Though the depiction of Shakuntala varies and very rarely does she wear bark, in most cases the artist retains a simplicity of clothing given Shakuntala’s forest beginnings. As in this watercolour by Kshitindranath Majumdar which hews to the usual representation of a strapless bodice, a lower garment and a draping cloth.
Kalipada Ghoshal retains the bark in his painting of Shakuntala. Though I am not entirely sure about Dushyanta’s attire.
How would an ancient Indian heroine dress?
Kalidasa writing Abhijnanasakuntalam in the 4th cent. AD gives Shakuntala, forest maiden turned queen, a dress of bark and later a dress of white loveliness when she goes to meet her lover, Dushyanta.
A few posts on the attire of the heroine of the romantic epic, Abhijnanasakuntalam (The Recognition of Shakuntala).
Still from Mahanagar. I think this is the interview scene or perhaps a scene at the office. And that’s the workaday blouse as we know it (though this might be changing).
11 April 1960 – Travellers in Air India’s new Boeing 707s from London to Bombay will soon be attended by hostesses wearing saris. Here is 22 year old Indian Air hostess from Bombay Savi Multani in one of the saris which are to to be worn by air hostesses when the new Boeing service starts shortly. The sari is lime green with jade and banana tones of the decor of the aircraft. On left in normal Air India hostess uniform is Vicky Emerson, also from Bombay.
I didn’t realise the saree was not “normal” 🙂
The collared blouse is still around in 1960. And the national carrier would have many changes in uniform but the saree itself more or less remained as the uniform of choice.
Amrita Sher-Gil’s “Child Wife”
And those pieces of asymetrically aligned hair jewellery.
Vintage Indian Clothing 