Tag Archives: india

The Scent Post

Posted on 09/11/2012 by Anu M

Both Maitreyi and Na Hanyate (books I referred to in my post on Mircea Elaide and Maitreyi Devi) refer to Indian flowers and scents. So I thought I would do a post on advertisements for Indian/Ceylonese scents. Though not all of them feature saris … Continue reading →

Posted in 1890s, 1910s, 1920s, India, Perfumes, Sari, Vintage | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The War Effort Post

Posted on 06/11/2012 by Anu M

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 →

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The Period Drama Post

Posted on 04/11/2012 by Anu M

The movie adaptation of Maitreyi starred Hugh Grant and Supriya Pathak and is a listless Jean-Claude Carriere adaptation in which the costuming is the least of its troubles. But it is as uncertain as Hugh Grant’s French accented English in the film, … Continue reading →

Posted in Authors, Cinema, India, Period Drama, Sari Blouse, Vintage | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Period Drama Post

Posted on 03/11/2012 by Anu M

C Costumes from Shatranj Ke Khiladi set in the Awadh of 1856/7.  Those seriously wide trousers were apparently all the go at the time.  As was gauzy wraps, paisley prints, shawls. And dance. And hookahs. And…..chess.

Posted in India, Indian Cinema, Period Drama | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Period Drama Post

Posted on 01/11/2012 by Anu M

Sahib, Bibi aur Ghulam is set in 19th century Calcutta.  The women who appear in the film belong to different classes.  Of the two main characters Choti Bahu (Meena Kumari) belongs to the feudal, zamindari class who are presumably Orthodox Hindus.  Jaba (Waheeda … Continue reading →

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The Period Drama Post

Posted on 30/10/2012 by Anu M

And a bit on Raima Sen, whose attire in these pictures have varying degrees of fidelity to the period they are set in (Chokher Bali: 1903, Naukadubi: 1920s,The Japanese Wife: uncertain) and who must surely hold some kind of record for … Continue reading →

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The Asia Post

Posted on 27/10/2012 by Anu M

Keen spotting on the part of the blogger of the Shanghai girl in a qipao in India (see the photograph/calendar)!  The actress is Shanta Hublikar playing a prostitute in Manoos – hence perhaps the simple sari and mismatched blouse. Wonder what’s up with all the … Continue reading →

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The Asia Post

Posted on 27/10/2012 by Anu M

The cheongsam doesn’t seem to have influenced fashion in India (perhaps those blouses with stand-up collars?).  In Indian cinema they seem to be appear only when the part is Chinese.  But here is Madhubala in a cheongsam. Pic source.

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Aung San Suu Kyi

Posted on 25/10/2012 by Anu M

For my posts on dress reform in Bengal, I have taken a good deal from Malavika Karlekar’s articles.  In this picture taken in 1964, Ms Karlekar is on the right. And in the sarong/longyi and blouse is a girl called Aung … Continue reading →

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The North-East Post

Posted on 25/10/2012 by Anu M

  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 →

Posted in India, Sari Blouse, Vintage | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment