Sunday, September 20, 2009

fashinista banno or an old horse with red reins

I had been eye-ing a red bag in Hidesign since months.

It was not always the same bag, but it was always red.

Once again, I went in to the store, and saw the perfect red messenger bag. I took it carefully off the lurching mannequin, and slid it over my shoulder. One hasty look at the mirror, one covert look, one over the shoulder look and I dropped the bag, and walked out. A few steps away, and I turned back to look at the store, wistfully. The bag was calling out to me.

I wanted Teja and Dhanno to convince me, either to buy the bag or forget it. They were tapping their feet, and clicking their fingers, and looking everywhere but at me.

I said: "It would look too much, no? Everyone would say, an old woman carrying a red bag."

Dhanno said: "But that's what you would be, isn't it? An old woman carrying a red bag. So how does it matter?"

What I had wanted her to say was: "But you are not old, Mama!"

There's not much to be said for dinning 'honesty is the best policy' into your child at a tender age. Because sooner or later, she hands it back to you. I let out a sigh and took a couple of steps towards the store again. Then sighed and turned back.

Teja, knowing well that the sighs if ignored, threatened to take over our domestic arrangements over the next few days, said: "Why don't you just get it?"

I said: "Yeah. I can probably use it for a few more years. Then I'll be older. And that will be just be too old for a red bag."

Teja said: "You'll never be too old for a red bag."

Dhanno said: "Yeah, as if. You are never going to give up your jhataak pink, are you? Or purple? Or yellow?"

I grinned.

This time, I ignored the swinging of the mannequin and grabbed my bag from its shoulder and marched with it to the cash counter. Anyone could see that the red bag was going to give me graces Nature had not conferred on me.

With flamingo-pink rainy sandals, and my tomato-red messenger bag, I made quite a fashion statement on my last documentary shoot. Specially when I teamed them with my lime-green capris and rose-pink lipstick.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Would have loved a picture - of the ensemble ;)

memsaab said...

Oh sweetie, when you are old is when you CAN carry a red bag and wear pink sandals! And lime-green capris!

But anyway, whether Dhanno thinks so or not, you aren't old. Older than her does not make you old!

:-)

memsaab said...

And of course, Teja gets it! Love that man.

;-)

Beth Loves Bollywood said...

I wanna see! I am all in favor of red bags, no matter the age. Red shoes too. That said, I did not manage to wear my red sparkly sandals ONCE this whole summer. I'd whine that I didn't have an opportunity, but I should admit I didn't go out and make one, either.

dipali said...

Wisdom lies in following your heart!
I'm so glad you did:)

Banno said...

Shankari, no pics, definitely.

Memsaab, you are the sweetie. Yes, Teja is wise.

Beth, red sparkly sandals, now those I could never manage. Are they like the 'Wizard of Oz' ones. Hmmm.

Dipali, :)

Anonymous said...

ROFL! What a lovely little write-up. And I am glad you did go for it! We live, but once, Banno. Enjoy your red bag. I second Shankari in the request for pictures :-)

Unknown said...

Because I'm such a fashionista I will dispense the following advice: Buy slate capris. Anything you throw together around it will work. If it doesn't, you are truly over the top and to be encouraged.

Banno said...

Writerzblock, I will need to get a special portfolio done. :-)

Aspi, Believe me, I don't need much encouragement to go OTT. :-)

Amrita said...

I don't know what it is about the color red but Hidesign's red bags are to die for! I have like three of them (blush!). If only they paid as much attention to their interiors as to their exteriors - it's a little disconcerting when I open my uber stylish bag and find myself staring at a jhola's interior. Sigh.

Shweta Mehrotra Gahlawat said...

Banno, I refuse to beleive any woman gets too old for a red bag, even if its in shiney patent, with gold bugels (Hidesign prob is matte)! Besides- a teenager finds anymore more than a year older "OLD" :) Me, I have a orange patent bag that's been inspiring me to find a yellow patent #.

Sue said...

You are never too old for a red bag, OK? Never mind what pesky daughters say. And here I am, trying to convince my mother to wear more colour.

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