Topic started by Sherrilynda (@ xdsl-gw1-pool-66-186-234-237.eatel.net) on Wed Mar 3 13:32:51 EST 2004.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Hi I'm a mixed race american and I love wearing my saree and salwar kameez, but when I go out people giggle and laugh at the way I'm dressed. My mother has always encouraged me to wear traditional Indian and even some African clothing. I get some funny looks from many people, mostly Indians when I wear a saree. I'm just wondering if I am insulting anyone by wearing these wonderful garments or is it because since I look more black/african decent, that they find if funny that I know how to actually wear a saree?

Responses:

• From: :) (@ d150-47-143.home.cgocable.net) on: Wed Mar 3 14:46:25 EST 2004
  
  sherrilynda, no sane person would consider it an insult. However, IMHO people perhaps giggle because you are either not wearing the said dress in a traditional way or perhaps have mannerisms that don't go with the attire you are wearing. That's just my guess, most often Western women (I have only seen caucasians in Indian clothes) that wear saree look very out of place in it just because of mannerisms/style of wearing.
  
  
• From: Surya (@ 169.199.224.1) on: Wed Mar 3 15:03:46 EST 2004
  
  Don't feel embarased, i live in america also, i know ehat u mean, but see americans don't feel embarased to wear their spegetti straps or short skirts when they visit india, why should u feel embarased? And only the immature americans giggle. So don't care what they think. Don't feel embarassed to wear clothes of ur culture.
  
  
• From: :) (@ d150-47-143.home.cgocable.net) on: Wed Mar 3 16:59:54 EST 2004
  
  She says she gets funny looks from us :) not from Americans.
  
  
• From: phdgirl (@ cavalier250.is.temple.edu) on: Wed Mar 3 18:25:19 EST 2004
  
  Ms :) what does IMHO stand for?
  
  Sherrilynda, I know of many white american girls and asian (far east) american girls who wear Indian clothing and even mehndi(henna) on their palms and hands. It certainly does attract attention and raises a few eye brows among people of Indian descent.
  
  I for one, believe that you should not be concerned about what they might think. If you enjoy it wear it. Moreover, you have an Indian heritage in your family so you should be proud of it.
  
  
• From: ukw (@ 128.252.181.24) on: Wed Mar 3 20:31:26 EST 2004
  
  It is supposed to mean In My 'Humble' Opinion. But usually it hardly means 'that' most of the time :-)
  
  
• From: phdgirl (@ cavalier250.is.temple.edu) on: Wed Mar 3 20:41:49 EST 2004
  
  Thanks ukw, I am still getting used to these abbr.s !!
  
  
• From: :) (@ d150-47-143.home.cgocable.net) on: Thu Mar 4 00:07:58 EST 2004
  
  ukw,
  leaving humility aside, do you agree or disagree with what I stated might be the reason for the giggles :)
  
  hi phdgirl!
  
  
• From: Shakthi (@ 203-195-199-244.now-india.net.in) on: Thu Mar 4 00:38:07 EST 2004
  
  phd g,
  
  imho, in most chat lingo means
  
  I M laughing my HEART OUT
  
  
• From: Raghu (@ 193.129.245.198) on: Thu Mar 4 06:01:16 EST 2004
  
  Here in UK, Bollywood is such a huge trend!!, They sell bollywood types of clothes, in many of the top branded shops like, Top man, Top Shop, Debenhams, Burtons, Harrods, ..etc.
  
  Sherrilynda,
  
  Just ignore these ppl who giggle, I think the reason the giggle could be;
  
  1) You may not be wearing the Garment properly!
  2) Or, some ppl suffer from inferiority complexity problems, they often lack self confidence, so they make fun of others to make them feel better.
  
  so don't mind these ppl, and try and wear the traditional garment properly, even Indian women have difficulties wearing sarees :))
  
  vatta
  
  
• From: Sherrilynda (@ xdsl-gw1-pool-66-186-234-237.eatel.net) on: Thu Mar 4 10:27:00 EST 2004
  
  Actually I have been complimented maybe once or twice on how well I wrap my saree. I have been told that many Americans don't wear it properly, however I do know how to wear a saree properly. It's just that I get a lot of giggles from people because I guess it is not common to see people of really dark skin wearing them. I love wearing my saree, my mom wishes I wear them more often. I wouldn't mind wearing them all the time. I guess also since I live in the southern part of America (I live in New Orleans, Louisiana.) There aren't to many people wearing any type of traditional clothing.
  
  Well thank you all for your opinions, I really appreciate it.
  
