I always joke (albeit sincerely), that after finishing my undergrad in Indiana, I ran back to Chicago as fast as I could. I need diversity to breath, I need to feel uncomfortable to grow, I need to be able to travel to new revelations within my own neighborhood.

So when I got a polarizing filter to cut reflections and glare, I high-tailed it to the Devon Ave. sari shops.

Unfortunately, my first jaunt with the polarizing filter was hardly an overwhelming success. As much as I loved studying physics in school, putting theory into practice has not always been my strong suit, as anyone who’s seen me play pool (incident angles and reflections!) can attest. When it comes to polarizing filters and my attempts to cut the glare bouncing off the shop windows, there’s something about the sun needing to be at a 90 degree angle to the axis of the camera lens, and then I’m out.

Of course, unsuccessfully battling the reflections just meant that the photos got a little messy and jumbled, which, sometimes, I like.

Sometimes I used my shadow to see through the glass, creating an interesting effect and also revealing some surrounding context.

I ventured inside one store to warm up, and was surrounded by bracelets and fabrics in every conceivable color and style. This is why I love Chicago.

But I had another mission as well, and that was to document the prolific use of Caucasian manikins to model Indian fashion. It fascinates and concerns me: do the store owners use Caucasian manikins because that’s what’s readily available (which bothers me), or because too many people (in my opinion) acknowledge beauty primarily in European features (which REALLY bothers me)? The juxtaposition creates visual irony and intellectual musings.

What standard of beauty do you buy?