From: paulchem@tigger.cs.Colorado.EDU (Icarus)
Subject: Re: Curious observation.
Keywords: Is it just me ?n
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 1992 00:59:29 GMT

>The traditional cotton salwar-kameez, for example,
>is light, loose, comfortable in the hottest or most humid weather,
>practical whether walking through mud puddles or running for a bus,
>provides a good lap for children and small animals, washes easily,
>and provides good coverage in these times of holes in the ozone layer.

1] And besides, it doesnt need any special skills to wear.
   Avoids the primal feminine fear of clothes falling off at 
   awkward moments. :-)
   
>
>The sari, while retaining some of these advantages, rates somewhat
>lower on the practicality scale, since when worn gracefully it covers
>the feet, thus making bus-catching impractical unless one hitches it
>up, which would cause aesthetic problems.

2] Ahem, depends on the point of view. 
   Generations of starved youth have traditionally gathered around
   bus stops in Kerala for partaking in this time-honoured ceremony. :-)

>The nine-yard sari is 
>definitely practical for sprinting, though the effects of having
>nine yards of material wrapped around you in humid weather are not
>entirely pleasant. Aesthetically, though, and especially in a formal
>environment, saris are hard to beat, and are economical too, since 
>one can produce a variety of outfits just by wearing it 'regular' style, 
>Gujarati style or Coorgi style.

3] And has the additional advantages of covering up unwanted cellulite
   under a mantle of grace. :-)

>
>On the other side of the gender barrier, mundus and kurta-pyjama 
>would appear to have evolved to similar heights of optimization.
>My informants on the other side of the gender barrier tell me
>that they're unbeatable for comfort. And really, kurta-pyjama
>is not as different from trousers and shirts as, say, a churidar-
>kurta is from a skirt-and-heels.

4] On a personal note, the keralite mundu presents the novice with
   the same terrors. It appears the art of holding up under pressure
   is easily forgotten. Some of my relatives after long stays abroad
   are forced to resort to belts, in outings to church and older
   relatives. So my fellow mallus, if its been a long time, get 
   those bedsheets out and tie on a mundu today. :-)

   And besides Icarus in a mundu, is like Elvis wearing priestly robes.

>
>Few of these outfits, male or female, are really practical in 
>Midwest winters, of course. But even in the midwest, summer
>does eventually appear. And the climate of Houston or Miami is
>remarkably similar to Bombay. Yet one very rarely sees any male wear
>a kurta to school or work. Churidars abound, and even some saris.
>So why is traditional Indian clothing taboo for men?
>

5] A male wearing a kurta-pajama might send out the wrong signals in this
   ultra liberal climate. I can assure all of you, boulder sees no sarees 
   either, sadly.

6] Stay Cool.
   

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.    ~ ~                                                                     .
.    o o      signito ergo sum.              paul chemmanoor.                .
.     |    i sign therefore i am.            Computer Science department.    .
.     =                                      Univ. of Colorado, Boulder.     .
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Organization: Physics, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA