The Park Mansion store of the Soods has a legacy of over 55 years in making menswear in Calcutta. Burlingtons’ Sood, the name by which this designer store has now been known for many years, houses fashion labels by the husband-wife designer duo Ratul and Komal Sood. The 3,500sq ft store opened doors with a revamped look recently, making it look even more sprawling with a combination of classy, classic and modern touches in its interiors. In a combination of hues like beige and gold and black and white, the store has been glammed up in its appearance while keeping a touch of subtle sophistication in its design aesthetics. A hint of green adds a contemporary touch to the design that Ratul excitedly pointed out to us while giving us a walkthrough of his store. “From being a legacy bespoke store we have now become a store for designer wear, where one can come and get not only something tailored but can plan the whole event with us. We will select the colour themes and suggest the styles. Now, we do everything. Komal and I run the store. The new revamped interior is an extension of our personality. It reflects positivity and energy. The kind of stores we saw in Italy and the experiences we had, we brought back those for designing the store here,” said Ratul.
For the Sufi night or sangeet occasion, Ratul suggests this Italian suede olive green asymmetrical bandhgala, teamed with a pair of cotton chinos. The subtle gold handwork over the shoulder, embossment, cut and layering add the contemporary touch to this classy outfit that Dev confidently flaunted
The menswear section in the store is divided into different sections, making it easier for the shoppers to take their picks. Starting with a selection of fabrics from brands like Stefano Donati, Holland and Sherry, StylBiella, Montlino and Loro Piana in the fabric section and a variety of contemporary occasionwear silhouettes in the Indianwear section, the zones further inside are dedicated to suits and blazers. “People have been wearing our suits, blazers and jackets for so long but now our whole thrust is on Indian wear and occasionwear outfits and that is going to be the focus for us in this revamped space. Earlier it was like ‘get your first suit from Burlingtons’, but now it is like ‘get married in Burlingtons’. For years we have been a very affordable luxury brand. The perception is that Burlingtons’ Sood is very expensive. With this new revamped space, we want to change that idea,” said Ratul. A t2 exclusive occasionwear lookbook, with Dev sporting the looks:
A t2 style chat with Dev: What is your idea of fashion?Whatever makes me feel comfortable.
For the sundowner look or an engagement brunch party, Ratul’s idea was to keep it casual and trendy. Using the trendy hue of dusty pink, Ratul designed this suit with a hint of beige to break the monotony of monotones and paired it with a bell-bottom trouser. The light-weight Italian silken wool makes it tran-seasonal and Dev sported it in a bare bod, with a subtle charm, complementing the vibe of the outfit
What is your style statement like?
Anything that I can carry well.
What is your comfort wear?
Jeans, chappal and T-shirt.
Is there anything in fashion and style that you are obsessed with?
For a wedding, Ratul wants to keep it edgy and hence chose black. It can be customised into a navy blue as well, said Ratul. Dev sported this outfit with the regal charm that it demands. The Indian-style achkan has been designed with a formal touch and intricate embroidery detailing, and paired with a velvet stole and trousers
I actually don’t give any time to think what my style statement will be like. I am very easygoing. If I have worn a pair of denim for 10 days, I can wear it on the 12th day also. I have seen so many people who do not repeat their clothes. But I am not like that. Life is too busy and I don’t bother much about what I should look like. I don’t give much effort in thinking what people will think of me based on what I wear.
We are doing an occasion wear shoot today. Do you have an ideal occasion wear outfit?
Of course with people like Ratul… he always forces me to turn up properly for any occasion, otherwise, left to me, I like to go casually. He asks me, ‘You have a Diwali party tomorrow, what are you wearing… I am sending you something.’ So, if I am invited to a party and I know Ratul is coming, now I get very worried thinking what Ratul will say looking at me! (laughs) I don’t think too much about clothes and don’t feel I have to. After a point, it doesn’t matter, I feel. Confidence is important.
With friends like Ratul you get style suggestions. Does Rukmini (Maitra) help you with your wardrobe picks, too?
They both are behind me! Rukmini is one per cent more actually! I have two-three jackets and that’s all I like to wear for winter….
Ratul walks in and promptly comes up with his style suggestion for Dev for this winter: A suggestion for Dev during winter is… I feel he should wear his jackets with T-shirts or turtle-necks. Pair that with denims and sneakers. (Looks at Dev and continues) You have that body and that confidence. We need you to look very understated yet sophisticated.
Is there anything you wish to try in fashion but haven’t dared to yet?
I am not that experimental when it comes to fashion. I am very reserved in that way. If it is a little jazzy I can’t wear that. Nothing very eye-catching. Recently I went to a wedding and he (Ratul) did a fantastic outfit for me. I thought I was overdressed though the whole party complimented me!
Moments of a pre-birthday cake cutting at Ratul Sood’s store: With Dev’s birthday (December 25) being just two days away from our shoot day, Ratul arranged for a pre-birthday cake-cutting moment for his friend at his newly revamped store. The shoot team also wished him luck for his recently released film Pradhan. For this shot, Dev donned Ratul’s cotton kurta and pyjama set designed with a zipper detailing, velvet piping and digital print, exuding a vibe of minimalism and modernism. What did Dev have to say about his birthday being on a special day? “The credit goes to my parents, they planned well! (Everyone laughs) I enjoy the day. For the past 17 years that I have been working in this industry, my birthday always coincided with a release. That already makes it very special,” said Dev before the team started singing the birthday song for him
Ratul: He thought he was overdressed and went and asked two-three people if he looked overdressed! (Both laugh) He just wore that pink suit and he said he would want to wear it for the premiere (of Pradhan). I think we need to give him more such outfits and he will ultimately end up buying such outfits. But it needs to be brought in front of him.
Do you have a colour palette that you like?
I liked that pink costume today but I never even thought of wearing pink!
Ratul: The white and pink colours looked fantastic on him. So, I figured out we have to just give him those colours and he will know that these are my colours! (Both laugh)
Dev, what will be your New Year resolution this year?
I don’t have one. Because if I make one, a voice keeps repeating in my mind that I need to break it. There’s no resolution. Just stay positive, help others and stay away from all negativity.
The Ratul Sood display section at the recently revamped Burlingtons’ Sood at Park Mansion