To Dye For

Jun 26, 2007 @ 9:30am

figmint tie.jpg
Like Faran, we associate 1960s and 70s style with nostalgia and fascinating glimpses into our mom’s high school yearbook. While ethnic-print dresses and truly wild florals are beginning to look a bit tired, we are really into the resurgence of tie-dye.

You can do it yourself – it’s fun, but incredibly messy and requires strange ingredients like “soda ash.� Or, you could follow the path of least resistance and seek out designers who have done the work for you.

Tie-dye has been all over the runways for a couple of seasons now, notably from Prada, but we love the way smaller designers are incorporating the wild pattern in a very controlled way.

And thus, our new obsession:

Maxine Dillon and her line, Figmint.

Because tie dye without the rock festival connotations might be even cooler...

--ALISON COOL

figmint tie.jpg

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posted by Miss Jeffrey

Jun 26, 2007 9:59AM

Unless I'm mistaken, Prada didn't do tie-dye, I believe the technique is called ombre. It's a more sophisticated version of tie-dye.

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posted by guest

Jun 26, 2007 10:20AM

can somebody explain to me what "ethinc print" is?

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posted by a lady

Jun 26, 2007 10:25AM

ethnic = anything non-caucasian/traditionally western. because, you know, that's not an ethnicity.

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posted by Faran

Jun 26, 2007 10:33AM

I'll admit I could have carefully edited Alison a little better here, but when she says "ethnic print," I think she actually means "Marni."

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posted by M

Jun 26, 2007 10:36AM

I think the restrained use of color and is a good idea--it's the rainbow effect that can make tie-dye look a too psychadelic.

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posted by a lady

Jun 26, 2007 10:37AM

(I was just teasing, for the record. most of what I say on here is done with a smile on my face.)

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posted by wd

Jun 26, 2007 3:47PM

tie-dye t-shirts are pretty great on guys. Two good kinds: 1) vertical stripes of different colors, but sparingly applied. 2) purple/periwinkle cloud-like formless shapes that look like painted sunset dioramas at the Museum of Natural History.

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posted by alison cool

Jun 27, 2007 11:41AM

whenever i say or write ethnic, please mentally add big quotation marks around it.

i mean yeah, like marni, or like any brand that has some print that emulates traditional/indigenous/non-western patterns but through the eyes of western fashion and rendered palatable for mass-market consumerism.

wd - could not agree more!

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posted by Zoë

Jun 28, 2007 1:30AM

Even if it is done right, tie-dye is still tie-dye.
Sorry ladies, this is a DON'T EVER.

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posted by a

Jun 28, 2007 9:36AM

Amen, Zoe. Tie-dye and ombre, both DON'T. Always and forever.

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posted by shopgirl81

Jun 29, 2007 5:34PM

Agreed. Tie-dye never looks good.

What a horrible line! This is what we should expect from indie designers this season? How depressing. Lord save us all from this crap.

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posted by beccaspecka

Sep 16, 2007 9:28PM

I would have to agree with the last three posts. Ombre and tie-dye are a don't for me. The styling of the shoes and tights are nice enough, but when you look at the pieces they just seem like something coming out of Target or Kmart, just very East Coast suburbian mom.

Sorry, this is a thumbs down.

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posted by moneypenny

Sep 16, 2007 11:05PM

I have to agree with beccaspecka, the accesories seem to outweigh the clothes.

Alison, I love your articles but this one seems awry!

That skirt just seems tired and juvenile after looking at the Amanda Wakely and Adam + Eve dresses, and looking at the rest of her collection, I have already seen some similar items at H&M from a season ago or so. i like H&M for my cheap pieces...but that's the point, they are cheap throwaways!

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