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