Monsoon and the cotton sari: Shades of a woman
The versatile cotton sari is her perfect monsoon companion. Simplistic down to the last thread that make a handloom sari, they exude an aura of grace in all Bengali women. The myriad variants that exist enriches our fashion repertoire and it's safe to say that there is one cotton sari type for every shade of a woman.
She is mysterious
Each woman, a treasure trove of her own,
beautiful, enchanting and mysterious.
That's what I learnt while growing up.
Then I met all the women in my life,
and I realised how true was the saying.
Because in each woman I met with depth,
as deep as the ocean,
and as rare as the Painite.
Once, slightly sad and broken
the next second a whirlwind of joy, amusement and laughter.
Fashion Police
She is Queen
My opinions
I have many
They are my veil of beauty
My scars
They decorate me shoulder to toe
Like a marvelous gown
I'm not afraid to let them show
My pride
Adorns me
Like fine jewels
I know my worth
My strength
It protects me
Like a shoe handcrafted with care
I can go anywhere
Call me Queen like it's my name
I won't forget to take my claim
I don't care what they say
Being a woman can look this way
Elle M
She is a storm
Her eyes are
deep pools
of esoteric history.
They whisper
of tantalizing magic
secrets and mysteries.
Somehow, they reflect
both heartfelt joy
and misunderstood misery.
They speak of
crippling defeats
abuse, deceits and trickery;
of allowing herself
to be used as nothing
more than an accessory.
But also hard won
and fought for victories
and bare-naked authenticity.
Her featherlight touch will
leave you nervous
and jittery,
while your soul will
goad you into proceeding regardless
with an inquiry.
She inspires and elicits
changes in trajectory.
She can leave you with a
whiplash injury
if you dare be shady or slippery.
Her energy will make you wonder
if she's of the earth or if she's made
instead of far-off places and witchery.
She will never
reveal
of which it might be—
it's up to each one
who looks
what they will see.
Amanda Dobby
She is calm
When you look at her,
you feel the radiance of the fading sun casting a glow onto her face.
How majestic, she looks sitting under the green palm tree —
masked by the radiance of happiness and nature.
Everything about her aura feels so calm,
hair tied back in a loose bun,
red hibiscus tucked in the plaits,
she sits contemplating about the world that is yet to be.
Suddenly, she turns around and takes notice of me,
and I stir: as if the sun bled life into my being.
If only I was a painter,
and I could keep her still forever, hanging from the walls besides the green palm tree.
Fashion Police
Photo: Sazzad Ibne Sayed
Model: Tania
Make-up: Sumon Rahat
Wardrobe: Susil Basak
Styling: Sonia Yeasmin Isha