So the rumors are true. \u00a0People are conservatively dressed in Mumbai for both sexes. \u00a0The women are absolutely beautiful and the men are dapper across the economic lines. \u00a0So yes, if you are poor, you can still dress beautifully.<\/p>\n
As you know by now, I am a magpie and I love color and patterns and prints. \u00a0I swear I must have some Indian blood in me. \u00a0The best way I can describe Mumbai in terms of buildings and outside infrastructure is shabby chic. \u00a0Sure 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. \u00a0Also what colors the landscape are the people in beautiful, colorful fashions. \u00a0Pictures and videos to come.<\/p>\n
(This was the same in Puerto Rico as well. \u00a0I wish I could say the same for New York City. \u00a0It needs more color and I am not talking about the Times Square light show. \u00a0It is drab except for colorful window displays and some nice architecture. \u00a0Oh well.)<\/p>\n
Back to the women and fashion. \u00a0Of course I had to buy some clothing. \u00a0However, I got way more than I initially set out for.<\/p>\n
I have been dressing in western business suits when I met with the organizations and schools. \u00a0The suits completely cover me and the skirt sits right below my knees. \u00a0I do have a silk sleeveless top underneath (in bright colors) but I always put on my jacket inside the car before I step outside. \u00a0I do not take the jacket off until I am back inside the car. \u00a0(BTW, the suits are Tahari, the only ones who fit women with breasts and that are not hand made.)<\/p>\n
After I establish a relationship and am asked to come back, I ask everyone what they would like to see me where. \u00a0I offer them my Indian outfits by showing them a sample photo of me in one or the western business suit. \u00a0They prefer the Indian outfits because the parents and students are more comfortable with them, even in the A\/C. \u00a0Indian outfits trump western wear when I teach in the government schools next week. \u00a0There is no A\/C.<\/p>\n
For those of you who are concerned about slutty children’s clothes sold in the US, you could move to India. \u00a0It is difficult but not completely impossible to find that type of stuff sold in Mumbai. \u00a0On a side note, you get what you pay for. \u00a0I do not see slutty children’s clothes in Manhattan. \u00a0However, Manhattan also lacks a Wal-Mart and Target.<\/p>\n
I mention that for a reason. \u00a0Before you send me hate mail, listen. \u00a0Mumbai has many of the same US and UK stores. \u00a0These stores do not dare to carry any of the inappropriate outfits for anyone, including children. \u00a0What do I mean by this? \u00a0You will not see the complete collections at Burberry, Forever 21, and Tommy Hillfiger in Mumbai. \u00a0You will only see the collections that match the culture of Mumbai. \u00a0Therefore, the stores that you complain about in your neighborhood that carry slutty children’s clothes cater to the American culture. \u00a0So when you complain that the stores in the US carry slutty clothing, take a look at your neighbor. \u00a0That should answer your question. \u00a0Stores only want $$$$$$$$. \u00a0End of story. \u00a0So if a big enough group of people change their ways, you will see a shift in what the clothing looks like. \u00a0By the way, you should check out Bergdorf Goodman and SAKS in Manhattan for children’s clothes. \u00a0Also, I like the stores in the 70’s and 80’s along Madison Ave. \u00a0The clothes are gorgeous.<\/p>\n
If you still don’t like the clothes, take a sewing course at your local college. \u00a0Most are very reasonably priced, much more so than Jo-Ann Fabrics. \u00a0It will not hurt you to learn a new, useful skills. \u00a0I am 4’10” and am going back to NYC to continue my FIT sewing course. \u00a0I will save tons of money learning how to alter my own clothes. \u00a0Our potential kid will be screwed with Micah and I being so “wonderfully tall.” \u00a0Yes, it is necessary for this US legal midget to learn how to sew.<\/p>\n
Back to the Mumbai women. \u00a0So everyone knows about the saree. \u00a0However, some of the sarees have midriffs. \u00a0I am going to ask why sleeveless shirts are not accepted but midriffs are accepted. \u00a0Hopefully someone will give me that answer tomorrow. \u00a0Tight clothes on the upper body are not tolerated but you can wear leggings given that the shirt is long.<\/p>\n
You may think, it is 97 degrees! \u00a0Aren’t you baking? \u00a0Right now the humidity is low. \u00a0I was outside today shopping like a mad woman!<\/p>\n
I requested to shop in an outdoor market and my driver looked at me like I was nuts. \u00a0He said: “Ma’am, the people that shop there are low class and some are crazy. \u00a0Why would you want to shop there? \u00a0Not to mention that the quality of the items is very low.” \u00a0I replied, “I want to an experience a Mumbai crowd and check out the items.”<\/p>\n
Well, he pulled off to the side of the road and tutored me on how to shop at an outdoor market. \u00a0He told me to have 2000 rupees in a convenient place (meaning, never open your purse.) \u00a0He also said to never take out my phone either. \u00a0He said that I am smart that I do not have a large western purse. \u00a0I have a secure passport holder big enough for an iPhone and credit cards and cash. \u00a0Most women do not carry purses with them and if they do, they are small. \u00a0I am so tired of getting smacked in the head with big purses in NYC. \u00a0They are so not needed. \u00a0Plus, they lead to back issues.<\/p>\n
