Category Archives: Indian Women

The costumes of Dadar Kirti (1980)

Dadar Kirti  (1980) is based on a Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay  story and is a highly fun, easy watch with a charming ensemble cast doing it justice. While it is not subtitled, a rudimentary knowledge of Bengali is enough to enjoy the movie.  The movie … Continue reading

Posted in 1980s, 20th century, Accessories, Actor, Bengal, Bengali cinema, bindi, Cinema, Costume, Costumes in Cinema, Dancer, Early 20th Century, film costumes, Film Costuming, Girls, Indian Cinema, Indian Costume, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian Textiles, Indian Women, Manipur, Movies, Period Drama, Regional cinema, Regional period drama, regional styles, Sari, Sari Blouse, shawls, Vintage | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Holi

A quick trawl through Holi in Indian art. First up, sculpture at the Chennakeshava temple at Belur. A bit of water sport preparation at the feet of the madanika (photograph via Sandeep). Miniature paintings often feature the ever popular theme … Continue reading

Posted in 12th century, 1800s, 1840s, 1850s, 19th century, Ancient India, Art, art recreation, Bengal, Costume, costumes in art, Culture, Dance, Early 19th century, fashion, Hinduism, historical art, historical costume, indian art, Indian Costume, indian festivals, Indian men, Indian Mythology, Indian Women, miniature paintings, Paintings, Pakistani Art, Royalty, Sculpture, vintage art, vintage fashion, women in art | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The costumes of Devdas (1936)

Devdas may well be summarised by these three screen captures:) Saratchandra was 17 when he wrote Devdas, it is likely the author himself thought the novel an immature work in later age.  Despite it being a “youth novel” and  despite the … Continue reading

Posted in 1910s, 1930s, 20th century, Accessories, Actor, Bengal, Bengali cinema, Cinema, Colonial, Costume, costume design, Courtesan, Culture, Dancer, Early 20th Century, fashion, film costumes, Film Costuming, Hairstyles, Indian Cinema, Indian Costume, Indian fashion, Indian men, Indian Women, regional styles, Romance, Sari, Sari Blouse, sari history, Vintage, vintage costume | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

For my mother

I don’t post much personal stuff but today is my mother’s death anniversary and once in awhile I like to remember her in a public way:) The post does however tie in with the themes of my blog, retro style … Continue reading

Posted in 1980s, Family, fashion, India, Indian Awards, Indian Dress, Indian Navy, Indian Women, Maharashtra, Military, retro, Sari, Sari Blouse, Uniforms, women doctors, Women in Uniform | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Period Drama Post

A look at a few contemporary period dramas in regional cinema, almost all are set in the 20th century. मी वेगळी आहे विन्या (I am different, Vinya).  The staging of a play in Ravi Jadhav’s short, Mitraa, during which Sumitra realises … Continue reading

Posted in 1880s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 20th century, Actor, Bengal, Bengali cinema, Costume, Early 20th Century, fashion, fictional detectives, Film Costuming, Indian Cinema, Indian Costume, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian men, Indian Women, Late 19th century, Lesbianism, Literature, Love, Malayalam Cinema, Marathi cinema, Novels, Period Drama, Regional cinema, Regional period drama, regional styles, retro cinema, retro fashion, Sari, Sari Blouse, Sets, South India, Tamil Cinema, Vintage, Vintage Blouse, vintage costume, vintage fashion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Shawl Post

I did a series of posts on shawls on tumblr that started in the early winter. We are past that now but still in winter so rug up for the ride:) Unless you are in the Southern Hemisphere i.e. In … Continue reading

Posted in 1800s, 18th century, 1940s, 1950s, 1970s, 19th century, 2016 posts, 20th century, Bengal, Costume, Culture, early 18th century, Early 19th century, Early 20th Century, fashion, Girls, historical costume, historical fashions, India, Indian Costume, Indian Dress, Indian men, Indian Textiles, Indian Women, Islamic Dress, Late 19th century, Mughal, North East, photodivision, Politicians, regional styles, retro, Sets, shawls, Vintage, Vintage Dress, Vintage Men, vintage style, Weaving, winterwear | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

2016

A bit late but Happy New Year everyone! Lux calendar for 1954 with Suraiya featured for January/February. A Painting from a Barahmasa series – The month of Magha (January/ February), Garhwal, 1780-90. Source.

Posted in 18th century, 1950s, 2016 posts, Actor, Cinema, costumes in art, Culture, fashion, historical art, historical costume, historical fashions, indian art, Indian fashion, Indian Singers, Indian Textiles, Indian Women, mid century, miniature paintings, Movies, Old Bollywood, retro fashion, Sari, Sari Blouse, vintage fashion, vintage photography, women in art | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Autumn/Festive Season

We are in autumn but it remains very warm.  Reading autumn poetry is about the only one to keep one’s cool. The skies, growing gradually peaceful, flow like long rivers across heaven, with sandbanks formed of the white clouds and … Continue reading

Posted in 1760s, 18th century, 2000s, Actor, Ancient India, Art, century, Costume, costumes in art, Culture, Dance, Dancer, Flora, Flowers, ghaghra, Goddess, historical costume, historical dress, indian art, Indian Cinema, Indian Costume, indian festivals, Indian men, Indian Textiles, Indian Women, Literature, miniature paintings, Paintings, Sanskrit Drama, Sari, Sari Blouse, sari drape, sari history, Seasons, Women, women in art | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lit Post – 2

अब मेरी बेटी का मामला है मेरी कोख में जन्म लेने वाली मैत्रेयी का। मैं इसको उस खड्ड में नहीं गिरने दूंगी, जिसमें गिरकर औरत जीवन-भर निकलने को छटपटाती रहती है और एक दिन खत्म हो जाती है। Now it … Continue reading

Posted in 1940s, 20th century, Accessories, Central India, Culture, Indian Authors, Indian Bride, Indian Dress, Indian Literature, Indian Women, Literature, Novels, regional styles, Sari, Sari Blouse, Television, Vintage Blouse, Vintage Books, Vintage Bride, vintage costume, vintage fashion, vintage sari | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment