Category Archives: Vintage

The Ancient India Post

Rather just a look at 2 early 20th century paintings recreating the era. From dawn until late into the night I worked. By day I copied the parts of the wall that were well lit, and by night I shifted on to … Continue reading

Posted in Ancient India, Art, Bengal, Colonial, Costume, Courtesan, Culture, Dance, Dancer, Early 20th Century, fashion, Indian Dress, Paintings, Vintage, Vintage Dress, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Chinese Brushwork Post

From Ye Qianyu‘s Indian Dancing Gestures – painted in the 1979s (X, X, X)   Zhang Daqian‘s Indian Actress (1950).

Posted in 20th century, Actor, Asia, Chhina, China, Dancer, Vintage, Vintage Blouse, Vintage Dress, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tumblr Posts

  As always the tumblr posts have raced ahead of wordpress: 1. The half-saree aka pavadai-davani of South India. 2. Mekhela-Chador (I love these and they look splendid on my friend, Mosushumi Kandali. 3. Balika Badhu or the Girl Bride. … Continue reading

Posted in Tumblr, Vintage, Vintage Blouse, Vintage Dress, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Bright Young Things in the 1940s

For upper class fashions of the late 1940s you can go no further than Andaz (1949) in which Nargis, Raj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar and Cuckoo play giddily modern Bright Young Things. The centrepiece of the film is Nargis and the actress looks perfect in … Continue reading

Posted in 1940s, Actor, Indian Cinema, Romance, Sari, Sari Blouse, Vintage, Vintage Blouse, Vintage Dress, Women | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Women who Ruled Post

On tumblr: Razia Sultan and Chand Bibi.

Posted in 13th century, 18th century, Indian History, Islamic Dress, Tumblr, Vintage, Women Rulers | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Nine Yard Sari

I did a couple of posts on the nine yard sari.  Almost impossible to trace a cohesive history with my limited research. But that does not mean one can’t appreciate the style as is! A bit on the nine yard … Continue reading

Posted in 19th century, Art, Colonial, Culture, Early 20th Century, fashion, Indian Dress, Paintings, Sari, Sari Blouse, Vintage, Women | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Update

Just an update that there is a change in the name of the tumblr site and you might want to book mark it. http://vintageindianclothing.tumblr.com/ Some of the links in previous posts here would have also changed. New Posts there: Sometimes … Continue reading

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Ruth Prawer Jhabvala

Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (d 3 April 2013) is probably better known for her collaboration with Merchant-Ivory on their period dramas.  But early on the trio made a number of movies set in India based on Jhabvala’s books/scripts. A few pics from the 1960s. … Continue reading

Posted in 1960s, Cinema, fashion, Indian Cinema, Novels, Sari, Sari Blouse, Vintage | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Bangles Post

  Soon after, a woman came in, with a large basket full of churees for the arms (bracelets), which were made of rings of glass, ornamented with beads. Every body at the wedding, from the Begam to the youngest slave, … Continue reading

Posted in Jewellery, Vintage, Women | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Nautch Post

Ongoing posts on Indian dance, particularly in the 19th/early 20th century. This painting is Edwin Lord Weeks’  Nautch Girls emerging from the Taj Mahal. Weeks’  paintings of India have a number of quotidian details and I particularly like this one.

Posted in 1880s, 19th century, British Raj, Colonial, Costume, Courtesan, Dance, Dancer, Early 20th Century, Paintings, Vintage, Women | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment