Known For : Gateway of India Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Marine Drive, Mumbai
The undisputed commercial capital of India and home to one of the world's biggest film industries, Bollywood which heavily influences the city's fashion. Mumbai is a dreamy metropolis always on its toes and people dress like the dream they want to be living in. Some of the most famous international fashion brands and labels can be easily spotted in Mumbai along with a wide range of local markets that sell almost everything you need to amp up your wardrobe. Mumbai beckons almost every Indian for its cosmopolitanism, an eclectic mix of people who proudly call themselves 'Mumbaikars' and make the city one of the most fashionable places in India.
Best Time: October to February
Known For : Calangute Beach Baga Beach Dudhsagar Falls
Goa is the perfect place for hippie fashion. Goan style includes beachy and flowy outfits with feather earrings, skirts with matching contrast blouses, tie-dye and Aztec printed shirts and of course, beach shorts. There are many shopping malls in Goa but the best shopping is done from the stalls near the beaches. From hippie clothing, junk jewellery and stylish hemp bags, the markets will serve you with everything you want. The Mapusa Market, Anjuna Flea Market, Calangute Market square and many other markets serve as the shopping spots in Goa. Night bazaars at different places like Anjuna beach are also organised. The market at Dona Paula is another famous market.
Best Time: October to March
Known For : India Gate Red Fort Qutub Minar
Delhi is a shopper's paradise, and the vast variety of markets ensure that travellers go back home with double the luggage they came with! Delhi's USP for fashion is that every outfit needs to look luxurious and uber stylish. Delhi definitely understands high fashion and you can see that an everyday Delhi outfit will include chunky shoes, cute tank tops and leather jackets or a stylish pastel shade kurta with an indo-western twist. Delhities generally do their shopping binge at any of their numerous bazaars including Karol Bagh, Sarojini Nagar, Connaught Place, Chandni Chowk, Khan Market, and Ambience Mall are few other important markets which make Delhi one of the most fashionable cities in India.
Best Time: October to March
Known For : Umiam Lake Elephant Falls Shillong Peak
While Shillong is not a metropolis like Delhi or Mumbai, the fashionists of the city give them strong competition. Interestingly, Shillong has a very westernised culture and it has a very young feel to it. Shillong is also famous as the music capital of India, as many prominent musicians have hailed from this place. The people of Shillong love experimenting with colours in their everyday street style while maintaining a very hip-hop style throughout. A daily look in Shillong will include brightly coloured Aztec printed t-shirts or tank tops, baggy pants and sparkly shoes to match the shirt. The young, upbeat and musical crowd of Shillong really know how to become one of the most fashionable cities in India with everyday styles.
Best Time: September to May
Known For : Victoria Memorial Fort William Kolkata Belur Math
Kolkata is a dream for fashion lovers! The everyday style of Kolkata includes a fun and creative fix of Indian fabrics and prints mixed with western styles. The general street style is casual long Indian kurtas (for both men and woman) with colourful Indian prints paired with stylish accessories such as chunky silver neckpieces and quirky earrings. With many top designers setting up their shop in Kolkata such as the celeb-famous Sabyasachi and Anamika Khanna, it has also become a go-to city for designer wedding shopping. Famous for beautiful local weaves such as Benarasi silks and Jamdhani cotton, the markets of Kolkata are a delight to be around. Kolkata is also famous for the very affordable garments available owing to its proximity to all the major ports around the globe.
Best Time: October to March
Known For : Lalbagh Cubbon Park Bangalore Palace
The 'Silicon Valley of India', Bangalore, is not only the leading IT hub of the country but also a major fashion destination. A perfect blend of the old and the new and with most of its crowd being young IT professionals, Bengaluru offers everything fun and sexy. Because Bangaloreans are quite a hipster and trendy crowd, they believe in experimenting with fashion and mixing Indian prints such as Rajasthani block prints, Kalamkari and Ikkat with western styles such as crop tops and skirts. You will find people wearing everything from khaki shirts, party dresses with traditional junk jewellery and plain simple kurtas with Indian prints. Just like the crowd in Bangalore, the fashion of this city in India is fun, flirty and experimental making it an exciting style destination.
Best Time: Throughout the year
Known For : Ramoji Film City Charminar Golconda Fort
The fashion in Hyderabad is in a league of its own. Understanding the fashion of Hyderabad is genuinely like dipping into its 400-year-old cultural lineage. Inspired by the grand Mughal empire that once ruled it, Hyderabad's fashion is flamboyant and hard to miss. From beautiful Kundan neck pieces to dozens of traditional handlooms such as Kalamkari, Pochampally Ikat and Gadwal, the city offers an ocean of possibilities. The people of Hyderabad are also very designer-friendly leading to dozens of famous designers setting up shop here such Anushree Reddy and Kavita Gutta. For traditional jewellery, make sure to check out the Charminar and Old Hyderabad area and the posh Jubilee and Banjara Hills for fancy boutiques at this fashionable city of India.
Best Time: September to March
Known For : Panambur Beach St Aloysius Chapel
Mangalore might not sound like a fashionista's heaven, but it has actually given rise to some of the biggest models and actresses in the Bollywood industry. From Aishwarya Rai, Shilpa Shetty and international actress Frieda Pinto, Mangalore is a hub for stylish Indians experimenting with their fashion choices. In this slightly conservative beach town, you will find its residents wearing beautifully embroidered kurtas with colourful stoles, bright t-shirts with Bermuda shorts and of course beach flip-flops. The best way to truly experience the local fashion is to take a small walk down the market alley, and you'll be instantly drawn to everything sold at the roadside stalls.
Best Time: Throughout the year
Known For : Shaniwar Wada Aga Khan Palace Osho Ashram
The laid-back college going crowd of Pune makes it one of the most fashionable cities in India. The city is amazing in the fact that Puneites dress in casual hipster attire but manage to look stunning in it. You can find the locals in a simple lace t-shirt and jeans teamed with a stylish bag and pull it off like its a million bucks! Markets, crowds and a lot of bargaining options are the key ingredients to the hipster style trend in Pune.
Best Time: July to March
Known For : Marina Beach Government Museum, Chennai MGR Film City
Chennai undoubtedly is famous for its Kanchipuram silk sarees and traditional gold jewellery. While the everyday style of Chennai's residents is simple and easy going (with most youngsters wearing jeans and t-shirts), a special occasion in Chennai brings out their inner fashionistas. When you are in this southern city of India, you must also delve into a shopping spree as the town is renowned for being the most happening commercial hubs in the country. From local shops selling traditional products brass and traditional jewellery from Kumbakonam to silks from Kanchipuram, Chennai doesn't disappoint its visitors in terms of fashion.
Best Time: October to March
Are you inspired by these most fashionable places in India? Now go dig up that wardrobe and get creative!