Shobhana Samarth, probably taken in the late 30s/early 40s. A few posts don’t have a theme but are merely to provide a snapshot of a decade – I normally tag the decade so its easy to follow the tags.
Training for Air Raid Precautions, Bombay 1942. All the sarees are worn Parsi style. Its kind of interesting that the blouse as a form of sedreh worn under the sari is relatively unchanged over two decades or so. As are … Continue reading
The writer MK Binodini Devi (also Manipur royalty) with her sister MK Tombasina, both in the striped phanek. Puff sleeve blouses for young women are fairly common at the time (possibly late 1930s/early 1940s). Her mother’s attire in 1922 while also a sarong+blouse … Continue reading
If Rokeya wrote in a humorous vein, Rashid Jahan was a writer who was part of the Progressive Writers Movement, a fiery feminist, a doctor and a contributor toAngarey. The photographs are from an article on her husband, Rashid Jahan is the woman on the … Continue reading
Brooch 2: I have seen a few 40s Indian movies where the brooch was used to fasten the saree at the waist. However, this photograph is the only one I have found with said brooch. Also rare to find a … Continue reading
Brooch 1: An unusual placement of the brooch on the saree blouse. The blouse itself seems to be the square neck kind of style of the 40s. The photograph is of HH Maharani Krishna Kumar (the basis for Rekha’s character in Zubeidaa). [X]
Perhaps more than anyone else Indira Devi’s daughter, the much photographed Gayatri Devi, consolidated the “Princess style” in India. Chiffons (often draped over the head), a single strand of pearls and simple little blouses spelt elegance and style for very many years. In … Continue reading
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The blouses in the 40s – apart from the ubiquitous choli – reflect wartime fashions in the West and have touches like scalloped neck lines, trims, collars and the like. Though most omit the strong shoulders. Nargis – whose … Continue reading
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Now and then a post where it is just the blouse without the upper drape.
Vintage Indian Clothing 