Category Archives: British Raj

The Ayah Post-2

Ayahs on film: Nandita Das in Earth. Ayahs on Stage: Anneika Rose in The Empress.

Posted in 20th century, Actor, British Raj, Colonial, Contemporary, India, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian Women, Movies, Period Drama, Sari, Sari Blouse, Vintage, Vintage Blouse, Vintage Dress, vintage fashion, Women, Working Women | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Ayah Post-1

By the 1930s the image of a cherished ayah had been enshrined in the nostalgia of the Raj that had been generated at the close of the nineteenth century. As that image took on a life of its own, individual … Continue reading

Posted in 19th century, 20th century, British Raj, Colonial, Early 20th Century, History, India, Indian Dress, Indian Women, Late 19th century, Sari, Sari Blouse, Vintage, Vintage Dress, Women, Working Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Ayah

A number of fashion blogs feature couture, pretty stuff, beautiful fabrics, embellishments, trends and women admired for their beauty. Which is fine for the most part, it is what elevates clothing above the mundane. Once in awhile though it is … Continue reading

Posted in 19th century, 20th century, British Raj, Colonial, Early 20th Century, History, India, Indian Women, Late 19th century, Sari, Sari Blouse, Uniforms, Vintage Dress, Women, Working Women | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Maharani Post

A liberal spirit, she was an ardent nationalist and one of the founders of the women’s movement in India. She certainly imbibed some of her non-conformist attitude from her husband Sayajirao Gaekwad. Under him, Baroda became the first princely state … Continue reading

Posted in 1910s, Asia, British Raj, Colonial, Costume, Early 20th Century, Feminism, India, Indian Women, Royalty, Sari, Sari Blouse, Uncategorized, Vintage Dress, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Parsis Post

I mentioned in previous posts that Jnanadanandini was influenced by the blouse and sari style of Parsi women in Bombay. Here are a few examples.  Most have “ribbon border” sari with motifs on the ribbon is quite common in Parsi … Continue reading

Posted in British Raj, Colonial, Dress Reform, Early 20th Century, Edwardian, fashion, Indian Dress, Late 19th century, Paintings, Sari, Sari Blouse, Victorian, Vintage, Vintage Blouse, vintage fashion, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Independence Post

One of the most significant influencers of the way we dress in India was the freedom movement, in particular Gandhi’s thoughts on the moral dimension of clothing, the quest for an authentic Indianness and clothing as a unifier of India’s … Continue reading

Posted in 1930s, 1940s, British Raj, Colonial, Dress Reform, Early 20th Century, History, Independence, India, Indian Dress, Indian Women, Men, Politics, Sari, Sari Blouse, Tumblr, Vintage | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

1925 – Karachi and Kolkota

Saris in the 1920s on either side of the subcontinent 1) A Parsi family in 1925 Karachi and 2) A Calcutta Cup Race where “horses take second place to fashion” (from the film Calcutta Topical No 1-1925) . The pallu is worn … Continue reading

Posted in 1920s, British Raj, Colonial, cycling, Early 20th Century, fashion, Vintage, Vintage Blouse, Vintage Dress, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The South India Post

1.  A Maratha brahmin girl from Tanjore (Tamil Nadu) holding a marigold garland 2. A Tamil girl wearing jasmine flowers in her hair and a silk sari for a temple visit 3. A Muslim lady with a headdress of jasmine blossom and … Continue reading

Posted in 1910s, British Raj, Colonial, Costume, Culture, Early 20th Century, Illustration, Indian Dress, Paintings, Sari, Sari Blouse, South India, Vintage, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Dress Reform in Bengal Post

On top of that, the kind of fine [clothing] material they wear is not fit to go out in society, and when the material becomes wet and clings to the body, then there is no difference between being naked and … Continue reading

Posted in 19th century, Bengal, British Raj, Colonial, Dress Reform, Indian Dress, Indian Women, Sari, Sari Blouse, Victorian, Vintage, Vintage Blouse | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Nautch Post

Ongoing posts on Indian dance, particularly in the 19th/early 20th century. This painting is Edwin Lord Weeks’  Nautch Girls emerging from the Taj Mahal. Weeks’  paintings of India have a number of quotidian details and I particularly like this one.

Posted in 1880s, 19th century, British Raj, Colonial, Costume, Courtesan, Dance, Dancer, Early 20th Century, Paintings, Vintage, Women | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment