For most of us, fashion trends change every year, but during Navratri, they change every day. During this much-awaited festival that is celebrated for nine days, marked by dandiya raas and garba, the revellers make it a point to dress in their colourful best, the preparations for which begin as long as two months in advance.

So much is the craze for looking good and dancing wild that many revellers get nine separate sets of dresses for all nine days of the festival.

Boutiques across the city are already beset with orders and sales of Navratri clothes.

Says Roopesh Shah, owner of Purnima Saree Centre, a shop at Natraj Market, Malad, Since our main clientele include those participating in competitions, they need the outfits for their practice. So we start orders as early as two months before Navratri. We have a team of 20 designers who churn out different designs; no two outfits of ours will be the same.

Shah informs that the trend this year is a print called bandhej. This year most people are opting for bandhej, which is a kind of print on which embroidery is done. Bandhej outfits are priced at Rs 1,000 onwards, he adds.

While some like to flaunt a unique style, there are others who want to look like their favourite onscreen star and wear something that is unique to them.

Meghna Patankar, owner of designer studio Shringarika in Mahavir Nagar, Kandivli, says, I have already received 30 to 40 orders.

While I have patrons who look for exclusive outfits, there are others who like outfits inspired by stars. Be it the Babli collared kurta made famous by Rani Mukerji in Bunty aur Babli or the backless blouses flaunted by Komolika aka Urvashi Dholakia in Kasautii, they want to look every inch like their favourite star.

Patankar says that fusion is in and many youngsters are increasingly opting for the Indo-western look this year. My collection consists mainly of Bandhani skirts worn either with a kurti or a spaghetti top. I have also designed outfits that team a kurti worn with capris.

The colours that I have used in my collection this year include fuchsia pink, peacock blue, orange and various shades of green basically bright colours.

Since my designs are custom-made, my clients have the liberty to suggest any particular design they like. Based on their suggestions and my inputs, I design clothes according to my client's budget. Patankars outfits are priced at Rs 400 onwards.

While on the topic of budget, some really know how to spend. Shankar Bhanushali, owner of Vibhutee, RRT Road, Mulund (W), says, This year we have had good sale of outfits studded with Swarovski crystals. The other trends this year are 3D coloured cloths, Parsi work and metal work.

There are many customers who request certain clothes worn by Kareena Kapoor in films or saress worn by Shefali Shah in Waqt. All-time favourite mirror-work on saree blouses are also popular this year. While the sarees and ghagras start at Rs 2,000, the Swarovski range is priced at Rs 5,000 onwards.

But for those that believe in the good, old traditional mirror-work ghagra cholis, there are many of big and small shops around the city. According to Bharat bhai, owner of Jignisha Selection, a shop in Malad, We begin selling one month before Navratri. We sell as many as four outfits to one customer at a time.

These outfits are made in our village in Gujarat, months before Navratri. We start getting them to Mumbai a month before the festival. During Navratri, we see to it that we churn out outfits with different designs everyday so that different customers can get different designs.

Bharat bhai adds that a design called shibori is the most popular this year. It is a traditional embroidery that is specially done in my village.

However, we do not make to order as it is difficult to get outfits transported that quickly from our village. That is the reason we do not stitch backless cholis or any design that cannot be altered.

Residents choose shell, bandhani accessories

Whats a trendy outfit without suitable accessories? This year the trend in accessories seems to be funky jewellery for some, while the traditional chunky jewellery for others.

According to Jagdish Rawal, owner of Roop Shree, a popular imitation jewellery shop in Natraj Market, Malad, The demand for our products starts a week before Navratri, when residents have bought their outfits and then need suitable jewellery to go with them.

This year, accessories made out of cowries and shells, oxidised jewellery, kadaas for the ankles, Rajasthani chudas for the arms have sold well. Many customers have also purchased ornaments for the forehead and hair. Bandhani tikka for the forehead is a trend this year.

Here are some tips from the experts

Payal Singhal
Indo-western is the way to go this Navratri. A ghagra teamed with a gold top looks really very trendy and it suits women of all ages. The accessories will certainly be funky.

Salim Asgarally
Skirts both ankle length and full length are in this Navratri. Also, rather than going completely ethnic, Id say one should go for the gypsy or bohemian look.

As for wearing headphones after 10 pm, I'd say women should wear small earrings.

nishitha.nair@mid-day.com