Trend Watch: Pre-Colombian Prints

Ruche Curvy

As an white American History major with a concentration in black history, I have also earned my official Liberal certification in political correctness.  This is why "ethnic" fashions make me slightly uncomfortable.  Obviously, it doesn't matter what your heritage is, you can wear what you like. It's more how the labels and terms are thrown around. What is an "ethnic" or "tribal" print?  I'm not really sure. It just seems quite vague, patronizing, and not quite right. On the other hand, since I'm starting on my path to becoming a Social Studies teacher, I also want to be wearing interesting prints representing the world's cultures.

With that disclaimer out of the way however, an interesting print is an interesting print. It doesn't matter whether it's on an authentic traditional garment or a tank top made in Forever 21's just-above a sweat shop. If it's cute, why not wear it? This season I'm really digging all the Aztec-inspired geometric patterns. I'm no expert on Pre-Colombian design, so I can't speak to their authenticity or the correctness of labels.

Enough of my white guilt, here are the pieces I'm talking about:

Forever 21

Ruche

After the jump, more geometric Aztec-inspired motifs on standard and plus-size styles, menswear, and accessories.

Bob Loblaw's Law Blog

I had another one of my submissions posted on Bob Loblaw's Law Blog today. It's a tumblr consisting of hipster (mostly) photos with Arrested Development quotes. Naturally I'm a fan, and I'm currently on a creative roll. Here's the one just posted:

And my previous ones:

Musings: (North) Americana Apparel

Old Navy

It's that time of year again--time to plan what you'll be wearing on Fourth of July! I love holidays that lend themselves to specific outfits, and patriotic holidays are the best kind since they have a built-in color palate.  I just bought this ridiculous Old Navy t-shirt above. It's like patriotic Tourette's. The designers may have been being ironic in designing something this over the top, I'm just concerned that most of the wearers won't be. Either way, I had to have it. Here are a couple more of that same model. I like the Colbert Report-esque eagle. The peace sign one is great for those of us who feel that flag waving can sometimes feel uncomfortably jingoistic. 

Old Navy

Old Navy

If you don't want to go the Old  Navy graphic or $5 flag tee route, here are some some cute, hipper, alternatives, for both women and men.

Denim Georgraphy: North America

Naming jeans' colors is quite a hard business. Apparently, many color experts have just given up and chose nonsensical names.  I've recently noticed lots of colors named after geographical terms.  Most of the names tell us nothing about the color of wash itself.  That being said, I find it amusing to associate the jean's color with its namesake locale.

Sacramento, CA: To start off close to home, a pair I'm seriously considering trying just because of the name:

Old Navy Mid-Rise Denim-Bermudas in the color "Sacramento"

Yahi: An extinct Northern California Native dialect. The last known speaker was Ishi. I'm not going to go into Ishi's amazing story, but you should really look into him if you're not already familiar.

Speakers of the Yahi lived the area around what is today Butte county. Read more about them here.

Denim Bermudas in "Yahi", Ishi in 1914

Hipster Plaid

Old Navy plaid shirt dress, braided leather belt stolen from my Dad

Grandmother's vintage Gucci handbag.