Regal Shoes (Banjara Hills)

Regal, befitting its name, is truly for the high-end sagacious male. The store has been around since February 1999, when owner Mohammed Wirji thought the affluent Banjara Hills community needed its own upscale version of the usually economically priced Regal Shoes (there are 48 outlets across the country, and 2 more in the city at Abids and M G Road, Secunderabad).

Sure enough, the store has an exquisite range of branded and designer men's footwear, from Florsheim to Gino Rossi of Italy to Lloyd of Germany. These are the three marquee brands exhibited and sold by Regal. Florsheim has mainly dress shoes, which include both the chic loafers and the classic lace-ups. There's also a fab range in casual shoes. Florsheims range from Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 6,000. Not so expensive if you're the quintessential upper-echelon male of the species.

Casual or chic? Or both? The casual collection from Lloyd and Gino Rossi creates a dynamic and sporty outlook for every situation by bringing together top materials, high-tech elements, an avant-garde look and guileless comfort. For, the real deal of Regal starts with the stupendous range of snazzy and killer dress shoes, casuals and the like in Gino Rossi and Lloyd. Both are on the same pedestal, with prices ranging from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 12,000.

Regal Shoes, the Banjara Hills variant, scores as it's easy to navigate to, and is what it tells you it is - a high-end men's retailer. Aside from the marquee brands, it also sells its own inhouse collection, which includes Regal and Inc 5, both for men and women. These brands maybe local, but definitely rake in the moolah, and are good value for money for the middle-class consumer.

There are also the indispensable flip-flops and crocs, if you want something utterly casual for the beach or just need to brace up for the baking Indian summer. One negative, though, is that it doesn't have any sneaker collection, so if you're thinking of buying any, then go shop elsewhere. Also, the women's range is very limited, with only sandals and slides collections from the two inhouse brands.