Desi Style by Essence of India - Fashion, Costume, Jewellery & Gift Store
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When you walk along Foster street in Dandenong, you can't help but fall into an Indian sari and clothing store as they line both sides of the street. This area is officially known as the precinct of '
Little India ' and its surrounds are slowly changing with the ongoing expansion and beautification of the
City of Greater Dandenong . I have walked along here many times over the 14 years I have lived in Melbourne with some stores having been and gone. This is where I go when I want to buy something a little different that will stand out. My curtains at home are draped with beautiful saris that cap the 'look' which is part bohemian and part arty. I've also been told I'm living in my own little
Ishka with all the colours that surround me. Any wonder this is my first stop for my offbeat looks.
Today was no different. I actually stopped to see if I could find some
Holi colour powder for a friend whose daughter wants it as part of the celebrations for her birthday party. This powder in many colours is generally used at
Holi Festivals which is celebrated in March. However Melbourne's very first full-on
Holi Festival is happening
on Saturday 8 Nov 2014 coming at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. I digress.
Holi powder enquiries didn't take long, so whats a girl to do if not look into sari shops and have an Indian lunch of Eggplant Curry with beautiful fresh Roti and some Saffron Rice. With a
Pistachio Lassi in hand to cool down the system and a
Kulfi Ice Cream for dessert I am transported to another world. That wasn't the end of it, I bought some Indian sweets in the form of
Burfi to take home (I'm not going to confess as to whether or not it made it home in the car).
Desi Style by Essence of India is old-school and does not have a website or a Facebook page. Yet they have survived for over 7 years and have a 2nd smaller store further up the same street called
Andaaz Collections by Desi Style. What struck me about them was their spacious shop with a huge variety of everything. Just when you thought the shop was as big as any other on the street, there is a second section just as big.
The girls who work behind the counter here are in a uniform of red and black which is most unusual (the wearing of a uniform) and they match perfectly the black and red vintage looking seats I was quite impressed with in these neck of the woods. The service was excellent especially from one smiley helpful young lady. Another customer in the store confirmed and agreed with me that she was the sales-person who made the shop a stand-out destination to shop and it was what inspired me to write about it.
There are so many saris and colour combinations to choose from, not to mention larger sizes going up to size 58 (which is about a size 22) along with evening shoes and sandals,
bindis , earrings, and other jewellery, including sets of
wedding jewellery . There are ready made blouses (choli) to wear under the sari and a magnitude of
Shalwar Kameezes .
Desi Style is at 76 Foster street in Dandenong (Raj: (03) 8774 4853 & 0413 707 685 - Email
[email protected]) and they are wholesalers and retailers of fashion, costume jewellery and a gift store. Their sister store Andaaz Collections by Desi Style are located just up the road at 71 Foster street, Dandenong (Raj: (03) 8772 2337 & 0413 707 685 - Email
[email protected]).
I have attached below a video of how to wear a sari. Even though it's from a store in Birmingham, in the UK, I thought it explained how to wear a sari simply and well and it's one of the newer videos.
#dandenong
#fashion
#gifts
#jewellery
#shopping
#weddings
%wnmelbourne
160816 - 2023-06-14 18:16:46