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“Javanese Hindu Princesses” seemed to have been all the go at some point and Mata Hari it appears lost little time in adopting the persona during her dancing days.
And no doubt every Javanese princess had a bejewelled strap bodice.
Though I have posted a lot on blouse “borrowings” from the West, one thing that differentiates the Indian version is that the midriff is normally exposed. There is a long history to the choli/kanchuki and modern representations of historical attire often depict a choli, a lower garment that is tied like a dhoti and an upper scarf. This picture for example is an Amar Chitra Katha representation of the heroine of Kacha-Devayani with her friends.
This often appears to travel back to the West mainly as something vaguely Eastern and erotic, of course the lower garment is almost always a skirt. I shall separately post on this.
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Kanan Devi, in a pretty blue, gold-edged blouse with a nicely coordinated sari. I love the quiet beauty of this picture. OK I really like Kanan Devi. Full stop.
Kanan Devi and KL Saigal in Parichay.
Collared blouses, scalloped necks and boxy silhouettes were common in sari blouses in the 1940s.
This gallery contains 1 photo.
This gallery contains 1 photo.
This gallery contains 1 photo.
Vintage Indian Clothing 