JAZZING UP MEN’S wardrobes in the city is Dapper, the new multi-designer store that was launched last week. At Woodburn Park Road, the latest fashion address brings choices beyond the ordinary with over 10 sought-after designers from across Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai, among other cities.
The 750 sq ft store has an impressive display of shirts, kurtas, jackets, blazers. Expect designers like Delhi-based Arjan Dugal, Divyam Mehta, Sahil Aneja and others. Curated by Shilpa Sethi, her zeal to give men more options to satiate their sartorial needs led to the rebirth of her five-year-old store, Nine. She says, “I was running a franchise store Nine, which dealt with men’s wear, at this same address. But after five years, I wanted to do more and I felt that good options for menswear were lacking in Kolkata. Men’s style statements were going up, but they had to look out of Kolkata. Also, I realised it more with my husband’s penchant for good designer wear. When we approached the designers, they acknowledged that Kolkata has a good market and were happy to stock at Dapper.”
Dapper gives Shilpa more scope to experiment, and her current stock speaks of a simple and elevated style. You can find Delhi-based Ujjwal Dubey’s Antar-Agni, which plays with a lot of layers and drapes, and adds drama with its asymmetrical and angular cuts. Given a new-age definition, his collection is replete with shades of black. There is also Arjan Dugal’s contemporary Indian wear in linen, silk and cotton. The inspiration of Japanese and Turkish motifs that marks his collection has a subtle edge, though it’s not over the top. Also, look for the latest menswear collection from Suket Dhir’s eponymous label, which stands out for its miniature painting prints with a twist in the tale. Inspired by Indian landscapes, one can find shirts, jackets and more in natural fibres. The store also stocks accessories for men including ties, socks, tiepins and more, making it a one-stopshop for men. Giving us a heads-up, Shilpa also informs us that the festive collection will be stocked soon and new designers will be added to the list. `3,500 upwards