Category Archives: Indian Aesthetics

The Art of Dressing

Posted on 18/05/2017 by Anu M

Screencaps from the colourised version of Piya Aiso Jiya Mein. Ostensibly about the piya but really an ode to the art of dressing up. Alternatively Meena is Queen of Everything. And has a few helpers. Another similar song – from … Continue reading →

Posted in 1960s, 20th century, Actor, Bengal, bindi, Cinema, Costume, costume design, Costumes in Cinema, fashion, film costumes, Film Costuming, Hairstyles, Indian Aesthetics, Indian Costume, Indian fashion, indian style, Indian Women, Old Bollywood, Period Drama, retro cinema, retro fashion, Sari, Sari Blouse, Vintage, vintage costume, vintage hair | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The clean ease and civility of Tagore

Posted on 08/05/2017 by Anu M

Meanwhile the days are heating up after the spell of winter; the sun is getting hot, even as a cool breeze is blowing through the boat window and caressing my back. Today there is no special concession for winter or … Continue reading →

Posted in 1880s, 19th century, Bengal, Bengali, Colonial, Costume, Culture, Early 20th Century, Hair, Indian Aesthetics, Indian Authors, Indian Costume, Indian Dress, Indian men, indian style, Islamic style, Late 19th century, Vintage, vintage costume, Vintage Dress, Vintage Men, vintage style | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Anklets post.

Posted on 06/05/2017 by Anu M

Sandal-Anklet [X, X, X and X] There are a number of Indian terms for anklets (nupura, payal, golusu, painjan) – anklets are often diffrentiated on the basis of bells, strings, solid coils etc. But I can’t find one for the … Continue reading →

Posted in 20th century, Accessories, Culture, fashion, Indian Aesthetics, Indian fashion, indian style, Indian Women, Jewellery, Postcards, Vintage, vintage jewellery | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Contemporary Bindi

Posted on 24/04/2017 by Anu M

The sticker bindi revolution was probably the last major shift in bindi style.  And they are still around though you are more likely to find women wearing the “neutral” red/maroon/black round bindis on an everyday basis. And often no bindi … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st century, contemporary fashion, Contemporary Style, Culture, fashion, Indian Aesthetics, Indian fashion, indian style, Indian Women, Women | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

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

The Love Post

Posted on 10/04/2017 by Anu M

Madanotsav or Kamotsav was probably today. The Gujarati inscription on top of the painting: જનમ જનમ કે હમ સાથી (Janam Janam ke hum saathi aka lovers/partners forever). Pic Source: Jyoti Bhatt, 1967.

Posted in 1960s, 20th century, fashion, Illustration, in Colour, Indian Aesthetics, indian art, Indian Dress, indian festivals, Indian Illustrators, Indian men, Indian Women, Love, Paintings, retro, retro fashion, Romance, vintage art, Vintage Dress, Vintage Illustration, vintage illustrations | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The 90s Post

Posted on 18/03/2017 by Anu M

Renuka Shahane’s 90s ethnic-chic (perhaps more properly indie/alt chic?) for Surabhi was an updated version of the handlooms and blouses of the 80s. With a LOT of oxidised silver jewellery and probably one of the best examples of short hair … Continue reading →

Posted in 1990s, 20th century, Actor, fashion, Hair, Hairstyles, Indian Aesthetics, Indian Textiles, Indian Women, Jewellery, late 20th century, retro, retro fashion, retro hair, Retro television, Sari, Sari Blouse, sari history, Television | 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

The Spring Post

Posted on 07/03/2017 by Anu M

पहले भी मैं इसी राह से जा कर फिर-फिर हूँ (Pehle bhi main isi raah se jaa kar phir-phir hoon) आया-किन्तु झलकती थी इस में तब मधु की मन-मोहक माया! (Aaya-kintu jhalakti thi is mein tab madhu ki man-mohak maya!) … Continue reading →

Posted in 1950s, 1960s, Art, Bengal, Birds, Flowers, Flowers in Literature, Hairstyles, Indian Aesthetics, indian art, Indian Dress, Indian Flora, Indian Literature, Indian Women, My Translations, Paintings, Sari, Vintage, vintage art, women in art | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

East+West

Posted on 13/02/2017 by Anu M

There are plenty of examples of clothes from the West that make use of Indian textiles, at least from the Regency period onwards. Examples include muslin, paisley shawls, 1950s dresses and cotton gauze dresses of the 70s and 80s. There … Continue reading →

Posted in 19th century, 20th century, 21st century, Colonial, Contemporary, contemporary fashion, Costume, Early 20th Century, fashion, India, Indian Aesthetics, Indian Costume, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian Women, Late 19th century, late 20th century, salwar, Sari, Sari Blouse, sari drape, Sari Dress, sari history, Vintage, Vintage Dress, vintage fashion, vintage sari, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment