We're Baaaack, But For How Long?

Kinda, Sorta Back

Well, we're back, and we are sick!?! We go on a GREAT vacation and bring back a lousy cold.  At least we had a good time.  So, we're alive, and, unfortunately, our little break has to be extended until we're better. Sigh :-(

The Men's Edition

Hey, Isn't It Tuesday?

I'm sure you're scratching your head and asking, "Why is the Men's Edition on a Tuesday?"  Easy answer, we have to be on hold. Yes, it's the dreaded H word, Hiatus, or better yet, the beloved V word, Vacation. Hey, we need to take a much needed break because there is too much going on with our lives (office moves, new school year, and a HUGE project in the works),  and we will be back August 28.

So, on with the show!

The Brogues

Yes, shoes, and what kind of shoes? Brogues. So, what makes Brogues so ethnic? Easy, they have a gaelic/celtic background, but let us not split hairs on this.  And sure, there is a woman's version, but we're not talking about women, are we? We're here to talk about Brogues+men because they are so smart looking and can go from casual to dressed in a matter of seconds.

We're sure you've seen these "pieced" shoes about, and the Ghillies looks like gladiator evening wear!  There's a lot of info out there on these shoes, so we're just going to sit back and enjoy the view.

Until August 28 or early September the latest!

Ghillies

The Men's Edition

Men In Skirts, Again!?! 

We are sure you are acutely aware of our thing for men in skirts. So don't be so surprised if we have more posts about the subject.  Sure, they're not exposing anything of value, and the majority of the designs go down to the ankles,with the exception is the kilt and a the Grecian version, and cover up a good bit.  So, what's the fascination?  We don't know, we just enjoy it!

So we digress, and come back to the mundu. What is the mundu?  Well it's in the same family as the dhoti, and sarong family; however, this bad boy come in cream and white with a line of colour in varying widths.

Big B in a mundu! The B looks good in any attire!

Photo by Thaha

Photo by Arjun Kartha from Bombay Brides

Photo by Arjun Kartha from Bombay Brides

Hint: If you search the images for a mundu, you will probably see this really goofy looking man with a mustache (yeah, looks are in the eye of the beholder) who looks like he got blasted back to the 70s and 80s, anyway, who is he? We also discovered that there is a serious lack of pics with good looking fellows in the mundu! 

All That Glitters Isn't Gold …

… it's Silver!

Silver jewelry has a special place in our hearts. To be honest we're not big fans of gold-sure gold is beautiful in itself-but everyone has gold this and that, which is fine.  However, silver jewelry, especially tribal silver is something we can't want to live without.  Silver is not pretentious, unlike gold, and there is a sturdiness and solidness about the adornments. Plus, silver comes in so many shades of grey (no reference whatsoever to the books :-P) from the palest of shimmering grey to the dark clouds of gunmetal grey.  And real gold? Well, gold is gold.

In conclusion we ask you, what is there not to love about silver? Our answer is that it has an elegance that begs for attention in a polite manner.

Thai

India

Morocco

Mexico

Native American

Tribal

Thai

The Men's Edition

Men In Skirts Two: Kilts

You already know we have a soft spot in our hearts for men in skirts. This can be traced to the first time we saw a man in a kilt. In fact, it was a Sean Connery (the best James Bond as far as we're concerned). 

Men can go for the traditional kilt, or opt for the contemporary to be worn.  We got a thing for a young man in a kilt and creepers for a thoroughly modern look, don't believe us, take a look at the third picture of the young man in black from France. Surf the web and you will be surprised how many celebrities, Gaelic and non, have donned the kilt with some looking quite smart and others a bit silly-we didn't post the silly looking ones.

Interestingly enough, kilts are not just for Scotland, they are also worn in Ireland, Wales (Prince Charles anyone?), Cornwall, the Isle of Man, Brittany, Galicia in Spain, the Trás-os-Montes region in the north of Portugal, Normandy, as well as parts of England, particularly the northeast.

Sean Connery in kilt, so regal!

Kilt and Creepers a la France

Steampunk Kilt, quite appropos

21st Century Kilts

Irish Military Band in Kilts

Lennie Kravitz looks good in anything!

The McGregors 

Love this spoof on Marilyn Monroe's iconic image!

Terracotta Beads

Is This Awesome, Or What?

Sometimes, I wonder where my brain is? I know, it's in my head, but sometimes I think it's floating in the clouds, okay, I digress.  So, what am I talking about? Terracotta jewelry. Yes, terracotta-good ol' baked clay.

Sure, clay beads have been around for centuries, and, of course, you have the terracotta pots so coveted by gardeners; however, terracotta jewelry?

Why not?  The material can be shaped and painted upon to make some stunning pieces, or left in it's natural colour-which is so pretty. Of course, India offers some extraordiary examples of terracotta beadery.

My only worry is if I drop the jewelry-let's face it, I am clumsy-it would break my heart to see my jewelry shatter-and the glued together look isn't too flattering. 

Looks like it's left in it's natural 

colour and sealed

Ok, I really would love to have this piece!

WE NEED YOU

Original Content for Ethnic Finery

We have readers out there, and we are eternally grateful to them. There are millions of websites and blogs, but you chose to take a look at our humble creation. So, a huge, huge, thank you! 

Ethnic Finery is making an appeal to you: If you know an independent designer out there who specializes in the use of traditional textiles and costume, please let us know, and if possible, send us contact information.  We want them for our site!

We want to help the independent designer out there! And any small effort can build something grand.

Hope to hear from you soon! 

Thanks from the Heart, 
Ethnic Finery

The Men's Edition

Hakama

You may have seen the Hakama in Japanese Samurai films, worn by a martial arts instructor, or on your irritating, want-to-be ninja master, little brother. Sorry to digress, anyway, we're talking about the Japanese traditional attire mainly worn by men (hakamas are also worn by women) over the kimono. Unfortunately, it is not worn as often since it's considered "old fashioned."  Of course, like many traditional clothing, there are designers daring to update them for modern tastes most notably Yohji Yamamoto. Then again you may want to give the hakama a modern twist by pairing it up with a jacket, dress shirt and vest, or wear that kimono!

Yohji Yamamoto

Yohji Yamamoto

Hat, jacket and vest with a dark twist

Yohji Yamamoto

Yohji Yamamoto

Sources

• Hakama
• Yohji Yamamoto
• WikiHow-How to Make Hakama Pants

Skirt, Blouse, Scarf

Ghagra Choli

Ghagra Choli, also known as lehenga choli, is the traditional clothing of women in the northern regions of India, it is a combination outfit of a lehenga (long, embroidered skirt), choli (tight midriff baring, blouse) and dupatta (a long, multipurpose scarf). The Gharga Choli is seen in bridal wear magazines, and historical Bollywood movies.

Photo from 1872

Dupatta worn over the head and shoulders

Dupatta modestly draped on the body

Long choli

Short, stomach baring choli 

Long choli

The Men's Edition

The Dandy

Most of my friends swear that the more a man has on, the better he looks. And there are a few exceptions I can think of, but I have to agree.  And nothing epitomizes it more than the "English Dandy" look.  So, what is the "Dandy"?  "It is a man whose pursuit of elegance, in matters of dress, manners, and speech gains him a respect that nothing else can give (source)."

In other words, he's the man with a smug look on his face because he takes care of himself and everything he owns and cherish 24/7.  Of course, all of this is stereotypical silliness (more like daydreaming of the perfect man), but one has to agree there is a certain swagger.

Andre 3000

Waris Ahluwalia