- Gawker Comments

Trackback — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 12:36:30 EST

The idea of the fashion statement is not exactly new, but sometimes it's taken more literally. When we were younger, we thought wearing Converse and band tees to school made us fundamentally different from those who wore Lacoste. In college, Ché Guevara t-shirts were as common as pants.

Trackback

Nicksy — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 12:54:25 EDT

"Well, on one hand I have a deep unresolved fears of Muslims... but on the other hand, you know... fashion or whatever"

Nicksy

Solomon Grundy — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 03:04:05 EDT

Wow. In ascending order of cultural hegemony: Balenciaga only included them in the F/W collection a year after Williamsboard debated them, a few months after the New York Times Thursgay Styles published a winceworthy puff piece about them, 6 months after Urban Outfitters started marketing them as 'peace scarves', a year after MissShapes patrons stopped wearing them, a couple years after the staff at Verb brought them back from the 80s. Hey Gawker commenters, have you noticed that the jeans on the kids these days are kinda tight, some might even say skinny? Srsly, this post is almost as embarrassing as its subject.

Solomon Grundy

GayatriSpivak — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 22:42:17 EDT

@HotNuttyBrownie: Well, we are at war with Islamo-Facism, after all!

GayatriSpivak

arirang — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 21:54:33 EDT

Pffft.The keffiyah as fashion trend is SO 1985. At least that's when I got mine off the street next to Tower Records during my sophomore year in high school. I remember the great debate going on in my head, should I get the red, blue or black on white? I decided that to go with the black on white, as it coordinated well w/ my Canal Jean Company, Reminiscence and Antique Boutique buttons, and it really helped my rhinestone brooch POP off my coat lapel. Doc Martens, I could not afford but the keffiyah I could.

Ah to be young and vacuous and suburban.

arirang

HotNuttyBrownie — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 21:38:42 EDT

@HotNuttyBrownie: Re-reading that, I realize it comes off as a lot more argumentative than I intended. Just wanted to clarify that my previous post was not directed towarsd anyone in this thread, just a general venting of frustrations!

HotNuttyBrownie

HotNuttyBrownie — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 20:33:37 EDT

What pisses me off more than the keffiyah as fashion trend is people reacting against it by calling it a "terrorist" scarf. People do know that keffiyahs are worn all over the Middle East, right, and not just by the Hamas crowd? I know its meaning has become very politically charged, but it still rubs me the wrong way. Also, showing solidarity with Palestine != hating Israel.

Part of it is that I'm just bitter because I bought a red one as a souvenir from a year living in the Middle East without knowing it was this big fad. Now if I wear it I'm either a "douchey hipster" or "terrorist supporter," rather than someone wearing something from a meaningful time in my life.

That said, I do think it's silly to thoughtlessly trendify politically charged symbols. But I'm going to wear mine anyway, and anyone who wants the full story can ask (and be bored senseless by my answer) - if that makes me a douchey terrorist, so be it.

HotNuttyBrownie

The One — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:59:53 EDT

@tammyfey: Is that supposed to be what passes for humor, or are you totally ignorant of the hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars that the U.S. keeps sending to the "Palestinians?"

The greenhouses were a gift from private citizens, who thought they were doing something to help some "Palestinians" in Gaza to have a fully functioning way to make a living, but they decided to trash and loot instead. Color me surprised.

The One

bornagaincrisco — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 16:23:36 EDT

@VenusCloacina: Ithinkithassomethingtodowithnotusingthespacebar

bornagaincrisco

tammyfey — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 15:32:29 EDT

@The One: oh yeah, greenhouses...

tammyfey

VenusCloacina — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 15:08:02 EDT

@bornagaincrisco: Why are you "onefriends" with this person?

VenusCloacina

bornagaincrisco — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:55:42 EDT

My onefriend utilizes the look to ensure free cab rides. That and flirting and lots of touching of the cabbies face; poor guys I feel bad for them.

bornagaincrisco

The One — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:54:41 EDT

@lalalina: Actually, the Satmars in that part of Williamsburg aren't exactly pro-Israel, so it wasn't exactly a brave thing your friend did.

The One

The One — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:50:16 EDT

@dola: And what about the tons o' cash going to the "Palestinians?"

The One

hypocriteoath — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:16:29 EDT

@lalalina: free palestine IS better than destroy israel though...

hypocriteoath

SheWalkedWithAZombie — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:13:56 EDT

@lululemming: lol. Fill in the blank:
"This is a hot look, but I am not _stupid_ enough to pull it off."
We would have also accepted "politically naive," "hipster" and "fashion victim."

