A—  Armani. Shah Rukh Khan’s favourite international designer. The cuts of their suits and jackets are immaculate. Armani suits fit him the best and he has to have an Armani in his wardrobe. Do you know the Armani tailor at Bond Street (where the Armani workshop is situated) is an Indian? Shah Rukh had gone there to give his measurements and he was surprised to see an Indian come out to take them.

There are three kinds of Armanis — Giorgo Armani is classic stuff, whereas Emporio Armani is younger, hipper and cooler and Armani Exchange is their prêt line for teenagers. I simply love their prêt line because I love to pretend I’m still a teenager. B— Bvlgari. For their amazing watches and jewellery. A Bvlgari watch was my first ever present to my mom. So I love this label even more. And I love their handbags. They are very classic. Though Bvlgari is not known for its handbags, I would recommend it strongly to women.

C— Christian Dior. A big brand. Their cuts are amazing. Their men’s clothes are fantastic. They brought the skinny tie back in fashion. In my mind, Christian Dior is associated with shirts and jackets. They have a fantastic collection at their store at the Oberoi Hotel in Delhi.

D— Dolce Gabbana. They are the most outrageous, edgy and avante garde designers.  Their clothes are structured and sharp. And you really need to be slim and fit to wear their clothes. That’s why I haven’t managed to fit into their clothes. As far as new fashion is concerned, it’s Dolce Gabbana that sets the ball rolling. Their clothes sometimes are bling but always impactful.

E— Ermenegildo Zegna. It’s a classic men’s label. They are known for their suits and sharp cuts. It’s the preference for the most sedate dresser. F— Fendi. It caused a huge revolution a few years ago in the world of fashion. Then it faded away. It has now bounced back with Bee bags and Spy bags. Their leather is of the finest quality and their bags are user friendly. Their big bucket belt has walked many a red carpet recently.

G— Gucci? It’s one of my favourite labels. I love their shoes, belts, luggage and bags. H— Hermes. It’s one of the most expensive and mispronounced labels. It’s wonderful to hear how it sounds so different with each pronunciation.  A classic Hermes bag has a waiting period of 3-4 years. Their crocodile skin bags cost anywhere between 12,000 to 15,000 pounds. They are like heirlooms passed on from generation to generation.

I— Issey Miyake. Their pleated shirts are simply class. The first time I bought one of those pleated shirts, my maid went berserk. To my horror she ruined the shirt trying to iron it out. And when I came home, she actually complained that she’d wasted her entire day on this one shirt.

J—Jean Paul Gautier. The clothes are, in one word, superb. Again, they are edgy and exceptionally fashionable. Their new men’s line is superb. Shah Rukh is wearing Jean Paul on the cover and inside and he carries the clothes off very well. Priya Chatwal has brought the brand to India and is doing a terrific job spreading the Gautier word in India.

K—Kenneth Cole. I love it. Their clothes are fun and fabulous. But it’s their boots that are to die for. They can fight any weather condition and yet look hip. They have a lot of sole.

L— Louis Vuitton. My absolute favourite luggage and handbag store in the world. Simply the best. Their monogram is a global symbol today. They are known for using the finest leather in town. And their luggage lasts for years and still looks like new. I have almost every bag and piece of luggage they’ve come out with. What Imelda Marcos was to shoes, I’m to Louis Vuitton bags.

L— L’Oreal. All my gray hair is covered by L’Oreal. Because I’m worth it. It’s known for cosmetics and is the true leader in that field. I buy their gel and hair products in abundance. M—Moschino.  It’s one of the earliest fashion labels I heard of. One of their famous motifs is a red-shaped heart, which they use effectively in their couture garments. Once again Priya Chatwal has brought Moschino to India. M is also for Manish Malhotra. My favourite Indian designer and a dear friend of mine.

N—Neiman Marcus. This is a designer store specific to the west coast of America. It houses some of the best fashion labels. Their selection is immaculate and exclusive. Sometimes designers fashion clothes specifically for the store. So next time you’re in San Francisco, visit it.

O— Oscar De La Renta. Known for classic gowns and evening wear. Penelope Cruz has worn many an Oscar on the red carpet. P— Prada. It’s another huge favourite of mine. The Prada Sport is a favourite sport clothing line. Their track pants and suits are made of such fine material. I haven’t seen such material anywhere else. Their shoes are simply fantastic and long lasting. Since I’m a Devil, I must wear Prada.

Q— Can this alphabet stand for anything but the Queen? She’s a brand in herself. So well turned out, perfect and poised. She must come out with her brand of clothing and other wear. I’m sure the women above 60 would love it. By the way, I thought Helen Mirren was perfect as the Queen.

R— Rolex. You think Rolex, you think classic gold watch. Rolex holds emotional appeal for me. My Dad simply loved them. Every time he went watch shopping, he bought a Rolex. Very classic, very smart and very sexy indeed. S— Sisley. It’s a name synonymous with beauty products. Their day and night creams work like Botox. Very expensive but really worth it. T— Tumi. It’s highly regarded for luggage. It’s sturdy and user friendly. At the same time, it’s hip and trendy. A Tumi is always a good buy, something that’ll last you for a lifetime.

U— Ungaro, Emmanuel. I love their women’s wear. Their gowns are gorgeous. Their men’s line is not so known but take it from me, it’s great. I love their handbags too, though for some reason they are not so popular with the ladies. I would exhort the ladies to give them a try. The perfume Diva is amazing.

V— Valentino. The Big V. Their gowns are classic, beautiful and utterly feminine. Vintage Valentino has walked the red carpet at the Oscar a million times. That shows how much the Valentino is revered in Hollywood. The men’s belts are something I love. Sheetal Mafatlal has brought the label to India and is doing a great job with it.

W— Why? This is a question I would like to ask our leading ladies. When some of the best labels are available in the country, why do they dress so badly at film festivals and award ceremonies? Please invest in a fashion guru. Or call me; I’m always available for fashion advice.

X – is the X factor. That mysterious something that makes life a brand worth dying for.  Y— Yoji Yamamoto. He’s a brilliant Japanese designer who makes some of the most interesting men’s outfits. His clothes don’t always have the usual fit. Sometimes they are loose and drapey. Their Y3 sports wear in tandem with Adidas is something else. I love their sportswear. Z— Zara. It’s the hippest high street label. It’s affordable and exceptionally fashionable. Great for jackets, shoes and shirts. By spending just a little, you can look better than in some of the high-end designer wear.