From bohemians to bourgeois aspirants, native hippies to geeky ‘sciencies’ Delhi University is home to all – free thinkers, conformists, (pseudo) intellectuals, behenjis, each struggling in his or her own way to make it big. But it doesn’t mean that the hardworking, studious kids at DU are alien to fashion. Why not make it big looking good, eh? Answering in the affirmative, the DUites go out into the streets of Kamla Nagar, hunting for the latest tops in Benetton, purchasing pajamas in Paharganj, crowding the already over-crowded Sarojini or to indulge themselves in City Walk.
A civilization that so freely experiments with fashion, to satisfy that primordial instinct to look good, will undeniably go wrong occasionally. And so do the the DUites who often falter in their daily fashion endeavours. Girls sitting under the Virgin Tree, in Hindu, or sipping chai in D-school (Delhi School of Economics) are always quick to point out a fashion disaster if they happen to see one passing by. To tell you a secret, the men sitting inside the Stephen’s cafe do so too, but furtively, taking a break from thier intellectual verbal excesses. The ones who go wrong are usually the Delhi damsels, who have lost the ability to converse in Hindi, walking into class wearing a really tiny pair of shorts – not that the shorts are necessarily bad – It’s just that it’s a little inappropriate to discuss Shakespeare showing too much flesh. The behenjis are another lot under heavy surveillance. Rich colours suffuse these native species, from head to toe, with occasional bursts of gold or silver embroidery. The behenjis are known for their stubborn immunity against the changing tides of fashion. They wear Anarkali salwar kameez, the kinds worn by Madhuri Dixit in the 80’s, that haven’t changed in a thousand years and even in the sweaty heat of Delhi summer they walk about in their chaste set of suits! The boys too aren’t far behind. Wearing a baggy pair of jeans, with hundreds of pockets, everywhere, a DUite boards the metro at Kashmere Gate. Playing loud music in the train gives him the opportunity to prove that he too has a cool phone. The usual but never fashionable ‘My Dad is an ATM’ T-shirt completes the look! On the other hand, the average DU male ‘model’ with huge gym-manufactured arms, a slight protrusion in the abdominal region, wears a tight T-shirt, usually in the shades of metrosexual pink and a pair of tapered trousers that don’t necessarily flatter the behind.
To say that DU follows a trend would be very wrong indeed, especially when everyone, belonging to both the sexes, seems to be in a fierce competition to stand out. Looking good may not be the only aim that the ‘hep’ generation has set out for itself. In fact, looking good may NOT be the aim! So what does the word, ‘fashion’, mean to a student of Delhi University? A rather confident Aparna from KMC says, Fahion is just about me! Not about what’s ‘in’. But what does a statement like that mean especially from someone who wears a pair of shorts and a pink ganji that is in? Devika, from LSR, wearing kajal around a pair of lustrous eyes, clad in orange kurta and black patiala pants, enlightens us – Fashion is about feeling comfortable; what I wear depends on my mood. Today, I felt like wearing Indian and so I did. If tomorrow I feel like wearing denim, I probably will. The DU spirit seems to be seeking constant change, independence and to stand out. And for this reason, it might be safe to assume that the trend in DU is to not follow any trend. At least, not yet!
The thing about DU is that there is no average DUite. It’s a hotchpotch of young dudes and dames from all over India with occasional sprinkles of foreign students. D-school, probably one of the fashion arenas of Delhi University, is crowded with students from neighbouring colleges, apparently belonging to the New Age cult (or is this just another fashion maneuver?), bunking classes, gathering under trees for chai and smoke, to play the guitar, sing or to perform the traditional act of ‘checking out’ people. Here, Delhi University is at its most vibrant, colorful and often eccentric self. Young men with long curly hair wearing Paharganj pajamas and silver earrings are the usual visitors. School bags have given way to jholis putting a final touch to the Bohemian avatar. Occasional appearances in blazing pinks or sensual reds reveal the fact that the men are now confidently experimenting with the hitherto feminine. Girlfriends may be more modern wearing tight-fitting jeans or shorts, with Amy Winehouse hairdo and make-up. Some ‘chicks’ however, dare to go bold with short hair, strutting around comfortably in Fabindias. The North Easterners seem to be letting go of the earlier Hiphop influences and giving way to the ‘Emo’ look. Japanese Anime and Korean flicks seem to govern their (fashion) sensibilities.
2010 has seen DU at its craziest best, at least in fashionable matters. College reopens in the latter half of July. Till then the students will wait for the results while contemplating new looks they can pull off. Fresh faces will mean fresh targets for many; competition for others. But to all, it would mean change. And so, Delhi University waits, with baited breath, to witness another year in the lives of the thousands of DUites. Some of us, on the other hand, are simply interested in what they wear.
