Indian "fashion" BONUS POST YAY

Hallo again!!!!!

As promised, I  am going to post a great array of pictures of Indian clothing! I know I promised this the first week, but I didn't remember I said that until someone told me this week. So here we gooo! (note: a lot of these pictures look like stalker/creep photos...that's because they are - I totally took them from our car for a few days as we drove around town)

FEMALE WEAR

From what I have observed, and from the Indian women I have talked to this month (I find them to be a pretty creditable source) there are three kinds of outfits Indian women wear - Salwar kameez, Saris, and then western wear. Here in Trichy, western wear for women is VERY UNCOMMON. As in, when the four of us go out around town in our linen pants and western tops, we look pretty different from everyone else. So really, traditional womens clothing consists of the salwars and the sarees (saris, sarees, I have seen it spelled multiple ways)

                                                                SALWAR KAMEEZ

Okay so the salwar kameez is probably the most comfortable thing I have ever worn in my life. It consists of a long looser fitting top that is basically the length of a dress, and then long linen/light pants. THERE ARE NO ZIPPERS, NO BUTTONS (I mean not on the pants anyway) AND NO REAL SIZES (okay, I mean there are, like small medium and large and strange numbers that kind of tell the size but vary from salwar to salwar you try on and...yea, especially for ready-mades) BUT ANYWAY - THESE PANTS. ARE DRAWSTRING PANTS (what?!?!?!) Thats right, I have spent this whole month, in drawstring pants. It has been glorious. I have no gage on whether I've lost weight, gained weight, or stayed the same, simply because I JUST HAVE TO TIE MY PANTS. And you may ask "But Dani, there must be a limit to these pants, they can't be too drawstringy right?" Oh my friends

They can. 

Okay, I am exaggerating a little bit, this particular pair of pants is much bigger than my other two pairs, but still, you understand to the extent these pants can go -

And then shrink down! 

Besides the pants, the tops are pretty loose as well, there are rarely clasps or zippers or things like that to get them on. most of them slip on over your head. 

Some are easier to put on than others (especially if they are tighter in the shoulders)

But, even with all that, its super comfy and breathable once it is on.

Finally, you've tied your drawstring pants and found your way into your top, now its time to put on the scarf! Thats right people, this is a three piece set. Now when you first put it on, it looks something like this...but on a not pasty white person.

Note the scarf is NOT wrapped around your neck or tied in some weird trendy way that someone found on Pinterest. Nope, its like an awesome cape, but it still drapes across the front like so. I saw in the movie I went to yesterday that sometimes they just wear it over one shoulder, or they maybe wrap it around once. But I have mostly seen it be worn this way.

Unfortunately, when you're walking around and picking up stuff and all that, your scarf does not stay in its place, and ends up looking like this

or choking yourself like this

or this

Or this

Fortunately though, the Indian women have figured out the extreme usefulness of safety pins and use them to perfectly pin their scarves to their tops like so

Notice that you can't see the safety pins but the scarves are perfectly draped across their shouulders? Yea. Safety pins. 

Anyway, these salwars are worn usually with sandals, rarely with close toed shoes. There are also different types of pants as well, not just the loose pant style I showed you. There is also a more tightly fitted style pant, as well as full length leggings that can be worn. 

Salwars, from what I have learned, are usually worn by younger, unmarried women, though I have seen women of all ages wear a salwar - so I don't think that is a real rule, but is more of an observation. The wonderful Dr. Rohini and Dr. Victoria both wear salwar kameez even though they are both married. Dr. Rohini explained that salwars are more practical for working than a saree (sari?) is, and I believe it. Salwars can also serve as a uniform, as the nurses in training I work with wear an all white salwar with a short sleeved button up over it. Girls wear uniformed color salwars - I have seen pink/maroon and dark blue and brown varieties. Its pretty nifty. But now = ONTO THE SARI/SAREE

SARI/SAREE

Now I have a confession to make - I have not bought a sari, nor have I worn one in a few years, so this is all information I have found from observing and talking with the women here.

Okay, so the sari comes in two parts, sometimes three. There is the blouse, or the half top you see, and then the sari/sash part that makes up everything else. Many times there is also an underskirt where pieces of the sash can be tucked in in order to keep the sari from coming undone, as well as give more modesty to the more sheer sari varieties. I don't know how to wrap a sari, and neither did some people I asked, but I will link you to a youtube video that shows you how here

There are a few kinds of sarees, there are everyday sarees

That are made of a lighter material along with a lighter blouse. 

Then there are more formal sarees

(they placed a sari made of fine fabric on one of these statues in the temple that is another example of a more formal looking sari - I had fewer pictures of formal saris than I thought)

These saris are made of a heavier silk or cotton material and seem to be worn for more formal occasions, though I have seen this style of sari many a time in the doctors office where I have been observing. 

In short, the sari is very long, and a really interesting form of dress. Unlike salwars, where you can buy them "ready made" you almost always have to get the blouse personally fitted to you and the sari portion tailored and cut to you height/ measurements as well in order for it to fit correctly. If you saw the video, the part where they drape the long length of material over their shoulder is also usually safety pinned so it does not fall off, or the end is then wrapped once more around the front to keep the shoulder piece from falling off. 

 I now have one more form of dress (kind of) for women besides western wear which is simple - its modest, quarter length, loose tops and pants, or floor length swooshy skirts. Nothing tight fitting!

. In India, there is a hefty Muslim population, and many Muslims wear the saris and salwars, but when out in public, they were these long dark robes, and occasionally a full on burka like this

I do not see this quite as much as I see simply a long black robe and hijab/scarf to cover the head though. What I have found interesting while I have been here though, is that many women who were this black robe have decked it out in some way. Some women bejewel their robes while others have beautiful embroidery put on all around the edges of it. 

Well, that's womens' wear for ya in a nutshell, now to move on to mens fashion (I promise this will be shorter, as I am not a man, nor do I really know what is in fashion here, I just took a bunch of stalker photos)

MENSWEAR

TRADITIONAL WEAR - THE LUNGI

 Okay, if you thought men only wore skirts in Scotland, you are very wrong. Here in India the Lungi is very popular, both as a form of traditional wear, and as something nice to sleep in. I can't really explain it so here are a bunch of pictures

As you can see, this versatile piece of material can be worn either long or short, and from our group's observations, can be worn with our without anything underneath. In my observations, I have seen many older men wearing this, as well as business casual attire of a button up and light pants, but the younger men here also seem to have a fashion all their own that you don't really see in the states. 

As you can see from my few pictures, the guys usually do a polo or a nice button down, and then pants (woah Danielle go figure) But holy crap, look at the pants people. Bell bottoms and wide leg pants are definitely in style here, and I see many young, skinny men sporting them. Its a very interesting look and I definitely did not expect it to be hanging around south India.

Well, that is all of the clothing I have encountered during my stay thus far in India, and all I know based on observation and knowledge from the local people. If anyone has any further questions, or wants to know more, email me and I will be glad to direct you to more info!

BAM. BONUS POST. COMPLEEEETE!