By Rashi Wadhera
Long gone are the days of fancy dress parties, homemade outfits, and best costume awards {best feeling}. As adults, although some of us have discovered role play complete with costumes of a whole different kind {naughty}, the rest of our costumes are restricted to low cut blouses and saris in the name of channeling Chameli, police uniform for the sake of Salman Khan's one too many Dabangs, and Zeenat Aman's Dum Maro Dum hippie rig out. In our opinion, all three costumes should be retired, and since they aren't any dearth of themed and costume parties, we've discovered who can help you up the ante!
Alpana Traders, tucked away in a refurbished, air conditioned, anti-thesis of Sarojini Nagar store, houses every conceivable kind of costume, prop and accessory. You probably recognise the name from your annual day days in school; you're absolutely right, they've been around for over 30 years. Although pre dominantly catering to the school, college, and performing arts market, they're fully stocked with adult sizes as well, if you're in the market for a costume. Worse comes to worst, they'll hook you up with a customised costume, or put you in touch with who can deliver. Their biggest strength is any Indian inspired outfit, read Maharajas, Maharanis, soldiers, police officers, gods and goddesses, complete with accessories to match, including swords, fake guns, shields, knives, all kinds of hats, shoes, cummerbunds, gloves, temple jewellery, baskets, and handbags. If you're going all out, might as well stock up on their wigs, mustaches, fake flowers, face paint, stick on pimples and wounds, and retractable knives {still a favourite}. If you're seriously invested, set the scene with all the props they have on offer. You'll find everything from armour, to fake skulls and silverware. Praise the lord, they're keeping up with the times, and have recently forayed into party accessories and favours as well. So hats, big glasses in all kinds of shapes, confetti, rubber noses… we could go on, but we won't. Trust you understand.
Although relatively easy to find in the market, if you're going with a single point agenda, we advise calling ahead to check what they have in stock. If not, it's always a great time browsing at Alpana. Get ready for serious throwback with whoopee cushions, fake blood, and vampire teeth, a pair of which all of us probably still own. PS: That's another costume you need to retire. Stat.
Halloween's coming. Now is the time to win best costume.
Notes in our Little Black Books |
Alpana Traders is an air conditioned costume and accessory store in Sarojini Nagar, that's been catering to schools and performing arts companies for about 30 years! In keeping with the times, they now also do party favours and accessories, and will even customise a costume for you {yes, in adult sizes} on special request. Happy Halloween!
Where: #121 Main Market, Sarojini Nagar {Alpana is also a cosmetics and general store, ask them to guide you to the costume department}.
Contact: 011 - 26887279, 011 - 26887278, 9810643881