SheWalkedWithAZombie

VenusCloacina — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 13:57:07 EDT

I was right there in the 80s with the keffiyeh, Kenyan straw bag, and Swiss army jacket that I got at Canal Jeans. Oh, yeah, and the Doc Martens. And the rubber O-ring bracelets.

So embarrassed now. I was a cultural trainwreck all over.

By the way, the right answer to "why are you wearing a keffiyeh" is always "Someone brought it back as a souvenir. Does it have a special significance in your country?" That way, you just look ignorant rather than imperialist, and the cabdriver will be happier.

VenusCloacina

lalalina — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 13:18:39 EDT

my friend, who is south asian (a/k/a brown) used to wear a t-shirt around nyc that said in big letters "FREE PALESTINE." it was way more ballsy than wearing one of those spotted scarves, considering that he used to wear it while riding his bike from fort greene through hasidic south williamsburg up to the L cafe (RIP).

lalalina

lilyb — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 12:57:36 EDT

All kidding aside, what statement exactly, is she making?
Her grandfather is employed by the Saudis, her uncle was given foreign policy tutoring by a Saudi...Sheila, Choire, you may have missed the story here.

lilyb

lilyb — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 12:48:57 EDT

@hypocriteoath: Oh christ. It's happened. I've become a cliche.

lilyb

M. Pompadour — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 12:36:55 EDT

Man, the genes of the elder Barbara Bush.

That's all.

M. Pompadour

tammyfey — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 12:32:04 EDT

@dola: Right on. Just be purty, Lauren. If you want to make a statement, how about telling your Uncle George to go chug some Drano.

tammyfey

lululemming — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 12:28:14 EDT

@BeRightBack: Oooh, but it sounds like you know someone who is. The keffiyeh worn by anyone with even a modicum of knowledge has the unfortunate effect of giving the wearer that "cat forced to dress in people clothes" expression. Worn by a beautiful, clueless 21-year-old, though, it's just a really fucking hot present gift-wrapped in political-y wrapping paper.

lululemming

hypocriteoath — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 12:25:38 EDT

@lilyb: did you say shoulder pads? [www.nytimes.com]

hypocriteoath

lululemming — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 12:23:47 EDT

I feel like this is a hot look, but I am not stupid enough to pull it off.

lululemming

GayatriSpivak — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 12:23:43 EDT

Where was Laurean Bush when JFK started killing strays? Cavorting in keffiyeh, cooking cous-cous and hiding her falafels from the free world.

GayatriSpivak

BeRightBack — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 12:15:52 EDT

This reminds me of when my boyfriend asked if I was a Muslim when he found out that I was circumcised.

BeRightBack

lilyb — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 12:12:45 EDT

@What it is:
Besides, is there something wrong with just wearing something because you like the way it looks?
We said that about shoulder pads, and what a mistake that was.

lilyb

What it is — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 12:07:14 EDT

um...this isn't anything new. It's something that was revived from '80s American punk/alternative fashion. They can be found alongside other distinctly '80s items that began populating the store windows of Urban Outfitters in the last 3 years or so: ray-ban sunglasses, neon asymmetrical prints, plastic bangles, etc.

Besides, is there something wrong with just wearing something because you like the way it looks? ooohhhh wait, then you'd lose self-aware hipster status. nevermind.

What it is

Martita — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 12:01:59 EDT

I can't believe people are still wearing those things.

Martita

lilyb — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 12:01:49 EDT

@City_Dater: In '89 it was a little black dress, pearls and gloves.

lilyb

plasticene — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 12:01:27 EDT

@Maisie: Maybe Mr. Blackwell?

plasticene

powerblonde — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:58:20 EDT

I thought this was English cottage chic; she looks like she is wearing a tea towel. Maybe she's stealing some crumpets in there.

powerblonde

La Mareada — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:57:50 EDT

@plasticene: Or Michelle Malkin.

La Mareada

TheHonJudgeSmails — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:56:48 EDT

Although technically countryless, I have appropriated the pegleg of pirate culture.

TheHonJudgeSmails

SchmatSchmaymon — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:55:30 EDT

@lilyb: And she should look at the bright side - in his country, she wouldn't be allowed to wear one! Or take a cab by herself!

