What in Samhain... - Sepia Mutiny

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October 23, 2006

What in Samhain...Fashion

Oy, I need to start having the intern go through your submissions. After innocently clicking “original” Sonia’s news tip about a Halloween costume she had seen, I clawed my big Mallu eyes out, AGAIN at all the inappropriateness I found. Owwww. Look for yourself, if you dare. ——>

Recently, I mentioned to mutineer SJM that since he’s moving back to DC and I have a costume in mind, we should plan to do something fun for St. Pumpkin’s day, even if all we can come up with is adding to the cluster#^@% which is Georgetown on Halloween. The black and orange holiday is huge around here. Thousands converge on M st, in costumes both quotidian and cunning. This pink outfit merits neither of those words; this is plain annoying. If I see someone wearing the schmata on the right on the same street as my beleaguered, yet beloved Amma’s Vegetarian, I might have to rip off my bamboo earrings (at least two pair), hand Salil my Fendi bag (but keep my bad attitude) and invoke the “Manish Vij-Anti-Exoticism” law of 2005 as I beat a kutthi down.

From the website which sells this…thing:

Adult Hindu Costumes - This Adult Hindu Goddess Costume includes a Hindu Goddess costume satin coined top, wrap skirt, Hindu Goddess costume chiffon drape & coined headpiece. The Hindu Goddess Costume is available in Womens Standard.

I know I don’t have to ask you to correct me if I’m wrong, but when coins are used like that, isn’t it more of a belly dancing thing? Or also likely, a case of mixing up continents? When my little sister and I were young, we learned and performed Greek folk dances in authentic outfits which were lovingly made by all the Grandmothers at our church to resemble classic costumes of Crete, Macedonia, Peloponnesos et al…some of those ensembles had coin headdresses and trim similar to what you see on our…um…Hindu Goddess here. It’s like they weren’t even TRYING to exoticize accurately. Sheesh.

But who cares about that— it’s on sale! Click here and you can save 20% by purchasing your Hindu Goddess Costume now (don’t forget to wear it with the retch-inducing nude pantyhose). For just under $32, you, too, can wear an outfit even Diwali Barbie wouldn’t touch. The best part? My wrath and beat down are FREE, especially if Mr. Walker is my other escort for the night.

anna on October 23, 2006 05:23 PM in Fashion, Holidays, Humor · T·r·a·c·k·b·a·c·k address · Direct link · Email post

64 comments

1 · RP on October 23, 2006 10:13 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Hm, mysterious resemblance to Shakira's look during most recent MTV awards.

2 · tamasha on October 23, 2006 10:16 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

The whole thing is a mess. I can't decide if it's worse than the blue-eyed Diwali Barbie. Ok ok, I know that some desis have blue eyes, but seriously.

I kind of think it would be funny to get all my friends to dress up in the costumes that "match" their culture. Like, have my Japanese girl friends dress as geishas, etc. Just for kicks.

Good call, RP.

3 · Manju on October 23, 2006 10:18 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

so that's what pardesi gori looks like.

4 · tamasha on October 23, 2006 10:20 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Ha ha ha ha ha ha....

5 · razib_the_atheist on October 23, 2006 10:24 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

i like white chix in authentic brown dress, thank you very much.

6 · Ismat on October 23, 2006 10:25 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

This is just...I mean, I...there are no words.

7 · A N N A on October 23, 2006 10:26 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Manju, that's *snicker* not nice *guffaw*. ;)

In all seriousness, if there's one thing Pardesi Gori is, it's knowledgable. I'm sure that a) she wears authentic outfits and b) she'll chime in shortly.

8 · Abhi on October 23, 2006 10:28 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

If I ever find a girl then I'd totally buy that for her...to wear around the house. If she complained I'd just say, "but you're my goddess." :)

9 · Janeofalltrades on October 23, 2006 10:30 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Based on costumes previously owned by yours truly they've mixed up "Jeannie", "Cleopatra" and what looks like the top of an outfit I owned in 1984 and a toga I may have worn bck in college. This one is much better done.

10 · razib_the_atheist on October 23, 2006 10:31 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

i thought "jeannie" too.

11 · wasupppppppp on October 23, 2006 10:37 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

This one is much better done.

costume says this...

