It's Heating Up

Red pandas are territorial, generally quiet except for some whistling sounds. Adults are solitary but not during mating season.

Well then it must be that happy mating season in the forest, because this Red Panda’s pretty social. Living on a new online fashion portal that helps you get the A-lister look for less, this furry creature’s developed a keen eye for fashion with a finely tuned radar for bargains. Here’s how it works: The team behind Red Panda picks a movie, deconstructs the look of its actors, sources uncannily similar designs that don’t cost the Earth and sell them to you via their website. Right now for instance, you can buy Farhan Akhtar’s reel-life sunglasses for just Rs 1,800. How’s that for vision?

Say No To Drugs & Yes To Bugs

Turqoise - we remember it as Old MacDonald’s farm on acid. At this Bandra home store lived wooden cats with twisted grins, multi-hued roosters crafted from terracotta, kooky bugs of every kind and a flock of magical birds, all of whom went underground when the store shut a few months ago.

But trippers don’t be bummed. We re-discovered the psychedelic herd yesterday as Turqoise opened at a new Bandra Reclamation spot right by Candies.

The Wedding Bashers

Do us a favour: please never send us an invite to your wedding. It’s not that we’re unhappy you’re (finally) getting married, but we’d rather not attend. Why not, you ask? Consider the sangeet dance practice, the incessant smiling and socialising, the saris – especially the saris –and you’ll know why. Not even free food and hot gossip are worth all that.

Case in point: this Scouter was forced into sari-shopping for an upcoming family wedding today, an expedition that led to significant diminishing of her bank account and a fun post for bpb’s shopping section. We stumbled upon a super trunk show by the guys who run the Khazana stores at the Taj Hotels, boasting enough gorgeous Varanasi saris to keep a million silkworms spinning.

See a slideshow of our five favourite saris from the show, and remember to visit soon, as it ends today.

Getting there: Khazana trunk show, Gateway Room, Taj Mahal Palace & Hotel, sale ends on August 10.

Saris for Dummies

Winds of Change

In a tiny new Bandra store that vends booty for your bed, a velvety storm is brewing. Bolts of brocade flash across clouds of crushed silk, bright enough to wake even the most stubborn somnambulist. This sleep shack calls itself Jodhaa, a tiny new garage store (in the space once occupied by Loose Ends) where you’ll have to weather the harshest velvets to eventually find the sun.

There are super-thick throws with busy Moghul patterns, quilted cushions with antique embroidery and appliqué bed spreads that look like they should be swathing a room in Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki. They try to be luxuriant but really come off as tasteless and rather uncomfortable to lean against. We wouldn’t bet our tushy on this cushy.

A visit to the new Steve Madden store at Palladium made us think of what Jon Stewart said to Freida Pinto on The Daily Show earlier this week - “you still have that new car smell.” Fragrant with fresh leather and incense, this store does too, but the carefully styled Ms Pinto wouldn’t be caught dead in any of the shoes sold here.

A Walk in the Louds

Internationally, the merchandise at Steve Madden has nosedived over the last few years, devolving into footwear that can charitably be described as hoochy-mama (think leopard prints and sequins). The Mumbai collection is no different, offering up nosebleed heels and dizzying platforms that are almost always sparkly, and not in a good way.

Ulterior Motif

One of Divya Mohta’s favourite things to do is pour over coffee table books she’s collected over the years. Different elements from the pages of these design tomes – lattice work on the Taj Mahal, petals from Kalamkari art – jump up at the designer, inspiring the motifs that make up her print-based label Tambourine, awaiting an August 11 launch at Aza.

The fun thing about Divya’s prints – drawn by hand and then digitally manipulated – is that they can live on different materials ranging from textiles to plastic and wood. Which means, the same peacocks that dance on your boyfriend’s shirt and lotuses that bloom on your maxi dress, can thrive on your dinner set as well. One plate to match my pleat, please.

At Bungalow 8’s monsoon sale (on until August 6), vintage jewellery and tableware, planters and pants are discounted at up to 50% off. Owner Maithili Ahluwalia helps you navigate the sale at the three-storey Colaba store, recommending her 5 favourite pre-festive gift picks. View our slideshow here.

The Bungalow Evening Gown

Original price – Rs 16, 500, discounted price – Rs 9,900.

Brown and Gold Lounge Wear

Robe: original price – Rs 2,750, discounted price – Rs 1,925. Slipper: original price – Rs 1,975, discounted price – Rs 1,383.

Black and White Napkins (set of 8)

Original price – Rs 2,500, discounted price -  Rs 2,000.

Vintage Brooch Cum Necklace

Original price – Rs 10,535, discounted price – Rs 8,430.

Printed Chevron on Silk Floor Cushion

Original price – Rs 3,800, discounted price - Rs 2,660.

View our slideshow here.

Getting there: Bungalow 8, Grants Building, 17 Arthur Bunder Road, Colaba, Mumbai, call 2222819880.

What: King Kong stationery from Pondicherry by Flints, call 09345209989, email  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or view their Facebook page here, start at Rs 65 + shipping.

Why: Mumbai skyscrapers beware - King Kong is coming. Produced by design collective Flints in Pondicherry, a cool version of the ape monster now lives on all kinds of stationery – boxes, penholders and our favourite, door tags – and can be shipped to our fair city. They also customise - mail them your T-shirt, shoes, laptop (an airplane would be nice too, they say)  and they’ll print and paint it with cows, crazy elephants and anything else your heart desires.

When: You want to indulge in gorilla marketing.

Diary products that even vegans will love! For journal pictures view our shopping slideshow.

Bechain Nagri

The first in our diary special is Bechain Nagri, a new design collective started by a bunch of National Institute of Design (NID) students, who ship their romantically illustrated journals from Ahmedabad. We love the ones that sport Kalamkari girls with tangled tresses, flowing skirts and schools of pretty fish.

Call +91-9979429456, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or View their Facebook page here, start at Rs. 200 plus shipping costs.

Couch Notes by Cider Mill Press

Know a lot of people who need help? Buy them Couch Notes, a therapy journal that comes with blank pages to record psycho babble (we just use it as an office diary) and a thin 'Symbology of Dreams' and 'Therapy Glossary' in the back. Did you know that dreaming of salami means you're worried about sex? It's all here!

Available at Granth Bookstore, Juhu, Rs 150.

What: Made-to-order chandeliers at The Yoga House, 153, Chimbai House, opposite St. Andrews Church, Bandra (W), call 65545001 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , start at Rs 12,000.

Why: Feeling a little dim lately? Ajit at The Yoga House can hook you up with the brightest bulbs in the chandeliers. The romantic moss green light piece that hangs at this wellness studio isn’t for sale, but it can be specially ordered for you from a Firozabad glass workshop and will cost much less than the ones at Good Earth. First glass!

When:  You’re mad-o-watt.  Also, check out Golden Maithili’s jewellery exhibit at the Yoga House on Sunday, July 24, 11 am to 7 pm.