Category Archives: Asia

Brief Notes from Japan

サリーの女 (Maiden in a sari), 1983. From the Museum publication on the artist Akino Fuku (秋野不矩)). While in Japan I made a visit to the Akino Fuku Museum in Hamamatsu, Japan. While my favourite work of hers was not on … Continue reading

Posted in 1980s, 2017 posts, Art, Asia, clothing, Costume, costumes in art, Culture, East Asia, fashion, India, Indian Costume, Indian Women, Japan, Japanese art, Japanese Costume, Paintings, Personal, Vintage, vintage art, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

All About the Bindi

The bindi/pottu/sindoor/tikli – whatever name it be known by – is probably the most emblematic of Indian elements of attire and also has a long history. It is symbolic (as a signifier of marital status or of caste),  part of … Continue reading

Posted in 1860s, 18th century, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1980s, 19th century, 20th century, Accessories, Ancient India, Asia, bindi, Culture, Deccan, Early 20th Century, East Asia, fashion, Hinduism, historical fashions, India, Indian Bride, Indian Cinema, Indian fashion, Indian men, Indian Women, Late 19th century, miniature paintings, retro, Sanskrit Literature, Sets, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Costume Books

I have been reading a couple of books on Indian costumes and thought I would write a bit about two of them. Queen Subada, Detail from Shahnamah, Sultanate School, 1450. Costume Details: Phiran: of transparent material, form-fitting and ankle length, … Continue reading

Posted in 1990s, 20th century, Accessories, Actor, Ancient India, antique, Art, Asia, Authors, Costume, Courtesan, Culture, Dancer, fashion, Hinduism, historical costume, historical dress, historical fashions, historical hairstyles, Illustration, indian art, Indian Dress, Indian History, Indian Illustrators, Indian Theatre, Indian Women, Jaina Literature, Jewellery, Medieval India, Sanskrit Drama, sari history, Theatre, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

All About Hair

I had a bit of a meandering look at the history of hairstyles in India on tumblr and as always this post collates it on wordpress. curnakuntala (Sanskrit): locks or ringlets hair style. alaka-avali (Sanskrit): hair arrangement in spiral locks … Continue reading

Posted in 1600s, 16th Century, 1700s, 17th century, 1800s, 18th century, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 19th century, 20th century, Accessories, Ancient India, Art, Asia, Bengal, Bollywood, Colonial, Contemporary Style, Culture, Dance, Dancer, fashion, Flowers, Hair, historical fashions, historical hairstyles, History, indian art, Indian fashion, Indian History, Indian men, Indian Women, Jewellery, Medieval India, miniature paintings, Old Bollywood, Paintings, regional styles, retro, retro hair, Sanskrit Literature, Sculpture, Sets, Tamil, Tumblr, Vintage, vintage hair, vintage jewellery | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Buddhism Post

I had done this set of posts starting on Buddha Purnima on tumblr but it’s taken me till now to collate it on WP.  In some ways posts are more coherent on WP so despite the delay here it is.  … Continue reading

Posted in 1880s, 1900s, 1940s, 1990s, Ancient India, Art, art recreation, Asia, Buddhism, Colonial, Costume, Culture, Early 20th Century, East Asia, historical art, historical costume, historical dress, History, Illustration, India, indian art, Indian Dress, Indian History, Indian men, Indian Women, Japan, Late 19th century, Paintings, Philosophy, Religion, Sanskrit Literature, Sari, Sri Lanka, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The North-East Post

This doesn’t cover all the North Eastern states of India neither is it chronological or thematic. Rather it’s a North East sampler that includes a fair bit of dance forms in the North-East. The components of the Manipuri dance costume … Continue reading

Posted in 1900s, 1950s, 20th century, Accessories, Art, Asia, Costume, Culture, Dance, Dancer, Early 20th Century, fashion, Folk Dance, Girls, indian art, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian Textiles, Indian Women, Jewellery, North East, North East India, Paintings, photodivision, Photography, regional styles, retro, retro fashion, Tribal, Vintage Blouse, vintage costume, vintage fashion, vintage hair, vintage jewellery, vintage style, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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

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

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

The Shawl Post

The blue shawl first, a canopy of blue, The Face, Conrad Aiken New Kangra Painting and Girl with Blue Shawl by Wink Willett.

Posted in 21st century, Accessories, Asia, Contemporary, Contemporary Style, Costume, Culture, fashion, Girls, historical art, indian art, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian Women, Paintings, Photography, Sets, winterwear, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments