The women even plan their holidays around shopping. They know when the new collections are out in Milan, Paris and New York and so book their vacations accordingly. Looking good is no easy business and requires hard work. Research is key - reading all you can on style, observing others and making notes on how they get it right and wrong. It's all about having an eye for detail when you shop. This being the season for festivity and merry-making, it is that time of the year when every woman want to look her best - something that our Malabar Hill memsahibs know better than anyone else does. For those who find shopping a task (and there are plenty of us out there) here are some rules of how to power-shop like a society queen bee:

Dress up always: Even your casual and lounging around outfits should have a dressed up look - the trick is to make it look natural yet stylish. Which is why there is nothing wrong with T-shirts and tracksuits - as long as they are not run of the mill. Go for velvet Juicy Couture tracks or Max Mara silk drawstrings. If you are shopping closer to home then it has to be Monisha Jaising - she does tee and racer back tops but add just the right amount of embellishment so her clothes flaunt a look of luxury but, their casual cuts ensure you don't look over done! If drawstrings and shell are what you like, then head to Abraham and Thakore - if it's good enough for Brown's London, it has to be the best!

It either has to be really old or really new: It is all about extremes - either you wear something from this season's collection or it must be at least twenty years old. Wearing a vintage piece proves that you come from old money and nothing quite spells class like this. And if you really want to prove you have complete style know-how, mix your vintage piece with something that comes from this season's must-have list. (You never want to wear anything that's last season - people will either think you bought it at a sale or it's a hand-me-down).

It's all in the details: You need to look after the smallest of details. Which means from the shape of your shoes to the colour of your nail polish. Shopping must be well planned - and has to be treated almost like a job interview.