Category Archives: Asia

On Indian Clothing

Posted on 01/01/2015 by Anu M

The people of Pataliputra* dressed well in flowered muslins embroidered with jewels, and an umbrella was carried by an attendant behind the head of a noble when he went into the road. Kleitarchus, however, found that in other, poorer parts … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st century, 3rd century BCE, Ancient India, Asia, Contemporary, Contemporary Style, Costume, Culture, fashion, gems, Girls, historical costume, historical dress, historical fashions, History, India, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian History, Indian men, Indian Textiles, Indian Women, Sari, Sari Blouse, sari drape, sari history, Vintage, vintage costume, vintage style, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Christmas Post

Posted on 25/12/2014 by Anu M

Merry Christmas to everyone and happy holidays! Watercolour by Manishi Dey.

Posted in 1960s, 20th century, Art, Asia, Bengal, Costume, Culture, ghaghra, indian art, Indian Dress, Indian Women, Paintings, regional styles, vintage art, Vintage Dress, vintage sari, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Winter Post

Posted on 25/12/2014 by Anu M

Like śiśira, there is an abundance of snow, the sun shines weakly – resembling the moon – and those who can stay indoors, preferably with their lovers*. It is the season to stay home, curl up alone or with family … Continue reading →

Posted in 1800s, 19th century, Art, Asia, Costume, Culture, dupatta, Early 19th century, fashion, ghaghra, historical costume, historical dress, historical fashions, indian art, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian Illustrators, Love, miniature paintings, Paintings, regional styles, Royalty, vintage art, vintage style, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Roop and Baz

Posted on 11/11/2014 by Anu M

At first love seemed easy but after hard. [X] For a couple whose legendary relationship was built on a love of poetry and music, Baz Bahadur and Rani Roopmati appear an awful lot in hunting scenes in miniature paintings. Their … Continue reading →

Posted in 16th Century, Art, Asia, churidar kameez, Costume, Culture, Deccan, fashion, historical art, historical costume, historical dress, History, hunt, indian art, Indian Dress, Indian History, Indian men, Indian Singers, Indian Women, Mughal, Music, Paintings, Poetry, Romance, Royalty, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Recreating Vintage/Historical Art

Posted on 11/11/2014 by Anu M

Like him or hate him, Raja Ravi Varma remains influential more than a 100 years after his death. Recreating his work seems to be a bit of a thing ranging from the recent Rang Rasiya to Makaramanju to Pushpamala’s photo … Continue reading →

Posted in 16th Century, 1900s, 1930s, Art, art recreation, Asia, Bengal, Documentary, ghaghra, historical art, historical costume, indian art, Indian Women, Malayalam Cinema, miniature paintings, Paintings, Sari, Vintage, vintage costume | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bali

Posted on 23/10/2014 by Anu M

I spent some time in Ubud, Bali and despite being overrun with tourists it seemed to suffer little from the usual soulless nature of such places. It helped that I wasn’t in Ubud “proper” though I missed out on a … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st century, Asia, Contemporary, Costume, Culture, Flowers, Girls, Hinduism, South East Asia, Travel, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The 1960s in Film – Love in Tokyo (1966)

Posted on 26/08/2014 by Anu M

Love in Tokyo (1966) hardly needs any introduction. It’s the kind of frothy romance set in an exotic foreign locale (or at the very least Kashmir) that the 1960s specialised in. Naturally the leads are in their 60s best. With … Continue reading →

Posted in 1960s, Actor, Asia, Bollywood, churidar kameez, Cinema, East Asia, Film Costuming, India, Indian Cinema, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian History, Indian men, Indian Women, Japan, Movies, Old Bollywood, Romance, Sari, Sari Blouse, sari history, Vintage, Vintage Blouse, vintage sari, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The SE Asia/East Asia Post

Posted on 01/08/2014 by Anu M

South-East Asia/East Asia 1. Thailand (1905) 2. Cambodia (1928) 3. Laos (1930) 4. Bali (1935) 5. Malaysia (Peranakan) 1930s 6. Indonesia (1940) 7. Vietnam (1930) 8. China (1930s) 9. Korea 10. Japan (1930s). I have spent a fair bit of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, Asia, China, Colonial, Costume, Culture, Dress Reform, Early 19th century, East Asia, fashion, Girls, historical costume, History, Photography, Postcards, South East Asia, Studio Portraits, Vintage Blouse, Vintage Dress, vintage fashion, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Modern Times

Posted on 26/07/2014 by Anu M

I love all those illustrations back in the day (largely the 20s) that have men terrified of the forthcoming emancipation of women.  More often than not, the women in the illustrations look so nonchalant and cool. Pic 1 from Korea … Continue reading →

Posted in 1910s, 1920s, Asia, Comics, Early 20th Century, Feminism, Flapper, Illustration, India, Magazine, Vintage, vintage art | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Orange is the New Black – 2

Posted on 17/02/2014 by Anu M

Untitled, MV Dhurandhar, 1917

Posted in 1920s, Art, Asia, Early 19th century, fashion, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian Women, Paintings, Sari, Sari Blouse, vintage art, Vintage Blouse, vintage fashion, vintage sari | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment