Sita Devi of Kapurthala
Encyclopedia
Rani Sita Devi of Kapurthala
(1915−2002), also known as Princess Karam, was widely regarded as one of the most glamorous women of her day.
She was a daughter of the Hindu
Raja of Kashipur
, a zamindari. At age 13, she married Karamjit Singh, a younger son of the Sikh
Maharaja Jagatjit Singh of Kapurthala. She was considered one of the most beautiful women on the subcontinent. She was fluent in several European languages and possessed a strong flair for style. She was the muse for several photographers from Cecil Beaton
to Man Ray
, whose pictures displayed her innate elegance and grace. The Rani’s apparent preferred couturier was Mainbocher. He also designed the wedding dress for Wallis Simpson's nuptials with the Duke of Windsor
. Sita Devi wore her chiffon saris and fur coats, designed by Mainbocher
, with dramatic effect and charm. In the mid-1930s she was widely followed by the society columns as a trendsetter. The Maharajkumari was such a “pop icon” of the 1930s she was the inspiration for one of Ira Gershwin
's production numbers for the Ziegfeld Follies
of 1936. When she was 19 years old, Vogue Magazine anointed her the latest “secular goddess.” Three years later Look
named her one of the five best dressed women on earth. The couturier Elsa Schiaparelli
was impressed and artistically inspired by Princess Karam, so much so, that the gowns of the designer’s 1935 collection was constructed like the Rani's Indian saris. Princess Karam of Kapurthala was considered a slender seductress, who seemed to have access to all the most fashionable society salons. She was the toast of Paris, London and around the globe. In early 1939, at Lady Mendl's tea in honor of the Hollywood Dietitian, Dr. Gayelord Hauser
, he gave his list for the twelve most glamorous women in the world. Among the nominees was Sita Devi. In May 1939, the princess wore a Mainbocher long-sleeved Burma-blue tulle gown with matching ostrich feather trim to Countess de Limur's annual party to launch the Paris spring society season. A week later, at the Parisian restaurant Les Ambassadeurs
, the Maharajkumari was vision of loveliness wearing, in what the newswires reported, the American designer's "corn-yellow crêpe peasant dress and kerchief." That July at the Season’s ending costume ball hosted by the designer, writer, arts patron, all-purpose aesthete and Renaissance man - Count Etienne de Beaumont and his wife, Edith, the Indian princess made an entrance in a Grecian-style gown by Alix (a.k.a. Madame Grès
), fashioned from white jersey that was draped cleverly indicating three waist levels—just under the bosom, at normal location, and at a low hipline. It had a flowing knee-length cape gracefully attached at the shoulders. At the end of the summer in 1939, Elsie de Wolfe
threw a party in honor of the Kapurthalan Princess. The entertainment included an entourage of trained elephants. As in the Indian tradition, she was dripping in jewels for all occasions. Her husband, Maharajkumar Karam, had spectacular jewelry created for her by Cartier
, Van Cleef & Arpels
and among other notable jewelers.
Kapurthala
Kapurthala is a city in Punjab state of India. It is the administrative headquarters of Kapurthala District. It was the capital of the Kapurthala State, a princely state in British India. The secular and aesthetic mix of the city with its prominent buildings based on French and Indo-Saracenic...
(1915−2002), also known as Princess Karam, was widely regarded as one of the most glamorous women of her day.
She was a daughter of the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
Raja of Kashipur
Kashipur
Kashipur is a city and a municipal board in Udham Singh Nagar district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.- History :Kashipur was known as Govishan or Govisana, during the time of Harsha , when Xuanzang visited this region. The ruins of the large settlement of those days are still to be seen near...
, a zamindari. At age 13, she married Karamjit Singh, a younger son of the Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
Maharaja Jagatjit Singh of Kapurthala. She was considered one of the most beautiful women on the subcontinent. She was fluent in several European languages and possessed a strong flair for style. She was the muse for several photographers from Cecil Beaton
Cecil Beaton
Sir Cecil Walter Hardy Beaton, CBE was an English fashion and portrait photographer, diarist, painter, interior designer and an Academy Award-winning stage and costume designer for films and the theatre...
to Man Ray
Man Ray
Man Ray , born Emmanuel Radnitzky, was an American artist who spent most of his career in Paris, France. Perhaps best described simply as a modernist, he was a significant contributor to both the Dada and Surrealist movements, although his ties to each were informal...
, whose pictures displayed her innate elegance and grace. The Rani’s apparent preferred couturier was Mainbocher. He also designed the wedding dress for Wallis Simpson's nuptials with the Duke of Windsor
Duke of Windsor
The title Duke of Windsor was created in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1937 for Prince Edward, the former King Edward VIII, following his abdication in December 1936. The dukedom takes its name from the town where Windsor Castle, a residence of English monarchs since the Norman Conquest, is...
