Category Archives: Indian History

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

Abhisarika Nayika

Posted on 11/11/2014 by Anu M

She’s taken off her belt (with it’s tingling bells) also her jingling anklets her silk sari is soaked through-her body too, to the bone. Thank God! for the lighting flashes: They show her the path the one her messenger described. … Continue reading →

Posted in 16th Century, 17th century, Art, churidar kameez, Costume, fashion, historical art, historical costume, historical dress, India, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian History, Indian Women, Islamic Dress, miniature paintings, Mughal, Poetry, Sanskrit, Sanskrit Drama, Sari, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The 1960s in India.

Posted on 01/09/2014 by Anu M

In no specific order: The decade started with Jawaharlal Nehru as Prime Minister and ended with Indira Gandhi as the PM.  From 1964-1966, we had Lal Bahadur Shastri (pictured here in 1964) as the Prime Minister. In 1961 Goa was annexed … Continue reading →

Posted in 1960s, 20th century, History, India, Indian History, Politicians, Politics, Vintage, vintage photography | 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 1950s in India

Posted on 26/07/2014 by Anu M

The 1950s was the first decade of India as an independent, sovereign country.  After the excitement of the 30s and 40s, it is a decade in which the excitement lies in nation-building.  This was a decade of nationalisation in which … Continue reading →

Posted in 1950s, 20th century, History, Independence, India, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian History, vintage fashion, Women | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The 1930s post

Posted on 14/05/2014 by Anu M

The Sari: 1931-1940 Almost every decade has a signature sari. In the 1920s it was the chiffon with a zari border (pics 1 and 2 are from 1924 and 1931). The borders were generally small and stitched onto French chiffons. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930s, British Raj, Colonial, Culture, Early 20th Century, fashion, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian History, Indian Women, Royalty, Sari, Sari Blouse, Sets, Studio Portraits, Tumblr, Vintage Blouse, Vintage Dress, vintage fashion, vintage sari, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The evolution of the modern sari

Posted on 08/04/2014 by Anu M

It’s been difficult for me to update this blog along with tumblr as I am a little hard pressed for time. The only significant thing that I need to update here are a series of posts I am doing on … Continue reading →

Posted in 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900s, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 19th century, 20th century, Bengal, British Raj, Colonial, Early 20th Century, Flapper, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian History, Indian Women, Sari, Sari Blouse, Vintage, Vintage Blouse, vintage fashion, vintage sari | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The salwar/churidar/kameez post – 3

Posted on 26/01/2014 by Anu M

Unlike the chudidar where the cloth is constricted at the knee and the salwar which is constricted at the ankle, flared trousers were also worn with the kameez. The kameez initially was a tunic with  skirt but later you can … Continue reading →

Posted in 19th century, Early 19th century, fashion, historical costume, Indian fashion, Indian History, Indian Women, Islamic Dress, Vintage, vintage fashion | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The salwar/chudidar/kameez post-2

Posted on 26/01/2014 by Anu M

Though the Mughal-e-Azam characters have become a part of Indian cinema folklore, the film was anything but historically accurate in the matter of textual details, costumes, sets and music.  For instance, thumri, a 19th century musical form, is used along … Continue reading →

Posted in 1950s, 19th century, churidar kameez, Costume, Courtesan, Culture, historical costume, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian History, Indian men, Indian Women, Islamic Dress, Mughal, Women | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Veil Post

Posted on 13/12/2013 by Anu M

VEIL: avagunthana, niririgi, nirangika, mukhapata, sirovastra, yavanika. Veiling is mentioned in Ancient Indian texts by any of the above names, a primary source being Kalidas who mentions the avagunthana in several places.  However, the practice does not appear to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancient India, Asia, Costume, Culture, historical costume, History, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian History, Indian Women, Islamic Dress | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment