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WIW: slouch on the couch

cindysmith

Veteran

It's rainy, windy, and cold (well, cold for Texas with temps in the low to mid 40s). So I'm socked in on the couch, working on Christmas gifts, with my little doggie tucked under piles of blankies next to me (no bonus pics of the dog b/c she's grumpy and not in a mood to be photographed LOL). There are crochet and gift wrap supplies scattered everywhere and I am not letting the chaos bother me since I'm starting to panic that I won't finish making gifts in time.

Boots: The Sak
Jeans: Max Jeans
Belt: the Gap
Turtleneck: Blue Les Copains
Cardigan: One World (Stein Mart find from my last shopping trip with mom)

In some ways, I almost feel uncomfortable with the print on the cardigan. I feel it pushes well into cultural appropriation territory, but DH (who is a Chickasaw tribal citizen) says he isn't bothered by it since he appropriates other tribes' prints in some of his shirts, so I'm rolling with it.

Any comments or criticisms are appreciated

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BLUE LES COPAINS T-shirt

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17 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I like it. I wear ethnic looking prints all the time- they're beautiful.

Anonymous

I love the tribal print cardigan and I can see the same blue as your top in it's colours. What fabulous draping your top has. I'm a sucker for a cowl/drape neck.

approprio

(website)

Veteran

Oh dear. Maybe your DH can advise me on my Peruvian poncho. I bought it years ago and it is gorgeous, but ever since I found out about cultural appropriation I've been worried about the ethics of prancing about a European city in an heirloom Andean textile.

Love the shirt.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

That blue top is amazing. I like the whole look. I wouldn't worry about the cultural appropriation thing with your cardigan, especially considering your husband's reaction.

cindysmith

Veteran

Aproprio, Well, DH isn't here right now, but if you got it years ago then I personally feel like it's more wardrobe heavy hitter or Heritage/heirloom piece than appropriation. (Also, Peruvian connection sweaters catalogs are mailed out to Americans across the continent). I have a vintage Colombian ruana given to me by a Colombian friend, she got it in Bogota in 1982 and didn't wear it anymore. I wear it because it was a gift from somebody of that culture, it has a story (a cool one, at that), and I wear it not to be trendy but because I genuinely love it.

I think, for me, I only feel like my cardigan pushes into appropriation because I am so OBVIOUSLY not of indigenous descent (I'm pale with pale eyes and pale hair), AND it isn't a pattern associated with my husband's particular tribe. I'm not letting it eat my lunch, because I'm at least not wearing it due to it's being the cool thing to wear to coachella (or something like that).

If the Peruvian sweater has been wth you a long time and you wear it because you love it, I think you're ok. You could also always look into the pattern and know the meaning behind it if you want to feel more respectful toward the culture. To me, appropriation is gratuitous, not respectful (if that makes sense). Maybe somebody else will weigh in with deeper wisdom than me.

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Mirjana

Veteran

Pretty, I like the top , the cardigan look nice on you

approprio

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for the feedback. That ruana is gorgeous! Just the thing over a leather jacket - a gift, a personal story, and you own that look.

I bought the poncho in Cusco in 2003. It's a beautiful thing, I'm a textile nerd and when I tried it on it just.. worked. I paid a fair price in a reputable shop and I treasure it as a wonderful testament to the craftspeople who made it.

The funny thing is that I used to wear it quite a lot when nobody else was wearing them and I only began to feel weird about it when everyone started complaining about Urban Outfitters and Ralph Lauren, and with good reason in my opinion. Now that it's trendy it feels even weirder. I think this may be the first winter I haven't worn it since I bought it.

Maybe it just needs a season on the bench.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Liz, my humble opinion is that since you purchased it from the originating country/culture, thus supporting it with your dollars and your respect, it gives you every right to wear it and enjoy without guilt. You have visited the culture and have an appreciation for it, and you have a story and a personal connection with the seller/craftspeople who made it, and I believe that counts.

I think so many patterns and prints come from the designs of various cultures (plaid, paisley, etc.) that it's hard to draw the line where appreciation ends and appropriation begins.

The cultural appropriation thing bothers me when the garment/design is rooted in a sacred or religious identity and still carries that association (I'm remembering some celebrity or another wearing a bindi on her forehead? and the brief unfortunate trend of non-muslim people wearing keffiyeh).

