11-15-2003, 09:15 PM
The thread topic is "Indian dress styles" - so please excuse me. I believe that burkhas worn by Indian women have styles and fashions of their own, that vary and evolve with time.
I have heard people say that they have become more common, but I would add that they have also become more fashionable.
I have two general observations to make:
a) The relationship of a burkha to a more "revealing" dress is the same as the relationship between a boxing match and an all out hand to hand fight to the death. In teh former (boxing) ther are set rules - standard gloves are worn, no kicking/elbowing, no hitting below the belt or behind the ears or the back. In an all out fight, weapons are allowed, and hitting/cutting/shooting anything is allowed.
<img src='http://www.india-forum.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='B)' /> Female and male hormonal reactions cannot be suppressed by restrictions set by a mullah.
As in a boxing match, the burkha "levels the playing field". Pretty nose, great complexion, great hairstyle, long hair, a beatifully made up face - that hint of lipstick etc are ruled out. If a girl is prettier than you no problemo - she gotta wear a portatent, just like you, so looks don't count. The "weapons" have to be within what is allowed - and boy, how they are used.
It is easier to consider the part of the burkha that is worn below the neck, because that is more constant. The "fit" and the "fall" od the material are used to show up parts of the body that need to be shown up - front or back, using the same characterirtsics that contribute to the "wind factor" . What is worn underneath the burkha can be used to augment or suppress features.
Above the neck - it's almost a free for all. If face visibility is allowed - it does things to the competition. But even when it is not allowed there are possibilities. In the latest fashions, in which a separate veil is worn, much can be done with the eyes. You need not actually have a nose or lips, but if your eyes are OK you are making the competition burn with jealousy. Those lashes, those eyes. etc. A bit of mascara and it's blatant blasphemy.
Even with the face covered games are played with the head dress to mimic hair, and sometimes, really long, thick hair is allowed to peep out from underneath, casually. And then there is the body language and the careful attention to shapes and forms that are visible. And the style of walking.
Finally - the feet and hands make for useful tools. Nail polish and high heels when allowed are used for effect, but when they are not allowed, something else is invariably used to advertse and draw attention to what is inside.
There is a whole world out there - right under the mullah's nose.
Graduate
I have heard people say that they have become more common, but I would add that they have also become more fashionable.
I have two general observations to make:
a) The relationship of a burkha to a more "revealing" dress is the same as the relationship between a boxing match and an all out hand to hand fight to the death. In teh former (boxing) ther are set rules - standard gloves are worn, no kicking/elbowing, no hitting below the belt or behind the ears or the back. In an all out fight, weapons are allowed, and hitting/cutting/shooting anything is allowed.
<img src='http://www.india-forum.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='B)' /> Female and male hormonal reactions cannot be suppressed by restrictions set by a mullah.
As in a boxing match, the burkha "levels the playing field". Pretty nose, great complexion, great hairstyle, long hair, a beatifully made up face - that hint of lipstick etc are ruled out. If a girl is prettier than you no problemo - she gotta wear a portatent, just like you, so looks don't count. The "weapons" have to be within what is allowed - and boy, how they are used.
It is easier to consider the part of the burkha that is worn below the neck, because that is more constant. The "fit" and the "fall" od the material are used to show up parts of the body that need to be shown up - front or back, using the same characterirtsics that contribute to the "wind factor" . What is worn underneath the burkha can be used to augment or suppress features.
Above the neck - it's almost a free for all. If face visibility is allowed - it does things to the competition. But even when it is not allowed there are possibilities. In the latest fashions, in which a separate veil is worn, much can be done with the eyes. You need not actually have a nose or lips, but if your eyes are OK you are making the competition burn with jealousy. Those lashes, those eyes. etc. A bit of mascara and it's blatant blasphemy.
Even with the face covered games are played with the head dress to mimic hair, and sometimes, really long, thick hair is allowed to peep out from underneath, casually. And then there is the body language and the careful attention to shapes and forms that are visible. And the style of walking.
Finally - the feet and hands make for useful tools. Nail polish and high heels when allowed are used for effect, but when they are not allowed, something else is invariably used to advertse and draw attention to what is inside.
There is a whole world out there - right under the mullah's nose.
Graduate