(for Gloria, July 2010)
A civilization that so freely experiments with fashion, to satisfy that primordial instinct to look good, will undeniably go wrong occasionally. And so do the the DUites who often falter in their daily fashion endeavours. Girls sitting under the Virgin Tree, in Hindu, or sipping chai in D-school (Delhi School of Economics) are always quick to point out a fashion disaster if they happen to see one passing by. To tell you a secret, the men sitting inside the Stephen’s cafe do so too, but furtively, taking a break from thier intellectual verbal excesses. The ones who go wrong are usually the Delhi damsels, who have lost the ability to converse in Hindi, walking into class wearing a really tiny pair of shorts – not that the shorts are necessarily bad – It’s just that it’s a little inappropriate to discuss Shakespeare showing too much flesh. The behenjis are another lot under heavy surveillance. Rich colours suffuse these native species, from head to toe, with occasional bursts of gold or silver embroidery. The behenjis are known for their stubborn immunity against the changing tides of fashion. They wear Anarkali salwar kameez, the kinds worn by Madhuri Dixit in the 80’s, that haven’t changed in a thousand years and even in the sweaty heat of Delhi summer they walk about in their chaste set of suits! The boys too aren’t far behind. Wearing a baggy pair of jeans, with hundreds of pockets, everywhere, a DUite boards the metro at Kashmere Gate. Playing loud music in the train gives him the opportunity to prove that he too has a cool phone. The usual but never fashionable ‘My Dad is an ATM’ T-shirt completes the look! On the other hand, the average DU male ‘model’ with huge gym-manufactured arms, a slight protrusion in the abdominal region, wears a tight T-shirt, usually in the shades of metrosexual pink and a pair of tapered trousers that don’t necessarily flatter the behind.
To say that DU follows a trend would be very wrong indeed, especially when everyone, belonging to both the sexes, seems to be in a fierce competition to stand out. Looking good may not be the only aim that the ‘hep’ generation has set out for itself. In fact, looking good may NOT be the aim! So what does the word, ‘fashion’, mean to a student of Delhi University? A rather confident Aparna from KMC says, Fahion is just about me! Not about what’s ‘in’. But what does a statement like that mean especially from someone who wears a pair of shorts and a pink ganji that is in? Devika, from LSR, wearing kajal around a pair of lustrous eyes, clad in orange kurta and black patiala pants, enlightens us – Fashion is about feeling comfortable; what I wear depends on my mood. Today, I felt like wearing Indian and so I did. If tomorrow I feel like wearing denim, I probably will. The DU spirit seems to be seeking constant change, independence and to stand out. And for this reason, it might be safe to assume that the trend in DU is to not follow any trend. At least, not yet!
The thing about DU is that there is no average DUite. It’s a hotchpotch of young dudes and dames from all over India with occasional sprinkles of foreign students. D-school, probably one of the fashion arenas of Delhi University, is crowded with students from neighbouring colleges, apparently belonging to the New Age cult (or is this just another fashion maneuver?), bunking classes, gathering under trees for chai and smoke, to play the guitar, sing or to perform the traditional act of ‘checking out’ people. Here, Delhi University is at its most vibrant, colorful and often eccentric self. Young men with long curly hair wearing Paharganj pajamas and silver earrings are the usual visitors. School bags have given way to jholis putting a final touch to the Bohemian avatar. Occasional appearances in blazing pinks or sensual reds reveal the fact that the men are now confidently experimenting with the hitherto feminine. Girlfriends may be more modern wearing tight-fitting jeans or shorts, with Amy Winehouse hairdo and make-up. Some ‘chicks’ however, dare to go bold with short hair, strutting around comfortably in Fabindias. The North Easterners seem to be letting go of the earlier Hiphop influences and giving way to the ‘Emo’ look. Japanese Anime and Korean flicks seem to govern their (fashion) sensibilities.
2010 has seen DU at its craziest best, at least in fashionable matters. College reopens in the latter half of July. Till then the students will wait for the results while contemplating new looks they can pull off. Fresh faces will mean fresh targets for many; competition for others. But to all, it would mean change. And so, Delhi University waits, with baited breath, to witness another year in the lives of the thousands of DUites. Some of us, on the other hand, are simply interested in what they wear.
(for Gloria, July 2010)
This is quite an impressive range of observations. I wonder what the boys at Stephen's cafe would think of your allegations. But you missed out one crucial determinant - the fashion statement of the sport-sies!
ReplyDeleteHmmm. True.
ReplyDeleteBut I don't know if they do make any statement.
I don't even know if they fit into my idea of a DUite!