Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Red + Black Week: Baby Bats

baby bat
left, not baby bat. right, baby bat.



Anyone reminded of baby bats when they see the red+black color combination? I think we've got the same thing as itas and black-and-white lolitas. (Now go read FYeahLolita's legendary post on the topic)


I think red+black is dangerously close "ita" or baby bat territory for the same reasons: red, like white, contrasts greatly with black, highlighting design flaws and exaggerating anything "trendy." So it can look very dated once something is out of style: see bondage pants.  To a lesser extent than white, red exaggerates bad fabric and cheap lace/satin, so cheap red items can be instant baby-bat gear.

Suggestions on not being a baby bat for red+black patterns

  1. Red leather always looks great. Aim for the real thing...if you're vegan, you're better off with small pleather pieces or just buy black-only.
  2. If you don't have a lot of money, get cheap velvet...cheap velvet looks like expensive velvet, pretty much. Velvet hides bad design pretty well.
  3. Stay away from red straight-type designs on black t-shirts...this will never NOT be baby bat.
  4. baby bats tend to overdo it, and the contrasting red+black just multiplies this, so you've got an exponential increase in EXTREME. So when you get red+black corset stitching, D-rings, rivets, hangy strappy things
  5. Spend the extra money on quality red statement pieces and buy cheap black items to go with it. The color black hides cheap fabric, bad design, bad lace, bad fit, bad everything. 

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10 comments:

  1. Your advice in this post is excellent!! And your visualization of the comparison is spot on. I never really thought about how badly this color combination could be abused, but you are definitely correct. Thankfully, our dear blogger friends who participate in this week have great taste. :)

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  2. I think one of the reasons I don't have a lot of red in my wardrobe (other than because of its rather inflexible nature) is because of how open it is to abuse when paired with black, as you've brought up. Strangely, I've always found that wearing nothing but black exaggerates poor quality clothing, but maybe that's just to me? When colour is out of the equation I tend to notice it more.

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  3. Lol, I love the moodboard, the 'mother fucker' t - shirt makes the point on it's own...:D

    I never thought about it, but you're right and it's proably one if the reasons why I don't have much red in my wardrobe.

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    Replies
    1. i can't roll my eyes hard enough at those "extreme" straight-type tshirts!

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  4. Yessss. Red and black reminds me of this one outfit I wore when I was a baby-bat but also interested in what I thought the 'emo' scene was (for about five minutes). Horrible red and black lace skirt, red and black striped shirt with matching arm-warmers AND striped stockings with converse of course. I'm surprised I haven't had nightmares about wearing that outfit.

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    1. haha oh man. striped shirt, matching arm warmers (striped, too?) and striped stockings. awesomely bad. so awesomely bad.

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  5. hehe, nice one! red and black has to be one of my most hated color combinations XD it always looks like too much for my taste, either baby batty or a femme fatale fail...

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  6. Ah, when I was but 14 years old, I used to wear this black t-shirt with red sparkly letters that said EVIL on it. Good times. I also may or may not have rocked the bondage pants on more than one occasion.

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