Author Archives: Anu M

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About Anu M

A potted history of Indian clothing and fashion.

वसन्त ऋतु – Spring

It’s spring in India. And while the illustration above* is all mildness and white (and indeed the kunda finds mention in a lot of Sanskrit spring poetry) the flowers of spring that are emblematic of the season are quite red … Continue reading

Posted in Ancient India, Art, Asia, Contemporary, Costume, Culture, Flora, Flowers, historical art, historical costume, historical dress, historical fashions, History, Illustration, indian art, Indian Dress, Indian History, Indian Illustrators, miniature paintings, Paintings, Poetry, Sanskrit, Sculpture, South India, Vintage, vintage art, Vintage Blouse | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Kerala Post

This post was in response to a reader request on tumblr. Its fairly basic and is confined mainly to the 19th and 20th century but does cover some ground. Here goes! Though the “set-mundu” consisting of two pieces of cloth … Continue reading

Posted in 1890s, 1900s, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1950s, 1970s, 19th century, 20th century, Accessories, Art, Colonial, Costume, Culture, Early 20th Century, fashion, Flora, Flowers, Girls, Hair, historical costume, historical dress, India, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian Literature, Indian Women, Kerala, Late 19th century, Malayalam Cinema, Period Drama, Photography, regional styles, Royalty, Sari, Sari Blouse, sari drape, sari history, Sets, South India, South Indian Cinema, Studio Portraits, vintage costume, vintage fashion, vintage hair, vintage jewellery, vintage sari | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Mughals-1

It’s probably accurate to say that an indigenous form of the Islamic clothing brought in by the Mughals (a mix of Turkish and Persian influences) took shape during the reign of Akbar and Jahangir.  This period also sees the style … Continue reading

Posted in 1600s, 1610s, 1620s, 16th Century, 17th century, Art, churidar kameez, Costume, Culture, Deccan, Dress Reform, dupatta, fashion, ghaghra, historical art, historical costume, historical dress, historical fashions, History, India, indian art, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian History, Indian men, Indian Women, Islamic Art, Islamic Dress, Islamic style, Mughal, Paintings, Royalty, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Republic Day

“The concept of this procession and exhibition and everything else should be to demonstrate both the unity and great variety and diversity of India…..Each State should represent some distinctive feature of it’s own in the tableaux or in the exhibition … Continue reading

Posted in 1950s, Asia, Central India, Costume, Culture, Dance, Folk, Folk Dance, India, Indian Dress, Indian History, Indian men, Indian Textiles, Indian Women, Photography, Politicians, regional styles, Tamil, Tribal, Vintage, vintage costume, vintage photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Home Science in India and the 1950s

Home Science teacher trainees in Poona in 1957 learn to make rangolis to ‘brighten up” traditional meals, pound rice, scrape coconut, use a “model kitchen” and much more…..including making some kitchen music. Lots of nine-yard saris in there. [X]

Posted in 1950s, Culture, Deccan, fashion, Girls, India, Indian Dress, Indian Textiles, Indian Women, regional styles, retro, retro fashion, Salwar Kameez, Sari, Sari Blouse, Vintage, vintage fashion, vintage photography, vintage sari, vintage style, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Bindi Post

The tikli or spangle is worn in the Hindustāni Districts and not in the south. It consists of a small piece of lac over which is smeared vermilion, while above it a piece of mica or thin glass is fixed … Continue reading

Posted in 1910s, Accessories, bindi, Central India, Colonial, Culture, Early 20th Century, fashion, Hinduism, historical fashions, Indian fashion, Indian Women, Literature, regional styles, Rural, Vintage, vintage fashion, vintage style, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The 1930s Post

She wore an exquisite pink sari and the delicate gold thread embroidery on it added to the charm of both.  The vermilion mark and the tiny decorative dots of colour on her forehead and the collyrium-touched eyes added much grace … Continue reading

Posted in 1930s, Accessories, Actor, Bollywood, Colonial, Early 20th Century, fashion, Hair, Indian Cinema, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian Women, Old Bollywood, Postcards, retro, retro fashion, Sari, Sari Blouse, sari drape, sari history, Vintage, Vintage Blouse, Vintage Dress, vintage fashion, vintage hair, vintage jewellery, vintage sari | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bits n Bobs

Gharara/Sharara…still confused by the many definitions. Raghu adds a few more explanations to 1950s hairstyles. Bengal’s laterite soil makes for Japanese dye. Please admire Waheeda – X and X.

Posted in 17th century, 1950s, 1960s, 19th century, 20th century, 21st century, Asia, Bengal, Bollywood, Cinema, Costume, Culture, East Asia, Edo, fashion, Hair, Indian Cinema, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian Textiles, Indian Women, Japanese, natural dye, Old Bollywood, retro, retro fashion, Tumblr, Vintage, vintage costume, Vintage Dress, vintage fashion, vintage hair, vintage style, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

On the Street, India

Click for larger view. 1. Nauvari and Nath girls looking very lovely, Somaiya College, Mumbai. Taken on the college’s “Traditional Day”. 2. Mochi (cobbler) in Mumbai.  She is not alone: Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ernakulam, 3.  Anklet wearing schoolgirls. Taken in Bengaluru. … Continue reading

Posted in 21st century, Accessories, Contemporary, Contemporary Style, Costume, Culture, fashion, Girls, India, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian Women, Jewellery, Personal, Photography, regional styles, Sari, Sari Blouse, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Aya de Yopougon

Sari Break. Immigrant Côte d’Ivoire ladies in Paris offer up their honest opinion on leopard prints. From the utterly delightful bande dessinée I am presently reading, Aya: Love in Yop City, set in 1970s Côte d’Ivoire. Everyone should read Aya … Continue reading

Posted in 1970s, Africa, African, Art, Authors, Comics, Contemporary, Culture, fashion, french illustrations, Illustration, retro, retro fashion, Vintage, vintage fashion, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment