tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post30030223091915581..comments2023-10-20T11:17:47.246-04:00Comments on Two Nerdy History Girls: Gentlemen at Leisure: BanyansUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-41366891846543726102017-03-19T02:24:56.264-04:002017-03-19T02:24:56.264-04:00I'm late to this, but I thought I'd confes...I'm late to this, but I thought I'd confess I was reading something and couldn't stop laughing every time a banyan was mentioned. Because I have 2 on my balcony that my husband has babied for over a decade. They are also the fruitless fig trees that you see in pictures growing on the sides of buildings in India. There has to be a good fig leaf joke in there somewhere...Embernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-28821390156284259002015-12-21T22:32:01.790-05:002015-12-21T22:32:01.790-05:00What kind of shoes would a man wear with a banyan?...What kind of shoes would a man wear with a banyan?Cathy Hausteinhttp://catherinehaustein.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-71919139228611587332014-04-28T03:17:56.744-04:002014-04-28T03:17:56.744-04:00Hi, I am an indian and wanted to to say something ...Hi, I am an indian and wanted to to say something about one line,( even the name "banyan" was borrowed from the Hindu word for trader.)The word trader come from the word "Banya" but the word "Banyan" is still today used to mean a piece of clothing.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08992750873011560361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-75382778897620461732010-08-01T16:50:39.529-04:002010-08-01T16:50:39.529-04:00Karen, thanks so much for your link! You're pu...Karen, thanks so much for your link! You're putting together a fantastic costume resource. Every day it seems there's more cool *stuff* on the 'net, and it's useful to see all the examples of banyans you've discovered. <br /><br />As to the theory of ladies' banyans being cut down from men's -- well, why not? The basic T-shape would certainly allow a bit of trimming, and people in the past were much more conscious of the value of fabric than they are now. I could also see it as a sentimental gesture by a widow, to keep a bit of her husband's private wear close to her -- but that's only me the fiction-writer talking. *g* Glad you're enjoying our blog here!Isabella Bradford/Susan Holloway Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00997375216314200469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-28719256744931480922010-07-29T20:58:07.187-04:002010-07-29T20:58:07.187-04:00Also, as regards the "boyfriend banyan" ...Also, as regards the "boyfriend banyan" -- I wonder if <a href="http://www.larsdatter.com/18c/bedgowns.html" rel="nofollow">women's bedgowns</a> were cut from worn-out men's banyans? (They're kind of morphologically similar, but I can't think of any evidence showing that this was definitely done.)Karenhttp://www.larsdatter.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-70450916811959993892010-07-29T16:53:34.966-04:002010-07-29T16:53:34.966-04:00Hello - great article, and I'm enjoying readin...Hello - great article, and I'm enjoying reading your blog!<br /><br />I'm working on <a href="http://www.larsdatter.com/18c/index.html" rel="nofollow">a big new section on 18th century clothing on my website</a>, and thought you might like to see <a href="http://www.larsdatter.com/18c/banyans.html" rel="nofollow">my webpage on banyans</a>. :)Karenhttp://www.larsdatter.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-70816134086315462642010-07-28T15:05:21.964-04:002010-07-28T15:05:21.964-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15833278092325277115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-59016648372254245552010-07-04T18:54:12.351-04:002010-07-04T18:54:12.351-04:00Finegan, that's a lovely example. How amazing ...Finegan, that's a lovely example. How amazing that it has survived in such fine condition! Interesting that it's still being called a banyan in the 1830s -- though I really don't know when such garments made the shift in terminology from banyans to dressing gowns or robes. Ahh, fashion words! :)Isabella Bradford/Susan Holloway Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00997375216314200469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-60319361961353919272010-07-04T18:13:09.399-04:002010-07-04T18:13:09.399-04:00Banyans were considered a form of undress but stil...Banyans were considered a form of undress but still could be worn to informally entertain guests. They were elegant and comfortable. If you would like to view a 1832, quilted American banyan it can be viewed at www.donnafineganantiques.comFinegan Antiqueshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07134589341726766780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-40590815531900909072010-06-28T19:53:53.891-04:002010-06-28T19:53:53.891-04:00There are some pictures of the front as well, but ...There are some pictures of the front as well, but one must scour the net for them now.<br /><br />http://goo.gl/EhFI Side/back shot<br /><br />http://goo.gl/eSAu Front near collarnightsmusichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05984119792540771870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-68578522879933455432010-06-28T18:59:09.927-04:002010-06-28T18:59:09.927-04:00Pauline, I do watch deleted scenes. Sometimes that...Pauline, I do watch deleted scenes. Sometimes that's where the best stuff is (like how they cast "M&C" with extras from middle Europe who didn't have 21st c. photo smiles.) Though to be honest, I didn't remember this scene as being an "extra", but in the final cut. Guess it made an impact on me! *g*<br /><br />Evangaline, I loved that Chinese cloud banyan, too - though yes, it was VERY pricey.<br /><br />Theo, Dracula in a banyan! Has lots of possibilities, with all that silk billowing behind him as he stalks about the castle....<br /><br />Rowenna, I found that lady's banyan fascinating, too. Hadn't seen one before that example at the V&A. One wonders if it was the work of a single imaginative lady, or if there were others.<br /><br />Stitcheress, glad you were inspired by the links! Alas, yours was too long for Blogger to digest, so I shrank it here:<br /><br />http://tinyurl.com/2enq9gz<br /><br />Do you have any more info about it? I esp. liked the two different prints combined.