Past is as elusive as the future.
Always yearned for, almost always distorted and yet amusingly beautiful. It takes you back in time with the blink of an eye and paints those days with the sepia tones- the times when everything seemed more simpler than today, only but in thoughts.
Yes, nostalgia does that to you. Takes you for a trip down the memory lane, somewhere in the old dilapidated city areas while you reminiscence the fading beauty of the old world charm.
I am a sucker for all things old, vintage and beautiful. Old movies from the yesteryear’s, especially from the 70’s, are my personal favorites. Sunday afternoons are spent with art house cinema as the constant nostalgia inducing companion. Smitten by the detailed cinematography, I always end up oohing and aahing over the colour palattes of the frames.
Case in point being Smita Patil’s movies like Bhumika, Arth, Mandi, Bazaar, Mirch Masala and Ardh Satya where besides appreciating her stellar performance, one cant help but notice the raw and earthy beauty of her humble sarees. Far away in the glamorous and high on trend LA, iconic movies like Godfather, Breakfast at Tiffany and Citizen Kane were made that left an indelible impression on my visually alert mind. Woody Allen created surreal magic with frames in his movies Magic in the Moonlight and Blue Jasmine while Baz Luhrmann stole the show in The Great Gatsby, Moulin Rouge , Romeo & Juliet and Australia.
Besides the perfect stories and phenomenal acting, these movies had one thing in common – stunning visuals.
It is indeed an integral element in identifying a good movie from a mediocre one, much like any other visual field. My brain chose to memorize only the visuals – the one that induced a longing for being a part of the old world charm, the one that pushed me to recreate some of those frames in the current time and age, the one that filled me with nostalgia.
So here it is.
The old world charm.
The times that remind you of slow pace of life; when reading a book on the verandah was the way of everyday life, when cooking a lavish spread was a Sunday family ritual, when getting hair oil champi was a family event, when shopping new clothes was only restricted to festive season and birthdays, when getting dressed up for a party ( read – wedding/mehndi/cocktail) was once in a blue moon affair and hence very celebrated, when time in itself had some leisurely time to breathe in and soak the surroundings to appreciate the small joys of life.
Don’t you miss those simpler times ?
Nostalgia does that to you, doesn’t it ?
Old World Charm is an ode to the simpler times of life.
‘Saree Summery’– an event by Red Earth was hosted recently at Options, Ahmedabad. I shared my love for saree with other saree lovers of the city through ‘Saree Gossip’ while the effervescent Himanshu Verma aka The Saree Man took us through our first memories of wearing sarees.
Presenting ‘OLD WORLD CHARM’ – a photo story depicting my state of mind and yearning for all things beautiful and vintage, for all things simple and understated.
First in the series is Kutch Kala cotton saree by Three Threads.
Kutch Kala Cotton in ivory white and powder blue shade from Three Threads.
The susegad life
In case you haven’t read ‘The Ministry of Utmost Happiness’ , do give it a try.
Up next – Ivory Assam Silk saree from Silk Souk
Brunch Wear – Ivory Assam Silk saree with fuschia motifs by Silk Souk
Last in the OLD WORLD CHARM series
Evening Wear – Black Assam Silk saree with gold motif from Silk Souk
Did you notice the seedha palla drape – a classic gujarati drape
Did you slow down for a bit, took a pause and thought about your own old world charm?
In case you didn’t, I suggest put on the track ‘Do Deewane sheher mein’ from the old classic -Gharaonda (1977) and drift to the 70’s.
OLD WORLD CHARM Creative Team –
Photography by Kavan Solanki – Design Shoots
Make-up & Hair – VLCC Ahmedabad
Location & Accessories – Options, Ahmedabad