Women of Southern Morocco

I'm not quite sure what these wonderful flowing dresses are called.

These photos were taken in Ifni and Tiznet in Southern Morocco.

So far as I could work out, the entire costume is one piece of fabric wound rather elegantly around.

The garment is wonderfully billowy. I really wish I could have asked the women if I could take their photo --but since that wasn't possible, everyone is walking away!

The garment isn't worn exactly like a sari....

..it's more all-enveloping somehow.

Anyway, when I discover how they work, I'll let you know.

My friend Barbara Jamila Fitzgerald answered this question in a comment.

Many thanks Jamila!

See Below

Jamila Fitzgerald said...

When we lived in Tiznit in 1976 these ladies would have been wearing a haik either white on white stripe cotton and wool or black and white stripe all with only one eye showing. I would greet them with the usual assalaamu alaikum and I would hear wa alaikum salaam as I walked down the street.

This garment is a rectangle not as long as a sari and called milhefah. In my son in law's family the women who are lawyers, doctors and teachers wear them.

The little schoolboy could come from almost anywhere.

Behind Bars

These splendid shirts on Fulton Street

are so loud and unruly that they have to be kept behind bars.

Such flashy combinations!

So bold, so blatant, so bright!

 and glitter too.

And a fire escape on 25th Street in Chelsea.

For first hints of Halloween go here.......

People and a Hot Dog Stand

One of the great things about New York is that you can dress exactly as you please

and no one will really take any notice. This is a pirate trying to get the dog's attention

and here someone whose hair screams: Look at me ! Look at me!

This litte old lady had sensible shoes and a nice bright mac and

 a splendid crochet hat which matched her stockings. 

At the dog park

This is the new St.Sebastian in the window of Kleinfeld's. He is not

 pierced yet. In fact he looks rather calm about the whole thing. Gosh!

A particularly eye-catching hotdog stand near 14th Street.

What a study in yellow it is!

Pouring with rain now and set to do so for the whole weekend.

Hope your weather is better.

Seen Around Town

The city is pretty nice when everyone goes away for the long weekend and

the town fills up with tourists and out of towners. This is a rather muddled picture of a garbage truck reflected in the window of the now defunct Viceroy diner on 8th Avenue.

This man is waiting to cross 17th Street. A century ago people would have been aghast to see a woman in pants.....equal opportunity in clothing for all.....

People in general on 14th St and 9th Avenue.

A rather retro dry cleaners.............

I'm not quite sure where this character (seen here on the corner of 23rd St and 8th Avenue) gets his costume laundered. For some reason I sight him about once a year.

We used to have one crossing guard who actually crossed children and handicapped people. We now have three who chat to each other........

Anyway, I managed to walk on the little bit of The High Line between 20th and 23rd Street that for some reason I'd missed. A nice soft lawn for sitting on.....

and a grove of trees to emerge from.......

Some friends have recently enjoyed a Central Park Sightseeing tour

which makes me think that visitors know much more about New York than I do.

Rain until the end of the week - rather a relief after much too hot!

Wimbledon then Clapham Junction

What on earth can these people be doing all dressed up buying tickets at the station?

Even the gnome is pretty impressed.

And then when I got to Clapham Junction there were chaps in top hats.....weirder and weirder

I discovered they were on their way to Ascot.......

My cousin doubted if this belle in pink (seen shopping in Boots)

would be heading for the Royal Enclosure. Anyway........

Sister Goes for a Walk

Chelsea is home to all sorts of people, including ones who work in fashion and the arts. Though Sister is carrying a bag from Henry Bendel's, her costume is not cutting edge....more traditional somehow.

I think this white costume is summer wear.

And contrasts nicely against the dark window of the diner.

Sister is heading for the bar, but I don't think she will go in....

Style

I was completely blown away 

 when Constance suggested watching a you tube about 

the OMO people.

Hans Silvester's photographs stun.

In New York people love style but nothing quite 

as amazing as this.

Herewith New York very recently

How wonderful to have the entire world on your head.

High Line July 24th

Heading to day camp.

Bus stop at 23rd Street.

Day camp T-shirts.

High Line.

The woman on the left is in NY default: black and white.

Her companion has made an effort.

Bravo.

9th Avenue

And the winner is..............

this elegant dresser.

23rd Street and 8th Avenue.

Tuesday: People around Town

Sisters shopping in Macy's.

A sundress with the subway map on it!

I really wanted to take a picture of the uptown doorman with his swanky uniform.

Then this character said," What about me?"

Everyone wants their photo taken in Central Park.

And after Central Park, Bergdorf Goodman's windows.

What impossible elegance.

How one can gaze and gaze.

An Old Fashioned Sort of Day

Such gadgets they give you on iphoto. Although these photos

 were taken yesterday and the day before how easy it is to give

 them that retro look. The chair outside the clairvoyant's

 shop certainly looks as if its better days are over .

23rd Street.

I really hate clowns. I don't find them funny at all.

I didn't ask this young man why he had dressed himself

up like one on a sunny Tuesday morning though he was 

quite happy to have his photo taken.

9th Avenue and 24th Street.

This dapper dude --  hat, crease in pants and  shiny vest --

makes the rest of us look pretty sloppy.

Northport on Long Island has a distinctly retro feel to it.

The Sweetshop still makes its own ice cream.

 

Vintage neon next door to the Sweetshop.