Wig Wag: The Flags of Fashion

Wig Wag examines the allusions fashion designers make to sports and ethnic identity-which also appeals to sheer nostalgia-by using flags in the context of contemporary clothing. The book sifts through this explosion of insignia to show how the creative processes of fashion are closely linked with that of cinema, art, design, and music. Author Alessandra Vaccari detaches flags from their primary association with the idea of nationalism, and follows their metamorphoses in the hands of designers like Schiaparelli, Dior, and Pucci; and stylists like Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, Vivienne Westwood, Franco Moschino, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Antonio Marras, Alexander McQueen, and Viktor & Rolf. Even today's streetstyle brands-like Mambo, Vans, Eastpak, Gsus, Nigro, Stussy, and Ipath. Vaccari finds room for the Brazilian, Jamaican, and Japanese colors, as well as red flags, rainbow flags, and the flags of those who have no country.