Rorschach Reverb

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>>  Rorschach's famous ink blot tests isn't exactly a new motif or inspiration in fashion and in my very insignificant period of time as a blogger, I've encounted a number of collections that happily borrow from this somewhat iconic psychological test.  Knitwear designer Sandra Backlund and her engorged knitwear resembling the black blotches on paper, that mind searingly memorable Dion Lee collection with manipulated and coloured-in inkblot pieces and a recent Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair collection where wooden structures mirrored the butterfly-esque blots – these are just a few that come to mind.  

In this specific instance though, New York label Kaelen has taken the ink blots and applied it in a while so that from afar, it tricks the eye into thinking you're looking at a floral print.  A quick glance at the lookbook images and you'd think it all the pale blue satin pieces were printed with a cheesy rose pattern, mimicking uber-mumsy bedsheets or kitschy quilted tissue box holders.  Lazy watercolour florals and relaxed satin daywear would have been an easily digestible combination and would fit into Kaelen's easy-going, mid-90s, loose and free S/S 12 collection.  However, when you realise those blotches are Rorscach-esque inkblots, there's added wit to this satin blazer and matching tailored shorts.  Pyjama dressing can rely on the tried and tested floral print, but these Rorschach inkblot pieces make for an alternative version, making pale blue satin acceptable outside of a mumsy bedroom interior.

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(Worn with Tsumori Chisato cardigan and Nike Gyakusou trainers)

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The final questions to ask of course is – what do you see when you look at this?  The inkblots featured on the Kaelen print aren't exactly like any of the ten Rorschach inkblot formations to try and eke out expanations behind ambiguous thoughts.  Instead, Kaelen has tweaked them ever so slightly to form her own version of the ink blot test.  I'll leave it to them to deciper why I see the following then…

… two sausages dancing around with pom poms on their heads with a giant bat and its huge wing span behind the two bangers.  Then there's water reflecting part of this weird beast…  

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Then there's a bear's head mounted on to a crab, which happens to have two sets of claws.  I also see a lucha libre mask staring back at me from below the throat of this beastly creature.  Not sure what that means in the general spectrum of things.  Or perhaps I don't want to know…  

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P.S. This post has been subsequently edited after going live at 3am in the morning Mexican time with tequila induced typing errors.  I definitely saw some very strange things going on in these Rorschach ink blots….

 

34 comments

  1. Is the human being is born with feet facing the inside? It is a sign of guilt or innocent falsehood?

  12. Amazing post and very interesting stuff you got here! I definitely learned a lot from reading through some of your earlier posts as well and decided to drop a comment on this one!

  14. Oh Susie….I totally see what you saw in these inkblots…heehee….
    I really do love what Kaelen did with this:)

  18. I’m just really into wearing trainers right now…even more so with slouchy pyjama type things which the jacket and shorts are…. plus I love the Nike x Jun Takahashi collab….

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