Sunday, June 1, 2014

Red+Black Week: Tartan


Here we are, another year of red and black week. This is the second year I'm participating. Last year's intro post (here) covered the mythology of the colors--vampires, demons, fairy tales. This year's intro post is more ready-to-wear.

Red and black isn't just vampires and demons, it's also the main color of the tartan print, favorite of schoolgirls and objectified Scotsmen and a really super popular fabric this year.

The trend started of course by the Alexander McQueen brand in 2013, and the many reproductions thereafter. Also helped with the 90s grunge revival.


Though the brand revamped the living Alexander McQueen's earlier, very very personal going-back-to-his-heritage collection of 2006, basically taking a shit on his legacy. here are a few from the amazing 2006 collection:



From the exhibit at the Met, which I was lucky to see in person. The dresses were very lavish and the second and third dress sparkled with either crystal or glass beads.
closeup of beadwork
2006
And here's the 2013:
2013

And of course other designers jumped on the trend:


And street fashion/fast fashion stores (Zara, Forever 21, Romwe, etc) snapped it up, as seen with these lookbook looks:

http://lookbook.nu/look/5575579-Fairy-Farm-Factory-Red-Plaid-Skirt-Black-Laced


Also punk rock (yes, I know Cannibal Corpse is not a punk band, but the look is more punk-inspired than metal)
http://lookbook.nu/look/6187519-New-Look-Skirt-Cannibal-Corpse
http://lookbook.nu/look/6220607-Olook-Red-Plaid-Doc-Dog-Shirt-Oasap-Boots-Zerouv
Mainstream fashion too:
http://lookbook.nu/look/6167213-Persunmall-Jacket-Zara-Pants-H&M-Tshirt-Zerouv
If you're wondering about the difference:

I've got two items in this pattern, one is a pair of bondage pants that I turned into a cropped jacket in highschool (kinda wished I left them as pants) they're at the bottom of the closet...maybe i'll dig them out one day for a retro post. (I also have my Jncos.) Here's a picture of an original cosplay with the pant-jacket I did in high school/early college...Punk-Rock Paine:

The other is my 90s plaid flannel


I promised objectified Scotsmen. See more at the WTF Bad Romance Covers "Objectified Scotsman Thursdays"


This post was part of:

18 comments:

  1. Oh, lol, thanks for bringin the Objectified Scotsman Thursdays to my attention, it's...so wrong in so many ways...:D

    Alexander McQueen's 2006 collection was amazing, this year's is rather boring...I don't really mind, that everyone and their dogs is wearing tartan, plaid or even gingham this year, but it sure isn't special anymore.

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    1. It's a classic print, but i actually took tune off from lookbook because i got tired of seeing it

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  2. Oh god. That 2013 collection was an embarrassment. They were doing so well after McQueen's passing, as well.

    I keep wanting to refute people when they ask if Scots all wear kilts all the time, but then I remember that you often see men walking about wearing them, and that I wore one everyday... at least it's less annoying than Americans claiming to love 'British' accents.

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    1. No way...they actually wear kilts? Not just for traditions and holidays? I thought they only wore then for weddings and parades

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  3. Oh my goodness, this was an amazing post! :D First all those fashionable and beautiful dresses and in the end suddenly terrible covers of romance novels! Love it.

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  4. Argh i loved this pattern all my life,but i an always afraid to lool like a sexualised schoolgirl wearing tartan skirts,and the pattern is too total look for my personal taste to wear as a dress.pants though are a dream in tartan! Punk rock, hipster and goth all in one! Also at last i know the difference between those two patterns!

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    1. Yeah the sexualized schoolgirl thing is why i avoided skirts in this pattern my whole life. And i never knew the difference either!

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  5. I just love the McQueen tartan collection!!!

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  6. Wow - the center dress in the first photo is hopelessly adorable!!! It's a shame what they did to the McQueen name with that 2013 collection, though. :(

    Thank you for taking part in Red & Black Week again this year! I enjoy your posts, as you have a different take on the theme each time that keeps it interesting!

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  7. Love the old picture of you.....awesome! I also enjoyed the Cannibal Corpse outfit, that pretty much could have been me in high school.

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  8. I am not a huge fan of plaid but I am crazy about the second dress (sweetheart /single shoulder dress). Love your old punk photo too!

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