A dress a day

Designer threadsIt’s an awesome threesome show at Collage this month, what with the multi-designer brand store showcasing collections by designers Aratrik Dev Varman (label Tilla), Pranay Baidya and Smriti Gupta. Made from handwoven fabrics like khadi silk, chanderi, and block print with roghan dots, Tilla by Aratrik Dev Varman is a collection of finely-crafted indo-western clothes that are light, elegant and extremely comforable for everyday wear. Kolkata-based designer Pranay Baidya’s collection comprises hand-woven sarees, maxi dresses and kalidars all made from hand-woven fabrics. Smriti Gupta’s collection is for those of you looking for Indian wear that is not mass-produced — think prints and vivid colours on luxurious silks, airy chanderis and soft cottons.For Price on requestAt Collage, 21/2, Woodstreet.Think straightStars, stripes and a whole lot of red, white and blue! Shopping portal American Swan’s collection of Stars and Stripes will add a bit of whimsy to your collection of dresses. It sure helps that stripes are one of the hottest trends of the year. Besides dresses, the collection also includes tees, cardigans and even scarfs.For Rs799 to Rs2,499 At www.americanswan.comBlack, white and colourfulHaving a go at the monochrome trend is the latest collection from Fusion Beats, Monochrome Threads. Essentially a mix and match collection, there are pin tucked and embroidered shirts, printed tunics and tops in viscose lycra, peach finished knits and micro crepe with beautiful embroidered buttons. The prints are bold with ornate scrolls, baroque medallions, foliage and pixel dots. While the collection has black and white prints/stripes as the leitmotif, rich colours like reds, blues and greens add an interesting edge to the palette.For Rs1299 onwardsAt Central, West Side, Pantaloons and other leading retail stores.Organic coolnessComfortable and refreshingly unique, the monsoon collection of dresses from Soma are worth a once-over. Made from 100% natural fabrics, the designs are all hand-block and wood-block printed and the dyes are derived from vegetable pigments — a joy for every environmentally-conscious fashionista. Besides dresses, you can take your pick from jumpsuits, skirts, shorts and stylish tops.For Rs1000 and aboveAt Soma, 759, 100 Feet Road, Indiranagar.

Shimmer upIf partying is on your mind, then a dress from Van Heusen’s Limited Edition collection is what you should get yourself to get some serious attention. There’s nothing loud about the dresses though. The colours are shades of milk, ivory, peach, blue and black but its the bejewelled work on the dresses that make them statement pieces.At exclusive Van Heusen stores.Patterns of natureThere’s nothing subtle about Allen Solly’s dress collection for the season. Taking inspiration from rain forests, the dresses play canvas to bursts of colours like red, pink, turquoise and desert yellow and vivid floral patterns. Available in firm fitting sheaths and easy wears, the dresses are a great solution to brightening up the damp days, we’ll say.At all Allen Solly outlets.