Mehndi Madness

Warning: This post does contain nudity. What can I say, Qajars loved ladies' adornments.

All the previous posts about Mughal India and dancing girls, and mehndi was completely overlooked.

So here's a little bit about mehndi, or as we call it in Iran, henna.

 Image via... well, National Geographic... Says so right there.;)

A Bollywood Break

NOTE:

This post was meant to be published a few weeks ago. The dress is currently being hemmed, trimmed, and the sleeves finished. That said, the progress is slow, and with only a week until it needs to be worn and finished, any further posts before the presentation are highly unlikely.
However, we will post as soon as the presentation s finished, so stay tuned!

Now, for you're enjoyment, we bring you a Bollywood Break!

A Bollywood Break

Sometimes, I really am lacking the steam to finish a project.... Like, really just bleh about it.

It happens to every costumer. Projects are frustrating, even when you have a pattern and are following it exactly and have all the extra fabric you could ever need.

The Green Angrakha Project (Part Two)

So far the angrakha has been piecing itself together slowly. Several mock-ups-turned-linings later, we have a basic "foundation" garment for the inside cross-over of it. Still no complete outside however.

Lining, stabilized and being assembled, bit by bit.

I'm reluctant to cut out the outside pieces until I'm 100% positive that they will fit, simply because of the limited amount of fabric I have.

Bole Cham Cham Paayal Nigodi (The Green Angrakha Project Part 1)

Screenshot via

This is our "inspiration" piece.

Yes, I know that movies from the 1970s are not the place for historically correct wardrobes. I'm not copying this 100%. In fact, trying to copy it is what was causing me confusion in the post prior. It's just our "pretty" to look at.

The Kurta Conundrum.

I have 30 yards of three different kinds of trim, all in a Mughal motif, and all destined to become border for the late-Mughal/British Raj era kurta churidar for a Tawaif/kathak.

The picture doesn't even remotely do justice to the fabulousness of these trims

So what's the problem with this kurta?
Well, it really comes down to this: It's not a kurta at all.

Movember and the Qajar Mustachio Project

It's November now, and before I go on to post the updates for the Entari, I figured I'd take a little time to talk about Movember - November's alter-ego designed to raise awareness of men's prostate health by growing fantastic mustaches - as mustaches were quite prevalent during not only the entire Middle East and South Asia, but it seems the entire world during the 19th century.

 Mangal Pandey, famous Indian freedom fighter,. Image via Parda Phash

Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai? (part 3)

It's been a busy weekend. So busy I haven't had time for pictures, which is a must for this blog, given the whole "costuming" aspect of it.

Even the project itself, costumes excluded, is heavily about aesthetics. So there was no way this post would ever go up without pictures.

So I'll try to pick up where I left off.

Trim, wasn't it?

Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai? (Part Two)

Last post we started off with the choli and ended at the mock-up.

So that's where we'll pick up.

Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai?

For our first post, lets start out with something manageable; the choli.
Well, I hope manageable.

The choli, along with the sari, is probably one of the most recognized pieces of Indian women's clothing.

Madhuri Dixit in Devdas, wearing a Sari and Choli from

This seemingly simple, though often elaborately decorated garment, translated as "blouse" in English serves several functions. Namely though, it helps preserve modesty in covering the breasts while supporting them. In a place where the climate is so varied, but often rife with humidity and heat, yet where modesty is expected, the choli is the perfect piece of clothing for the job.