Please Note: The bra top portion of this costume runs small, if you are larger than a B cup we do not recommend this costume

this costume is for asian women only looks like

12 · Janeofalltrades on October 23, 2006 10:38 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

this costume is for asian women only looks like

Or just women with small boobies!

13 · wasupppppppp on October 23, 2006 10:41 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Or just women with small boobies!

well then no body would be interested in seeing them wearing this costume :-(

14 · HMF on October 23, 2006 10:43 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

I think renting halloween costumes is a bit of a cop out anyway, it's like driving up to the top of a mountain. Yeah great you got it, but where's the fun in getting there. The creativity in piecing it together?

In all seriousness, if there's one thing Pardesi Gori is, it's knowledgable. I'm sure that a) she wears authentic outfits and b) she'll chime in shortly.

and c) she'll be very polite and not insult anyone

ANNA, all those hyperlinks made me dizzy.

15 · tamasha on October 23, 2006 10:48 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

If I ever find a girl then I'd totally buy that for her...to wear around the house. If she complained I'd just say, "but you're my goddess." :)

You'd have to ask nicely. ;)

16 · Vikram on October 23, 2006 10:48 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

They're probably selling off the "Indian" costumes from that Xena tv series. Wasn't there some controversy about the portrayal of Indian gods on that show ?

17 · Communis Rixatrix on October 23, 2006 10:54 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

and c) she'll be very polite and not insult anyone

Perhaps. Perhaps not. I think part of being polite is being able to understand when and why you've upset others and then apologizing while vowing to not repeat similar, because you care enough about interacting with them that you don't want to offend. Insults aren't always obvious. Tone is often what does the damage. Constant commenting to the effect of, "I'm more authentic than you" is neither welcome nor appropriate here; it's also not the way to make friends.

18 · desigirl on October 23, 2006 10:54 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Ignore my ignorance once again, What does "Samhain" means....

19 · A N N A on October 23, 2006 10:58 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

When in doubt, wiki:

Samhain is the word for November in the Irish language. The Scottish Gaelic spelling is Samhuinn. The same word was used for a month in the Celtic calendar, and in particular the first three nights of this month, the festival marking the ending of the summer season, and the end of the harvest. Elements of the festival may continue in the traditions of All Souls' Day and Halloween. The name is also used for one of the sabbat feasts in the Wiccan wheel of the year.

...With Christianization, the festival in November (not the Roman festival in May) became All Hallows' Day on November 1st followed by All Souls' Day, on November 2nd. Over time, the night of October 31 came to be called All Hallow's Eve, and the remnants festival dedicated to the dead eventually morphed into the secular holiday known as Halloween.

I've also heard it used as an expression, similar in usage to..."WTF?"

20 · Vikram on October 23, 2006 11:01 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

especially if Mr. Walker is my other escort for the night

This Mr. Walker on the other hand only drinks milk at a bar. He does wear a costume though... ;-)

21 · hairy_d on October 23, 2006 11:02 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

this costume is for asian women only looks like
Or just women with small boobies!

or for lech-uncle with the eyes down beta's cleavage. "Beta! how ju've grown!". Although lech uncle's muffintop will look quite odd with that midriff baring lengha.

that being said. i orta confess - i could be an uncleji myself to some of these sprats - but no moobs yet beta!

22 · wasuppppppppp on October 23, 2006 11:06 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

or for lech-uncle with the eyes down beta's cleavage. "Beta! how ju've grown!". Although lech uncle's muffintop will look quite odd with that midriff baring lengha.
that being said. i orta confess - i could be an uncleji myself to some of these sprats - but no moobs yet beta!

SAMHAIN?!!!

23 · A N N A on October 23, 2006 11:12 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

SAMHAIN?!!!

Oops, sorry wasupppppppp! When I wrote

I've also heard it used as an expression, similar in usage to..."WTF?"

I meant I've heard the entire phrase used, just as I had done in the title to this post. :)

24 · wasuppppppp on October 23, 2006 11:17 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

well then i will rephrase my question for hairy_d

WTF?!

25 · Branch Dravidian on October 23, 2006 11:20 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

That model looks like she means business. She just might snap your neck if you laugh at her costume... Maybe we'll see that outfit in the next WWE Smackdown...

26 · A N N A on October 23, 2006 11:21 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

That model looks like she means business. She just might snap your neck if you laugh at her costume...

BRING IT!

