Author Archives: Anu M

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About Anu M

A potted history of Indian clothing and fashion.

Conrad Rooks’ Siddhartha

Posted on 24/11/2012 by Anu M

Under black hair, which made to tower high on her head, he saw a very fair, very delicate, very smart face, a brightly red mouth, like a freshly cracked fig, eyebrows which were well tended and painted in a high … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancient India, Buddhism, Indian Cinema, Literature, Movies, Period Drama, Sari Blouse | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Utsav/Mṛcchakaṭika

Posted on 24/11/2012 by Anu M

Your garment’s border, red and fair, Is all a-shiver in the air; Another courtesan, this time the fabulous Rekha playing Vasantasena in the film adaptation of Mṛcchakaṭika (The Little Clay Cart). The garment is in fact red in the movie and given Vasantasena’s wealth, she wears … Continue reading →

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Santosh Sivan’s Asoka

Posted on 24/11/2012 by Anu M

Santosh Sivan’s epic film of the Mauryan King, Asoka, surprisingly sticks to a simple, subdued palette and body decoration for the princess Kaurwaki. Again not quite the choli but perhaps a sewn breast band. And the film it appears is fairly authentic in terms of plot.

Posted in Ancient India, India, Indian Cinema, Indian History, Period Drama, Romance, Sari Blouse | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Amrita Sher-Gil Post

Posted on 21/11/2012 by Anu M

There are so many wonderful Amrita Sher-Gil photographs (and paintings) around that she deserves a tumblr of her own. The ones I am posting today have been around for a bit but I felt like posting some 1930s fashion. I am still a little … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930s, Art, India, Sari, Sari Blouse, Vintage | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Politician Saree Post

Posted on 19/11/2012 by Anu M

Today is the birth anniversary of India’s third Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi. Mrs Gandhi’s handloom sarees and simple blouses set the style for women politicians for several decades.  Initially as her father’s hostess and later as the Prime Minister, she rarely got … Continue reading →

Posted in 1950s, 1960s, India, Politicians, Sari, Sari Blouse, Vintage, Vintage Blouse | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Artful Pose: Early Studio Photography in Bombay

Posted on 17/11/2012 by Anu M

The Artful Pose A few pictures from The Artful Pose, Early Studio Photography, c 1855-1940.  All the photographs are by Shapoor Bhedwar to the best of my knowledge. There are girls in short tunics worn with sarees (looking like early versions of Hakoba) with … Continue reading →

Posted in 1890s, India, Photography, Sari, Sari Blouse, Studio Portraits, Vintage, Vintage Blouse | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The 1960s Post

Posted on 14/11/2012 by Anu M

  James Burke’s pictures of actresses like Madhubala and Nalini Jaywant are hopelessly cheesy so I was pleasantly surprised to find that his numerous pictures of Asha Parekh taken in 1963 are an interesting look at the actress on film sets, at rehearsals and … Continue reading →

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The School Uniform Post

Posted on 14/11/2012 by Anu M

14 November:  Mr Nehru’s birth anniversary and Children’s Day in India. The older pupils of this girls school in 1880s India are all in Parsi style saris and long blouses.  Source: columbia.edu

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The Diwali Post

Posted on 13/11/2012 by Anu M

Diwali Week. As good a time as any to bring out the bling and the little brocade blouse.

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The Short Sari Post

Posted on 13/11/2012 by Anu M

20th September 1918:  Flag sellers on India Day wearing national costume.  (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images) Can’t locate what India Day was meant for – to raise funds for the war effort? The sari is probably a shawl wound … Continue reading →

Posted in 1910s, India, Sari, Sari Blouse, Vintage, Vintage Blouse | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment