For the love of The Fool
Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at 07:56AM I’ve shown glimpses of a bag “painted by me” and on Joni’s request I’m posting about it now.
I used the Jacquard Lumiere and Neopaque paints that I have been using to paint shoes to liven up this staid bag that I’ve had for ages. It’s a DKNY nylon bag that only got pulled out when I needed to look ‘”professional.” Since there is no longer the need for that, I was going to give it away.
In preparation for my trip to London, I remembered that my fabric bags are not the best things to take since it rains so darn much. So I decided to turn the black bag into something I would actually use.
I wasn’t sure if the paint would take or last so I decided to just paint the front pocket and see. After the paint dried, I heat set it with an iron, then tested it with some water. Yup, it was permanent! Since then it's been exposed to several rainstorms and the paint has stayed put.
As you know I can’t get enough of star, sun and moon motifs. And the design was no doubt influenced by my most favorite designers of the 1960s: The Fool, a Dutch design and music collective. As creators of psychedelic style clothing, graphic, and environments, they worked with The Beatles on the short-lived Apple Boutique venture, provided art direction for the cult classic film Wonderwall and designed clothes for a number of rock stars.
Photo by Karl Ferris
I was thinking of the shirt when I stenciled the one in this post.
Of course, I adore the medieval-inspired elements of The Fool's designs.
Panne velvet! Stars! Leg o' mutton sleeves! Swoon...
All of these images are on The Fool's Facebook page. Be sure to go there to drool over the pics.
In a February, 1971, issue of Seventeen magazine that I purchased recently, I found this article on fashion by Seemon and Markijke of The Fool.
Astrobeams: Be a galaxy girl in rainbow-striped mixers! There's also a great article on The Fool from the December 3, 1967, issue of The Observer posted on Sweet Jane.
The video on that post and below shows the psychedelic bits in the film, Wonderwall. Even with all the trippy clothes, graphics and sets, my favorite design in the film is Jane Birkin’s fairy princess dress (seen at 3:56).
Screen shot from Wonderwall taken from here.
I also love this graphic from the film.
Linking to Lakota's Ta-Dah! Tuesday.
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Reader Comments (8)
Wow! I got a whole lot more than I asked for and I love it! All these photos remind me of the Age of Aquarius song I use to sing over and over in my youth out in the backyard.
I love what you did with your purse. I just pulled out a black messenger bag yesterday and am wanting to do something with it. I always go for the celestial designs too. Now you've got me inspired. Thanks Jo!
what a fab idea to paint the bag, loving the result and it's so bright and fun!
blog hopping from ta dah tuesday over at lakota's
susan
O,those are some fabulously inspirational images!!!
The bag looks incredible! Take,that Donna Karen and your boring eithic, here's a sock in the eye with some craftiness!
XXX
Thanks for these fabulous images, they've inspired me already! The Teabreak picture is astounding, very Indian, so obviously I love it!
xxx
This is an amazing post, your bag is wonderful and the clothes, my word, the clothes are utterly fabulous x
Your bag is lovely - definitely not dull now.
Love the bag!
Thanks so much for the link to The Fool's facebook page. I love that Apple logo jacket so much it hurts.
I have to admit I've never liked those nylon Prada bags, so this is a big improvement. Very you and a great makeover x