The American Independence Day, it approaches, and Francesca knows how much the patriotic Americans love to dress on this day in outfits which evoke their flag! Hooray for the Red, White and Blue, Francesca says. But there is a Right way, and a Wrong way. Rule of thumb: if you are an adult and you would ONLY wear the outfit on the Fourth of July, it is probably a Wrong (little children are exceptions, and it is OK to wear ONE kitschy novelty item IF a Very Cheerful Relative offers you one). If you would wear it on August 10th, it is fine. For example:
Do:
Don’t:
Do (for a very informal family gathering):
Don’t:
Do:
Don’t:
Do:
Don’t:
bwaha! poor kitty!!!
Comment by evilsciencechick — June 30, 2009 @ 1:51 pm
I’m calling the ASPCA.
Comment by Orora — June 30, 2009 @ 3:29 pm
Captain Americat? Also, I hope someone is getting invited to a black tie 4th of july party just on account of that dress.
Comment by Leah — June 30, 2009 @ 5:09 pm
Every cat in my neighborhood is now hiding, thanks to that final picture.
And no, it’s NOT because I would do that to any animal. I wouldn’t. Not even a ferret.
I have ferret issues. So sue me.
Comment by Twistie — June 30, 2009 @ 5:12 pm
see? I KNEW those things shouldn’t be shaved.
Comment by Plumcake — June 30, 2009 @ 5:44 pm
Are you serious?
Can you actually buy an evening gown in flagstyle?
I know you people on that side of the pond take national pride very seriously but come on… That takes pride from charming to disturbing and downright pardon the expression vulgar. I’m not an avid national supporter myself, I see myself as more in the general category. But that dress to me is worse than when sportsfans write “Go Mark/Tracy/whatever!!” on their national flag. You just DON’T make clothes or write slogan/cheers/other with/on your national symbol. Hmmm once my father painted a svastika on our cat’s hindleg. No he’s not a nazi, never has been and have no racial preferences of any kind. He just has a strange sense of humour.
The red top is gorgeous by the way… hmm thinking of buying it and remove the flowers.
Comment by Ravna — June 30, 2009 @ 7:10 pm
Ravna, it’s an irony, really. Not forty years ago, only those “damn dirty hippies” would show “disrespect” and wear American flags as clothing. Now, the sort of person who decried the hippies would certainly buy that evening dress without even a hint of irony and wear it proudly. And it is still part of the standard flag etiquette that one does not wear such things, period. If it looks too much like a flag, it’s not clothing.
Comment by Lysana — June 30, 2009 @ 8:11 pm
That American Flag gown makes me think of Wonder Woman, and that on principal makes me love it just a little.
Comment by Miss Spite — June 30, 2009 @ 8:38 pm
Actually, women do wear gowns like the “don’t” shown. I understand that they are quite popular at various military balls.
Comment by Booklover — June 30, 2009 @ 11:06 pm
I seriously doubt that any self-respecting woman would wear a flag dress to a military function where Colors will be presented and honored. It is totally against protocol and hopefully whoever she would be accompanying would nix it quickly. My boyfriend is a soldier and he wouldn’t go out of the house with me (and would probably forevermore question my judgment) if I was soft enough in the head to wear such a garment.
Comment by teteatete — July 1, 2009 @ 7:49 am
There are LOTS of clueless women with self-respect. The issue is not the self-actualization, the issue is the cluelessness.
Comment by raincoaster — July 1, 2009 @ 7:52 am
Ravna, must I remind you of a particular “Ginger Spice” and her Union Jack onesie?
(Or even Rose’s Tshirt on Doctor Who…)
And I have seen millions of tshirts, dresses, hoodies and accessories in the following flag motifs:
Mexico
Ireland
Italy
France
Liberia (random but true)
Australia
And my personal favorite because I live here: you can get pretty much any item of clothing you want emblazoned in some way with the Texas flag design.
While it violates flag code, it is very rarely done with disrespect – its a sign of pride in the flag and often its a way of showing how MUCH you love your country/state/etc….if you’re willing to cover your body with it, you must be a ‘superfan’.
That being said, I generally like to wear jeans, white shirt and red shoes and jewelry (and sometimes a tasteful flag pin)…that’s been my July 4th uniform for some time :D.
Comment by De — July 1, 2009 @ 8:33 am
Actually, I think the flag code just prohibits the wearing of actual flags, not items imprinted with stars and stripes that evoke the flag (Sec 8-d and 8-j). If you sew a flag into a dress, bad. But the ball gown is technically all right.
Comment by TeleriB — July 1, 2009 @ 9:14 am
Oy! We “people on the other side of the pond” are not all the same. America’s a hella big country with people who LOVE FLAGS and people who HATE THEM etc. and sometimes that means that at some point, some poor misguided soul is going to wear a tacky flag dress or paint their cat red and blue for whatever reason. But there is, in fact, a reason why this is listed as a “don’t”.
There’s a crazy coffee table book with a bunch of painted cats in it. Apparently the cat-models chosen are the type who don’t give much of a crap about it, though I wouldn’t make a habit out of subjecting them to that kinda thing. It is rather hilarious though.
Comment by Nariya — July 1, 2009 @ 11:02 am
The white shoes are terrible.
Comment by Peaches — July 1, 2009 @ 1:14 pm
Y’all. The cat is photoshopped (or, “computer-manipulated,” if you will), as are all of the “painted” cats in the crazy coffee table book mentioned by Nariya.
Comment by Cat — July 1, 2009 @ 2:15 pm
Why Paint Cats:
http://www.amazon.com/Why-Paint-Cats-Ethics-Aesthetics/dp/1580082718/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246472973&sr=8-1
Hilarious book. Cats not actually painted.
Comment by daisyj — July 1, 2009 @ 2:30 pm
Do you have a link for the blue sundress and white cardigan? I love them both!
Comment by Tarra — July 1, 2009 @ 9:33 pm
Ditto Tarra! I have been searching high and low for a short-sleeved white cardigan and the one pictured would be perfect. Please give a source? Pretty please?
Comment by SaraB — July 2, 2009 @ 11:48 am
the white cardigan looks like the ones I saw on the Old Navy website (not sure if they are still for sale), the dress might be too but not sure.
Comment by Jeni — July 2, 2009 @ 7:48 pm
http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=5635&vid=1&pid=634013
link to the sweater, it comes in white, brown (1 size) and dark blue
Comment by Jeni — July 2, 2009 @ 7:51 pm