"This is just a fashionable jacket."
October 2, 2013 8:59 AM Subscribe
There has been much debate about how to respond to Russia's recent anti-LGBT laws in the context of the upcoming Sochi Winter Olympics. This previous post on the Blue covers it all in fine detail.
In potentially related news, Germany unveiled their uniforms their athletes will wear during the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as during medal presentations.
The designer says they are in fact an homage to the aesthetic of the 1972 Munich Games.
The designer says they are in fact an homage to the aesthetic of the 1972 Munich Games.
HA
I am also hoping that any Bolivian athletes might have some kind of wiphala representation on their outfits or even just the flags themselves.
posted by elizardbits at 9:08 AM on October 2, 2013 [4 favorites]
I am also hoping that any Bolivian athletes might have some kind of wiphala representation on their outfits or even just the flags themselves.
posted by elizardbits at 9:08 AM on October 2, 2013 [4 favorites]
"Nobody wears rainbows accidentally anymore," I believe I said, somewhat jokingly, somewhat not, in 1997 in a discussion about a certain man of questionable sexuality. Think it applies in this situation as well.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 9:09 AM on October 2, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by MCMikeNamara at 9:09 AM on October 2, 2013 [2 favorites]
Some glow sticks, maybe a nice steady beat...
posted by poe at 9:09 AM on October 2, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by poe at 9:09 AM on October 2, 2013 [5 favorites]
The uniforms walk the line between obvious protest and very plausible deniability extremely well. Sure, they're rainbow-y, but the jackets really only have 3 colors (yellow, green, blue), and the orange of the pants (women's uniforms only?) is in the wrong position. You could just as easily guess that the designer was a baseball fan who grew up in Houston.
posted by LionIndex at 9:10 AM on October 2, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by LionIndex at 9:10 AM on October 2, 2013 [4 favorites]
And they say Germans have no sense of humour...
posted by MartinWisse at 9:11 AM on October 2, 2013 [7 favorites]
posted by MartinWisse at 9:11 AM on October 2, 2013 [7 favorites]
Will the homophobes be pissed off by the German team off piste?
posted by Abiezer at 9:11 AM on October 2, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by Abiezer at 9:11 AM on October 2, 2013 [4 favorites]
LOVE. I hope the USA gets some rainbow too!
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:13 AM on October 2, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:13 AM on October 2, 2013 [2 favorites]
Gott in himmel I love these unies!
posted by Mister_A at 9:20 AM on October 2, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Mister_A at 9:20 AM on October 2, 2013 [2 favorites]
Those jackets are pretty fabulous.
posted by Capt. Renault at 9:20 AM on October 2, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Capt. Renault at 9:20 AM on October 2, 2013 [2 favorites]
It's just the Olympic colours, blue black red yellow and green. Three of them are already in the German flag, so this just highlights the others more. Really. People are reading too much into this. Germany has no history of antagonism against Russia.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 9:32 AM on October 2, 2013 [31 favorites]
posted by GhostintheMachine at 9:32 AM on October 2, 2013 [31 favorites]
Michael Vesper, general director of the DOSB, said, “This is just a fashionable jacket.” trollface.jpg
posted by louche mustachio at 9:32 AM on October 2, 2013
posted by louche mustachio at 9:32 AM on October 2, 2013
Germany has no history of antagonism against Russia.
Heh.
posted by entropone at 9:34 AM on October 2, 2013 [34 favorites]
Heh.
posted by entropone at 9:34 AM on October 2, 2013 [34 favorites]
Are they not a protest then somebody has a very questionable sense of fashion.
posted by Thing at 9:36 AM on October 2, 2013
posted by Thing at 9:36 AM on October 2, 2013
No discussion of Russo-Germanic Homoerotic Tension would be complete without mentioning German disco band extraordinaire Dschinghis Khan and their song about the Russian capital "Moskau."
Youtube Link, complete with colourful lamé outfits.
Previously.
Lyrics excerpt:
Moskau
Fremd und geheimnisvoll
Türme aus rotem Gold
Kalt wie das Eis
Moskau
Doch wer dich wirklich kennt
Der weiß, ein Feuer brennt
In dir so heiß
Moscow
Strange and mysterious
Towers of red gold
Cold as ice
Moscow
But one who really knows you
He knows that a fire burns
So hotly in you
posted by pharaohmagnetic at 9:38 AM on October 2, 2013 [6 favorites]
Youtube Link, complete with colourful lamé outfits.
