I also am guilty of the same like numerous women, I
need new clothes always, I mean I look at the closet and I have nothing to wear.
Always never anything appropriate. Sometimes, the color isn’t right, the suit
is old, its not the right style, or plain old something is missing in the suit.
You know the zing isn’t there.
So, I went visiting to my local haunts, where I get my
suits done. All over town, the banners beckoned and seduced me like the houris
of heaven promising style, élan and sophistication and promised to make me look
like a million bucks. I went to my old Masterji with some material, and he
looked at me and said Bibi you’re too old fashioned, and belong to an old era.
I only make clothes for women, who wear tight fitting shirts with pajamas or those
ugly stretchy leggings. I looked at him wondering where had style gone. All
that was on display was bright neon colors as if a nursery kid had gone loose
with primary colors. And on top of it the work and the embellishments.
I made my excuses and went to the next tailor master
on the list. He welcomed like a long lost prodigal daughter and showed me the
latest designs hung on the racks. All I could see was huge tents of billowing
material with small slits cut aka Batman style, with some sarvowiski. I asked
hesitatingly what were these? Master
cleared his throat and said these were the latest, straight from Middle East
and they ensure complete proprietary. I looked at him trying to understand,
dumb like a deer caught by dazzling taillights. He explained slowly again and
told me nowadays, he made burkhas and hijabs, because the clothes he used to
make previously were a sin. And women, wearing them enticed, and goaded men to
act in a way in which they were not responsible. Why even his favorite singer
Yesudas had said this that women should not wear jeans and should not dress inappropriately.
Now I knew masterji had lost it and joined the gangs
of the sexist and was doomed. He did make the best trousers and I was getting
frantic now. I had lost my two old chappies to extreme fashion and regression
in the mind.
The next stop was this shop where dreams would come
true by wearing their creation. And I decided to make them come true this
Diwali. Oh, the sight and splendor made me miss a beat. I was lost in an alien dream
like shop where gowns out of a fairy book were being sold. It made me gasp , it
was as if it was a make believe world out of Grimms fairy tale. Gowns with net
tulle, satin finishes, pearls ,fake flowers , gowns with trails ,off shoulder,
on shoulder, with no backs and some upheld by a strategic button ( those were a
marvel in defying gravity by the way ) .
I smiles, and looked at the sales assistant who said
that these were the latest in fashion and the trends were the shades of pink.
Also, if I so wanted they would make a same to same outfit for my daughter. She
also told me about the free offer. They threw in a net duppatta to be worn when
Lakshmi Puja was being done.
I made some polite noises and left the store,
wondering what had happened to the simple old salwar kameez for people like me.
Master ji was indeed right I was a throw back and didn’t fit in. Empowerment
means for me being independent in the mind to know what I want and no be
dictated by the hollows of the society. It means to be confident in the
national character and not to be swayed by clothes that don’t let you breathe (too
tight ) or clothes that are worn because
some misogynist man decided we tempted him ( loose billowing tents).
Be yourself and lead the way this Diwali .
And, I think I will wear something out of the closet
that is me, than being a Cinderella or a tent with cut out eyes reminding me of
Batman or a suit that is so tight and plunging that is claustrophobic and if I breathed
a bit too much well everything would tear and pop out .. we don’t want that happening
!
Happy Diwali ! And May the festival of light ;light
our minds rather than being an empty ceremonial festival where we want our
coffers full with money .
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