Do you think I’d make up a title like that?
Shewitaka Says:
So I call my self a cultural cross dresser, who favours the Asian fashion, sarees in particular. When I do venture out in a saree I get a lot of complements, I just wish my mum could hear them I’m sure she will suddenly find herself proud of her tom boy daughter all of a sudden and encourage the wearing. The odd thing is, if my mum was out and about and happened across a man in a dress, she would be singing his praises and be full of complements, of course, if he looked good!
Even though it is Friday, and we have Firangi Friday section, I just don’t feel comfortable putting her in that category, because she is more desi than many of the people from India with skin complexion darker by 10 shaded and people that are thousands of miles closer to Tirupati temple than she is.
Being Desi is not about where you are from, it is about attitude to life, shared values and shared sense of aesthetics.
You may wonder as to what is the shared sense of aesthetics do we have? I’ll give you an example, if you were to wear a bright red saree with bright green pleats and bright yellow pallu, shared sense of aesthetic will kick in and everybody from North India to South India would find it kind of odd combination. Now if somebody in Pakistan were to drape the same saree, it wouldn’t feel out of place.
So the statement that “something looks pretty” is not an absolute statement, it is not an statement of individual preference; it is a reflection of collective aesthetic that seeps in to us and shapes our brain that finds a particular thing pretty.
And why is it that we find a woman wearing a man’s clothes sexy and man wearing women’s clothes a misfit?! Yup, our shared sense of aesthetics. It wasn’t too long ago that man and women wore similar clothes.
Any way, the image that I liked the most from Shwetica is:
Nice! Love it!
Thank god she is not in a saree closet anymore!
Check out her blog, say hi to her, especially if you are cultural cross dresser.
How charming!
Thanks for directing your readers to her site. She has a fun and engaging blog, and her saree choices are quite tasteful as well.
I just hope she has some newer posts soon.
Wow!
What can I say
Thank you
What a wonderful post about me.
For those in the know Im feeling much better now and should be back soon with some more saree adventures
Thanks again
xx
hooray! another one! there is also the sari safari site (which is part store, part educational) I have been wearing saris almost daily in India (to the shock of some of my white friends) and I’m trying to find a way to wear them in the USA without feeling like I am “stealing culture” and appropriating it… Most of the indians I’ve talked to would love for me to wear saris back home, to help others see indian women’s clothing as beautiful, and really not that hard to respect. So I wonder if it is my problem interpreting what people might feel when they see me walking in a nicely worn and nicely carried sari. What do you think?
Shwetika,
Glad you’re feeling better. Have you only just discovered this blog? Well I’m glad you have now anyway it really is right up your street. Look forward to seeing your comments in future.
SARAH,
I’m sure the Sari Safari site has been mentioned here before. With regards to wearing sarees in the US, well Sari Safari shows that it can be done. Appropriating cultures is something of a sensitive topic these days, particularly regarding native American cultures, but I think most Indian people are proud to see this particular part of their culture being worn by non-Indian women. I hope some Indian readers will comment here. I should add that I hope you live in a part of the US where the climate is ‘practicle’ for saree wearing. I admire Shwetika’s dedication to her sarees here in the chilly UK.
I love your blog and I have always used it as inspiration and also it help me stay in touch with what the latest trend is. I am still smiling from your wonderful comments. I may need your advice soon for a purchase!
Sarah, it’s great that you have taken to wear sarees whilst out in India, I think you should defiantly wear them at home also. I’m still not one to talk as I am still very much a secret saree wearer. My sarees only come out at a super special occasion and behind closed doors at home. I’m still waiting for the saree revolution when it will be quite the norm to see them on any one.
I started my blog almost as a means of approval however I will always be cursed with that feeling of guilt every time I wear one
As I type this I’m pleased to say that I am draped in a delicate red silk saree with gold thread work and a printed paisley border. It’s good being in a saree again.