SchmatSchmaymon

City_Dater — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:51:15 EDT

Is she also wearing black rubber o-ring bracelets, Dr. Marten ten-hole boots, and black lycra bike shorts? Because that's what went with the bought-on-the-street keffiyeh back in '82.

City_Dater

GayatriSpivak — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:47:17 EDT

That's a really ugly picture of Lauren Bush

GayatriSpivak

ascot-revival — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:46:14 EDT

@lawyergay: Holla! How Vespa-worthy!

ascot-revival

plasticene — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:42:47 EDT

Body armor I hear is very big on campus this year.

plasticene

suzyO — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:40:27 EDT

i personally beieve that yes americans are unable to do so because osoma the peepls in our nation don't has this scarfs everywhere and such as the saudi arabia should help the south africa and our asisan countries so we will be able to build up our future and haz scarfz.

suzyO

lilyb — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:37:12 EDT

@BadUncle: I could type faster, or refresh more often. It was edgy and hip in the 80s, or at least the college educated, well-employed, arty girls all thought so.

lilyb

surferrosa — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:35:41 EDT

I knew she was an anti-semite!

surferrosa

BettyCrocker — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:33:58 EDT

@plasticene: You are right. Lauren is much less bloaty and messy than her cousins, and she is working to fight world hunger instead of shilling mindless kid-lit. I take it back, Lauren!

But still, take that stupid doily off. So not Hermes.

BettyCrocker

lilyb — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:32:40 EDT

@rod: more like 20 years ago. My roommate, 20 years ago in Park Slope, wore one of these. She also worked as a fact checker at the New Yorker, and got phone calls from Grace Paley, and if she reads Gawker, I'll probably hear from her today.

It's a stage Sheila, you'll grow out of it.

lilyb

dola — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:31:56 EDT

Aw every ruling class family needs their own Laurence Rockefeller. If she's so sympathetic to the Palestinian cause maybe she could convince her uncle to ix nay the billions in occupation subsidies the US gives to Israel? I wonder if this was a talking point at the party; i'd love to see how those conversations went.

dola

lawyergay — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:31:38 EDT

@ascot-revival: I went to college with a gay (at that time just fey) Mexican (a hoMexican? Homoxican?) who wore ascots and double-breasted blazers to class...it's totally revived!

lawyergay

GayatriSpivak — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:30:35 EDT

@Queen of the Passive Aggressives: A burka could only help her

GayatriSpivak

Curse_of_NursePornstein — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:30:32 EDT

You--and everyone else-- are most likely wearing it in an unconscious homage to Balenciaga, whose F/W 07 show featured necks swathed in prints redolent of them.

Curse_of_NursePornstein

Queen of the Passive Aggressives — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:29:01 EDT

What will Brit Brit show up in tonight? You know that girl will treat us right.

Queen of the Passive Aggressives

BadUncle — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:28:38 EDT

Keffiyahs were big in 80s because they were cheaply sold by street vendors, and were sure to annoy one's parents.

BadUncle

rod — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:28:21 EDT

Kinda' five years ago. Or timeless if you're under 25 I guess.

rod

SchmatSchmaymon — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:27:35 EDT

No don't stop now! I was hoping it would culminate with Britney Spears in an abaya.

SchmatSchmaymon

plasticene — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:27:31 EDT

@BettyCrocker: I think you mean Jenna and Barbara. Those twins wouldn't know how to spell keffiyah... or however you do it.

plasticene

GayatriSpivak — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:25:23 EDT

I love it when terrorism influences fashion - remember how there were no South Asian or Muslim actors in Hollywood before 9/11? Now we have Harold and Kumar storm the White Castle, are we a great nation, or what?

GayatriSpivak

ascot-revival — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:23:46 EDT

Arabascot-revival

ascot-revival

sexbot — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:22:53 EDT

Everyone at Parsons was wearing glittery burkas last week. SWEARTOGAWD!!!

sexbot

BettyCrocker — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:22:15 EDT

Lauren Bush only wears that thing to cushion the blow when she falls off a barstool.

BettyCrocker

billiejeanismylover — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:20:48 EDT

i was going to wear my lip plate this morning, but then i realized my neck rings would work better with this outfit.

billiejeanismylover

Queen of the Passive Aggressives — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:18:19 EDT

My cabbie showed me his shillelagh.

Queen of the Passive Aggressives

therealgoogle — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:18:17 EDT

In Hawaii we celebrate "American Shirt Day".

therealgoogle

plasticene — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:17:33 EDT

Homeland security should have a go at her.

plasticene