I went to Phoenix Mills after a long, long time today and was totally bowled over by all the new development that has come into the place.

First of all, Pantaloons has been really spruced up. Normally I am in and out in something like 5 minutes, since I go there only to buy the handmilled, organic soaps and scrubs from Soulflower , but this time I must have spent at least half an hour just checking out the cosmetics counters. There is Elizabeth Arden, L'Oreal, Calvin Klein, Christian Dior and more...it gladdens the heart to see that almost every international cosmetic brand is officially available in Bombay these days. If only Chanel would set its eyes on India now. Its my favorite cosmetic house and I am dying to try out their new perfume -- Chance!

Then there is Arcus -- the store for home goodies -- which seems to be a twin of IKEA. Though the prices are a little steep, the stuff is classy and highly covetable. Interesting to know that Pantaloon has a 51% Arcus stake in Arcus India.

The biggest surprise, however came from the building opposite Lush, which had been under construction when I last saw it about a month ago. Step in, and you might just forget that you are in India. A beautifully laid out place with flagship stores of brands like Adidas, Hang Ten, Lacoste, Nike etc. etc. etc., this is one place where you can easily spend a couple of hours browsing and window shopping!

Best New Outlet: Sweet World, which seems uncannily like the internationally famed Sweet Factory, with the most fabulous range of pick-n-mix confectionery, chocolates, marshmallows and hard boiled sweets that I have ever seen in India. Though the taste is not exactly Sweet Factory, its close enough to be a great blessing for sugar addicts like me, who spend half my foreign travel allowance stocking up on these goodies!!

Avoidable: The new Marks and Spencer at Phoenix Mills. The place is elegant, sophisticated and great for window shopping, and the brand is very highly acclaimed, but take one careful look at the grossly overpriced merchandise, and you can't shake off the feeling that they are simply dumping stuff from past seasons into Bombay!