Models in Rohit Bal outfits at the Lakme India Fashion Week (top); an Ashima-Leena Singh ensemble

More store openings. More pret lines. Across Delhi and Mumbai, the so-far prohibitively-expensive fashion designers are realising that their creations won't sell unless the price tags change. Pret is the new buzzword in urban fashion streets. High couture is out. On the lines of JJ Valaya and Ritu Kumar, Delhi-based fashion brat Rohit Bal is coming up with a new line called Balance and he will be retailing it at the new store he's opening at 1, M.G. Road this month. For the uninitiated, that's the now-famous Mehrauli-Gurgaon Road where all the fashion pundits seem to be heading to set up shops. It's the new fashion destination for the well-heeled, and now, the not-so-well-heeled as well. Taking a cue from

Bal are designers Ashima and Leena Singh who opened their new store at No. 11, Level 2, 1, M.G. Road last week. Mumbai designers Sandeep Khosla and Abu Jani also went part-pret recently with a new store in Delhi's posh Panchsheel Park called Jashan. For details, call (011) 6015116.

SHELF LIFE
Mom's Wear: Motherware, a maternity lifestyle store, has opened at W-127, GK-1. It offers maternity and nursing wear, comfort products, organic food, books, jewellery and even includes an exercise studio. The store also offers ante-natal classes, nursery linen, nursery furniture, baby essentials and more. Call: (011) 8634443.

Legendary Lines: L'Affaire Designs Private Limited has introduced a new collection called Krishna. It is a bridal wear line on beauty and love and includes lehngas, saris and outfits in both traditional and western wear. Available at L'Affaire, M-59, GK-1, Delhi. Call: (011) 6419977, 6472421.

Bridal Colours: For affordable, designer-looking bridal wear, head for K's Mall that stocks a range of lehngas, saris, salwar suits and dupattas for every pocket in a new line called Bridal Rhapsody. At 5/72, Padam Singh Road, Karol Bagh, Delhi. Call: (011) 5745353.

BAZAAR NEWS
Glass Act: The Apparao Gallery will hold The Sacred Prism III, an exhibition of a rare collection of revered images in Murano glass, from September 20-22. It's a collection of original glass sculptures created by Anjolie Ela Menon in collaboration with Antonio Da Ros of Venice. At the India Habitat Centre, Delhi. Call: (011) 4682001-9.

Unbeatable Style: A-list designer JJ Valaya is at it again. Fresh from the tepid reviews he got at the Lakme India Fashion Week last month, he had yet another fashion presentation in Delhi last week. Die-hard Valaya buffs can also take a peek at his new collection at his retail showrooms. Call: (011) 6345565.

TREND SPEAK
"The look is minimal, simplistic, classic. There is an experimentation with colours, cuts, embroideries and wrap techniques. Drape styles are omnipresent."

Monisha Bajaj, Delhi-based fashion designer