Category Archives: Sari

The Tamil Historical Post

The illustrations for Tamil periodicals have a long history and some illustrators are nearly as well known as the writers. A number of serialised stories are historical romances (think Chola empire, Pallavas) and the drawings are fairly vivid in recreating an era, albeit … Continue reading

Posted in 20th century, Ancient India, Costume, Early 20th Century, fashion, Hair, History, Illustration, India, Indian Cinema, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian History, Indian men, Indian Women, Jewellery, Love, Novels, Period Drama, Romance, Royalty, Sari, Sari Blouse, Tamil, Tamil Cinema, Vintage, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Weekend

I do not know what you think of me, but I think you are the most wonderful man on earth. Shakuntala*, Amar Chitra Katha. Its the weekend. Wear your best kanchuki (bodice). Shower some love on the pet deer. And write a … Continue reading

Posted in Ancient India, Comics, Costume, Illustration, Indian Dress, Mythology, Romance, Sanskrit Drama, Sari, Women | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

1940s-1960s

A brief look at fashions on film. 1, The 1940s. Noor Jahan in Anmol Ghadi (1946). This kind of square neck blouse was popular in the late 40s and continued to be so in the early 50s. The sequinned sari of course has … Continue reading

Posted in 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, Actor, Cinema, Costume, Culture, Early 20th Century, fashion, Indian Cinema, Indian Dress, Indian Women, Movies, Old Bollywood, Sari, Sari Blouse, Sets, Vintage Blouse, Vintage Dress | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Period Film Post

The Period Film – 1960s Calcutta in Shadows of Time. Sleeveless blouses, updos, pale lipsticks and a focus on the eye makeup. The actresses: Tannishtha Chatterjee and Tillotama Shome. The movie: [X]

Posted in 1960s, Bengal, Cinema, Indian Cinema, Period Drama, Sari, Sari Blouse, vintage fashion | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

On the Street, India

Hair Ornaments, Tie String blouses and saris worn “seedha pallu”; sequinned saris; fluorescent colours; kurtas with lace borders; skinny jeans worn with kameez and dupatta; handloom singlets; the enduring popularity of chikankari; gold and yellow thread. One of the nice … Continue reading

Posted in Contemporary, fashion, India, Indian Dress, Indian Women, Jewellery, Sari, Sari Blouse, Sets | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Maharani Post

A liberal spirit, she was an ardent nationalist and one of the founders of the women’s movement in India. She certainly imbibed some of her non-conformist attitude from her husband Sayajirao Gaekwad. Under him, Baroda became the first princely state … Continue reading

Posted in 1910s, Asia, British Raj, Colonial, Costume, Early 20th Century, Feminism, India, Indian Women, Royalty, Sari, Sari Blouse, Uncategorized, Vintage Dress, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Families Post

A look at families from the late 19th century till about the 1980s.  Its impossible for me to do justice to the many photographs documenting families across region, religion and caste so this is just a sample. First up, North … Continue reading

Posted in 1900s, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 19th century, 20th century, Asia, Bengal, Colonial, Contemporary, Costume, Culture, Diaspora, Early 20th Century, Edwardian, Family, fashion, History, Immigration, Indian Dress, Indian History, Indian men, Indian Women, Islamic Dress, Late 19th century, Photography, Royalty, Sari, Sari Blouse, Sets, South India, Vintage Blouse, Vintage Dress, vintage fashion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The 80s Post

In the 80s: “Contrast piping” blouse which picked up the sari colours (pic 1 on Rekha). Matching blouse pieces based on the sari (pic 2 on Shabana) or the border (Pic 3 Courtesans of Bombay)-these pieces were often separate and not … Continue reading

Posted in 1980s, Actor, Bollywood, Cinema, fashion, Indian Cinema, Indian Dress, Indian Women, Sari, Sari Blouse, Vintage, Vintage Blouse, vintage fashion, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The 1930s post

In the 1930s (and perhaps a little bit on either side of this decade) it is very common to see a) the sequinned sari and b) plain sarees with gold borders. In some cases these are fine silks and cottons … Continue reading

Posted in 1930s, Actor, Bollywood, Colonial, Culture, Early 20th Century, fashion, Indian Dress, Indian Women, Sari, Sari Blouse, South India, Vintage Blouse, vintage fashion, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Vintage Illustration

Gaganendranath Tagore‘s “Respecting Women?” illustration of 1916. (via sotheby’s). Things haven’t changed vastly in a 100 odd years.

Posted in 1910s, Bengal, Early 20th Century, Feminism, Illustration, India, Indian men, Indian Women, Sari, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment