We Got A Sneak Peak Into H&M Kolkata: Here's What's In Store

Swedish retail brand H&M is all set to open its doors in Kolkata tomorrow, and we had a chance to explore the store – all 18,000 square feet – last night.

As soon as you enter H&M you will notice lingerie and sleepwear toward the far left extreme and shoes, bags, jewelry and other accessories toward the far right extreme, near the check-out. In between both of these sections is a sea of womenswear products, out of which all the office wear options stand out the most, including houndstooth coordinates, blazers, skirts, blouses and dresses. If you take the stairs upstairs, you will find the juniors {teen} section smack in the center with a wide array of denim and crop tops, and on the right extreme is an amazing range of kids wear and on the left extreme is a decent collection of menswear, which especially features a lot of very comfortable lounge wear and vacation essentials. Every section of the store features plenty of basics in neutral colours. And, regardless of whether you are a man or woman, one thing is for sure, the amount of sweaters and hoodies on display will make you feel like winter is coming much faster than it ever has in a Game of Thrones season.

While the gut instinct might be to go for Justin Bieber’s collection, which looks as casual as it can get, here are products you actually should take to the checkout. Accesories include bows, suspenders and caps. Not many places have a decent collection of bows and suspenders – this is one area where H&M definitely scores brownie points. Make heads turn at the next formal event with these smart accessories, ranging from INR 699 to 999. And, if caps are your thing, there are plenty to choose from, more or less in the INR 799 bracket. Socks range from INR 249 to 299, grab a pair of funky socks to make a statement. A few styles are available at 3 for 2. Hoodies priced at INR 2,299 are also stocked. Invest in one warm and comfortable hoodie that will last you both throughout winter and at chilly airport terminals, while traveling. Vacation pieces from matching Hawaiian coordinates to stand-alone pieces, ranging from INR 999 to 1,799, build your next travel wardrobe under one roof. These boots are made for walking, and how! Walk into any situation with a pair of dapper shoes that are on sale {INR 2,999 to 3,999}. Casual essentials are up for grabs. Yes, comfort usually does come first for most men, but that does’t mean you can’t look good while lounging. Buy a fresh set of V-necks {INR 699} and mix it up with cotton sweats {INR 1,799}.

Forget the usual suspects like dress shirts and crop tops – ladies, here’s what really needs to make it to your shopping bag. Office must-haves from classic black statement blazers {INR 2,999} and navy blue skirts with detailing {INR 2999} to versatile houndstooth and crowned monkey print coordinates {INR 2,299 – 2,999}, there is no reason to not look your best at the workplace with these versatile pieces. Why should only Rapunzel and Snow White look stunning when sound asleep? Look and feel great in boyfriend shirts and Mickey sets, which mostly range within INR 1,799 to 1,999. If you are looking for some sexy lingerie, you will find tons of lacy, racy options, starting at INR 499. H&M’s stash of jewellery is very impressive. Gold, white, black, silver – all of their pieces will add more pizzazz to your outfits. I especially love their quirkily skeleton earrings, golden tassel earrings and assortment of chokers, ranging between INR 599 to 1,299. Oversized bags ranging from INR 1,299 to 2,999, you will find spacious bags you can toss just about anything into, including your laptop. And, the colours won’t clash with what you’re wearing. Try something new and let your hair down – literally – with a bright, colourful bandanna, starting at INR 599. Plaids are definitely still in. Pick up an assortment of plaid shirts {INR 1,299}, which you can pair with black skinny jeans and boots. Speaking of boots, H&M has a very nice range of all sorts of shoes, sandals, wedges, boots and everything in between, mostly ranging from INR 799-2,999. Definitely invest in a pair of good-quality boots. Want to feel warm, soft and snug when the weather gets chilly? Grab one of H&M’s solid hoodies {INR 1,999}. These feel really, really comfortable. Seriously.

When I tried on several products, I noticed not all of the sizes have not been designed for an Indian market, which is comparatively petite than the European and U.S. market. Also, the collection could have been curated with some consideration for Kolkata’s hot and humid weather, which will last for quite some time – hence, a bulk of the collection will not have relevance for quite some time, until there is a substantial dip in the temperature.

If you have a little one, or have a baby shower to attend soon, you will be amazed at the variety of super stylish outfits available in munchkin size, along with awwdorable shoes and accessories for tiny tots. Many of these products are priced as low as INR 399, with a wider selection available in the INR 799 range.

If you are one of the first three customers in line at 7am tomorrow {which means, you actually need to get in line a lot earlier}, you will win H&M gift cards word INR 10,000, 7,000 and 5,000. The next 300 customers {between 7am through 11am} will receive gift cards worth INR 500. If you’re sporting a bright, colourful outfit, you might win a gift card worth INR 4,000. Make sure you dress to impress. Lastly, if you get really hungry from all your shopping, or have even more shopping to take care of, Forum Mall is right across.