Tie Dye? I'm not convinced.
July 29th 2009 09:39
The word on the street is that this summer is going to be a Summer of Love. Fashion-wise, we can expect to see a revival of the boho-chic that we've seen in seasons past: fringing, peasant tops, hippie skirts and all that jazz. Which sounds great to me, but this year, fashion experts are expecting a return of the most hippie-cliche style to date: that's right, I'm talking about tie dye.
Believe me, I'm not the only one who's skeptical about this. Sure, late sixties fashion is groovy, man, but there's good sixties and there's bad sixties, and tie dye is iconic of the tragic, smelly stoner hippie: very, very bad sixties. It's one of those styles that is impossible to make look elegant, and it clashes with just about everything... in my opinion, wearing tie dye will make you look sloppy at best, and utterly stupid at worst.
Despite the doubts of many fashion-conscious folk, major designers have been quick to jump on the tie dye bandwagon. Even top-of-the-line fashion house Balmain - whose jeans sell for upwards of AU$600 - designed a pair of tie dyed jeans, which were worn by style icon Victoria Beckham. Admittedly she also donned a pair of acid wash jeans last season, but that's kind of the point - that woman is a fashion anomaly; she could wear a garbage bag and make it look good. Anyone else would be taking a giant risk in donning a pair of these jeans, designer or not.
If you do decide to take on this tricky trend, it's best if you impose some limits. My suggestion is to keep your tie dye compulsion to accessories only, like Nicole Richie and Rihanna have done. This stops the look from being too overwhelming, and you can get away with the full-on rainbow spectrum. I also quite like the Rebecca Minkoff handbag pictured below; it's what I would choose, were I to run with this trend.
But if you're compelled to wear tie dye from head to toe, then my advice is to stick to one or two colours only. Also, the rest of your outfit must be hippie-like in style: Ashlee Simpson gets bonus points for the sixties headband, while Rachel Bilson's grey-stockings-under-tie-dyed dress look is too incongruous to work - very unusual for her, as she usually gets it spot-on. To me, it's evidence of just how hard it is to get tie dye to look right. Maxi dresses are the way to go, as they're not only the major dress style of the summer, but like tie dye, they're a style born of the 1960s.
Just remember that if a style doesn't feel right to you, then it probably isn't. Trends are not meant to be followed to the letter; rather, they should give us the inspiration to pick and choose which styles suit our own personal tastes. If you don't like tie dye, then the answer is simple - don't wear it! Trust me, you won't be the only one.
So... much... colour
Believe me, I'm not the only one who's skeptical about this. Sure, late sixties fashion is groovy, man, but there's good sixties and there's bad sixties, and tie dye is iconic of the tragic, smelly stoner hippie: very, very bad sixties. It's one of those styles that is impossible to make look elegant, and it clashes with just about everything... in my opinion, wearing tie dye will make you look sloppy at best, and utterly stupid at worst.
Oh dear.
Despite the doubts of many fashion-conscious folk, major designers have been quick to jump on the tie dye bandwagon. Even top-of-the-line fashion house Balmain - whose jeans sell for upwards of AU$600 - designed a pair of tie dyed jeans, which were worn by style icon Victoria Beckham. Admittedly she also donned a pair of acid wash jeans last season, but that's kind of the point - that woman is a fashion anomaly; she could wear a garbage bag and make it look good. Anyone else would be taking a giant risk in donning a pair of these jeans, designer or not.
Victoria Beckham's Balmain jeans
If you do decide to take on this tricky trend, it's best if you impose some limits. My suggestion is to keep your tie dye compulsion to accessories only, like Nicole Richie and Rihanna have done. This stops the look from being too overwhelming, and you can get away with the full-on rainbow spectrum. I also quite like the Rebecca Minkoff handbag pictured below; it's what I would choose, were I to run with this trend.
Nicole Richie with daughter Harlow
Rihanna keeps it minimal
Rebecca Minkoff handbag
But if you're compelled to wear tie dye from head to toe, then my advice is to stick to one or two colours only. Also, the rest of your outfit must be hippie-like in style: Ashlee Simpson gets bonus points for the sixties headband, while Rachel Bilson's grey-stockings-under-tie-dyed dress look is too incongruous to work - very unusual for her, as she usually gets it spot-on. To me, it's evidence of just how hard it is to get tie dye to look right. Maxi dresses are the way to go, as they're not only the major dress style of the summer, but like tie dye, they're a style born of the 1960s.
Ashlee Simpson gets it right
Rachel Bilson's epic fail
Lauren Conrad's tie dye success: the maxi dress
Just remember that if a style doesn't feel right to you, then it probably isn't. Trends are not meant to be followed to the letter; rather, they should give us the inspiration to pick and choose which styles suit our own personal tastes. If you don't like tie dye, then the answer is simple - don't wear it! Trust me, you won't be the only one.
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Comment by Carolyn Cordon
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In the novel I'm writing, the main character si given fantastic fashion advice - know what season you are, and stick to that colour range. That is the best advice everyone should follow. I'm Autumn/Fall, I wear those colours and feel great. Lime green is never going to work for me, it's a Summer colour. I love green, but not all greens, only Autumn greens - khaki, olive, forest. Taupe and mushroom, certain reds, dusty pink and so on. Know your colour and wear your colour. Feel great. Works for me!
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