Shopping on F.C. road – cheap and trendy
F.C. road or Fergusson College Road has been a cool hangout spot for many years, not just for the young but also for the young at heart. Even on a quick stroll on this busy road one cannot help but notice the plethora of shops that have mushroomed here and are great stops to score some trendy casuals. One can even find a number of accessories here as well as a few shops that sell authentic traditional clothing.
On my quick stroll I also realised that it would be impossible, aside from unfair, to cover all the shops in one article. So here is Shopping on F.C. road, Part – I.
Ladies Wear Jeans
This shop is located opposite Vaishali Restaurant and one shop away from the British Library. As the name suggests, the shop’s best-selling items are jeans and denims, of which they have a good variety. They offer capris, denims and the latest varieties in the market, like slim fits, bell bottoms, straight fits and designer jeans. The prices are sure to make any student happy: jeans here are priced at Rs.570/- and above. They also have varieties in capris and harems. But jeans or bottoms are not the only thing that you will notice here; they also offer a wide variety of tops, t-shirts and formal shirts. The prices for these are again very low, starting from Rs 250/-. They also have skirts (long, knee-length, fashionables, wrap-arounds, midis and minis) starting at Rs.350/-. The selection of clothes here is very classy in formals and very trendy and chic in casuals. Take a quick look and you are guaranteed not to walk out without buying something. The shop is owned by Nalini Mirajkar.
Lucknow Chikan Palace
This shop is located a shop before C.C.D. Lucknow Chikan Palace is a feast for anyone who is looking forward to buying some authentic traditional chikan. The shop has been offering its services for the past 11 years now. They have the modern day and much in-vogue chiffon and georgette work material as well as ready-mades. The shop has a wide range in cottons, ready-mades and materials. The ready-mades here, and mind you I mean complete suits with kurta, salwar and duppattta, start at Rs.550/- Tops for girls and kurtas for men are available at Rs.450/- and Rs.550/- onwards. If you are just planning to buy a kurta then depending on the work and the material they have long kurtas for men priced between Rs.850/- and Rs.1100/- Their dress materials start at Rs.550. They have sarees (with and without blouse pieces) in cotton, chiffon, georgette and terivoils starting at Rs.550/- and Rs 850/-. They have started a new range of skirts (wrap-arounds, A-line, knee-length and party wear) which are designed in-house starting at Rs.850/- . Tbest selling items are short tops, dress materials and sarees. The shop is owned by Mr. and Mrs. Pansare.
Jordache or J-Stores
This a factory outlet of the brand Jordache located next to Iceberg Ice-cream. The prices here are very cheap and there is a wide variety of very good quality clothes. They have shirts for Rs.250/- Rs.300/- and Rs.350/-. They have the usual variety in formals, checks, stripes, colours and plains. They have trousers at Rs.480/- onwards. They also have a good variety in jeans, cargos, corduroy and formals.
Heart Beats
This shop, located opposite Iceberg and next to Pragati bookstores, is owned by Anju Kataria and her husband and offers a wide variety of strictly western outfits for dirt cheap prices. They have tops, jeans, frocks (the only place I can think of that has a very nice collection of frocks!), kurtis, skirts, formal shirts and trousers. When I enquired about the bestselling item, Anju was quick to reply, “We have such a wide variety of clothes here that everyday a new best seller emerges so I can’t really say!” I was not surprised listening to this after seeing the variety that they offer and the flock of students visiting the shop even at the odd hour of four in the afternoon. They have a collection that ranges from Rs.100/- to only Rs. 895/-! Now that is a place to watch out for! The shop constantly has to renew its stock because of the sell-out number of customers it has earned. So you will never find the same thing at the shop that you noticed two weeks ago. They also have a very trendy and smart collection of jackets, just right for this season.
Right next to Heart Beats is a new shop that sells a wide variety of chappals and sandals. The walls of the shop on all three sides are adorned with a variety of chappals and sandals, urging you to buy at least one pair, especially after you enquire about the prices! They have chappals and sandals starting at Rs.100/- They are trendy, colourful, smart and cheap! This shop must be on your list when going to F.C. road!
Vaibhav Designers
Vaibhav Tailors for long ruled the Deccan for stitching and styling, second only to the famed Vaste Tailors. However, Vaibhav Tailors underwent a complete makeover two years ago when they started their own shop of western outfits called “Vaibhav Designers”. They still offer tailoring services for dress materials of which they have unique collection. The store is brought alive with the t-shirts that are displayed on its walls. They have an interesting display above the entrance which is regularly changed to flaunt a new theme. They specialise in party dresses. My personal choice in party dresses is not so funky or in vogue for that matter so I would never really buy a dress there! But for people who love to flaunt sequins and shiny materials it is the right place for them. They also have jeans, tops, bottoms, and midis. This wide variety of clothes starts at Rs.250/-.
Gauri Selection
This is a humble shack in the corner next to Ranade Institute opposite Roopali Restaurant. It is owned by Gauri who can be seen at the store selling her collection and giving valuable tips on mix and match options. They have a variety of tops, skirts, jackets and t-shirts, all starting at only Rs.290/-.
So, I hope one and all reading this article find the information useful. There will soon be Shopping on F.C. road – Part – II.
More articles by Maitreyee Manglurkar
- Street Food Review: Shree Ganesh Bhel, Bund Garden - June 6th, 2009
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- Junk Food Review: Hot Chips - May 2nd, 2009
- Street Food Review: Anonymous Hand Cart! - April 25th, 2009
- Bakery Review: L.J. Bangalore Iyengar Bakery - April 18th, 2009
i love those flip-flops..
very very cute.
I agree with what you have to say…..
Interesting ideas!
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