27 · No von Mises on October 23, 2006 11:28 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

I meant I've heard the entire phrase used, just as I had done in the title to this post. :)

As in "What in sam hill is going on in here"? I remember Yosemite Sam saying 'sam hill' which sounds similar to 'samhain'. Never heard Samhain though perhaps cuz I live out West- varmints, sagebrush, saloons and all that.

28 · circus in jungle on October 23, 2006 11:53 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

The manikin (not just the dress) looks weird. Doesn't one of the legs look way longer than the other one?

29 · Kush Tandon on October 23, 2006 11:54 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Excuse me, Please.

My name is Anothony Gonsalves.

Ak ladki dekhi, Abhi, Abhi Ek ladki dekhi

30 · RP on October 24, 2006 01:44 AM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Hm, mysterious resemblance to Shakira's look during most recent MTV awards.

And the Link

31 · Saheli on October 24, 2006 01:54 AM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Uh, she doesn't look like she's ready to mess with anyone at all. Actually, the look on her face is kind of pathetically vulnerable. Disturbing on multiple levels.

32 · espressa on October 24, 2006 02:16 AM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

i dunno.... the arch on that left foot is no joke. i can rock stilettos of that magnitude only if propped by an equal degree of drunkeness (or the promise of). sober, i couldn't mess with it, or her.

33 · Saheli on October 24, 2006 02:33 AM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

espressa, forget stilettos---find a bharatnatyam dancer switching from brahmari twirls to stomps and back. If that model can bring that heel down with enough force to match a mrdangam's ringing dha, as to crush an asura, and then back up to the same arch, stomping with the other foot, and repeating as fast as you can enunciate, all while under pounds of kanjeevaram, bells, flowers and jewels---well, *then* I'll see about this dangerous goddess stuff. Til then I'm not exactly scared.

Though I am fond of my catwoman boots, despite being dead sober in them.

34 · Sonia Kaur on October 24, 2006 08:37 AM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

haha, yes, I apologize for posting such rubbish on the news board but I just had to share!

35 · espressa on October 24, 2006 09:10 AM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

point taken: bharatnatyam is much more impressive than stilettos. i can do neither, thus my awe stands. but you're right, she's no asura stomper.

36 · Shodan on October 24, 2006 10:22 AM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

18.
Also a Danzig project where he tries to convice you that he's eeeevil.

37 · meenbeen on October 24, 2006 12:31 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Last Halloween, I dressed my Puerto Rican best friend in a sari, and down to M street we went. She was complimented by several desis, so I figure if you want to dress desi, you'd better do your research. These costumes online are the adult equivalent of the children's character mask + plastic smock with character's picture on it' combos of our early trick-or-treating days. They basically suck and are hugely inaccurate. Did you see the geisha costume?
http://www.costumecraze.com/BTRAD19.html?c=celebros,BTRAD19

Horrendous. She looks more like Belushi's Samurai from SNL.

Anyway, Halloween in Georgetown is always a treat for me, so I'll see you there ANNA. My boyfriend and I will be the ones dressed as Kelly and Ryan from The Office (it just seemed obvious!).

38 · Pardesi Gauri on October 24, 2006 01:08 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

so that's what pardesi gori looks like.

No, Manju, that's not what I look like. Thank Viddhata.

I know I dont have to ask you to correct me if Im wrong, but when coins are used like that, isnt it more of a belly dancing thing?

Nope, not exclusively. Some nomadic and semi-nomadic people of India sew their wealth onto their clothing because they are not keeping their money in banks. This was done hundreds of years ago, probably thousands even, yet some people are still living like that today.

39 · andrea on October 24, 2006 01:21 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

This is the best they can do for a "Hindu Goddess" Halloween costume? Shouldn't it have a garland of skulls and a few additional arms??

Slightly off topic and slightly not, although a Kali costume would be a MUCH better Hindu Goddess costume if you must have one at all, these days any costume for one of the female persuasion has to be "sexy," hence the giant slit in the skirt, coins everywhere and New Age poof hair. Besides the horrid cultural misappropriation, this is just more of the "women dressing like strippers on Halloween" trend. Want more proof? Check out the 12 year old sexy nurse.

This is a sad, sad year for Halloween costumes indeed.

/dressing like a serial killer for Halloween
//they look just like everyone else

40 · venu on October 24, 2006 02:37 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Nope, not exclusively. Some nomadic and semi-nomadic people of India sew their wealth onto their clothing because they are not keeping their money in banks. This was done hundreds of years ago, probably thousands even, yet some people are still living like that today.

