Bandhani Lehenga

It's starting to get greyer and colder here, and when that happens something flouncy and colourful needs to come out to play because I can't bear dull grey clothing. Here's to colourful lehengas, multi-hued shawls, hand-loomed wool, Bandhani, Ikats and Kalamkaris for winter. Going to the beach isn't solely a summer activity, spending hours by the water is calming for my soul.

Can you tell from my hair in these photos that it was windy and my hair was blowing all over the place? It was, I basically constantly had a mouthful of hair. Hope you've all recovered from your long weekend and having a great week :)

Draw stringed Bandhani

The bandhani kurta in these pictures was tailor made to replicate this one because I love adding drawstring to almost anything.

These pictures were taken at an isolated cave we chanced upon one afternoon on our many walks by Sydney's eastern bay beaches. A glorious afternoon spent climbing rocks, collecting sea-shells and playing in the sun-shine. I wish everyone is having a wonderful weekend. Happy Saturday All!

Travel diaries: Post cards from Gujarat-Part I

This is not Bohemian

I've noticed outside of those who know the difference between an anarkali & kurta, angrakha and kurti, kediyu and kaftan; my style (or lack thereof) is usually called 'gy*sy' (rhymes with pixie) or 'bohemian' etc and I want to talk about the fact that these terms are actually racial slurs and not a compliment at all. Most people call themselves or others “Boho” or “Bohemian” because they have thirst to travel off the beaten track, an eclectic/Woodstock-esque/hippy style or as 'gy*sy' because they aspire to dress similar and are 'wandering souls'. This is not just incorrect it is quite awful.

Bohemians originate from a region in Czechoslovakia called Bohemia with a lot of conflict and trauma in the past. Bohemian is an ethnicity NOT a style or an aesthetic that can be put on and taken off at will. It is highly appropriative to call oneself or others Bohemian.

Also I have discovered via research and from talking to people of that ethnicity that the laid back bohemian people that people like to emulate were that way because they had a massive opium and absinth addiction problem. The word bohemian is mostly just being minimalised as a people and reduced to a fashion style which is highly inaccurate and frankly goes against a lot of cultural morals. In the nineteenth century the Bohemian people were the lower class in France with the Roma so Bohemian became a slur for poor people.

The Romani are widely known as “Gy*sies”, however to the Romani people this is an insult and a racial slur as it is has connotations of illegality and irregularity. Romani people are a traditionally nomadic ethnic group residing mostly in Europe and originate from many different countries. When referring to nomadic tribes from Rajasthan, Gujarat or anywhere else it is incorrect to use the term 'gy*sy'. Genetic as well as linguistic research does point toward the fact that the Roma people were originally from the north of India and 900-1,500 years ago they likely migrated toward Europe. But as the term has become a widely used slur for a highly persecuted minority I believe we desis should absolutely refrain from using the word. After arriving in Europe, the Romani were enslaved in many regions, put to death in others and still more countries ordered their expulsion. Even to this day in Europe they are referred to extremely negatively and face a lot of backlash. I have seen/ heard it first hand and was shocked at some of the generalizations people made.

Honestly I've known there are negative connotations to this word and that the word can be used as an insult to some groups but didn't always know that one should refrain from using the word 'gy*sy' as a synonym to nomad. However meeting with and connecting to a wider range of inspiring WoCs have ensured that I am learning things and educating myself more and more. I think especially as People of Colour we should stand in solidarity as an ally to other marginalized communities and be even more circumspect about using slurs, it is up to us to not perpetuate appropriation and vilification.

I have also used the word bohemian quite a bit to find inspiring pictures etc but have tried and refrained from using that word out of context since I have learned a bit more. You might even find the word used previously in one of my blog-posts and I don't think there is anything wrong in growing as as a person and admitting that 'hey I've done it in the past out of ignorance'. The most important thing for me is to listen when we're called-out on something, to the person who is affected by the discrimination.

Also most of the things I wear from my clothes, to scarves, to accessories, to jewellery are native to the Indian sub-continent and calling my style anything but desi is frankly quite ignorant. When you see me wearing a 'hippie dress' it is more than likely I am wearing a kediyu or anarkali, when you see me in a flowy skirt it is more than likely a gaghra and when I am wearing 'bohemian' prints it is more than likely they are traditional Indian textiles. Like I said I am learning as I go, so if you are Roma feel free to correct me if I have got any of this wrong and/ or as a person who belongs to these specific ethnicities you would like to expand on this.

Of white kurtas and beaded beauties

I wear kurtas to work regularly and the only way I do plain white kurtas is with heaps of silver or beads. It's the only way I understand minimalistic, I use my neutrals as a base to show off my latest obsessions. What other way is there to do minimalistic?

