Death of Salwar

MissMalini.com is the ultimate fashion extravaganza of what is happening latest in the fashion industry and where the future trend of fashion will be blown by our Bollywood Actresses. After all, Bollywood brings all the fashion capital to the nation. With the personal stylists hired and working full time, even for budding actresses can show the trend. I mean if Kareena Kapoor Khan (Dont know why she left Ali and Pataudi and only took Khan from Saif’s name) steps out in a simple Tee without makeup, that also has to be designer Tee. Something which was never worn by anybody, must carry some symbol or emblem, cut or fabric, not visible on the Indian social scene. Now KKK (aka Bebo) is sporting designer wear with her baby hump or another trend has started in the market. 

Back in early 2000s, when the satellite television were starting operations by every day and 24 hours news was just catching the people’s infancy, there was a discussion on a news channel and a question was asked by a viewer to Aditi Govitrikar, Do you wear the clothes in normal that you showcase on ramp? Today that day is here, when the actresses and even the normal neighborhood girls are wearing the ensembles (not clothes) showcased in the fashion shows. I mean there are ensembles and silhouettes way over the top, which may never find their place in market, but then a fashion designer is showcasing his talent to think differently and act differently and the more important is the details of the cut of the dress, the fabric and how it has been draped, the reason Fashion Shows exist.

Two years back, we were skimming through my cousin’s shopping for wedding. Of course, western dresses (majorly jeans and tops) were part of the package along with the traditional dresses, whether you wear them or not, but somehow it is felt that traditional dresses make you look sanskari (cultured) in the eyes of in-laws. Kurtis and suits with various styles were there but the sheer absence of salwar is something I questioned. Not that bottom wear is gone. But the traditional salwar is replaced by the pants, leggings, churidars, harem pants, palazzos and skirts. There were so many options besides the salwar. I questioned the absence of salwar from her ensemble, she replied, I have never worn in it in my life. 

This year another cousin is getting married, I was involved neck deep for helping her in shopping. She has also never worn salwar in her life. She wears Indian suits on almost daily basis. It was not that she had absolutely rejected the idea of salwar but none were found in the market. To get it stitched, her tailor also denied that I have new boys working and they have never stitched a salwar. Invariably palazzos or something other was provided readymade with the kameez (top), which is stitched to every girl/women own measurements. 

Dupatta still exists over the larger Indian audience and with majority of the dresses, it is provided, whether girls choose to wear it or not, is individual’s choice. But dupatta is also used as an accessory or some other way rather than hanged front to back but it is sliding on one side or role as a kafiyah or at times, girls do role around their heads. 

Public transport is a huge learning curve. Somehow I am forcibly contributing to the planet by not owning a car but Metro traveling in Delhi is fun with their powerful Air-Conditioner and the amazing time one has while watching people and the variety of people we get to see everyday. Ladies Coach is a truly boone for women commuters. But it has come at huge cost of people like me who appreciate Indian beauty. But then there are few girls/women who enter other coaches with their male friends or for the lure of a ladies seat. I witnessed one can find may be one in a hundred girl in salwar. Of course, aunties wear it, but when the aunties are decked up a little, they ditch their salwar and shift to pajami or palazzos or sharara (skirt).

All the girls born in late 80’s and post that period have worn salwar never or few occasions in their life. Older generation belonging to aunts post 45 are also shifting to other versions for their bottom wear than salwar. At times I wonder what are the rightists or the nationalists have to say about it. Although they sport knicker but still for the girls to shift at large to a knicker or a short skirt is like a decade away. Is there going to be a dharna (protest) for the death of salwar.

30 years back, it was the death of sari at a mass level especially North India wherein it became a formal wear dress and for normal wear, majority of the women have ditched it. 2010 is the year when it be called the year, Salwar died. But then with the new century and new generation, more variations and options of Western dresses are available to the girls. 

With the death of salwar, lehnga-choli has given small space of Indian version (lehnga material) to gowns, kaftans from Arabic world, tunics without bottom (earlier mothers forced their girls to wear bottom with tunics). With the death of salwar, a more bold and fierce version of women are easily sporting navel but wearing crop tops and pants hanging at the waist.

Old world makes way for the new. Bollywood Stars children are ahead of their parents with their instagram photos featuring their cleavages before they are developed or bikini bodies under development. In fact, ditching the salwar has brought the girls out of the closet, Tinder tells us how, with girls/women sporting bikini for their profile pictures and taking pictures as if they wish to enter contests on the CHIVE. 

Salwar is not dying, it is dead. It is demise is not sad but exciting with offering women more freedom in terms of expressing their body and their identity to the world. On a personal note, the more revealing dresses or tighter dresses women wear, the more empowered they feel. But then India, media makes an issue out of Deepika’s boobs or cleavage, she gets paid for revealing her body. I don't know, how society will come to terms with it or I guess they will, like the salwar died slow death without a ceremony.