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.;)

Constructing an Elegant Entari (part 5, The End!)

Author's Note:

I've been very bad. I left for a family trip over the entire week leading up to Thanksgiving weekend, and left this post here, finished, yet unpublished. Shame on me. So rather than rewrite the entire thing I'll just post it as it should have been posted, and leave some footnotes at the end.

Constructing an Elegant Entari (part 5, The End!)

It's finished, finally!

Well, finished for now that is. It needs a good run through the washer (which will happen in a week when I have access to a washing machine that won't destroy silk*) before I can stitch the appliques to it, and consequently each time it will need to be washed, it will probably have to have them removed, then replaced later.

 You're just going to have to wait, now aren't you?

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

Constructing an Elegant Entari (part 4)

This entari is driving me insane. I've become very bored, very quickly, with its curvy shenanigans. So before I continue on with this rant and pictures, I'll give you some nice Ottoman music to listen to while you read.

Tamburi Cemil Bey

Constructing an Elegant Entari (part 3)

I think this color is absolutely grown on me.....

I was on the fence about it before. In fact, I made an entari out of it because I felt that if I used it for a curaisse dress along with my white&pink shot silk like I had originally planned to about a year ago, I'd never have worn it, the color is that bright, even as "accent" fabric.

And you know, I still think that'd be so. I mean, it's a much stronger "pink" than I'd usually use for Victorian gowns. Though I know the color was around, and was worn, it just wasn't my color for Victorian gowns. With jewel tones I tend to prefer "Paris" greens, purples, blues, reds, teals, and maroons; pinks only make it into my costumes in pastel colors.... not jewel tones.

But this color is perfect for an Ottoman gown. It really is, and that's making me fall for it.

Constructing an Elegant Entari (part 2)

Yay! Progress despite the heat and general mayhem!

It really has been unbearably hot here the past few days, and all the driving we've been doing this weekend for pattern sales, helping our friend find a car, and getting lost in the wilderness looking for wine.... it's been crazy! And that's coming from an LA girl who's used to heat, smog, driving, general mayhem, and whatnot.....

So the Entari now measures 65" long on the lining, 55" long on the silk. The trim is underway, but it's proving difficult. I've managed the sleeves alright, but the curves are tedious and difficult to navigate at times.

Cutting the scallop/wave pattern

Constructing an Elegant Entari (part 1)

So I miscalculated my silk measurement. It was not 5 yards of 45" silk as I thought, but 4 yards of 55" wide silk.

Is it a problem?

The Fuchsia of Doom strikes again! 

Epic Entaris

The Entari is a big part of the Ottoman dress. They're a simple garment made magnificent with luxurious fabrics, beautiful trims, and elaborate needlework.

And they're our next project.

The Fuchsia from Hell

My last choli post mentioned that I was busy this weekend. A few reasons why, but let's discuss the interesting ones.

For this post, let me introduce the next project via its fabric, a huge piece of fabulous fuchsia, and the issues that said fabulous fuchsia caused.

The fabulously and fantastically infuriating fuchsia fabric