Previously.
Lyrics excerpt:
Moskau
Fremd und geheimnisvoll
Türme aus rotem Gold
Kalt wie das Eis
Moskau
Doch wer dich wirklich kennt
Der weiß, ein Feuer brennt
In dir so heiß
Moscow
Strange and mysterious
Towers of red gold
Cold as ice
Moscow
But one who really knows you
He knows that a fire burns
So hotly in you
posted by pharaohmagnetic at 9:38 AM on October 2, 2013 [6 favorites]
After their "boys are blue, girls are pink" uniforms in the London Olympics, this...definitely seems deliberate. I like it!
posted by RainyJay at 9:38 AM on October 2, 2013
posted by RainyJay at 9:38 AM on October 2, 2013
*singing* Germany: Fuck Yeah!
posted by scaryblackdeath at 9:43 AM on October 2, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by scaryblackdeath at 9:43 AM on October 2, 2013 [2 favorites]
I really like these! And if it gigs the Russians, so much the better!
Win!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 9:46 AM on October 2, 2013
Win!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 9:46 AM on October 2, 2013
Oder, in der Deutsch "BREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENNEN!"
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 9:48 AM on October 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 9:48 AM on October 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
Canada should break out the Point Blanket Jackets. Maybe too subtle and not clearly enough a rainbow though.
posted by Hoopo at 9:49 AM on October 2, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by Hoopo at 9:49 AM on October 2, 2013 [5 favorites]
"Nobody wears rainbows accidentally anymore," I believe I said, somewhat jokingly, somewhat not, in 1997 in a discussion about a certain man of questionable sexuality.
I beg to differ.
posted by GenjiandProust at 9:50 AM on October 2, 2013 [2 favorites]
I beg to differ.
posted by GenjiandProust at 9:50 AM on October 2, 2013 [2 favorites]
Mr. Proust, I beg to differ.
When I worked in the design department of a small government agency in Mexico every single use of gay, atheistic, liberal, sexual, counter cultural, etc. reference that made it into the posters, banners, flyers, awards, medals, mailers, uniforms and other propaganda pieces was completely intentional.
That they flew over the head of the conservative macho sexist homophone devout catholics who ran the whole government was not the design department's fault.
posted by Doroteo Arango II at 10:02 AM on October 2, 2013 [26 favorites]
When I worked in the design department of a small government agency in Mexico every single use of gay, atheistic, liberal, sexual, counter cultural, etc. reference that made it into the posters, banners, flyers, awards, medals, mailers, uniforms and other propaganda pieces was completely intentional.
That they flew over the head of the conservative macho sexist homophone devout catholics who ran the whole government was not the design department's fault.
posted by Doroteo Arango II at 10:02 AM on October 2, 2013 [26 favorites]
GenjiandProust: "I beg to differ."
Oh Milwaukee, I love you.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 10:09 AM on October 2, 2013 [2 favorites]
Oh Milwaukee, I love you.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 10:09 AM on October 2, 2013 [2 favorites]
Hoopo: Those are Hudson Bay blankets (and are probably a trademark nowadays). They'd need to get The Bay to be a sponsor or something.
posted by irrelephant at 10:27 AM on October 2, 2013
posted by irrelephant at 10:27 AM on October 2, 2013
Those are Hudson Bay blankets (and are probably a trademark nowadays
They are definitely a copyright and Hudsons Bay Co still sells them. Hudson's Bay has the Olympic contract and they are using a little "point blanket stripe" patch as their branding, but personally I would have prefered the point blanket coats because they're cool.
posted by Hoopo at 10:41 AM on October 2, 2013
They are definitely a copyright and Hudsons Bay Co still sells them. Hudson's Bay has the Olympic contract and they are using a little "point blanket stripe" patch as their branding, but personally I would have prefered the point blanket coats because they're cool.
posted by Hoopo at 10:41 AM on October 2, 2013
The wikipedia article on Point Blankets mentions that there are several competitors that make nearly indistinguishable blankets, making me question as to whether HBC was actually able to properly trademark them. As for copyright, the design definitely can't be under copyright anymore.
posted by WaylandSmith at 10:47 AM on October 2, 2013
posted by WaylandSmith at 10:47 AM on October 2, 2013
Canada should break out the Point Blanket Jackets.