But, one would assume a *goddess* didn't need a bank. Or money, for that mattter.

41 · Pardesi Gauri on October 24, 2006 02:39 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Ah but pictures of Laxmi Devi often portray here with coins falling out of her hand...

42 · venu on October 24, 2006 02:40 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Ah but pictures of Laxmi Devi often portray here with coins falling out of her hand...

Ah but that is because Lakshmi Devi is the Goddess of Wealth...so the pictures indicate her giving wealth to her devotees.

43 · Pardesi Gauri on October 24, 2006 02:41 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Ahhhhhhhhhhh.... but it's Holloween.

44 · venu on October 24, 2006 02:44 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Ahhhhhhhhhhh.... but it's Holloween.

This is true. Pregnant nuns and Devis with coins are the norm. Well, in SF anyway.

Having done both...but I made my own costumes.

45 · Pardesi Gori on October 24, 2006 02:46 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Since ur name is Venu, why not dress up like Venu Gopal?

Shyam teri bansi bajai dhire dhire.....

46 · venu on October 24, 2006 02:48 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

did that too. But, coloring your body blue is a pain. What is really want to do is Shiva one day.

47 · Pardesi Gauri on October 24, 2006 02:52 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

That's easy enough.

Jai Bholanath!

48 · Umang on October 24, 2006 04:28 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

That is one scary costume...yikes!

49 · SemiDesiMasala on October 24, 2006 07:57 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Oh, ouch. My eyes.

Her hair looks like it is made out of plastick. ewww.

50 · A N N A on October 24, 2006 08:04 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

I know, right? Despite the fact that I've viewed it dozens of times while monitoring this post, I STILL cringe whenever I catch a glimpse of it. *shudder*

51 · tamasha on October 24, 2006 08:29 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Now this

This is the best they can do for a "Hindu Goddess" Halloween costume? Shouldn't it have a garland of skulls and a few additional arms??

would be AWESOME.

52 · Abhi on October 24, 2006 08:38 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

would be AWESOME.

Tamasha,
Be careful what you wish for on SM.

53 · A N N A on October 24, 2006 09:32 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Be careful what you wish for on SM.

WHY did I look??? Abhi, how COULD you? MY EYES! Oh, the PAIN!

54 · Shruti on October 24, 2006 10:20 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

No Abhi! NO! Why'd you do it? Lord have mercy...

55 · Janeofalltrades on October 24, 2006 10:51 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Be careful what you wish for on SM.

OMG I'm traumatized. I don't even have words ot say but I'm about to hit the sack and if I have a nightmare about this I'm coming after you!

56 · Abhi on October 24, 2006 10:51 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

No Abhi! NO! Why'd you do it? Lord have mercy...

To complete my Gita theme for the day,

"I am become death, the destroyer of blogs."

57 · andrea on October 25, 2006 12:43 AM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Abhi....!!!!

...well at least it's SCARY......

58 · siddhartha on October 25, 2006 07:59 AM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Thank you Abhi. As they say, a picture speaks a thousand words.

59 · chick pea on October 25, 2006 09:34 AM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

abhi.. that was horrific.. nightmares... and its' only 9:30am.. thanks A LOT

60 · BrooklynBrown on October 25, 2006 10:44 AM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

abhi.. that was horrific.. nightmares... and its' only 9:30am.. thanks A LOT

Aye, chick pea. "The horror, the horror." ;-)

61 · DesiDancer on October 25, 2006 11:53 AM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

I remember Yosemite Sam saying 'sam hill' which sounds similar to 'samhain'.

only if you're pronouncing Samhain incorrectly. It's "Sow-win" or "Soh-vin" not "Sam-hane".

62 · Saheli on October 25, 2006 01:13 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Before, desis had the twice born. Now, thanks to Abhi, they have the twice dead. Yeesh.

63 · DesiDawg on October 27, 2006 09:33 AM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Manju, that's what PG thinks she looks like ;-)

64 · Marie on November 19, 2006 09:35 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

wow im confused, i like this blog, but somehow i find the links confusing you put into the text (maybe its just me being sleepy).

But other than that very interesting, GJ :)

oh btw they sell that mascara there for $12?? its 25 here. (ok that was in an earlier entry)

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