Maybe when Diesel makes one?

denim-saree.jpg

I keed. Despite my erstwhile devotion to all things Italian and denim, I do not think that there is ANYTHING which could persuade me to wear this unfortunate schmata— and that’s not because I’m conservative or unwilling to experiment for the sake of fashion.

Kanjeevaram, my beloved, politically incorrect, guilt-inducing Kanjeevaram, is heavy and inflexible enough; so how on earth does this thing WORK? Even if it is one of those new-fangled, “lazy saris” (as my Mother calls them), which is essentially a wrap-around, pre-pleated bottom with pallu attached, it’s still not easy enough.

I’d feel mummified.

Swaddled.

Slow.

Uncomfortable, and reminded of what it feels like to get x-rays, with that heavy protective blanket on top of me. Except at least when I’m getting x-rayed, I’m perfectly still. GAH. Yes, this is freaking me out, man. Must increase the drugs…

Said one fantastically-named blogher:

After color changing saree, pocket saree, it’s now turn for a Denim Silk Saree.
Sri Kumaran Stores, once a leading name in the garments business now seems desperate for market share. So out comes thinking caps (or is it cowboy hats) and innovation for the sake of it. In contrast to the appealing RMKV’s 50,000 color/ reversible saree, the concept as well as communication is a mild put off!

Incidentally, she has a pic of a very public version of this ad; a billboard which has some serendipitous placement, with regards to local greenery. Wait a second, what the– there’s a reversible sari?

My Mother is a disgrace I tell you. A disgrace. I’m always the last to know about such sartorial innovation. How someone who wears no makeup and has never thought to read a fashion magazine bore me, I have no idea. I’m terrified that whatever it is she has will skip a generation though, and that MY daughter will be a fearsome, dreaded rapscallion of a tomboy. Obviously, my Mother is praying for exactly this, as divine revenge for having to put up with me for 32 girly, glittery, glossy years. But I digress (and I must, for truly, it isn’t a post of mine, if I don’t!).

One final note: how the hell is this suitable for elders? Because they don’t move much? Give me a set sari over this isht, any day.

::

Via Maisnon, Lizzie and Yindia Uncut…thanks all. Or, um, in this case, y’all.

134 thoughts on “Maybe when Diesel makes one?

  1. Is my browser going crazy or am I seeing this post twice? SM Intern, please to help.

  2. While that rascal of an intern is nowhere to be found, I got rid of the dupe– thanks for the heads up. 🙂

  3. Goddamit, i Just cut and paste pingpong’s comment in the dupe to freak him/her out. Anna must have deleted it just as I posted it because I got an error.

  4. so how on earth does this thing WORK?

    It says silk saree. So I assume the “denim” is only color/pattern, not texture. It probably drapes like any other silk sari.

    The illustration is hilarious, though. Ride ’em, cowgirl! In a sari!

  5. Ride ’em, cowgirl! In a sari!

    YOu can count on Mira Nair including that in her next movie.

  6. ANNA, Agree with you that : 1) I will NEVER wear that chimera 2) Kanjeevaram rocks ! Back in the des,I wore sarees to work all the time. I never gave in to the fashion trends and stuck to good old starched Cotton( Calcutta or Andhra ) in summer and silk ( Kanjeevaram or printed) in winter. Meanwhile the following came ( and went): – “Shamu” satin( don’t ask!) – The tri-colored saree( yuck!) – Sarees with matching printed shawls( not bad but tres expensive) – Nylon sarees in psychedleic colors ( 60s anyone?) – China silk ( hate it) – Rayon with mettalic threads ( ugly + horiziontal stripes – never a good idea for the -er- well-endowed )

  7. Also, the model is pastier than I am. She clearly hasn’t been out ropin’ dogies in the American West. That denim ain’t foolin’ anyone, she’s one a them city slickers.

  8. That denim ain’t foolin’ anyone, she’s one a them city slickers.

    yeah…i don think they have non che-che models….

  9. While I am sari to say I don’t know much about clothes for women of the female persuasion, I should probably mention that Kumaran Stores in Chennai has been doing several gimmicks like these, each more desperately attention-craving than the last. I suppose they have well and truly lost their business to Saravana Stores on pricing (“I got 3 times the clothes at 1/3 of the price”) and to Nalli on quality and brag-factor (“My daughter’s wedding saree cost 3 times her daughter’s wedding saree”). In that uncomfortable squeeze, unwilling to seriously diversify beyond sarees, they seem to embarrass everyone around with cowgirls and reversible sarees. What next? Revers(ibl)e cowgirl?

  10. embarrass everyone around with cowgirls and reversible sarees

    what about reverse cowgirl in sari? is it related to that?

  11. “To bring jeans-wearers into the fold denim silk sarees were launched, Sri Kumaran Stores partner PJ Ravi informed.” Looks like someone else was feeling sorry for the sari.

    “Brilliant! All of the discomfort of jeans with none of the convenience! We’ll sell millions!”

  12. what about reverse cowgirl in sari? is it related to that?