ETA: I have a beautiful wall hanging in my home that I purchased from a Navajo weaver while on one of my trips to the desert southwest. I also wear a couple of rings made by craftspeople in that area -- in one case, I met the artist, but in another I did not. I feel like displaying those items is a sign of my support and appreciation for that culture and their creativity. I'm not sure why a wearable item of clothing should be any different.

cindysmith

Veteran

Janet, thank you for the insight. It out words to my thoughts on appropriation better than I could. I have a couple of necklaces made by Chickasaw artisans that we bought at the tribal gathering a few years ago. I did take the time to talk to the artists and learn about the stories/legends/history behind them instead of just thinking 'oooh pretty must have'.

Also, aren't non-muslims still wearing keffiyeh but just calling them blanket scarves now? (Sarcasm, sort of).

Beth Ann

Veteran

I'm adoring the turtleneck, Cynthia! And I agree with the others that the pattern on your sweater is subtle and not disrespectful. I did walk away from a much version of this at Macy's, though, because I felt like I was wearing an "Indian Blanket." I don't know though, that I have a right to wear a dirndl either, even though my distant ancestors were German. It is a new world of things to think about, and I want to be considerate without losing half my wardrobe.

Janet: I remember the Keffiyeh being sported by coeds at every college across America. One of my Christian Palestinian friends told me that the garment was generally Arab, not just Muslim, as his family wore them too. Of course, I'm not Arab, either, so I'll stick to my plaid infinity scarves!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I love the blue top and the cardigan is beautiful.

Like others here I am a bit baffled by what is or not cultural appropriation. Agree with Janet that it is offensive to wear symbolic patterns or symbols that are in active use by people to self identify/are vested by some with sacred meaning. But to borrow what is in the realm of art or design seems like the universal compliment to all such things. There is nothing new under the sun, as they say.

Meredith

Veteran

First, Cynthia, love your outfit, the layering and the color scheme. Looks great!

When I talk to my students about cultural appropriation and clothing, I like to use Susan Scafidi's advice regarding non-natives purchasing and wearing Native American-inspired items:

"Consider the 3 S's: source, significance (or sacredness), and similarity. Has the source community either tacitly or directly invited you to share this particular bit of its culture, and does the community as a whole have a history of harmful exploitation? What's the cultural significance of the item — is it just an everyday object or image, or is it a religious artifact that requires greater respect? And how similar is the appropriated element to the original — a literal knockoff, or just a nod to a color scheme or silhouette?"

The quote above is from this article and I highly recommend it: http://jezebel.com/5959698/a-m.....ropriation

Other good resources here: http://www.beyondbuckskin.com/.....n.html?m=1

Love being a part of this conscientious, respectful group of women!

cindysmith

Veteran

Wow, Meredith, there's a lot to digest in those links. Not complaining, not at all. Thank you for sharing them. They're definitely helpful, and I'll definitely be digging deeper into them over the coming days when my hands need a break from crocheting Christmas gifts

Shevia & BethAnn, that turtleneck is a recent acquisition, and it was so soft and comfy that I think I'll probably wear it to death LOL

approprio

(website)

Veteran

Meredith, thanks for the links! I've looked at some of those resources before, others not, so I'll definitely check them out.

A while ago I reached the conclusion that I'm technically off the hook with the poncho but I'm still harbouring doubts. On the one hand, the textiles of the region are a major economic and cultural asset which have been proudly traded with other communities for thousands of years. On the other, there's no doubt the Quechua people have been marginalised and exploited over the years, and it seems to me that current trends invite us to value mass-produced knock-offs over the original article.

Before it got trendy, I wore it because I love it. Now when I put it on, I feel like I'm wearing a trend that I'm not entirely comfortable with. I don't feel the same way about my vintage kimono, because Japanese culture isn't marginalised in the same way.

Anyway. Trophy pics attached. I still love this thing.

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Anonymous

I like the outfit. I must mention, however, my favorite part is your title.

cindysmith

Veteran

Aproprio, that poncho is beautiful, and I hope you feel comfortable wearing it again someday. It's a shame that it has come to this place in time where we feel uncomfortable wearing things we love simply because of some seriously bad actors (UO, VS, etc).

Delurked, I was feeling a bit dr Seuss like or something when I named the outfit LOL

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You look smashing in your couch-wear, Cynthia. And doggie adds to your style quotient, of course.