Page 37 - Masala Lite Issue 155 November 2023

patialas, lungis, lehengas, shararas, Western and Indian long dresses, short dresses,
and beachwear –added onto the already confounding choices, is bindi or no bindi;
traditional or funky jewellery!
While I remain unperturbed about dolling up (sour grapes), since I don’t seem to
exist; nevertheless, here’s what my fellow ‘sassies‘ have to say:
• “I pay attention only while getting ready, but don’t sweat once I step out.” –
Four understated men
• “In my younger days, it mattered somewhat, but now I’m old and don’t
expect any appreciation. So, I dress for myself and I enjoy whatever I choose
to wear and I’m not bothered with repeats.”
• “It’d be a lie if I said that I’m comfortable walking into a mehendi party in
jeans. I usually dress to blend-in rather than look ostentatious, and since I
OUTFITS • “Earlier, I had the silly habit of hoarding and sitting on nice stuff, but I’ve
can’t change there and then, I let it go and admire others at the party.”
never slapped my forehead and regretted what I wore to a function. Phew!
It’s behind me now, the useless, foolish, stressing with whatever I’m wearing,
Dolly Koghar gives her generation’s take on how so I hold my head high and strut along.”
the changing times have converted our views of • “I’m not a conscious stylist, nor do I get into a fashion race to impress others;
I buy basic stuff, to feel comfortable in my own skin. I don’t plan ahead for
‘appropriateness.’ functions other than my own, so I randomly and spontaneously pick whatever
I’ll be wearing, while making sure my extra lumps are well hidden!”
I’m socially inept and make it worse by regretting the choice-du-jour of the clothes • “Haha! I’ve not attended weddings or a gurudwara function in ages, but for
I wear to a function, despite moderate planning. Back in the last century, it was a few funerals, where we wear white! But, yes, I have very often doubted my
a salwar-kameez to the gurudwara and for everything and everywhere else it was choice. At times, I feel overdressed, at other times, I wonder if I should’ve
the sari. A lot of forethought went into a sari, befitting the occasion and bobbles worn pants instead of a dress, or if I’m in a dress, maybe an Indian outfit
to match: we’d don a bouffant or puff hairdo, a lip colour, and the indispensable would have been more appropriate.”
bindi to complete the Indian naree look. In the evenings of those halcyon days of
being a newlywed, I’d drape a prettier one in the evenings, which nevertheless • “Do I worry about what I wear? Never, ji!” - A drop-dead and impeccably-
never garnered me a candlelit dinner for two. Trousers and shirts for ladies was a dressed dame
strict no-no, unless it was a twosome beach trip, which was unlikely. On Sundays, • “Honestly, most of the time I am so unsure and wonder if what I’m wearing
while waiting to watch the current Bollywood tear-jerker, we womenfolk vied is ok for Bangkok standards, which is very different and dressy from where
with each other in the latest printed, georgette saris in the paan-stained lobby of I come from.”
Texas Theatre.
• “When I worry about what to wear, which is rare, I push it away, since I still
No pregnancy is easy and mine were made worse with the cumbersome sari, and the don’t feel 100 percent Bangkokian despite living here since forever. Also,
palla on the head when dad-in-law was around. By my last pregnancy, the practical I’ve been a working woman all my life, and I’d rather spend my earnings on
salwar-kameez finally got the society’s nod; by which time the younger gen had skincare. After an auntie’s suggestion, I’ve started sporting a bindi with my
already pushed their way past the head-covering and didn’t need permission to Indian outfits, which helps me look less luk kreung.”
don decent western casuals.
P.S. While on the subject of dressing, I’d like for our menfolk to hear this loud and
Fast forward to today’s array of options which beats Starbucks’. The evergreen clear: we womenfolk dress to enhance ourselves, and for the discerning eye of our
sari stayed put, so did the comfortable salwar-kameez, but the range now includes fellow señoritas!

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