Style Question

[Wakalapi]

OK maybe it's just me being dumb as rocks, but....

Out in Washington most women that I've seen, dance tradish with a draped shawl and a fan, but I see a few dance with a draped shawl and a swinging purse. What gives?

[Okwataga]

Every now and then some have even used a basket instead of a fan,
some even use a purse and fan together, the beadwork usually matches that on your regalia

hopefully some of the older dancers on here will know the answer

[luvstraightdancrs]

In Oklahoma and Texas most of the women in cloth carry what you refer to as a draped shawl, fan and purse. It is considered part of their regalia. No real explanation - just the way they do it. My daughter and her friends as well as my inlaws all carry all three. Most of the southern buckskin dancers carry all three also.

As far as I know it is not a trend, new thing or anything like that -- it's just what we do. No explanation or reasoning is necessary.

[CHEROSAGE]

I can always remember the women carrying a fan and purse in one hand(if they want to carry their purse) and their shawl over their other arm. (I) can only assume that the fan is carried in the dominate hand of preference. I believe this is similar to the straight dancers carrying their fans vs tailstick in a particular hand. Only a guess, my Wife agrees that this is the preference of the woman dancer.

[Ehosah]

Can any woman truly function without her purse?:D

[Mato Winyan]

What I have seen it is the norm to see both southern and northern carrying all three, especially in competition. Even if you do not carry a purse a shawl and fan are set standard.

[eap7]

My sister carries her shawl on one arm, and the purse and fan with the other. The purse swings on her arm.

[Wakalapi]

Thanks for your inputs - it looks like the concensus is that it is basically a style choice. What I was wondering was if the purse is more specific (historically) to region or tribal affiliation, marital status, or other. I know that in Men's Tradish some people just build according to style choice while others (hopefully more and more) dance with each piece because of its specific meaning. I wasn't sure if that was the same here but I've always seen Cloth as a "tradish" type of category.