. Sita Devi wore her chiffon saris and fur coats, designed by Mainbocher
Mainbocher
Mainbocher is a fashion label founded by the American couturier Main Rousseau Bocher , also known as Mainbocher. Established in 1929, the house of Mainbocher successfully operated in Paris and then in New York...
, with dramatic effect and charm. In the mid-1930s she was widely followed by the society columns as a trendsetter. The Maharajkumari was such a “pop icon” of the 1930s she was the inspiration for one of Ira Gershwin
Ira Gershwin
Ira Gershwin was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs of the 20th century....
's production numbers for the Ziegfeld Follies
Ziegfeld Follies
The Ziegfeld Follies were a series of elaborate theatrical productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 through 1931. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air....
of 1936. When she was 19 years old, Vogue Magazine anointed her the latest “secular goddess.” Three years later Look
Look (American magazine)
Look was a bi-weekly, general-interest magazine published in Des Moines, Iowa from 1937 to 1971, with more of an emphasis on photographs than articles...
named her one of the five best dressed women on earth. The couturier Elsa Schiaparelli
Elsa Schiaparelli
Elsa Schiaparelli was an Italian fashion designer. Along with Coco Chanel, her greatest rival, she is regarded as one of the most prominent figures in fashion between the two World Wars. Starting with knitwear, Schiaparelli's designs were heavily influenced by Surrealists like her collaborators...
was impressed and artistically inspired by Princess Karam, so much so, that the gowns of the designer’s 1935 collection was constructed like the Rani's Indian saris. Princess Karam of Kapurthala was considered a slender seductress, who seemed to have access to all the most fashionable society salons. She was the toast of Paris, London and around the globe. In early 1939, at Lady Mendl's tea in honor of the Hollywood Dietitian, Dr. Gayelord Hauser
Gayelord Hauser
Dr. Benjamin Gayelord Hauser , popularly known as Gayelord Hauser, was an American nutritionist and self-help author, who promoted the 'natural way of eating' during the mid-20th century. He promoted foods rich in vitamin B and discouraged consumption of sugar and white flour...
, he gave his list for the twelve most glamorous women in the world. Among the nominees was Sita Devi. In May 1939, the princess wore a Mainbocher long-sleeved Burma-blue tulle gown with matching ostrich feather trim to Countess de Limur's annual party to launch the Paris spring society season. A week later, at the Parisian restaurant Les Ambassadeurs
Les Ambassadeurs
Les Ambassadeurs may refer to:* French for the word ambassadors* Les Ambassadeurs , a Malian musical group * Les Ambassadeurs , a 1977 French-Tunisian film* Les Ambassadeurs , a Parisian restaurant...
, the Maharajkumari was vision of loveliness wearing, in what the newswires reported, the American designer's "corn-yellow crêpe peasant dress and kerchief." That July at the Season’s ending costume ball hosted by the designer, writer, arts patron, all-purpose aesthete and Renaissance man - Count Etienne de Beaumont and his wife, Edith, the Indian princess made an entrance in a Grecian-style gown by Alix (a.k.a. Madame Grès
Grès
Grès was a French haute couture fashion house. Parfums Grès is the associated perfume house, which still exists, and is now based in Switzerland. -History:...
), fashioned from white jersey that was draped cleverly indicating three waist levels—just under the bosom, at normal location, and at a low hipline. It had a flowing knee-length cape gracefully attached at the shoulders. At the end of the summer in 1939, Elsie de Wolfe
Elsie de Wolfe
]Elsie de Wolfe was an American actress, interior decorator, nominal author of the influential 1913 book The House in Good Taste, and a prominent figure in New York, Paris, and London society...
threw a party in honor of the Kapurthalan Princess. The entertainment included an entourage of trained elephants. As in the Indian tradition, she was dripping in jewels for all occasions. Her husband, Maharajkumar Karam, had spectacular jewelry created for her by Cartier
Cartier SA
Cartier S.A., commonly known as Cartier , is a French luxury jeweler and watch manufacturer. The corporation carries the name of the Cartier family of jewellers whose control ended in 1964 and who were known for numerous pieces including the "Bestiary" , the diamond necklace created for Bhupinder...
, Van Cleef & Arpels
Van Cleef & Arpels
Van Cleef & Arpels is a French jewellery, watch, and perfume company that was founded in 1896 by Charles Arpels and Alfred Van Cleef. They opened their first boutique in 1906 at 22 place Vendôme, Paris...
and among other notable jewelers.