Category Archives: fashion

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

Lit Post – 3

Kamala was simply dressed in a pink silk sari, fastened on the right shoulder with the diamond coronet which Tara had lately given her. The thick soft tresses of her long jet-black hair were wreathed with white roses, and she … Continue reading

Posted in 1910s, 1940s, Authors, British Raj, Chinese, Colonial, Early 20th Century, fashion, History, India, Indian Authors, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian Literature, Indian men, Literature, Men, Photography, Studio Portraits, Vintage Books, Vintage Dress, vintage fashion, Vintage Men | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Indian Royals – 2

The daughters of the Diwan of Travancore in 1868. They appear to be Bala, Neena, Sundara, Sati?. The Diwan was a Maharashtrian from Thanjavur, the sari and ornaments are similar to that seen in Maharashtra and South India in the … Continue reading

Posted in 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1900s, 1910s, 1930s, Costume, Culture, Early 20th Century, fashion, historical dress, historical fashions, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian royalty, Indian Women, Late 19th century, Maharashtra, regional styles, Royalty, Sari, Sari Blouse, sari drape, sari history, Sets, Studio Portraits, Vintage Blouse, vintage costume, vintage fashion, vintage sari, vintage style, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

The Magazine Post

  Covers of Chandamama Magazine. Pic 1: 1957, Pic 2: 1979, Pic 3: 1987 (Hindi), Pic 4: 1968 (Telugu), Pic 3: 1979 (Bengali), Pic 4: 1980 (Bengali), Some of the covers really require a Women in Art History deconstruction (though … Continue reading

Posted in 1950s, 1970s, 1980s, Comics, Costume, Courtesan, Culture, Dancer, fashion, Goddess, historical costume, Illustration, indian art, Indian fashion, Indian Illustrators, Indian Mythology, Indian Tales, Magazine, Uncategorized, Vintage Illustration, Vintage Magazine | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Comics Post

For a lot of us in India at one time Comic = Amar Chitra Katha. My nieces are Australian so their book cupboard is wash with princess stories, fairy stories, Peppa Pig, Horrid Henry and the like.  The Indian comics … Continue reading

Posted in 1970s, 1980s, Ancient India, Art, Comics, Costume, Culture, fashion, Girls, Hinduism, historical fashions, History, Illustration, indian art, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian History, Indian Illustrators, Indian men, Indian Women, Jaina Literature, regional styles, Romance, Royalty, Sanskrit Drama, Sari, sari drape, sari history, Sets, tamil Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Colour of Skin

The red glow of her body, like an unfolding bud. Her black rimmed eyes like flowers, her skin like gold. Who can see your face in the moonlight, like milk in milk. Her lustrous complexion like a blue sapphire. Fair … Continue reading

Posted in 17th century, 18th century, 19th century, 20th century, Ancient India, Art, Colonial, Contemporary, Culture, Early 20th Century, fashion, Girls, historical art, historical fashions, in Colour, indian art, Indian fashion, Indian Women, miniature paintings, Paintings, Sets, Shringaar, vintage art, vintage fashion, vintage illustrations, vintage style | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Vintage Illustration

Tamil caption loosely translated: The two men in the background sporting a kudumi  – “We are now fashionable (or fashion has taken inspiration from us). No one dare tease us anymore.”  from Ananda Vikatan, 1962. I also found this illustration while … Continue reading

Posted in 1960s, ananda vikatan, fashion, Fashion Quote, Hair, Hairstyles, Illustration, Indian fashion, Indian men, Indian Women, Magazine, retro fashion, retro hair, Sari, Sari Blouse, Tamil, Vintage, Vintage Blouse, vintage hair, Vintage Illustration, vintage illustrations, Vintage Magazine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Illustration

When I was composing the hair posts, my brother, Shiv, decided to do an illustration of Jabakusum Hair Oil for the blog. Here is the illustration: He joined tumblr to post it (hinotoridawn) but I don’t think he quite likes … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Bengal, fashion, Hair, Illustration, Indian fashion, vintage hair | 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