Dressing Evolution through 80s till now

Well our friend commented on a picture of a married  lady wearing trousers in 90s somewhat clumsily ….‘a must wear for Bengali ladies  while vacationing in Puri’ …back then.

I was one of those who loved wearing skirts, denims, frocks always and didn’t stop during my college days(80s) or at mid 50s till date. 

Okay it wasn’t as easy as it sounds now..

Always had comments and judgements in the course..

Friends who couldn’t wear due to family restrictions scoffed as if dressing western shows lack of connection to your root/culture. Must mention saw them lapping it up when they had moved abroad. I am impressed though with the change in the attitude and of course flexibility.

Many may say that dressing as per others taste is not a big sacrifice .. the saying WAS ‘ aap Ruchi Khana par ruchi Pahenna’..

For me wearing saree from 6 am to 10 pm was the biggest challenge than any other adjustments usually one does in a joint in-laws family.

I am to be equally blamed when I too have told my daughter that this is not age-appropriate or relation-appropriate dressing after she reached 21 years of her age. Now I definitely do not suggest in this line as she is 29!! In fact role reversal happened!

Yes.  I love dressing for the purpose across shorts to sarees depending on season, activity and choice.

Thanks to my husband and daughter for encouraging me in this.

The type-casting is maintained in the society a lot. 

I always wondered why saree and a sexy blouse earns more points in the decency rubric over a pair of trousers and a hip length top.

We are the generation who have been fortunately witnessing complete communal society to this big global community. 

The reflection in dressing style all these years amazed me.  I never missed to appreciate the way different people carried sarees or shorts and suits or casuals.  It only made me fidgety when I saw a drastic scope for improvement in the way someone carries a dress.  

Well..  the Comfort, Cut(still learning) and Colours were the 3 Cs remained most important when it came to my dressing. I, like other Indian ladies, need to have wardrobe with traditional Indian wear like sarees, lehengas, sharara, salwar kameez and so called western wear from gowns to bandeau. 

Some more light on the struggle in adjusting to the dressing norm, in my in law’s place as mentioned before, Mukherjee house’s  apparent traditional rule.  Even wore saree from 6 am to 10 pm for 5 good years.  Why in-laws only, I was unduly pointed out for my length of pencil skirt by my mom in 1983.  Well, now I enjoy the  privilege to have family support wearing any kind of clothes and enjoying the Comfort, Cut and Colour.  Actually,  I would love to encourage women aged 50 plus who are  wanting to leave the inhibitions if any. Well, for 50 minus, they shouldn’t even need a push!! The easiest way to keep oneself happy is, through creatively experimenting on self appearance.

To take the argument little forward, men are seen venturing in boxers and shorts effortlessly everywhere nowadays, which was not the case when we saw our dads and uncles to enjoy aligaris and pyjamas at the most.  I see many ladies wearing shorts at home but they prefer knee covered when it comes to going out.  I definitely understand and acknowledge our tradition.  My mom, at 89 with mid-stage dementia, cannot accept anything other than saree for her dressing.  Such is the rooted habit.  

But in 21st century, I strongly believe that values do not come and go with dressing.  I had the opportunity to witness ladies in many countries and how they evolved their dressing over time.  Isn’t dressing for the purpose within the purview of climate and occasion be kept as the primary key? The point is,  we must rise over societal pressure and keep our own perspective on top in such cases. And let us build an inclusive society instead of letting the habitual nuisance of society cloud our judgements in the name of skin show vs burkha.

Another side it connects to society outlook is a bigger concern.  I see ladies in Mexico and USA showing curves/skin rampant and guys are oblivious about it.  Moreover people out there don’t care about their weight, shape and size when it comes to dressing. What I mean is they neither body shame themselves nor leave the privilege to live the way they want.

The question arises, #1 why we see Indian guys glare/judge inappropriately at the sight of bare skin of ladies creating an awkward environment.   #2 Can’t society keep similar and equal benchmark for men and women?  Our children and the youth must learn to prioritise on comfort, cut and colour not in the skin when it comes to theirs or others dressing. 

We elders have the responsibility to promote such vibe beginning at home of course!!!

Do you feel children and future citizen will experience a better day in India in terms of choices they make for dressing?

Write your own story towards your happiness.. Why world even you don’t Box you!!

Morgan Hill…. 05/10/2021