Mint
Lounge Review: Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna
The warm, wood-panelled, starkly modern branding of designer duo Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna’s new flagship store in New Delhi’s Defence Colony instantly holds your gaze. You look again before entering through the glass doors, coming upon an assembly of mannequins exuding enticing sophistication. Tuxedos in luxe fabrics and sequin-sheeted dresses in slim silhouettes, muted in colour yet posh in temper, instantly spell out the store’s identity. They also reveal the design minds of Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna, the men behind the elegant label Cue.
Gandhi and Khanna, known for giving menswear a contemporary sartorial twist, have clearly given much thought to their new store. Light grey curtains, an acrylic and metal installation on the ceiling in ombre, a likeable mix of warm- and cold-coloured upholstery, coarse and smooth floor surfaces, reflective desks and tables, artsy wall décor and wooden furniture become a tellingly contextual backdrop.
The good stuff
This is a must-see shopping destination if you are looking for clothes with quiet elitism. Menswear particularly, wedding-wear included. We loved the range of sharply cut velvet blazers and ombre shirts.
This is a fashion store with luxury as a quiet backstory. It’s also a good place for quilted sherwanis and waist jackets with Italian DNA. Monotone or patterned shirts, some with subtle, barely there embellishments, all well-priced; tuxedos, classic and informal suits, light woollens, silk ties and pocket squares, and a dexterously designed Indian selection without the loud noise of ethnic-wear make up the menswear section.
The women’s section in the basement, with tunics, gowns, tops, dresses, shirts and jackets, has some attractive garments. We quite liked the short, handmade jackets with twisted fabric patterns, but this section doesn’t compete with the fluidity and depth of the menswear range.
The not-so-good
A recent addition to the brand’s repertoire, ethnic women’s wear comprises for the most part a selection of contemporary churidar sets and tops, extending the duo’s design signature. They are modish with a balanced colour story, yes, but don’t immediately promise distinction for the wearer. And the selection of buttons on the velvet jackets for men could do with some restraint in size and sizzle.
Talk plastic
Men’s shirts are priced at Rs.2,850-7,850; waist jackets, Rs.11,500-27,500; ties, Rs.2,500; pocket squares, Rs.1,500-2,000; velvet blazers, Rs.42,000 onwards, ethnic-wear, Rs.36,500 and above. In women’s wear, jackets start from Rs.27,500; tops, from Rs.6,250, kurta-churidar sets, from Rs.22,500; and dresses, from Rs.16,500.
Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna, D-15, Defence Colony, New Delhi. For details, call 40578474.
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