Category Archives: Culture

Bindi Queens

Posted on 20/04/2017 by Anu M

Not every decade has distinctive bindis. And when a decade does its usually easily seen as a trend on an actress.  Here’s how the 50s, 70s and 90s looked! Shyama, the bindi queen of the 1950s. Decorative bindis were quite … Continue reading →

Posted in 1950s, 1970s, 1990s, Accessories, bindi, Bollywood, Culture, Film Costuming, Indian Aesthetics, Indian fashion, indian style, Indian Women, Old Bollywood, retro, retro cinema, retro fashion, Vintage, vintage fashion, vintage style | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Holi Hai!

Posted on 14/03/2017 by Anu M

A heap of thorns, etc., are stacked about the first of the lunar- month of Phagun. This stack is made just outside the village on some open space. As the days go by and the Holi festival draws near, the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1900s, Art, Central India, Colonial, Culture, Decorative Arts, Early 20th Century, Folk, Indian Aesthetics, indian festivals, Vintage Books | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sankranti Wishes

Posted on 14/01/2017 by Anu M

The wintry season that abounds with sweet rice and sugarcane and mounds of dark palm-sugar dainties; When Love waxes proud and love’s sport is at fever-pitch; when the anguish is intense of parted lovers; May this season be to you … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Folk Dance, Hinduism, Indian Aesthetics, indian festivals, Indian Illustrators, Indian Women, Literature, miniature paintings, Paintings, Postcards, Religion, Sanskrit Literature, Tamil | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Deepavali Special

Posted on 31/10/2016 by Anu M

Manoranjan*, in its Diwali Special issue, published a separate section ‘Striyance Lekh’ (Articles of women writers). The enthusiastic editor Kashinath Raghunath Mitra, is responsible for the creation of a whole generation of women short-story writers [X]. Almost everyone must be … Continue reading →

Posted in 1910s, 1960s, 1990s, 20th century, ananda vikatan, Bengali, Culture, Early 20th Century, Hindi, Hinduism, Illustration, Indian Aesthetics, indian art, indian festivals, Indian Women, late 20th century, Magazine, Maharashtra, retro, Tamil, Vintage Magazine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Autumn Festival

Posted on 12/10/2016 by Anu M

Thanks to RL long time since I did any significant update except for a few pieces now and then on tumblr. Before I start again just a few pics for autumn/Dusshera. It was autumn, not a doubt of it. Ere … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, 1950s, 20th century, Art, costumes in art, Culture, Dancer, Early 20th Century, Flowers, Flowers in Literature, Goddess, Hinduism, Indian Aesthetics, indian art, Indian Costume, indian festivals, Indian Flora, Indian Women, Paintings, Sari, Sari Blouse, Vintage, vintage art | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ashadh ka ek din

Posted on 25/07/2016 by Anu M

आषाढस्य प्रथमदिवसे मेघमाश्लिष्टसानुं वप्रक्रीडापरिणतगजप्रेक्षणीयं ददर्श॥१.२॥ Ashar has come, filling the southern sky with A cloud, frolicksome as an elephant About to charge, he seems to lower his tusks. (translation of lines from the Meghadoot from here). The month of Ashadh … Continue reading →

Posted in 1950s, 4th century AD, Ancient India, costume design, Costumes in Cinema, Culture, film costumes, Film Costuming, Hairstyles, historical costume, historical dress, historical fashions, historical hairstyles, Indian Aesthetics, Indian Cinema, Indian Costume, Indian Literature, Indian men, Indian Theatre, Indian Women, Romance, Sanskrit Drama, Sanskrit Literature, sari drape, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Monsoon Post

Posted on 19/07/2016 by Anu M

I could probably do an entire blog on the seasons in India and the associated poems but for this blog I stick to posting when we are in the midst of a season. More often than not I post on … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancient India, Culture, fashion, Flora, Flowers, Flowers in Literature, Hair, historical fashions, History, Indian Authors, Indian Women, Literature, Paintings, Poetry, Sanskrit Drama, Sanskrit Literature, Seasons, vintage art, vintage hair | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Videshi/Swadeshi

Posted on 07/07/2016 by Anu M

Sumair [a relative] wanted to present me with a divine sari of pure gold that was her wedding present and she doesn’t want to wear for she claims to wear only French materials. Poor Indian women of queer tastes, they … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930s, Art, costumes in art, Culture, Early 20th Century, Indian Aesthetics, indian art, Indian fashion, Indian Textiles, Indian Women, Paintings, retro, retro fashion, Sari, Sari Blouse, sari history, vintage art, Vintage Blouse, Vintage Dress, vintage fashion, vintage sari, women in art | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

On Colour

Posted on 27/06/2016 by Anu M

The most common colors on the market are the kind you cannot name, the not quite blues, not quite grays and the not quite yellows that are used only for background and referred to as neutral colors, camouflage, “civilized colors,” … Continue reading →

Posted in 1750s, 18th century, 1930s, 1940s, 20th century, 21st century, Actor, colour, Contemporary Style, Costume, Courtesan, Culture, fashion, Fashion Quote, Folk, Indian Aesthetics, Indian Costume, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian Textiles, Indian Women, natural dye, Prints, Sari, Sari Blouse, Vintage | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Art and Fashion

Posted on 29/05/2016 by Anu M

I came across Uma Damle’s interpretation of Hemen Majumdar paintings the other day. Her site also has her take on Raja Ravi Varma’s works. That got me into doing a few posts of spot the artwork in today’s fashion and … Continue reading →

Posted in 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 19th century, 20th century, Art, art recreation, Bengal, bindi, contemporary fashion, Contemporary Style, costumes in art, Culture, Early 20th Century, fashion, indian art, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian Textiles, Indian Women, Late 19th century, Paintings, Sari, Sari Blouse, Sets, vintage art, Vintage Blouse, vintage costume, vintage fashion, vintage sari, women in art | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment