabistan CHSL, 319- A, Dr Ambedkar Road, Bandra (W), Rs 275 for a pack of six.

Birdy Kuruvi Boxes: Check out the Swirl Kuruvi boxes from Varnam. Available at shopo.in, Rs 625 for one box.

Dream On Postcards: Think of this as a super cheap, mini series of valuable art that can be cherished for years. The Dream On postcards from Little One’s Doodles are just that. Available at shopo.in, Rs 239 for a set of five cards.

Two-tiered Fruit Stand: Though it is called a Fruit Stand, it is perfect to serve desserts/sweets/starters. Place your order through The Summer House’s Facebook page or get it at Sanctum, Khar, Rs 1,750.

Make Your Own Gift: Buy a round, metal bird cage. Paint it gold, fuschia pink or any bright neon colour. Take a string of matching fairy lights and put them in the bird cage in a fancy way. Pull out the wire from the top and ta da! -- a handmade gift that anybody will love. Bird cage available at Crawford market or pet stores; fairy lights available at electric and hardware stores.

Bindu Nair Maitra and Shweta Bhandari, founders of Crude Area
The Little Book Of Hindu Deities: Sanjay Patel’s The Little Book of Hindu Deities is an absolute visual treat and the sort of gift that would get you instant approvals from all age groups. Available at Flipkart, Rs 328. 

Gold Mosaic Platter: Nice and sparkly. Available at The Home Label, Rs 1,850.

Nehru Jacket: Fabulous, understated Nehru jacket - any boy would approve! Available at www.elitify.com, Rs 6,990.

Art Prints: Pick a print you like from Crude Area’s vast selection of cool graphic art. They’re also available as framed or canvas prints, which saves you the trouble of sorting out logistics. This print from Yeti aptly describes our current state of mind. Available at www.crudearea.com, prints start at Rs 1,000.

Abhishek Honawar, co-owner of Woodside Inn, The Pantry
Chocolates from Filter: I just sent a box each to all my family and friends. They come in crazy flavours like Parsi Rose, Madras Coffee, Neembu Sherbet and Gujarati Aamras! Available at Filter, shop no 3, 43 VB Gandhi Marg, near Rhythm House, Kala Ghoda, Rs 650 for a box of five bars.

What: Handwoven Saris by Krittika Sharma, Artisans Gallery, Kala Ghoda, 22673040, priced between Rs 1,500 and Rs 18,000, more details here.

Why: Textile designer Krittika Sharma is quite proud of her home grown (s)ilk! She collaborates with craftsmen from West Bengal, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka to create her own line of woven silk and cotton saris, stoles, shawls and home linen, all of which will be on display at the Artisans Gallery. Skip the plain woollen and tie-and-dye stoles, and see instead, bright ikat, peepal leaf and geometric print saris. We love the black wrap with silver leaf motifs.

When: Heart pleats from November 1 to 6, 11 am to 7 pm.

Weddings might be for the bird-brains, but you may as well have the finest feathers of them all. Delhi-based designer Taniya O’Connor works with contemporary Indian womenswear and her brand new collection (only a week old!) has been inspired by birds and animals.

What we liked best was a red top with gold parakeets on it. Made of silk, cotton silk and tulle, with ari embroidery in gold zari and a cutwork jacket, it’s part of a larger lehenga piece, but you can also buy it separately, to wear over a fitted skirt and tights. Birdie num-num!

Getting there: Call Taniya at +91-9811353977 or visit the Facebook page here, coming to Ogaan outlets soon, Rs 27,000 for piece including lehenga.

“I know the mannequin head isn’t for sale, but can I rent it out and return it tomorrow morning?” asked a brawny twenty-something–year-old fedora-sporting guy, while whipping out his phone to reveal a picture of his perfectly planned Halloween ensemble, at the same time hitting on a group of female shoppers, who he learned would be at the same costume party as him that night. Scary smooth, yes.