He dropped me off and I started to wander around. \u00a0You know? \u00a0I was hounded less here than in NYC in Times Square? \u00a0It was wonderful! \u00a0The weather was a little hot and I was dressed in my Indian casual clothes. \u00a0The streets were full of potholes but I loved the bustle of all of the people. \u00a0I did not see anything I wanted and I told my driver that I actually had a wonderful time. \u00a0I felt like I was beginning to become a resident of Mumbai.<\/p>\n
I as then taken to a department store where I bought clothes that are stitched to me. \u00a0What does that mean? \u00a0I have a large chest. \u00a0Even in India it is hard to get ready to made garments for me. \u00a0That area ruins it. \u00a0So I have to go up a step and view fabric that are in pieces cut from a pattern. \u00a0They take my measurements and the clothes are stitched to me. \u00a0I think western clothes should go this way. \u00a0It makes SO much sense! \u00a0The colors and jewels are gorgeous and once WordPress stops giving me a hard time, I will post all of the pictures and videos.<\/p>\n
The bathroom was disgusting and I am glad I took my own toilet paper with me.<\/p>\n
Then I was escorted to the bridal room. \u00a0I tried on the pieces over my clothes of an Indian bridal gown. \u00a0Dammit! \u00a0I wish I would have known about this when I got married! \u00a0I would have never hired that witch who stole our money and I was left with my black sequin dress. \u00a0The Indian fabric was all hand beaded. \u00a0It takes 5 months to make the fabric and 1 month to make the fabric into a dress for the buyer. \u00a0I wanted one but Micah would have filed for divorce. \u00a0It was between $2000-$3000. \u00a0As we have not yet sold the house, it was out of the question.<\/p>\n
Then the store owner said, “Would you like to meet the seamsters?” \u00a0Of course I said YES! \u00a0I look around for a door. \u00a0It is hidden behind a mirrored panel. \u00a0He opened it and a pungent smell hit me. \u00a0It was a 21st century live sweat shop. \u00a0All of the seamsters were men. \u00a0I asked if I could take a picture and he said no. \u00a0It was hot in there, well over 100 degrees but relatively clean. \u00a0The smell must have been body odor.<\/p>\n
My first sweat shop! \u00a0My great grandmother worked in one in NYC in the early 1900’s. \u00a0I am still shocked by this and the smell has not left my memory. \u00a0Just think, one century ago, this was NYC. \u00a0Then the fire occurred and changed everything. \u00a0Unfortunately, the owners were not prosecuted. \u00a0That mirrored door scared me. \u00a0(http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Triangle_Shirtwaist_Factory_fire)<\/p>\n
All of that work for a cheap price. \u00a0I could not talk to the workers so I do not know how they felt about their job.<\/p>\n
I then visited a store where the owner showed me how a Kashmir rug was made on his loom. \u00a0I will post the video when I am able to do so. \u00a0That same owner told me to keep quiet and not to tell my driver about the suit he will make for my husband. \u00a0You see, in Mumbai, the drivers get kick-backs from store owners and for whatever reason, this store owner did not want to participate.<\/p>\n
Micah will be visited by the taylor on Monday morning to have his measurements taken at the hotel room. \u00a0In 24 hours, he will have a brand new, custom suit, all for $400! \u00a0It is a western man’s suit. \u00a0Men’s suits are a specialty and very difficult to make.<\/p>\n
One other fun thing. \u00a0I asked my driver if there was a drive through in Mumbai since I have never seen one. \u00a0He had no idea what I was talking about. \u00a0He then called his brother and gave me the phone to talk. \u00a0His brother had no idea either. \u00a0I had to show my driver on Wickapedia on my phone what a driver through was. \u00a0He then had me write the words “drive through” on a piece of paper to research this new concept. \u00a0He was completely in awe.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
So the rumors are true. \u00a0People are conservatively dressed in Mumbai for both sexes. \u00a0The women are absolutely beautiful and the men are dapper across the economic lines. \u00a0So 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-42","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fashion"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/blog.melissachalmer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/blog.melissachalmer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/blog.melissachalmer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blog.melissachalmer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blog.melissachalmer.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=42"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/blog.melissachalmer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43,"href":"http:\/\/blog.melissachalmer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42\/revisions\/43"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/blog.melissachalmer.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=42"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blog.melissachalmer.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=42"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blog.melissachalmer.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=42"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}