  
• From: phdgirl (@ pool-68-236-17-8.phil.east.verizon.net) on: Thu Mar 4 10:51:43 EST 2004
  
  Really dark skin has nothing to do with it. Most of the Indian women are dark and various shades of brown unlike the "outliers" of the population seen in Indian films.
  What kind of sarees do you wear ? May be it has to do with the "current trends" in sarees. For instance, on younger women, too much of "zari" on silk sarees is not very becoming, as opposed to the more mature women. Also the blouses, they keep changing the length of sleeves faster than you can say blouse ! May be that could be another reason.
  Anyway, it is really nice to hear that someone born and raised in the US is so much in tune with the culture of here origins :D
  
  
• From: ukw (@ 128.252.181.232) on: Thu Mar 4 13:50:56 EST 2004
  
  'do you agree or disagree'
  
  :-) Disagree with you? Nooooo way! :-)
  
  
• From: ghf (@ ) on: Wed Mar 17 09:35:22
  
  you are stupid
  
  
• From: Skanthavelu "likes to wear dhoti" Nadarajah (@ 198.161.203.25) on: Wed Mar 17 16:09:54 EST 2004
  
  People have told me I should not wear my dhoti on the bus going to the temple, because, people will stare at me. In my oppinion, "Who cares? People who stare at others will also stare at someone wearing 'normal' everyday clothes!"
  
  
• From: Shakthi (@ 203-195-199-244.now-india.net.in) on: Thu Mar 18 00:25:56 EST 2004
  
  lol @ skan,
  
  I believe in the right combination of
  
  1. I am comfortable so I wear
  
  and
  
  2. In rome be a roman...
  
  So we should settle for a compromise on both..
  
  :)
  
  
• From: Skanthavelu Nadarajah (@ 198.161.203.25) on: Fri Mar 19 15:10:03 EST 2004
  
  akka,
  
  LOL
  
  
• From: nishigandha (@ 210-210-59-123.lan.sify.net) on: Fri Apr 16 13:38:17
  
  I like to wear sarees and keep ghunghat in front of my in-laws
  
  
• From: Alan (@ webcacheh14a.cache.pol.co.uk) on: Mon Apr 26 14:00:54 EDT 2004
  
  The sari is never wrong anywhere at any time. Delightful, love it. Just keep at it Sherrilynda. Nobody in their right mind could object to the grace and womanliness of the sari. Another aspect that appeals to me is the thought that if a girl cannot do what she wants to do in this dress, then she is better off not doing whatever it is. The same applies to any woman in a skirt in general.
  
  
• From: Kim Thompson (@ 63-227-98-62.spkn.qwest.net) on: Fri Oct 15 15:50:34
  
  Sherrilynda I'm with you on that. I am Of mixed race American too. I don't have any heritage linkage to East Indians, but, nonetheless I still
  love to dabble in their culture and any other ones that I find interest in. I love there food, the clothing-culture. I'm Black, Irish, and Native American, but I don't care, I'm going to get me a sari and where it and people can stare and laugh all they want to. You are obviously not a run of the mill young person either and I must Give You Much PRAISE for choosing to be different.
  Kim Thompson
  
  
• From: Kim Thompson (@ 63-227-98-62.spkn.qwest.net) on: Fri Oct 15 15:53:11 EDT 2004
  
  Kim Thompson: borkornia24@yahoo.com
  
  
• From: Pardesi Fashions (@ cpe-68-184-43-77.ma.charter.com) on: Mon Oct 18 15:40:30 EDT 2004
  
  Hi Sherrilynda. I am white american, married to a Punjabi living in the USA. I know exactly what you mean about the looks and giggles you get from Indians when you wear a saree or salwar kameez. I have lived in India and the USA and worn these garments in both places. I have many Indian friends living in the USA PLUS I am an active member of our Indian community and several Indian women have commented the same thing to me. It is more likely that they are just not used to seeing it on anyone that does not look Indian. If you should meet with this situation again is look them in the eye and smile. Chances are, they will smile back and maybe even come over and speak to you.
  
  
• From: Pardesi Fashions (@ cpe-68-184-43-77.ma.charter.com) on: Mon Oct 18 15:41:34 EDT 2004
  
  Part Two Response:
  Furthermore, I own an Indian clothing web store pardesifashions.com and you would be surprised to know that probably a full 35-38% of my customers are non-Indian residing in the USA and the UK. Oh and by the way, I am from Louisiana originally and though you are living in a big city, it may just be slow to catch on there. Give it some time, I bet within a few years you might even run into some other folks down that way wearing Indian fashions! Good luck and don't forget to smile back. In fact, wave if you want!
  
  

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