There was an unmistakeable buzz at Mad Hatters, Bandra’s newest party supply store on Saturday evening, a buzz that won’t die down after Halloween, owner Ekta promises. “There’s Diwali and then Christmas and New Year,” she said optimistically, pointing to a seasonal wall, where scary masks would soon be replaced by festive lights and poker sets.

Voulez Vous Vuvuzela?

At first glance, Mad Hatters is a copy-paste version of Party Hunterz, also in Bandra. At second glance, you might feel the same way. There’s the themed birthday party supplies, rack of mad sunglasses, rows of mannequin heads sporting multi-hued wigs, scary masks, bachelorette party tricks, kinky cop and firemen costumes and shelves lined with drinking games. Mad Hatters is tinier than Party Hunterz though, and therefore more difficult to navigate, but Ekta is around to assist, as is her husband who helps out over the weekends. The two work corporate jobs and this store is their “fun thing to do”.

While the two give you a tour, they’ll insist that there are things that set them apart from other party supply stores. Mad Hatters has a bunch of fun stuff for sporting match parties like fog horns, vuvuzelas and big country flags. There’s also beer bongs, kinky helmets with attached straws, finger rings that double up as bottle openers and a cupboard full of bachelorette party unmentionables. “Also, our prices are 30% less than our competitors,” they told us.

Props to Them!

By the time we were done trying on pirate hats and peering inside secret chests, at least eight people had figured out what they would be wearing for Halloween and one happy man left with a returnable doll’s head that he wasn’t ultimately charged rental for.  That’s the prize per head at Mad Hatters, it seems.

Getting there: Joanna Apartments, shop number 3, Manuel Gonsalves Road, diagonally opposite Gloria Jeans Coffee, Bandra (W), view the Facebook page here, Rs 650 for a bad girl patent leather cap.

Goa suitcase: Giant orange head phones, barely there white shorts, Tokyo flipflops, cassette tape tee. New York suitcase: Comfy blue hoodie with Japanese lettering, well-fitted pink sweater, thick neon green and black jacket.

Packing for two very different vacations scheduled for next week, this Scouter found that she could buy for both at the Superdry store just recently opened at Palladium. A British fashion brand for men and women, Superdry was made cultish since its 2004 launch by iconic advertising and a bevy of celebrity patrons, including David Beckham and Zac Efron. Super sec-sy!

My Morning Jacket

The Superdry Bombay store is small and teeming with young sales people in short shorts and crinkled jeans. One eager beaver helped us navigate the racks full of pricey, but built-to-last (we tell you from experience) basics including T-shirts , hoodies, jackets, track pants, backpacks that are branded with the Superdry logo and Japanese lettering.

Ladies, there’s a lot of pink but it’s done well – on surf board shorts, flipflops, elegant sweaters and hoods of bulky jackets. We suggest you bypass the pricey cropped track pants and see cool blue V-neck sweater, jeans with built in crow’s feet, shorter-than-short denim shorts and hoodies with neon hoods and Japanese script. The tiny collection of dresses and skirts is weak and not worth the spend.

Except for a well-fitted black tee in the women’s section with a cassette tape unravelling, we much preferred the T-shirts for men. See ones with ‘All Star Wrestling’ and ‘Used Tyres’ messages. Boys should surf board shorts, but not buy them because we’ve seen similar ones,much cheaper, at Bandra’s export surplus stores. See instead their collection of outdoorsy jackets, calf-length denim shorts and a Christmas-y cardigan that would fit in well with the cast of Glee.  Buy with matching Schuester and socks?

Stereo Love

For those looking to bulk up on accessories, there’s cool laptop and iPad cases including a military print one; red and grey backpacks; and our favourite – neon headphones.  The prices and collections here seem to be pretty much at par with the ones we found on their online store.

With a bunch of tripped out windcheaters and a name like Superdry, we think a monsoon launch would have been ideal for their Mumbai store. But we suppose the October heat does the name justice too. Besides, there’s always the possibility of November rain.

Getting there: Superdry, second floor, Palladium, High Street Phoenix, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, tees for approximately Rs 3,000, headphones for Rs 5,000, flipflops for Rs 1,500, jeans for Rs 5,490.