19 November '17: Stripes and scoundrels

Stripes rock. They’re so unambiguous and directional – “Follow me! I know EXACTLY where I’m going!” But stripes haven’t always had positive connotations. In Medieval times, black and white stripes (like those in this marble chopping board from @habitatuk, bottom right) were worn by the likes of prisoners, criminals, prostitutes and hangmen by way of showing their status (or lack of). It was only when Queen Victoria dressed her son in a sailor suit centuries later that stripes got the favourable PR they deserved. Nothing like a cracking tale of triumph over adversity, huh?

Martha, The Colour File x 

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© Martha Roberts

2 thoughts on “19 November '17: Stripes and scoundrels

  1. Helen Perry says:

    Lovely bit of stripes history 😊. Why are we so drawn to them I wonder? Is it because they are orderly, or is it the subliminal style association with Coco Chanel and the French? I’m certainly a sucker for them.

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