I have no idea where this image came from (and no idea where it's going, either) but I have to say that the idea of having a long, flag-striped TRAIN is startling. The whole effect is "Daughters of the American Revolution Go to the Circus".
Where on earth could this be worn? Pageants? Prom at one of the service academies? (Who wears a train to prom -- oh, don't tell me, I don't want to know.) Is it a wedding gown? I got married on the Fourth (Happy Anniversary, Mr. Dress A Day!) and even I wouldn't have worn this ...
If you want one of these, you should be warned that wearing a flag dress in the wrong place at the wrong time can often get you in trouble. There was the boneheaded teen who decided that her prom would be a spiffy place to wear her CONFEDERATE FLAG DRESS. Heritage, schmeritage, she just wanted to piss off a bunch of people. Also, I believe she shouted "Sequins today ... seqins tomorrow ... sequins forever!" while she was wearing it:
And then there was the Indian designer whose dress incorporating symbols from the Indian flag was confiscated, although she did get to keep her drink:
Not to mention the Chinese pop singer who wore a dress printed with the war-era Japanese naval flag. (That went over about as well as the Confederate flag dress.) Can't find a picture of that one, sadly, although I have to say English-language Chinese movie star gossip is way more fun than the Star or US Weekly or whatever.
As well as this: "... a lecturer at Birmingham University by the name of Sue Blackwell, described as a former Christian fundamentalist now turned socialist. (Her website was found to recommend a link to the site of a neo-Nazi activist.) At the AUT meeting, Blackwell wore a Palestinian-flag dress ..." She was arguing for a boycott of Israeli universities by British scholars; no picture of that one, either. I can't imagine that it was successful as a dress, instead of as a rhetorical device.
So, where were we? Yes, flag dresses are really, really hard to pull off. Even DVF had some trouble:
(I know there are better pics of that dress out there but I love DVF's MySpace-style photo, so there.)
But Dame Shirley Bassey managed it, at the Rugby World Cup's opening ceremony in the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff (it helps to be in front of thousands of enthusiastic countrymen):
Do you have a favorite (or un-favorite) flag dress? Send me a picture. This one right now is my fave:
happy anniversary!i found the image of the girl in her confederate flag dress.http://www.slrc-csa.org/site/images/photos/rebflagdress.jpg
Posted by: melissa joy | 07/04/2006 at 10:10 AM
Happy Anniversary! Unfortunately it IS a wedding dress - that particular company went through a spate of producing "patriotic" gowns in 2002 (post 9/11 I guess) - they had a whole load of them using the red, white and blue and stars and stripes in different ways.
Posted by: Kate in England | 07/04/2006 at 10:12 AM
I must say, of the ones you've posted, I think the Welsh one works best in terms of design, balance, colour and flow. I love its white and green, and the dragon. And I'm partial to loose, flowing fabric! Still, you'd never catch *me* in a flag dress! For various reasons! Besides the fact that stark white with its cold red bars and maple leaf would just do in my warm peach complexion. No; I need gentler tones.Love your entry today! I hope the dear dog wasn't too uncomfortable being dressed and made to "stay" under whatever lighting was used. And I can certainly see the appeal of that photo over the others.Cheers.
Posted by: oracle | 07/04/2006 at 10:16 AM
Flashback to 1943: Mickey Rooney gets one look at Judy Garland in her flag dress and exclaims, "Hey, kids, let's put on a show!"
Posted by: robertajune | 07/04/2006 at 10:17 AM
The Union Jack has been through quite a few iconic incarnations in clothing. I can't find a picture of Vivienne Westwood's punk one, but here's the famous one Ginger Spice wore to the Brit awards.A couple of years back Paul Smith did a slightly more subtle version (scroll down).There are so many England flags (red cross on white) lying around the roads at the minute here (we got beat in the World Cup on Saturday...), I've been seriously considering making a dress out of them.. :)
Posted by: P | 07/04/2006 at 10:19 AM
Oh my, the 4th of July wedding dress! Long time no see! There used to be a fantastic site called Ugly Wedding Dresses, but the woman in charge folded I think. I miss her greatly. RL took it's toll. :-( This dress was one of her features.
Posted by: bani | 07/04/2006 at 10:56 AM
Oh, dear Shirley. I do hope the dragon had sequins, or how else would we recognise our grand diva? I really like the sound of the Ugly Wedding Dresses site - shame it's not going anymore. Sorry, but the dog in the dress made me want to puke. I got married on St. George's Day, and it DID cross my mind (for about a zillienth of a second) that I could have a big red cross on the front of my dress. Eeeek!
Posted by: Esther.A | 07/04/2006 at 11:28 AM
I don't get the appeal of flag dresses/garments - from a patriotic standpoint, I can't think of anything more disrespectful that swathing your sweaty body in the symbol of your country. From a fashion point of view, most flags just aren't pretty.
Posted by: Valerie | 07/04/2006 at 11:36 AM
Heh, I don't even like people who wrap themselves in the flag metaphorically. And I love the background of the girl in the rebel dress -- nothing says history like a minivan, does it?
