Eid is one of the few occasions that allow us to dress extravagantly in traditional attire, often preceded by people shopping excessively. Shops and streets are lighted abuzz as heaps of people pour into every possible store in search of that “perfect” outfit, be it for themselves or for their loved ones. Shopping can seem like a chore when you have been doing it for hours without any food or water, especially when you have toddlers or moody adolescents whining and inquiring repetitively about the time they'll be leaving for home.
Shopping smartly is not an option but a necessity in this day and age. Standing still in one place has become difficult due to constant shoving and pushing of others. So don't waste time in one place only to return home disappointed and empty-handed. Be it clothes, accessories, shoes, bed-sheets, kitchen utensils or decoration pieces, the following guide will give you a run down of places you should shop at depending on what you're inclined towards as a person. Your mother maybe an energetic shopaholic but you may be a couch potato repelled by the idea of stepping out into the scorching heat of the sun. Don't hesitate to resort to the option that interests you due to peer pressure, or to be more exact, your mother's persistent nagging.
If you're not interested in the enervating task of running from one place to another to get all the elements needed to pull together your look, but prefer the satisfaction accompanied with shopping in person, then large shopping malls will act as one-stop platforms. The intense heat and never-ending traffic can take a toll on the best of shopaholics. Such malls are home to a sundry of shops showcasing an assortment of clothes, accessories, homeware items and a miscellaneous collection of objects. You can buy your desired stiletto heels, fake Gucci handbags, embroidered kurtas, all under the same roof. Examples of such malls are as follows:
1. Jamuna Future Park (Bashundhara)
2. Gulshan Pink City (Gulshan )
3. Shoppers World (Gulshan)
4. Bashundhara City Shopping Complex (Panthapath)
5. Eastern Plaza Shopping Complex (Shanti Nagar)
6. Metro Shopping Mall (Mirpur)
7. Rapa Plaza (Mirpur)
If you are the type of person that wants to avoid any form of physical exertion associated with shopping and dodge awkward small-talk with over-friendly sales people, then online shopping sites and Facebook pages are your ticket to relief. Instead of rummaging frantically through racks of clothes, you could simply type in the name of the item you're looking for in the search bar.
An array of clothes of your preference will pop up on your screen within a fraction of second. Which is more alluring? Spending an hour in a shop and spending an extra five minutes to muck up the courage to ask the sales person the cost of the item you're holding only to discover it is way out of your budget or sitting in your air-conditioned room wearing your pajamas with your purchase being a click away. Here are some options:
1. Opal Fashion Wear
2. PriyoShop.com
3. BdHaat.com
4. Shaaz Exclusives
5. Bagdoom.com
7. Bodhua
8. Tahoor
9. Ajwa Boutique
If bargaining is not one of your strong suits, then retail palaces filled with lust-worthy delights are your go to pit-stop. Want to steal that outfit worn by the unexceptionally beautiful runway model? The high-end boutiques proffer unique pieces will leave you gazing wistfully. But rest assured, these pieces cost an arm and leg so your wallet may look like it's been hitting the gym often after exiting the store. Here are some stores that leave you staring at the stunning and elaborately crafted dresses draped on mannequins through their windows:
1. Anokhi
2. O2
3. Vasavi
4. Jatra Bangladesh Limited
5. Zaara
6. Joconde
7. Stylesell