Happy New Year! Ladies. I’m Anushka from Bombay Bubble and as dramatic as it might sound, I’ve always considered shopping my raison d’être. And can you blame me? With all the options Bombay presents me on a daily basis, it’s hard not to go a little crazy!
Mumbai style vibe just like the city itself is cool & casual. We might refer to the latest trends but in no way do they dictate our sartorial sensibilities. You will find a fun and interesting mix of young crowd on the streets each with their own individual aesthetic. With an inspiring mix of world-class design stores and edgy fashion boutiques, our city is a shopper's paradise. If you’re as much of a shopaholic as I am, here’s a guide to all my secret stores across the city to help get you on your way.

STREET SHOPPING
Probably my favourite form of shopping yet, nothing compares to the satisfaction of winning a bargain war! Be warned, street shopping works best for fashionistas with patience, debating skills and a trained eye. Dive headfirst into the crowd here:

• Colaba: The best place for accessories in the city! Expect to find vintage-look jewelry, chunky tribal necklaces, and cocktail rings below Rs. 300. Affordable satchels and other bags range up to Rs. 600. Be sure to visit ‘Cotton Colour’ for funky one-offs and ‘Right Place’ for maxi dresses and boho separates.

• Hill Road: My favourite of all, Hill Road is a cheap fashion paradise. Walk the streets to find cute tops, skirts and leggings. Visit on a Sunday evening to find roadside thrift stores or treat yourself to a pair of shoes at ‘Belly’ or ‘Pink Paisley’. The lane opposite reliance Trends is fantastic for accessories while the one opposite Globus is great for cotton dresses, shirts and jumpsuits.

• Linking Road: Linking road is a shoe addict’s Promised Land! Walk its length to find a multitude of reasonable roadside shoe shops selling sandals, ballet flats, mojris and kolhapuri chappals. Keep walking to see little shoe boutiques that sell all the latest styles, but at medium-high prices.

• Fashion Street: Though one of the city’s most iconic shopping destinations, most of the stalls here don’t have the best stuff. However, the few that do more than make up for it. Be sure to visit stall numbers 66, 77, 96 and 182. My personal favourites, expect to find pieces from Topshop, H&M and Asos at a fraction of the price.

• Lokhandwala Market: Another great place for shoes. Walk the length of this long street to find a harmonious mix of boutiques, high street stores and street stalls.

• Dharavi: Mumbai’s leather district caters to those of you who like ‘real’ bags, belts, jackets and accessories. The best part? They’ll custom make them as per your specifications!

• Mahim Market: This one’s a toughie! Only on Wednesday mornings till 12pm, expect to battle it out with elderly church-goers to find some crazy pieces! I found a gorgeous preppy jacket and a sequined crop top here quite by chance!

BOUTIQUES
Scattered in little by lanes across town and the suburbs, here’s your cheat sheet of the run-of-the-mill ‘Bangkok’ stores in Bombay. They all have bright clothes, shoes and accessories upto about Rs. 4000/- but browse through them with some time in hand to find some really unique pieces.
Besos, Soap Opera, Izzo, God Made Me Funky, Style Mantra, Preciosa, Karma Kola, Reiss/Ritzy, White Peacock, Outfits, Butter, Guapa Chica, Rumours.

HIGH END STORES
Chicer than your average and pricier to boot, these stores are filled with beautiful, high quality designer pieces that’ll make you change the way you look at fashion. Be sure to add these to your ‘must visit’ list for a truly exceptional experience: Bungalow 8, Stadium, Bombay Electric, Creo, Trunk.

MALLS
Like every other big city, Mumbai loves a mall! The ones worth visiting through the city are Phoenix Mills-Palladium, Inorbit Mall, Atria The Millennium Mall and Oberoi Mall Infinity 2.

If you want to be fashionable and trendy but still want to look different here are a few one of-a-kind stores that are sure to catch your fancy:

• Attic: The King of Kitsch stores, here’s where you’ll find quirky clothes, accessories and lifestyle accessories that make a statement and don’t break the bank!

• Sobo: Taking eclectic to a whole other level, Sobo is your one stop shop for funky clothes, bags, shoes and accessories!

• The Source: A clothes library of sorts, this is the coolest new style store on the block that lets you not only try and buy, but also borrow clothes and accessories! How cool is that?

• Eternia: If OTT is your thing, this is the place for you. Sure, a lot of their stuff is a little ‘loud’ (for lack of a better word) but if sequins are your thing and you’re up for some hunting, it’s worth taking a risk on.

• Aquamarine: One of my favourite stores of all time, expect to find silver/ semi-precious jewelry to suit every taste and style – from mild to wild!

• Curio Cottage: Another similar store, go here for statement pieces made of metal, resin and semi-precious stones. Each piece is so special, you’ll want to keep it forever.

I hope you guys manage to score some major stash for your wardrobes! Don’t forget, the January sales will be starting soon so you might want to postpone your shopping till then! I hope you have a fabulous, fashionable New Year!

Source: Bombay Bubble; Mumbai Daily Snapshot; Attic; Bombay Electric