    Now look at who needs a cold shower ; )

  13. Now look at who needs a cold shower ; )

    it was out hter…i just couldnt resist!

  14. what about reverse cowgirl in sari? is it related to that?
    Now look at who needs a cold shower ; )

    What now? The saree thread has become a wet saree thread?

  15. What now? The saree thread has become a wet saree thread?

    i can do that to any thread….

  16. now..back to topic. who are they targeting with these things. is denim fasionable in india for grls?

  17. What now? The saree thread has become a wet saree thread?

    Imagine a wet denim saree… now that wont be pretty

  18. is denim fasionable in india for grls?

    Yes.I can’t find the link but there was an interesting article in the Times of India a few months agi about how – across classes- kids are opting for jeans . TOI interviewed an auto -rickshaw driver who said that his 10 year old daughter insisted on buying jeans vs traditional garb. I got a gift of a denim”Kurta” from a relative in the des earlier this year .Its quite nice 🙂

  19. Forgive me lord for I have sinned.. but the first thing I thought of was how the eff does one pee while wearing this sari? For that matter am not sure about the peeing technique in any sari but my guess would it it will have to do something with squatting and pulling the darn thing up.

    Or for that matter, now I get reminded of those rape scenes in desi movies… particularly, one where the sari is thrown onto a ceiling fan.. with denim sari’s, none of that fan base.

  20. I think there was one of those in this Tamil movie.

    Is it true that the title was a play on “genes”? I thought I read that somewhere

  21. ceiling fan.. with denim sari’s, none of that fan base.

    If that pun was intentional, it is truly one of the vilest ones that I have encountered. 🙂

  22. As to all the scatalogical interest: Whats so unusual? After all don’t women go # 1,# 2 when they wear long skirts?????

  23. If that pun was intentional

    It was intentional 😀 I should just go back to work…

  24. She clearly hasn’t been out ropin’ dogies in the American West. That denim ain’t foolin’ anyone, she’s one a them city slickers. what about reverse cowgirl in sari? is it related to that?

    Puli, if the girl can rope dogies in reverse cowgirl, then she deserves a freaking medal. 🙂

    Imagine a wet denim saree… now that wont be pretty

    SFGirl, I can feel my skin chafing at the thought of it 🙂

  25. As to all the scatalogical interest: Whats so unusual? After all don’t women go # 1,# 2 when they wear long skirts?????

    a skirt seems much easier to take off, put on…a sari looks like a rubics magic puzzle.

    (oddly enough…i did wear a sari once, but i didnt need to go to the bathrooom that hour).

  26. how does one do a #2?

    Weird question. I thought everybody knew. Anyway, what does this have to do with the denim saree?

  27. i did wear a sari once

    Dude Puli, aren’t you single and looking. Not sure if this will help your cause.

  28. (oddly enough…i did wear a sari once, but i didnt need to go to the bathrooom that hour).

    I feel like I know more than I wanted to about you.

  29. Bess,

    It was just about every 70s Hindi movie ,I think.Have you seen Insaaf ka Taraazu? -Don’t!

  30. Is it true that the title was a play on “genes”? I thought I read that somewhere

    I don’t know that, but it was a dumb expensive movie that deserved to be made fun of. Its name with tagline was “Jeans: 0% cotton, 100% love”. There was at least one spoof movie poster out there advertising a dirt cheap movie “Chaddi: 100% polyester, 0% love”.

  31. I feel like I know more than I wanted to about you.

    HA! nah. it was for a parody of a hindi movie….nothing that messed up.

  32. Was it Hey, Ram?

    Plenty of movies actually, and for many years… I think the first thing they started showing in Indian movies after they graduated from bees and flowers and spilled milk were broken bangles and sari’s on the fan.

  33. I believe denim silk is mostly rayon with some silk, 80/20.

    Rayon and silk can be very light and drapey. Denim is a heavy cotton twill. The “denim silk” fabric may differ not only in fiber (rayon + silk vs. cotton) but also weave.

    Have they tried wool pinstripe saris yet? You know, for offices. A “power sari,” worn with a cropped fitted button-down oxford shirt.

  34. Have you seen Insaaf ka Taraazu? -Don’t!

    I haven’t seen it and I’ll take you advice, Runa, thanks!

  35. Is this actually Tromple l’oiel executed in silk?

    I was given “denim” salwaar khameez at least 8 to 10 years ago when, apparently, it was very much in fashion. From what I remember, it was made of a cotton-mix with a “denim” wash. I assume that this sari is the same, and NOT actually denim.

  36. is denim fasionable in india for grls?

    When i visited Chennai about a year ago, my 19-year old sister and her college mates were wearing denim jeans with their long kurtas from the salwar set (i.e., minus the salwar, obviously). Sort of like a weird mix and match. In my opinion, a mix and match of the less comfortable pieces of the T-shirt&jeans / kurta&salwar choices.

  37. bees and flowers and spilled milk … broken bangles and sari’s on the fan

    Almost sounds like the lyrics to a Weird Al Yankovic song.