Posted by: Gidget Bananas | 07/04/2006 at 11:46 AM
semi-related: I was at the knitting store the other day and there was sock yarn in all types of "patriotic" color combinations-Italy/Mexico, US/UK/France/Australia, Germany. Also, not to be a scold, but the holiday is "Independence Day," July 4th is simply the date. Although my people wouldn't have independence for another 90 years...but that's another discussion!
Posted by: foodandshoes | 07/04/2006 at 11:49 AM
well, when the puppy gets married she will be the best dressed of all the patriotic brides.
Posted by: rowena___. | 07/04/2006 at 12:41 PM
Happy Anniversary, happy anniversary, happy anniversary...Haaaaapy anniversary. To you!I would love to have the Moschino English flag handbag. But a dress? Not so much. Well, maybe in a very mod moment I could imagine it, but only if I had a tricked-out Vespa to match the dress. Or if I was driving a Mini with the Brit flag paint job. Might as well go whole hog. Not to veer too far off the topic, but I very much like the notion of matching dress to car as artist Sonia Delaunay did. (Can't find an image.) I guess that's a freak flag we dress lovers can wave on another day, though. Happy Independence Day, everyone.
Posted by: lucitebox | 07/04/2006 at 01:35 PM
I go with the pooch's dress, although Puppy looks a bit sad in it's frock.
Posted by: demondoll | 07/04/2006 at 02:15 PM
I can't help but think the stripes on that first dress' train should have been oriented the other way. How AR is that? What a great post.
Posted by: enc | 07/04/2006 at 03:14 PM
Aw....the doggie dress is definitely my favorite too! A Confederate flag dress? She's lucky no one buggy-whipped her. I try to stay away from flag dresses. They are so hard to wear. ;-)
Posted by: Gigi | 07/04/2006 at 03:21 PM
Happy Anniversary to you Erin and Dear Mr dress a day too. I hope you had a nice one. I like the top dress. Where I would wear it I have not a clue. The puppy looks so sweet in the flag frock. I hope he/she was not to unhappy to get dressed up and have the picture taken. Dame Shirly looks fantastic as always. I would not wear a flag dress its too much for me. I probably would wear a top. I am partial to the Union Jack. I have a Union Jack tank top. It is white and pink. Its not even traditional colors. I just wear it in the summer. I would have taken Austen Powers Jag with the Union Jack flag painted on it if someone would be nice enough to give it to me. Happy 4th everyone.
Posted by: Floridaprincess | 07/04/2006 at 11:24 PM
I have a theory about flag dresses. You have to be under 10.
Posted by: Anonymous | 07/05/2006 at 12:23 AM
or a dog, the dog pulls it off pretty well. :)
Posted by: Anonymous | 07/05/2006 at 12:23 AM
The basic problem of the flag dress is that flags are designed to be displayed as the rectangles they are, and it is tricky to alter rectangular designs to flatter the human body while keeping the original design recognizable. Australian flag, as worn by Dame Edna Everage:http://www.coolabah.com/mb3/pictures/photoalbum/PAViewPhoto.asp?ID=197I think the DC flag ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Washington,_DC ) would make a lovely dress. I see a strapless dress with a full skirt. The stars would be on the chest, and the first red stripe would be a wide waistband.
Posted by: Ruth W | 07/05/2006 at 09:55 AM
I found another one by the same company here - worryingly it is on a bridal website as one of their bestsellers....
Posted by: Kate in England | 07/05/2006 at 11:22 AM
Here's a link to that japanese war flag dresshttp://www.hkentreview.com/2001/december/1230to1231/1230.html
Posted by: Claudia | 07/05/2006 at 11:14 PM
Does anyone remember the Tommy Hilfiger show The Cut? There was an American flag ball gown by Elizabeth. I always thought that was spectacular and she didn't cut it at all. I've googled like crazy and can't find any images of it though :(
Posted by: Anonymous | 07/07/2006 at 06:06 PM
Here's an eBay listing with yet another variation of the Lady Roi patriotic American Flag wedding dress. (scroll down a bit on the eBay page) They must still be popular. Scary.The Lady Roi site does not show these in their most recent collections, but apparently it can be special ordered, according to this eBay seller:http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8275031435&category=63851#ebayphotohostingWhat does one use for processional music at a wedding where the bride is wearing one of these?
Posted by: Anonymous | 07/12/2006 at 02:59 PM
I'm SORRY everybody feels that way. My wedding is all about Patriotism. I just wish I would have seen these dress before I bought mine. As it is my dress is white with white beading on the top and I am having read and blue beading added. My maid of honor is wearing red and my bridesmaid is wearing blue. My little flowergirls are wearing white with one having a blue sash and the other with a red sash. The men are wearing black. I will have red/white/blue centerpieces and giving out patriotic theme gifts as thank you gifts. My Bouquet will be have red, white and blue roses. And my cake will have red and blue thru the white frosting. I can't wait for my beautiful Patriotic Wedding. I just wish the 4th of July fell on a Saturday next year!
Posted by: Lizz | 08/24/2006 at 10:01 PM
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANYONE CAN TELL ME WHERE I CAN LOCATE AN AMERICAN FLAG DRESS?I NEED ONE BEFORE MAY 2007 AND CANNOT FIND A MERCHANT THAT SALES THEM ANY LONGER...PLEASE HELP!!!
Posted by: Anonymous | 01/27/2007 at 12:03 PM