Defining the style and sensibilities that shapes up the city of Mysore

Enchanting a city of heritage measure, resplendent still in the aura stemming from its once dwelling as an empire of distinguished royalty, Mysore is a maverick of sorts manifesting in more ways than one. Whether it be the splendor of its riches in continuing legacy or the pride of its erstwhile royal status as well as its seating in a charm that fosters still an esteemed furtherance of its remarkable history, this gem of the south Indian state of Karnataka stands out in all grandeur across the fore of its traditions in immense cultural flamboyance. Amply encompassing therefore in its earning of the sobriquet of the Cultural Capital of Karnataka is this city of distinction, so noted in its art and architecture and so lauded along the trails of its customs and conventions, unfurling as a panorama in exuberance whether it be in the radiance of its existence or across the essence of what does it up in distinction. With namesake treasures of its own to take pride in, that which ranges across the trove of foods and silks to styles and brands, Mysore truly is a city living up to its reputation in continuing glory. As a place of such immense heralding dignified in the facades of its many an elements of distinct cultural diversity, Mysore speaks of an identity as precious as could be, asserting veritably as well this dimension of its being across such unique characteristics that single out the city in every facet of its expression in life and living. And like every other aspect of its exploration, it also is the style of its dressing that Mysore regularly dons in utter flair, much like its doing up of virtually every single defining attribute of it, dawning upon itself a sense of the sartorial as dignified in its assertion in immense relevance.

For a city the fashion identity of which has garnered for itself a unique reputation stemming from the shimmering prestige of its ubiquitous Mysore silk sarees, the everyday wearing and flaunting of its people should perhaps emerge as a case in lavishness. But the gracious aura that Mysore’s royal status has since long entailed finds extension also in its residing in the present day panache of favoring still the sensibilities of style over the showiness of it, presenting therefore a rather ordinary but ambient still vision of elegance across its range of day to day attire. Harbouring the prestige of its rich traditions and allowing also for more modern day attributes of fashion like convenience and comfort and of course individuality to take centerstage is the style that an entire city of people as privileged in their very status of dwelling along the historical expanse of Mysore indulges in as being the preferred choice of their dressing. Thus emerges out of this dispansion a confluence in pleasant myriadness, of such simple and elegant leanings of the fashion kind that presents the already unique city of Mysore as an entity distinctive indeed in every decipherable trait of its own exclusive accord.

But even in its essential steeping in simplicity, no account of the trademark finesse that Mysore readily weaves into its fashion canopy would ever be complete without a reference to the gloriously gleaming expanse of the famously luxuriant Mysore silk. In all its coveted status in immense shine and sparkle, Mysore’s own variant of silk enjoys the distinction of a Geographical Indication tag that sets it evidently apart from all other related strands of shimmer stemming from different parts of the state of Karnataka or even many a other regions of the country itself. Patented in all exclusivity of its definite distinction is the Mysore silk that is used to produce various products of clothing, most notably the Mysore silk sarees that are one of the most expensive variants in India. In being also among the heritage handicraft treasures of India, Mysore types of silk sarees aren’t just attires to don, they speak as well of an enduring legacy- that of the undimming resplendence of Mysore silk. And indeed, in the vision as well as essence of their detailing, every single specimen of what asserts as an authentic Mysore silk saree is more than deserving of such exaltation- whether in the appeal of its aesthetics or the aura of its beckoning. As pure silk sarees and naturally ones that easily count among the most expensive of their type, Mysore silk sarees are distinguished in their use of 100% pure gold zari that which with its defining compositions of 65% pure silver and 0.65% of gold further ups the allure of these exquisite expanses of desi draping. Rich therefore in their fabric and gilded in their essential adornment, every Mysore silk saree spans out also as exclusive beauties deftly brought to life by the most skilled of craftsman, lush and luxurious and lofty almost stretches of the sashaying stretch of the favorite Indian feminine wear, but offers also itself as lightweight and soft and enduring not just in its life but also in its pursuing of a legacy as essentially regal as could be. Versatile across every weave of its exclusive character, be it in its cosmopolitan commonplaceness derived from the royal depths of history or in its parallel encompassing of the attributes of simplicity and gorgeousness as well as in their charming convenience of being as apt for everyday wear as they are for special occasions, it is no wonder that Mysore’s famed flaunting of its silk in general and the Mysore silk sarees in particular sum up a whole aspect of the city’s dressing style even in its more than ordinary extravagance.

As inseparable and equivalently royal a fashion statement of traditional links that continue to occupy a prominent place in the Mysore style spectrum is its classic headgear of the Mysuru peta. Worn by the Wodeyar kings of the empire during their own glorious rule through history are these richly bejeweled turbans made yet again of silk and jari as a definite component of the royal ensemble that saw men all suited up in white trousers and black long coats with of course the peta being quite literally the crowning glory. And while these ‘heady’ beauties bestrewn with the classic charm of the shimmers of the zari as well as of a central pendant do not make for a regular part of the everyday outfit today, they continue to hold on still to their opulence in esteem and custom finding prominent expression during many a religious ceremonies and traditional weddings across different parts of Karnataka. With history very essentially wound into its turbaned identity moulded out from a long scarf, the Mysore peta is another standout assertion of the style sensibilities of a city noted for its charting of the lofty heights of nobility.

Beyond these two definite elements of what has been characterising the Mysore dressing style since its days in historical residing, the other assertions of fashion across this city remarkably ravishing in its vibe tend to be rather ubiquitous. Traditional attires like the dhoti and the saree are more flaunted across the occasional fervor that festivals and celebrations drown the city in so quite often and while the latter has managed to remain more relevant even in the modern times, the fashion scene has expanded quite a bit to also allow for non- traditional modes of dressing to find acceptance. Thus salwars have emerged to be popular among women but even within this dynamic of wearing, Mysore continues to stay heartwarmingly true to its roots in as possible extents of pursuance. Young Mysuru girls still wear today the traditional long skirt called the langa or fancy instead the dhvani which is a half saree even as the typical visage of a young lass conjures up also a definite image in their hair. Oiled and plaited in striking neatness, girls and women would often sport the yet again eponymous variety of jasmine, the Mysore mallige on their heads, according themselves of a dimension in style quaintly but still pleasingly aesthetic. Jewelry of course also plays out their own tale of glory pertaining particularly to women, emerging as striking elements of style even in as simple traditional assertions of nose rings and finger rings as well as earrings and bangles. All in all therefore, the dressing style that makes up the Mysore identity in all unique reiteration once again of its treasured heritage even in taking to more contemporary influences of culture in exploring the realms of fashion is yet another way of this extraordinary expanse manifesting its worth in individualistic incredibleness.