What’s Zo Wearing? December 16, 2007
We must never forget where we come from, peeps. Never! When I went to Russia last summer and saw this shawl, I knew it was destiny.
Now, a little language lesson for all. What you see me wearing below is a shawl. A shawl is called “shahl” in Russian. It is not called a “babushka”. A babushka, in fact, is a little old lady or grandmother. While these are often spotted wearing shawls on their heads they are not shawls themselves. Next time you see a shawl, you will KNOW.
And of course, even shadow-ninjas need familiars, particularly portable ones.
What’s Zo Wearing? is syndicated with permission.
December 16th, 2007 at 9:13 am
It’s also ‘Shal’ in Hebrew. I always thought babushkas were those lil grannie wood toys that open up to reveal a seemingly endless sequence of other such opening grannies, mothers, and at the very end, baby.
December 16th, 2007 at 11:38 am
I, raised by a mother who assaulted me with Cyrillic-stuff whenever the occasion arose, already knew better. (Babushka was also a pretty decent song by Kate Bush and the baby name for one of my cats).
Shame on those scuffy boots, though, lady!
December 16th, 2007 at 11:57 am
Shay: I believe the nested dolls are called matryoshka dolls.
December 16th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
Shay, that’s interesting. Wonder if it’s just a coincidence?
Ben, Matyoshka is indeed correct!
Paul, the boots are dyed to look like that! Intentionally, see.
December 16th, 2007 at 10:17 pm
…gotto stop commenting this on flickr…
The boots – so nice. The last image (and the smile it brings) is super =)
December 17th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
D – thank you for the feedback, both here and on flickr! Moo’s such a natural in that last pic.
December 19th, 2007 at 9:59 am
@Zoe – Apparently it comes from the Persian شال, Shāl, so I’m guessing it does come from the same linguistic ancestry.
@Ben – Thanks! My bad.
December 19th, 2007 at 10:17 am
Shay – well that makes sense! I imagine these types of scarves are Persian in origin and were exported to Russia and elsewhere.
January 28th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
It get that alot about babuska, it’s like the only word people know in russian and vodka of course… It was quite popular last year with russian-pattern shawls and it made me feel weird :S felt so fake.
Anyway I like this outfit very much, mostly the pants-part and the boots were a nice touch.