Sunday, January 24, 2010

Yay or Nay? Niel Gow

There was a resounding Yay for the classic look of Maria Anoinetta's grand display of a robe a la francaise. I am happy that many were in agreement with me that she could do without the cherubs in her ensemble though. The selection this week I couldn't resist putting up, based on its small reaction from a post of last week.


Henry Raeburn paints Niel Gow (1787) in his Prussian blue wool coat and waistcoat, plaid pants, and plaid stockings; no doubt celebrating the uplifting of the tartan ban. Yay or Nay?

[National Galleries Scotland]

17 comments:

  1. Where to begin with this? I'm all for displays of celebratory nationalism, but the stockings are overdoing it, not to mention that the pants don't match the coat very well. His hair looks greasy lying flat as it does, and his cheeks are very ruddy. So that would be a nay from me.

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  2. Nay. Plaid pants are never a good thing. He might pass muster if his hair was washed and his pants matched his coat and he only had the stockings to add a hint of umm...quirk factor

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  3. oh no dear, not a good look. Too much going on, hair, trousers, stockings. Sorry, it's a Nay from me too.

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  4. You have a cruel streak, don't you?

    I like plaid (especially in a punk [NOT grunge] way), but the stockings/breeches combo is too much. One or the other would be a nice splash. Or perhaps a vest would have been nice. I agree that the hair looks greasy. Not a Hunk Alert, to be sure! Nay.

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  5. Yay! Just because it is so crazy. :)

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  6. Trewes, which is what he's wearing, are always plaid! I don't care for the plaid stockings though. They should have been the same color as his jacket, though if he's celebrating the lifting of the ban, I can understand his desire to wear as much plaid as possible.

    So, I'd have to give a qualified yes for a heart in the right place.

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  7. Umm. Are you serious heather? Really? No. ...

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  8. LOL Nope.

    But I like the look on his face. He looks really into the music and into making a political statement with his clothes. (Like alot of modern day rockers.)He's even kinda grungy. LOL ;)

    But he sure isn't a clothes horse. So, no to the outfit and hygiene. But yes to the attitude!

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  9. Wikipedia says Niel Gow was trained as a plaid weaver before becoming a professional musician. This might explain some of his fondness for plaid! I think he looks like a thoughtful man with a strong personal style, so YAY.

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  10. I say Yay, for just diving right in. If you're going to be excited about plaid, might as well go all the way.

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  11. I say yay on behalf of all the punk kids out there still sporting a very similar look.

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  12. I suppose the models can't always be attractive... In any event, I love plaid trousers, which are both fun hearted and tend to emphasize the right curves. However, as much I enjoy going against the crowd, I agree that the stockings are too much. How about an 'eh'?

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  13. I'm not the biggest fan of the plaid, but it will still be a YAY from me. After all, the violin is the perfect accessory! Wait no...that's Karl Lagerfeld. =P

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  14. nay. Sorry, but the pantalons have got to go. And the pose itn't good either; he looks like some character from a Norwegian fairytale.

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  15. P'raps not...punk inspired clothing is all very well (Mr Gow was before his time =p) but slight overdose here. Also the punk homage nowadays (as far as I'm aware) does not include greaseball hair! Gross.

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