Mixed Results

Decades ago, in awe of Christian Lacroix's adroit juxtapositions of patterns, textures and colors, I came up with the phrase Pattern Fuck. The F word was as extreme a term as I could muster in those days (as opposed to the commonplace everyword that it is today). But it was apt for how viscerally I responded: nobody combined prints, laces and patterns so deftly as Lacroix, and made them work on a runway; or, for that matter, anywhere else.

Fashion influences quite a few things in my life, seeping into my other design endeavors. After years of varying levels of homogeneity (the clean Urban Chic of the late 90s, the colorful, playful Brit sartoria of Paul Smith, the broody goth ninja aesthetic currently reaching its apex, etcetera), my instincts are once again feeling a wild mix. It started over a year ago, when after two decades of hibernation I felt it was right to feature leopard prints again. At that point, leopard prints were the tacky provenance of Roberto Cavalli, but even he abandoned them in recent seasons for a sort of stripped down aesthetic much in keeping with the darker feel of menswear. But that to me signaled a change, that it was right again to feature leopard. Among other things. Many other things.

These gift wraps are a series I did last year for my yearly Christmas gift wrap themes. I do a new theme every year and carry them through with every gift of the season, but last year, I really got into mixing it up: modern pixel prints with classical florals and retro-fab leopard spots glammed up for the season with a smattering of metallics, all for a riot of textures that are a fuck up... that works.


There's something really luxurious and exciting about the mad abandon in these combinations. But there's definitely a method to the madness. A year later, I still love these crazy melanges, and have even started similar effects in my own daily wardrobe, which to me signals that there's a bit more staying power than just a whimsical feeling I had a year ago (and which I may feature in future blog entries). It's not for the faint of heart, but when done right, I think the results are mixed... and marvelous.

The wrapping papers featured here are a mix of Anna Griffin, Cristian Zuzunaga and a few others available at Kate's Paperie during the Holiday 2009.