Dress 366 Indian Tunic (called kurta) and scarf, sequinned, worn three ways.
Angela Lansbury in beige and burgundy kurta outfit. Photo by Trevor Sharot.
The scarf needs pinning. Otherwise it slips off one shoulder and falls to the ground. Photo by Trevor Sharot.
I bought this dress second-hand for five pounds from North Harrow Library. The library sells books at the front of the library to raise funds to keep the library open.
For the first time they had Indian-style outfits on sale. This type of outfit has three pieces.
The Tunic
The long, kurta or tunic, is ankle length on me. The skirt has slit sides. The top fabric is lined with a plain colour.
The Trousers
For trousers Americans say pants. The slit sides I imagine are one reason why it the outfit includes the pants.
The pants are baggy with a drawstring waist. The fabric is light and thin. They are pulled in at the ankle. The trousers are a plain buff or beige colour.
The Scarf
The scarf is very long. If I had bought a scarf like this separately, I would have sewn it into a tunic dress.
The Long-Sleeved Vest
Underneath I am wearing a long sleeved tee-shirt or vest by brand Patra, The colour is a dark purply brown. Not my favourite. But it goes perfectly with the dress.
(Update on July 24) On Ebay a search for silk two piece suit produced lots of outfits in price range from about twenty pounds, with or without postage, to twice that price and above.
The Necklace
The necklace is from Next. The word Next is on the tiny tag in silver colour by the lobster claw clip. The necklace has eight shiny burgundy round discs which look like dyed mother of pearl.
Plus one broken disc. I seem to remember finding another broken disc on the house floor. I thought of keeping the broken disc, and painting the edge with nail varnish. Then I thought it looks untidy. The missing one is a match for this one, so this one can go and the two sides will balance.
However, it is not easy to break the half disc off. The substance is not a fragile shell, more like a silver metal with pink varnish.
The discs are in three sizes. The largest is in the middle. The second size is next to it on both sides. The second size is at the end with a smaller one in front.
The discs are suspended from a double row of chains. The top row has red cut glass beads, like imitation rubies but a lighter, brighter colour.
It looks very nice laid flat or hanging up. However, when worn, the discs are inclined to reverse, showing the uneven matt side, and looking untidy.
I try to shorten it so that it lays flat. Despite this, I forget the problem, so I am always keen to wear it.
Sequins
If you want to sew with sequins or repair and replace sequins, you can buy packs or small boxes of tiny 3 mm sequins, up to a thousand. for under a pound. From Ebay and Etsy.
Sandals
The sandals are pale brown. They have two hook and close fastenings on the two straps. Size 36. Made in Hungary. Josef Seibel shoe. Three lines of thread across the strap across the ankle and the toes.
The maker's name has worn off. More importantly, they need replacing because the sole has worn down on the outside of each shoe. I am managing to get more wear out of them, because I spend most of the day sitting at my desk.
However, they can't do my posture any good. Bad for my leg bones. and my back. And my appearance.
Similar shoes are from at last two brands.
Cushion Walk.
Useful Websites
For kurtas and accessories,
Kalki shops are in Indian cities, but they also ship to UK. Their website niftily spotted which country I was in and ofered o change to that country's details, giving prices in pounds. The cheapest dresses were from about thirty pounds in the sale.
On Ebay kurtas from fifteen pounds and postage about 4.50, so for twenty pounds including postage, but you might be getting just the kurta without the scarf and trousers. Check each listing.
Sandals
Josef Seibel
Cushion walk
Amazon
Patra
(I will update tomorrow. If interested come back again.)
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