<br /><br />Vanessa, totally agree with the banyan envy. As for the caps -- Loretta and I were just discussing them, too, and decided that no matter how fancy the silk, they still look like New Year's Party hats. Sorry, gentlemen! :)Isabella Bradford/Susan Holloway Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00997375216314200469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-12151001842642890022010-06-28T15:17:35.270-04:002010-06-28T15:17:35.270-04:00I have serious banyan envy. But no turban envy. ...I have serious banyan envy. But no turban envy. Those are awful!<br /><br />The fabrics, though. Sigh. To die for!Vanessa Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14571549124283013391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-12617646868461789912010-06-28T12:32:38.793-04:002010-06-28T12:32:38.793-04:00Wonderful, useful list of examples. Thank you for ...Wonderful, useful list of examples. Thank you for that. Here is one more that I like:<br /><br />http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wrEz8hLnnpM/SdZtRbuK1yI/AAAAAAAAAZU/7GivBpz4GTI/s1600-h/banyan.jpgTheStitcheressnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-57896363615298525602010-06-28T09:35:50.835-04:002010-06-28T09:35:50.835-04:00The lady's banyan is fascinating--I love how i...The lady's banyan is fascinating--I love how it still has the pleating in the back like a gown, albiet looser!Rowennahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09757364614589686606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-38603103555754395162010-06-28T09:14:24.997-04:002010-06-28T09:14:24.997-04:00In Bram Stoker's Dracula, with Gary Oldman, th...In Bram Stoker's Dracula, with Gary Oldman, the character of Dracula wears a banyan at one point in the movie. It's a beautiful garment.<br /><br />And you made me laugh at the 'boyfriend banyan' LOL!nightsmusichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05984119792540771870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-14199122247784293312010-06-28T07:30:21.865-04:002010-06-28T07:30:21.865-04:00Wonderful post! Didn't know gentlemen of the p...Wonderful post! Didn't know gentlemen of the past wore these things. Wouldn't it be nice if they still did? That one with the Chinese cloud design was my favorite, if a bit pricey!Evangelinenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-31164513591438933212010-06-28T03:21:31.989-04:002010-06-28T03:21:31.989-04:00Ah, good on you Susan for watching the deleted sce...Ah, good on you Susan for watching the deleted scenes. Personally I believe a banyan in that specific case would only have obscured the delightful view...<br /><br />And good point about the "too comfortable" robe. Guys have always, after all, been guys.Paulinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11730716060906158244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-23579056914303103002010-06-27T21:02:27.008-04:002010-06-27T21:02:27.008-04:00Banyans strike me as practical, elegant, and very ...Banyans strike me as practical, elegant, and very forgiving, too. Men could have hid a lot of those infamous midnight suppers beneath all that silk brocade. <br /><br />Theo, I'm betting there were more than a few ladies who claimed banyans for their own. That's why I wasn't really surprised to find that one at the V&A. I can see the marketing plan now: "The Boyfriend Banyan"! *g*<br /><br />Pauline, yes! I do remember the good doctor wearing a banyan in "Master & Commander." Jack could have used one, too, when he went up on deck to jump over the side and swim.<br /><br />Lady Burgley, I have seen Mr. Hurd in his banyan by Copley. What's fascinating about that portrait (at least to me) is that originally Copley was painting the portrait of Hurd at work, with his sleeves rolled up like the Paul Revere portrait - yet somewhere along the line, that pose and portrait were abandoned in favor of the much more refined silk banyan pose. Don't you wonder who was unhappy and made the change - Copley or Hurd?<br /><br />Little Augury, welcome! (And welcome to any other newcomers out there who've just discovered us.) <br />Yes, the gentlemen in their banyan-portraits always do look so much more elegant than they would in sweats. <br /><br />But don't you wonder if perhaps there were plenty of banyans that became so...comfortable over time that they became the despair of lady-wives? Banyans that were so beloved by their owners that those owners refused to give them over to the laundress, or worse, began to wear them farther and farther from libraries and other manly preserves? I can just picture some poor guy in his comfy old banyan, wandering in on his wife and her friends drinking tea in the parlor...*g*Isabella Bradford/Susan Holloway Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00997375216314200469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-40543393848037535522010-06-27T20:10:53.577-04:002010-06-27T20:10:53.577-04:00I am going to love your blog! Have just joined the...I am going to love your blog! Have just joined the conversation. I love comfort, the Banyan suits and looks infinitely more attractive than sweats.pgtP.Gaye Tapp at Little Auguryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15115534755711063462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-43311335582587816452010-06-27T16:45:00.864-04:002010-06-27T16:45:00.864-04:00J.S. Copley enjoyed putting his sitters in informa...J.S. Copley enjoyed putting his sitters in informal yet exotic attire. See the portrait of Nathaniel Hurd for another example of a luxurious banyan:<br /><br />http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Portrait_of_Nathaniel_Hurd,_by_John_Singleton_Copley.jpgLady Burgleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09262125653902478062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-1645403261094411352010-06-27T15:56:54.780-04:002010-06-27T15:56:54.780-04:00A very well done example of an early 19th century ...A very well done example of an early 19th century banyan in modern film is Dr. Maturin's (played exceptionally well by Paul Bettany) convalescing robe in the film "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World".Paulinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11730716060906158244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-83391792249753019272010-06-27T15:43:56.833-04:002010-06-27T15:43:56.833-04:00I've always thought a Banyan to be one of the ...I've always thought a Banyan to be one of the most practical of menswear. Easy to don by themselves, ultra comfortable and still smart looking when done in extravagant fabrics. <br /><br />I wonder if for women, they weren't quite as popular simply because women had nightgowns and dressing gowns which had been the norm in one form or another for centuries.nightsmusichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05984119792540771870noreply@blogger.com