The Sami Sisters — Maya, Usha and Indira with Swati Gautam (left to right) at the inauguration of the new Necessity store at Hindusthan Park

Tired of underwear that’s ill-fitting, unflattering and altogether uncomfortable? If you’re one of those who’ve ever been plagued by these problems, Necessity could well be the one-stop answer to all your shopping needs. Buoyed by its successful run over the last 12 years, the brand has finally stepped out of its previous outlet on Southern Avenue to newer, more swanky digs at 9, Hindusthan Park. The new 400 sq.ft store was recently inaugurated by the Sami Sisters, Usha, Indira and Maya, who along with fitness expert Bebe Mukherjee spent a good two hours at the launch, browsing through the mind-boggling variety on display.

And quite a formidable line-up it is. For among the many options up for grabs at the store are cotton, lace and knit bras as well as those in hakoba, chikan, batik, bandhni and other eye-catching prints. Styles here range from lingerie for starters to those for extra support, special bras for mastectomy patients, sexy ones for bridal trousseaus as well as ones with intriguing heart-shaped and square necklines. These come in a range of striking hues — right from basic blacks, whites and beiges to pretty pinks, blues and pastels and more adventurous reds and maroons.

However, it’s not just the wide variety of styles that is Necessity’s USP. For unlike most undergarment brands that cater to only a specific number of sizes, this label, started by young entrepreneur Swati Gautam, prides itself on having over 32 sizes for everyone from the under-weight teenager to the extremely overweight. What’s more, each client at the store undergoes a free interaction with a trained counsellor and the undergarment is prescribed only after taking all possible factors into account for that perfect fit. All this, at prices that start at just Rs 129 for a simple style and go up to a maximum of Rs 219, with one bra complimentary with every three that you buy. For more on the store, call: 2465 9544.

Rupa Ganguly strikes a pose in a set from the South Sea Pearl collection at A. Sirkar Jewellers

Shock value

When was the last time that you popped into a nightclub and much to your horror, found someone else sporting the same threads as you? Been there, done that? It’s time then, that you got Shock-ed into shopping elsewhere — at some place like the newly-opened clothing store on the top-most level of Metro Plaza. With Shock emblazoned across the signage outside, the emphasis is on exclusivity here. Helmed by cousins Anand and Abhishek Damani, the tiny shop is devoted to outfitting both style-conscious girls and boys in all that’s talked-about and trendy.

Pretty young things can nose through Shock’s wide variety of tops and bottoms in several styles and colours. There are sexy halters, noodle-strap tops, sleeveless tees with graffiti, rivets and more. Trousers in several silhouettes and lengths, colours and fabrics share shelf space here as do a range of skirts be it sleek styles, fish-tail cuts, flowing wispy versions and of course, the ubiquitous mini that’s hotter than ever before. For a more ornate look, check out the range of tops and even jeans embellished with eye-catching sequins or zari-work.

Boys too, can browse through the clothes up for grabs here that take in trousers, funky jeans including hip-hop baggy styles, faded ones, bell-bottoms and super-flares. Fitted shirts are also in abundance here and one could choose from smart stripes, solid hues in different fabrics and even transparent, printed versions for the beefcake brigade.

The price of getting all togged up, Shock-style — anything between Rs 275 and Rs 2,100. For more on the store, contact 2288 3114/98303 61191.

Tania, Tanvir and Bindu show off outfits from the newly-opened Shock

Fruits of the sea

They’ve been coveted by Columbus, deemed the sole preserve of royalty and held in higher regard than gold by the ancient Chinese. For such is the magic and mystique of pearls that for centuries altogether, the rich and the poor alike have succumbed to their allure. Now bringing the world’s most valuable South Sea pearls to jewellery addicts in Calcutta is renowned jewellery house A. Sirkar, which recently unveiled a first-of-its-kind display inaugurated by actress Rupa Ganguly.

South Sea pearls, also known as the Rolls Royce of pearls, come from a species of giant mollusks known as Pinctada Maxima or Silver Lip Oyster, abounding in the seas between Australia and Japan. A shell can weigh up to 5 kilograms and grows a single pearl of commensurately large size that comes in a wide choice of lustrous colours. Of these, though, it’s the silver, gold and black varieties that are most prized because of their timeless beauty and iridescence.

At the A. Sirkar showroom at 171/1A Rashbehari Avenue, South Sea pearls in all these hues and more vie for attention in a collection of stunning earrings and neckpieces in designs inspired by international trends that take in everything from the floral and geometric to the abstract. While some of the items on offer are liberally studded with diamonds, others come in matt-finish or 18K rhodium polish gold — but it is the exquisite South Sea pearls that dominate the designs.

Prices of the collection will have you reaching deep into your wallets, for even a small pendant costs Rs 15,000 at least. For further details, call: 2440 5821/6258.