Monday, April 14, 2008

At last, the sari

I have spent a large portion of Sunday wrapping swathes of material around me and trying to get it to hang properly, with the help of handmaiden/head critic, darling D.

We studied the video and folded and pleated and yay here we are. I look rather smug in the picture, but I was quite proud of the result, except that I resemble a sack of something.




If you are wondering why my neck is uniformly smooth, it is because I have discovered the airbrush tool in Adobe photoshop, and have indulged in a bit of very reasonably priced plastic surgery and removed an extra chin in a mere 10 minutes.

Unfortunately I couldn’t find the right tool to remove the very English phenomenon of socks in sandals peeping out from underneath my perfect pleats.

12 comments:

Mrs. Chili said...

Saris are SO beautiful. I always worry that I'm being rude when I look (stare) at women wearing them, but the grace and seeming simplicity of them enthrall me.

Mr. Chili and I learned how to wrap a great kilt about ten years ago. My mother was remarried in a medieval service, and all guests were required to attend in authentic garb. I had a chemise and overdress; Mr. Chili chose a great kilt. Eight yards of plaid wool. He rocked it, though, once we figured out how to get it to stay up!

Ms Mac said...

Excellent photoshop work! I have only just learned how to get rid of my children's teenage spots in Picnik so anyone with a handle on Photoshop is a genuis in my eyes.

The sari is beautiful. You look like a sack of Indian wonder.

Dr.John said...

The Sari is beautiful on you. The sock doesn't hurt anything.

Rosie said...

Mrs C- On the video, it suggests that you put a petticoat underneath, and I found a pair of very baggy trousers which do up with a string, and thought that they would do nicely.BUT the long term implications have just sunk in. I must make a petticoat after all if I ever wish to visit the ladies room without completely unravelling myself...I dont think the problem is the same with a kilt since usually you dont wear anything underneath...
Ms Mac...I am truly thrilled with my new discovery. It is the third tool down on the left of the adobe tool box which looks (reasonably enough) like a blow torch. First you select the dropper and click it onto the colour which you want and then select the magic plastic surgeon and spray your wrinkles with the appropriate tone. Any one who wants to know what I really look like had better be quick. I'm off to my website to hose down all the others! The only problem is that I will have to hide in my house for ever afterwards...

nice to meet you Dr John...are you any relation of the night tripper?

Stew said...

10 points for the immaculate pleats.
-5 points for the socks.

Go on to you tube and search on "You suck at photoshop"
you'll find a series of 4 or 5 hilarious videos. And they actually teach you stuff about photoshop

Lucy said...

There is a website called sandalsandsox which deals with this eponymous phenomenon! you and I both should get on it.

You look very gorgeous and almost certainly would look just as much without the toolbox tricks; I'm very envious you are getting so handy!

meggie said...

Oh you look gorgeous!! Well done on the photoshop work, but I dont really think you needed much!
The Sari does look beautiful.
I had to laugh about the petticoat/pant dilemma!

Jean said...

Oh, but socks and sandals is exactly what many of the Indian women in saris whom I see in London are wearing! It's a beautiful sari, and the colours suit you very well.

amy said...

You look ravishingly regal, with or without the photoshop work.

Rosie said...

thanks for all the flattery everyone, my ego is now pulsating gently after a good massage.
stew, I did find one video about curves which was quite useful, but the rest of photoshop I have kind of stumbled into over the years.
Lucy I am intrigued by sandals n sox and will be off for a look. Thanks for your reassurance Jean, that I will be acceptable with sari sandal feet in London.
Meggie, I will be getting to work on my petticoat or I can see disaster looming...
Amy, thanks for your kind words...I have another photo of me sitting down where I do indeed look like queen elizabeth 2 even after retouching...

Omykiss said...

When I lived in India I used to ride my bicycle wearing a sari .... well done on managing to drape the sari ... the socks do spoil the effect though ... maybe a pair of glamourous slippers next time wouldn't go wrong. ;)

Rosie said...

omykiss...I am very impressed by the thought of riding a bicycle in a sari. I will have to rehearse with a piece of sacking in case I get tangled up and ripped to shreds