So the rumors are true.  People are conservatively dressed in Mumbai for both sexes.  The women are absolutely beautiful and the men are dapper across the economic lines.  So yes, if you are poor, you can still dress beautifully.

As you know by now, I am a magpie and I love color and patterns and prints.  I swear I must have some Indian blood in me.  The best way I can describe Mumbai in terms of buildings and outside infrastructure is shabby chic.  Sure you wonder how some of the buildings remain standing, and I am not counting the slums, but coloring the buildings are colorful signs, and colorful laundry left to dry in the sun.  Also what colors the landscape are the people in beautiful, colorful fashions.  Pictures and videos to come.

(This was the same in Puerto Rico as well.  I wish I could say the same for New York City.  It needs more color and I am not talking about the Times Square light show.  It is drab except for colorful window displays and some nice architecture.  Oh well.)

Back to the women and fashion.  Of course I had to buy some clothing.  However, I got way more than I initially set out for.

I have been dressing in western business suits when I met with the organizations and schools.  The suits completely cover me and the skirt sits right below my knees.  I do have a silk sleeveless top underneath (in bright colors) but I always put on my jacket inside the car before I step outside.  I do not take the jacket off until I am back inside the car.  (BTW, the suits are Tahari, the only ones who fit women with breasts and that are not hand made.)

After I establish a relationship and am asked to come back, I ask everyone what they would like to see me where.  I offer them my Indian outfits by showing them a sample photo of me in one or the western business suit.  They prefer the Indian outfits because the parents and students are more comfortable with them, even in the A/C.  Indian outfits trump western wear when I teach in the government schools next week.  There is no A/C.

For those of you who are concerned about slutty children’s clothes sold in the US, you could move to India.  It is difficult but not completely impossible to find that type of stuff sold in Mumbai.  On a side note, you get what you pay for.  I do not see slutty children’s clothes in Manhattan.  However, Manhattan also lacks a Wal-Mart and Target.

I mention that for a reason.  Before you send me hate mail, listen.  Mumbai has many of the same US and UK stores.  These stores do not dare to carry any of the inappropriate outfits for anyone, including children.  What do I mean by this?  You will not see the complete collections at Burberry, Forever 21, and Tommy Hillfiger in Mumbai.  You will only see the collections that match the culture of Mumbai.  Therefore, the stores that you complain about in your neighborhood that carry slutty children’s clothes cater to the American culture.  So when you complain that the stores in the US carry slutty clothing, take a look at your neighbor.  That should answer your question.  Stores only want $$$$$$$$.  End of story.  So if a big enough group of people change their ways, you will see a shift in what the clothing looks like.  By the way, you should check out Bergdorf Goodman and SAKS in Manhattan for children’s clothes.  Also, I like the stores in the 70’s and 80’s along Madison Ave.  The clothes are gorgeous.

If you still don’t like the clothes, take a sewing course at your local college.  Most are very reasonably priced, much more so than Jo-Ann Fabrics.  It will not hurt you to learn a new, useful skills.  I am 4’10” and am going back to NYC to continue my FIT sewing course.  I will save tons of money learning how to alter my own clothes.  Our potential kid will be screwed with Micah and I being so “wonderfully tall.”  Yes, it is necessary for this US legal midget to learn how to sew.

Back to the Mumbai women.  So everyone knows about the saree.  However, some of the sarees have midriffs.  I am going to ask why sleeveless shirts are not accepted but midriffs are accepted.  Hopefully someone will give me that answer tomorrow.  Tight clothes on the upper body are not tolerated but you can wear leggings given that the shirt is long.

You may think, it is 97 degrees!  Aren’t you baking?  Right now the humidity is low.  I was outside today shopping like a mad woman!

I requested to shop in an outdoor market and my driver looked at me like I was nuts.  He said: “Ma’am, the people that shop there are low class and some are crazy.  Why would you want to shop there?  Not to mention that the quality of the items is very low.”  I replied, “I want to an experience a Mumbai crowd and check out the items.”

Well, he pulled off to the side of the road and tutored me on how to shop at an outdoor market.  He told me to have 2000 rupees in a convenient place (meaning, never open your purse.)  He also said to never take out my phone either.  He said that I am smart that I do not have a large western purse.  I have a secure passport holder big enough for an iPhone and credit cards and cash.  Most women do not carry purses with them and if they do, they are small.  I am so tired of getting smacked in the head with big purses in NYC.  They are so not needed.  Plus, they lead to back issues.

He dropped me off and I started to wander around.  You know?  I was hounded less here than in NYC in Times Square?  It was wonderful!  The weather was a little hot and I was dressed in my Indian casual clothes.  The streets were full of potholes but I loved the bustle of all of the people.  I did not see anything I wanted and I told my driver that I actually had a wonderful time.  I felt like I was beginning to become a resident of Mumbai.

I as then taken to a department store where I bought clothes that are stitched to me.  What does that mean?  I have a large chest.  Even in India it is hard to get ready to made garments for me.  That area ruins it.  So I have to go up a step and view fabric that are in pieces cut from a pattern.  They take my measurements and the clothes are stitched to me.  I think western clothes should go this way.  It makes SO much sense!  The colors and jewels are gorgeous and once WordPress stops giving me a hard time, I will post all of the pictures and videos.

The bathroom was disgusting and I am glad I took my own toilet paper with me.

Then I was escorted to the bridal room.  I tried on the pieces over my clothes of an Indian bridal gown.  Dammit!  I wish I would have known about this when I got married!  I would have never hired that witch who stole our money and I was left with my black sequin dress.  The Indian fabric was all hand beaded.  It takes 5 months to make the fabric and 1 month to make the fabric into a dress for the buyer.  I wanted one but Micah would have filed for divorce.  It was between $2000-$3000.  As we have not yet sold the house, it was out of the question.

Then the store owner said, “Would you like to meet the seamsters?”  Of course I said YES!  I look around for a door.  It is hidden behind a mirrored panel.  He opened it and a pungent smell hit me.  It was a 21st century live sweat shop.  All of the seamsters were men.  I asked if I could take a picture and he said no.  It was hot in there, well over 100 degrees but relatively clean.  The smell must have been body odor.

My first sweat shop!  My great grandmother worked in one in NYC in the early 1900’s.  I am still shocked by this and the smell has not left my memory.  Just think, one century ago, this was NYC.  Then the fire occurred and changed everything.  Unfortunately, the owners were not prosecuted.  That mirrored door scared me.  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangle_Shirtwaist_Factory_fire)

All of that work for a cheap price.  I could not talk to the workers so I do not know how they felt about their job.

I then visited a store where the owner showed me how a Kashmir rug was made on his loom.  I will post the video when I am able to do so.  That same owner told me to keep quiet and not to tell my driver about the suit he will make for my husband.  You see, in Mumbai, the drivers get kick-backs from store owners and for whatever reason, this store owner did not want to participate.

Micah will be visited by the taylor on Monday morning to have his measurements taken at the hotel room.  In 24 hours, he will have a brand new, custom suit, all for $400!  It is a western man’s suit.  Men’s suits are a specialty and very difficult to make.

One other fun thing.  I asked my driver if there was a drive through in Mumbai since I have never seen one.  He had no idea what I was talking about.  He then called his brother and gave me the phone to talk.  His brother had no idea either.  I had to show my driver on Wickapedia on my phone what a driver through was.  He then had me write the words “drive through” on a piece of paper to research this new concept.  He was completely in awe.