I had been obsessing about this picture of a lady from Mauritius who had posted the most divine photo while pregnant. No, not obsessing about her pregnancy glow, even though she was glowing like a Goddess from head to toe, I couldn't look away from her awesome beaded necklace! I finally asked her about it and discovered this amazing shop run by an awesome lady from Perth, Gifts from Africa. They have the most wonderful collection of beaded jewellery at prices that literally made my mouth water. Seriously if you love jewellery, you need to check her out.

I love buying from independent women owned businesses, even more so when they are fellow WoCs. It gives me a warm, happy, fuzzy feel. Navaratri has finally started and I am in the mood to celebrate with wonderful handmade jewellery :) I haven't been able to take this necklace off since I got it, and sometimes stop what I am doing to stare at it.

Hope you're having a great time where ever you are.

Saree blouses are the best crop tops

The festive season is upon us and I can't wait for Navaratri/ Durga Puja and Diwali, it's the best time of the year in my opinion. Keeping in mind the celebrations as well as the warming weather in the southern hemisphere, all my saree blouses have come out to play as crop tops. I pair traditional silk blouses as well as cholis with everything from shorts, skirts and pants to salwars and gaghras. I am so excited to wear all my blouses and get some more from my sister and go totally crazy all summer.

I wait for warm weather every year to bring out my wonderful cholis to play as you may have seen here and here. Today I celebrate the birthday of one my most favourite people, (happy birthday Mummy) by spending the afternoon in a magical garden getaway. What are you wearing this spring?

In which I talk about incorporating more traditional wear into everyday looks

In these photos I've worn one of my tiered block print kurtas belted to form this billowing shape. It was too hot to wear pants and to be honest pants have never been my thing so I mostly wear my kurtas with shorts. This post is for my fellow brown girls, desis who've been othered so much that it has become a second nature to blend in and hide how stunning we are. It took movements like 'Reclaim the Bindi' and talking to other WoC for me to figure out that not very many desi girls are able to express their fabulous selves in traditional finery especially out of South Asian events.

I have always faced a different problem, I've always worn traditional clothes with my own little twist and the puritans have always rolled their eyes at me. I think being brought up surrounded by people who have loved handloomed textiles and traditional weaves has given me a life long obsession with the rich textile heritage of my Motherland. Both my parents have great taste, my grandmother loved all things sarees and my uncle knows an immense amount about traditional textiles and fabrics. My sister and I can spend hours caressing mulmuls, silks, cashmere and getting our tailor to stitch our sketches into clothes. We have both imbibed our reverence for traditional handlooms from them. Some of my most treasured photos are of my grandmother travelling in her saree and trench travelling through Europe, my Mother in colourful silks with almost knee length cascading locks sailing around the world and my Dad wearing Kurtas working across the globe. It never occurred to my sister and I that we need to blend in with the grey blobs around us.

The fact that I love traditional Indian cottons, silks and wool is quite obvious on this blog but what is not obvious is they are something I wear to work, play and to go out. I've worn kurtas from work to going dancing and sarees on dates and to pubs. I genuinely think it's not what one wears but how one wears it. I love DIYs and have embroidered traditional Rabari and Ahir motifs on more denims than I can keep track of. I've decided to share more photos of me incorporating traditional clothing into my everyday wear. Every single one of these looks have been worn either to work or while I was out and about and none of them have been worn as a part of a desi get-together or event. With Durga Puja, Navaratri and Diwali coming up I hope we will all find it easy to celebrate in our spectacular threads while going to work, uni or even just to the beach or to go out dancing.

I would love if you guys would share pictures of you wearing kurtas, anaarkalis, churidaars and sarees in your everyday lives. And remember to keep track of and tag your pictures to the 'Reclaim the Bindi' week coming up for Diwali.

To be honest I don't find most mainstream fashion magazines and blogs interesting in the least. I have my own sort of preference in terms of the cuts and proportions I like, they've changed a bit over the years but my deep abiding love for all things hand crafted has remained steadfast. In my opinion never taking any fashion magazine or style advice seriously has helped me be much more comfortable with myself. I still peruse through glossies and admire style spreads, I just never apply any of their suggestions to myself. Also I am not at all a believer in the dress for your shape nonsense. I dress to make myself happy and smile at my reflection when I pass mirrored glass.

In which I wear a block print tent and love it

So here I am posting after ages in yet another Indian block print dress; what can I say except for agreeing with the fact that I am a poster child for being obsessed with the same thing for decades. Trends come and go, some people think I am ridiculous colourful others think my clothes are super cool based on either what appeals to their tastes but mostly based on what's deemed in or out.

I am tired of trends and know what makes me feel good and no amount of funny jokes or outright nastiness is going to make an iota of difference. Initially I wanted to maybe trim the hem of this beauty but better sense prevailed (Thank you Mummy) and I decided to wear it in its full length flowing glory.

Hope life's been treating you well. I know I have been a lax in the commenting department lately and I am sorry. Happy Sunday world!