Author Archives: Anu M

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About Anu M

A potted history of Indian clothing and fashion.

The Cape Post

Posted on 12/12/2014 by Anu M

I had done a piece on capes in the 1960s. Doris and eros-diakios had pointed out that they were around in the 1950s too, see for e.g. 1959’s Dhool Ka Phool. While capes,boleros and coats are common with saris, I … Continue reading →

Posted in 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, Indian Dress, Indian Women, retro, Sari, sari history, vintage fashion, winterwear | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dilip Kumar & Madhubala & Tarana

Posted on 12/12/2014 by Anu M

Dilip Kumar is 92 today (11/Dec/2014). Watch Dilip and Madhubala being very adorable in Nain mile baawre and giving off some old-fashioned heat in Beiman Tore Nainwa in 1951’s Tarana. This was pretty much part of the soundtrack of my … Continue reading →

Posted in 1950s, Actor, Indian Cinema, Old Bollywood, Vintage Music | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Red Ribbon Post

Posted on 12/12/2014 by Anu M

I have written a bit on how ribbons went from being youthful fashion to something worn at best by village school girls-though a lot more can be said on the subject. Indian readers of a certain age will no doubt … Continue reading →

Posted in Accessories, Art, Contemporary, Girls, Hair, indian art, Indian fashion | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The 1990s Post

Posted on 12/12/2014 by Anu M

The Sari Etc. – 1991-2000 I am not in the least bit a fan of the 90s + its not exactly vintage. For the sake of completion of the series though I will compress everything into a single post. It … Continue reading →

Posted in 1990s, Indian Cinema, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian Women, retro, retro fashion, Salwar Kameez, Sari, sari history, vintage sari | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Red Sari

Posted on 25/11/2014 by Anu M

Then when the lamps were lit, I should put on my red dress and it would be thin as a veil, and would wind about my body, and billow out as I came into the room, pirouetting. It would make … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930s, Fashion Quote, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian Women, Paintings, Sari, Sari Blouse, sari history, vintage art, vintage fashion, vintage sari | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sadequain

Posted on 24/11/2014 by Anu M

In an interview, he recognized the centrality of these forms to his work: “In the anatomy of these gigantic plants I found the essence of calligraphy. Everything that I have painted since then — a city like Rawalpindi, buildings, a … Continue reading →

Posted in 1950s, Calligraphy, Islamic Art, Pakistani Art, vintage art, vintage fashion, vintage sari | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Kebaya Post

Posted on 24/11/2014 by Anu M

Now and then I like to look at fashions east of India. Especially the kain-kebaya which you can still spot in everyday use. I spotted an Indonesian book of fashion illustrations (Cantik Elegan dengan Kebaya XL aka  Beautiful and Elegant … Continue reading →

Posted in Contemporary, Contemporary Style, Indonesia, Islamic style, kain kebaya, Kebaya, Plus Size, South East Asia | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Pallu Drape Post

Posted on 24/11/2014 by Anu M

Though in our times the fashion is to leave the pallu (the loose end of the sari) largely unsecured,  historically there were several ways of securing or draping the pallu of a nivi sari. In the 1930s-1940s when the nivi … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930s, 1940s, paper dolls, sari drape, Vintage Blouse, vintage sari | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Fashion Illustration Post

Posted on 24/11/2014 by Anu M

Paul Louis de Giafferri’s pochoir prints which cover a number of historical costumes, including India (~1925).   Some are accurate and probably based on photographs of India at the time, some are a bit whimsical and fanciful and European in … Continue reading →

Posted in 1920s, french illustrations, historical costume, Illustration, Indian fashion, Sari, Vintage Blouse, vintage fashion, vintage illustrations, vintage sari | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Cartoon Post

Posted on 24/11/2014 by Anu M

From SD Phadnis’ cartoons of the 1950s and 1960s. The lady in pic 2 with that excellent dog is a woman after my own heart. Also I have a sudden desire to do something anything in white shoes and a … Continue reading →

Posted in 1950s, 1960s, Illustration, Indian Illustrators, Indian Women, Sari, Sari Blouse, vintage illustrations, vintage sari | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment