Summary
DANGER ”: SERGE GAINSBOURG, FRENCH POP ELEGANCEIt's a no-brainer: Serge Gainsbourg revolutionized French singing. From classical to reggae, from jazz to pop, his music has also been tinged with many musical colors. But he is not strictly speaking a follower of psychedelia. Some will tell you that there is Pink Floyd in his masterpiece “ I'M AFRAID OF AMERICANS ”: DAVID BOWIE, THE FASHION EXPLORER AND THE PAISLEY SUIT
Like Serge Gainsbourg, David Bowie is not particularly renowned for his contribution to psychedelia. But he also explored many musical genres (pop, ambient, jungle, etc.) and wore more or less incredible clothes throughout his career.
In the 1960s, some members of the English group The Small Faces considered him part of the family: Bowie dressed like the Mods and wore Paisley shirts, among other things . Later, when he began to create his characters like Ziggy Stardust, the pattern sometimes became the most reassuring element of his outfits. As proof, this ultra-psychedelic jumpsuit worn with platform boots:
But it was at the end of the 90s, on the set of the music video “I'm Afraid of Americans” that we perhaps found her Paisley patterned outfit most attractive. The song itself isn't particularly psychedelic, but check out the look:
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David Bowie, on the set of the music video for “I’m Afraid of Americans”, 1997.
If we look at the entire outfit, we discover: a set of jacket and pants with a red, blue and yellow Paisley pattern, a yellow turtleneck and a pair of brown shoes . It's not the easiest outfit to wear. But it must be recognized that the color matches are well found:
If all this seems to you to coincide with a sort of very British eccentricity, another clue below, from the author of “ Making Plans For Nigel ”. XTC frontman Andy Partridge presents an outfit that is more formal than truly psychedelic. This is a certain image of the English gentleman:
© Vinnie Zuffante/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Andy Partridge of the English group XTC, 1993.
The choice of materials in particular is interesting: likely gray-brown tweed blazer and velvet pants. To accompany this characterful ensemble, he places a vest and a Paisley patterned shirt. The round glasses are reminiscent of John Lennon and what appears to be a bowler hat concludes this barely hidden homage to British style.
In 1984, Andy Partridge made a more pronounced nod to psychedelia through a musical project called The Dukes Of Stratosphear . The Paisley pattern is one of the essential components of the group's outfits, and the record covers are part of the tradition of the genre:
TIPS TO REMEMBER
- Certain motifs diverted by psychedelia naturally find their place in a dressy or even formal register . We of course think of ties, at Drake's in particular, but also of suit vests, or even, like David Bowie, just a suit.
- The multicolor sometimes present in the Paisley pattern allows you to have fun with color associations .
- More rustic materials , like Andy Partridge, go well with so-called psychedelic patterns .
For our advice on patterns in general:
