Category Archives: retro fashion

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

Parasakthi style in brief

Posted on 13/01/2017 by Anu M

Besides, love between siblings, particularly between the elder brother and younger sister, has become a specific marker of Tamil culture, mainly due to the impact of canonical Tamil films like En Thangai (My Sister, dir. M.K.R. Nambiar and Ch. Narayanamurthy, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1950s, Actor, Cinema, costume design, film costumes, Film Costuming, Girls, Indian Cinema, Indian fashion, Indian Women, mid century, Movies, Regional cinema, regional styles, retro cinema, retro fashion, South Indian Cinema, Tamil, Tamil Cinema, vintage cinema, vintage costume | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The 80s cinema post

Posted on 26/12/2016 by Anu M

Trikon ka Chautha Kon aka The Fourth Angle of a Triangle (1986) is kind of quasi arthouse 80s cinema and more than a little regressive when it comes to it’s women protagonists who dominate much of the film. The film … Continue reading →

Posted in 1980s, 20th century, Actor, bindi, Bollywood, Children, churidar kameez, churidar kurta, Cinema, Costumes in Cinema, dupatta, fashion, Feminism, film costumes, Film Costuming, Hair, Hairstyles, Indian Aesthetics, Indian Cinema, Indian Costume, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian men, Indian Textiles, Indian Women, late 20th century, Movies, retro cinema, retro fashion, Salwar Kameez, Sari, Sari Blouse, sari history, Vintage Blouse, vintage cinema, vintage fashion, vintage sari | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The costumes of Bazaar (1982)

Posted on 08/12/2016 by Anu M

80s arthouse aesthetic in Bazaar (1982). The movie deals with the poorer Muslim communities of Hyderabad and the financial compulsions that lay behind many an unequal and unwanted marriage contract.  Some parts of the costuming reflect the milieu. With Shabnam … Continue reading →

Posted in 1980s, 20th century, Actor, churidar kameez, churidar kurta, Cinema, Costumes in Cinema, film costumes, Film Costuming, Flowers, Hair, Hairstyles, Indian Aesthetics, Indian Cinema, Indian Costume, Indian Women, Islamic style, late 20th century, retro cinema, retro fashion, retro hair, Salwar Kameez, South India, Vintage, vintage cinema, vintage costume, vintage style | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

RIP Jayalalithaa

Posted on 08/12/2016 by Anu M

Jayalalithaa – 24 February 1948 – 5 December 2016  

Posted in 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 20th century, Actor, Cinema, fashion, Feminism, Indian Cinema, Indian fashion, Indian Women, late 20th century, Politicians, Politics, retro cinema, retro fashion, Sari, Sari Blouse, South India, South Indian Cinema, Tamil Cinema, Tamil Nadu, vintage fashion, Women, Women Rulers | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Brooch Post

Posted on 20/10/2016 by Anu M

I had an anon query on tumblr awhile back on how sari pins were worn so I thought I would do a quick post on how brooches were worn in the 1930s and 1940s. Pins and brooches were around earlier … Continue reading →

Posted in 1910s, 1930s, 1940s, 20th century, Accessories, Early 20th Century, fashion, Indian fashion, Indian Women, Jewellery, retro fashion, vintage fashion, vintage jewellery, vintage style | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

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

Shanta Hublikar

Posted on 05/07/2016 by Anu M

In the sequence above, we notice that, even in parody, Kesar and Moti manage to find a private mode for communicating desire for each other. Though the lyrics might deride silly love songs from Chandidas and Achhut Kanya, Moti’s wit … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930s, Costumes in Cinema, Early 20th Century, fashion, film costumes, Indian Cinema, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian Women, Marathi cinema, retro cinema, retro fashion, Sari, Sari Blouse, Vintage Blouse, vintage sari | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment