"a brief and non-linear pictorial history"
August 21, 2016 2:17 PM Subscribe
Also, my dad's side of the family is from Kerala, so this post on Kerala-style vintage Indian clothing is fascinating. I've particularly seen my relatives on that side of the family wear this kind of ensemble (sleeveless blouse and sari) and hadn't realized it had such a long history (it looks fairly modern to my eye).
posted by peacheater at 3:43 PM on August 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by peacheater at 3:43 PM on August 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
That's great! Almost forgot to look at the pictures, I got so caught up in the translation of Harishankar Parsai's wonderful essay.
posted by SNACKeR at 4:44 PM on August 21, 2016
posted by SNACKeR at 4:44 PM on August 21, 2016
This is awesome.
posted by zutalors! at 8:29 PM on August 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by zutalors! at 8:29 PM on August 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Thank you! Great post!
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 10:11 PM on August 21, 2016
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 10:11 PM on August 21, 2016
Indians don't really seem to have a concept of a color not going with another color - it's all about the exact shade.
Was just thinking of this the other day when I was trying to match a navy blue blouse with a maroon dress...
I miss the black and red; the mustard yellow and green, the pink and blue, aah hell, I miss my saris and it will take until next spring before I can get a hold of them again with new blouses.
You know I really thought this blog was already on the blue... thanks for the shoutout, o mantot!
posted by infini at 2:37 AM on August 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
Was just thinking of this the other day when I was trying to match a navy blue blouse with a maroon dress...
I miss the black and red; the mustard yellow and green, the pink and blue, aah hell, I miss my saris and it will take until next spring before I can get a hold of them again with new blouses.
You know I really thought this blog was already on the blue... thanks for the shoutout, o mantot!
posted by infini at 2:37 AM on August 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
infini, you might be thinking of this question.
posted by ersatzkat at 4:57 AM on August 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by ersatzkat at 4:57 AM on August 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
Have you thought of going into the entertainment business as Dr Ersatzkat the mystical mind reader?
posted by infini at 5:00 AM on August 22, 2016
posted by infini at 5:00 AM on August 22, 2016
Thank you!!!!
We get all our Tibetan clothes made in Majnu Ka Tilla in Delhi. The Indian tailors are said to be better than any others, all the Tibetans use them. Part of this cherished ritual is choosing the fabric at a store that is invariably tiny but neatly jam-packed from floormats to rafters with a cacophony of colours and textures. And the ubiquitous scent of chai and incense.
Ridiculously young boys climb the stacks, grabbing seemingly random cloths and theatrically unravel bolts of magnifucent fabric across the mats to your feet. They then reach behind your head and produce a perfectly sympathetic contrast for the under shirt of the traditional dress, and then conjure from under the bench an exquisite roll of gilt brocade for the trim.
I always walk in with a very clear idea of what I want... and then quickly realise I'm in the hands of experts and I submit to their amazing taste and eye for detail. They bring together textures, tones and patterns I would never have imagined, are at the cutting edge of Tibetan cultural clothing in exile, and have no fear.
Even my mother in law herself gives all the decisions to their advice.
Yeah, my experience with fabric and colour in India over the last twenty years has been shaped by this same history and I'm so very grateful that my kids have the amazing chubas they have.
posted by taff at 5:05 AM on August 22, 2016 [3 favorites]
the best momos are said to be found in the monastery garden near ISBT
posted by infini at 5:59 AM on August 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by infini at 5:59 AM on August 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
Nah. My mother in law makes the best ones ever. Second best ones ever are my husbands. If you're ever in Sydney, consider yourself invited for the proof.
posted by taff at 6:29 AM on August 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by taff at 6:29 AM on August 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
Have you thought of going into the entertainment business as Dr Ersatzkat the mystical mind reader?
No, but after two drinks I can "read" your palm :D
posted by ersatzkat at 12:21 PM on August 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
No, but after two drinks I can "read" your palm :D
posted by ersatzkat at 12:21 PM on August 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
I love this so much, thank you! I've had little access to learning the type of clothing that my grandparents and their parents would have worn in their youth, not to mention what was going on elsewhere in the subcontinent. This is just wonderful.
posted by mayurasana at 2:57 PM on August 28, 2016
posted by mayurasana at 2:57 PM on August 28, 2016
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The varied color palettes of Indian clothing are one of the things I miss the most about India, living in the US. Indians don't really seem to have a concept of a color not going with another color - it's all about the exact shade.
posted by peacheater at 3:29 PM on August 21, 2016 [3 favorites]