There’s a wedding reception to attend in a week, and you’ve just about settled on what to wear. But the accessories to go with the dress, a mysterious shade of green with a sneaking touch of blue, are impossible to find. You want to try something new, and your regular haunts, online and offline, have let you down. The solution? Head to the gypsy women who sell jewellery in the makeshift stalls at Besant Nagar and Mylapore — with some patient searching, you’re sure to find a fascinating piece of jewellery in the exact colour you have in mind.
The world of gypsy jewellery is fascinating. These women, who are said to have introduced fashion to the villages through their travelling exhibitions of trinkets, have an interesting eye for colours and shapes. From beads the size of a mustard seed to that of a lemon, gypsy women create interesting jewellery, some of which are nothing short of works of art.
Kannima’s stall in Mylapore, for instance, features gorgeous strands of translucent, marble-sized beads. Some pieces closely resemble coral and turquoise, and make for an imposing style statement. Nearby, Ambika sells neckpieces woven out of tiny beads. She also has thin strands of anklets that come in various sizes, perfect for a floral skirt or a printed maxi dress.
Ambika has accessorised herself with four strands of black, white, and grey beads of varying lengths around her neck. Dressed in a completely mismatched calf-length skirt, a midriff-baring blouse, and a thavani or dupatta draped like a half-sari, her sun-bleached hair tamed into a top knot, she represents the typical Indian gypsy woman — one who is constantly on the move, who has no time to dress up, but chooses her accessories with interest.
Perhaps, her ability to look carelessly stylish can be attributed to her jewellery. The bulky anklets, the black-and-white beaded choker she so loves, the glass and wooden bangles... the jewellery she sells has a part of her in it.
As a result, every piece stands out, much like how the gypsy woman stands out in society. So, go in for gypsy jewellery only if you’re in a mood to experiment. They are perfect for a Bohemian look — isn’t handmade craft an important part of being boho-chic?
Team up those long-stranded beads (you can wear multiple pieces together), dangling earrings (they can be customised according to your choice of colour), bead bracelets and anklets with harem pants or a flowy tunic.
According to Chennai-based fashion designer Vivek Karunakaran, “Gypsy fashion has been around for a long time. The look can be used to emote a certain quirkiness.” He adds that it’s important to choose an accessory that will fit into an occasion. If done well, the look can be “fun and edgy,” he adds.
This is exactly what designer Raji Anand does. “Gypsy and boho are my primary looks,” she says.
Raji has met gypsy women during her travels and bought pieces from them for her collection. The look, according to her, is suited for our weather, since a lot of us opt for light fabrics such as cottons and mixed cottons. She says that we can opt for the look for an event, a night out or a casual lunch with friends.
Sandeep of city-based designer label Studio 9696 feels that gypsy jewellery goes better with traditional outfits. He says that it’s opted for by women who don’t prefer regular metal jewellery. “You can team a piece with a plain white kurta,” he suggests.
A simple tussar sari, for instance, can be effectively accessorised with a bold beaded neckpiece. “Suhasini Mani Ratnam wears a lot of such necklaces,” points out Sandeep.
The way gypsy women dress varies according to geography. For instance, Russian gypsies are said to wear a lot of long billowing skirts, and Eastern European gypsy women are dressed in flowery, calf-length skirts.
The gypsy look, that chiefly reflects a free-spirited mentality, is not as popular in India as in the West. But it’s fun to try out. The best thing about it is that you can tweak your everyday look to go gypsy.
You can wear a mid-length or a long skirt, a cotton dress or a tunic — the jewellery and the attitude make all the difference.