Wouldn't be the first time.
posted by Capt. Renault at 10:49 AM on October 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
Wouldn't be the first time.
posted by Capt. Renault at 10:49 AM on October 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
Bogner claims they were an homage to the aesthetics of the 1972 Munich Summer Games and said he wanted to create a "celebratory design, inspired by the great atmosphere of the times."
I'm not sure the "great atmosphere" is what most people associate with the 1972 Munich games.
posted by Panjandrum at 11:15 AM on October 2, 2013 [9 favorites]
I'm not sure the "great atmosphere" is what most people associate with the 1972 Munich games.
posted by Panjandrum at 11:15 AM on October 2, 2013 [9 favorites]
too bad that the colours aren't reversed so the blue is at the top, then the athletes could have dyed their hair purple and finished off the pattern
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 11:50 AM on October 2, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 11:50 AM on October 2, 2013 [4 favorites]
Nice.
posted by homunculus at 12:10 PM on October 2, 2013
posted by homunculus at 12:10 PM on October 2, 2013
Bless you, Germany. Seriously.
posted by Sticherbeast at 12:28 PM on October 2, 2013
posted by Sticherbeast at 12:28 PM on October 2, 2013
This, too is a fashionable jacket.
Here's hoping for mirrors and photojournalists aplenty at the games.
posted by George_Spiggott at 12:53 PM on October 2, 2013 [4 favorites]
Here's hoping for mirrors and photojournalists aplenty at the games.
posted by George_Spiggott at 12:53 PM on October 2, 2013 [4 favorites]
If enough people believe that the German Olympic uniforms are a gay political statement and a dig at Russia, then they will be a gay political statement and a dig at Russia, no matter what the original intent. They will have been co-opted. I'm all for it.
posted by Daddy-O at 1:17 PM on October 2, 2013 [7 favorites]
posted by Daddy-O at 1:17 PM on October 2, 2013 [7 favorites]
"and materials specially tailored to the conditions in Sochi"
I hope they're lined with Kevlar in case the Russian authorities decide to incite violence against anyone wearing the (maybe) rainbow outfits.
posted by mikepop at 1:27 PM on October 2, 2013
I hope they're lined with Kevlar in case the Russian authorities decide to incite violence against anyone wearing the (maybe) rainbow outfits.
posted by mikepop at 1:27 PM on October 2, 2013
> Are they not a protest then somebody has a very questionable sense of fashion.
It's very sad, but hoodies were the big fashion statement at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Has this been entirely forgotten?
posted by jfuller at 2:43 PM on October 2, 2013
It's very sad, but hoodies were the big fashion statement at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Has this been entirely forgotten?
posted by jfuller at 2:43 PM on October 2, 2013
It's very sad, but hoodies were the big fashion statement at the 1972 Munich Olympics
That's not a hoodie, which is a jacket with an attached hood; that's a balaclava or ski mask.
posted by yoink at 3:08 PM on October 2, 2013 [2 favorites]
That's not a hoodie, which is a jacket with an attached hood; that's a balaclava or ski mask.
posted by yoink at 3:08 PM on October 2, 2013 [2 favorites]
As a gay person, the jackets need a bit more purple.
posted by polymodus at 3:31 PM on October 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by polymodus at 3:31 PM on October 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
I don't... I mean... I'm not... Guys, this is not a queer rainbow. It's not even a rainbow. It's just a blue, white, yellow, and green jacket and some orange pants. But not everyone is wearing the orange pants? It doesn't even have all the ROYGBIV colors, and it includes both white and black which aren't even part of the spectrum proper.
I really wish the German team were honestly choosing to wear rainbow uniforms, but it's pretty clear that they're not.
Nice parka, though.
posted by Sara C. at 5:52 PM on October 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
I really wish the German team were honestly choosing to wear rainbow uniforms, but it's pretty clear that they're not.
Nice parka, though.
posted by Sara C. at 5:52 PM on October 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
You know what would be a more effective comment on Russia's draconian anti-gay legislation?
Boycotting the fucking organisation and event that is tacitly supporting it.
Dressing up like a pseudo-rainbow is not very subversive - or difficult - compared to calling out hate and making it clear you will not support it in any way shape or form. If athletes believe their opportunity to skate in a circle or whatever for a prize is more important than a human being's right to live unmolested, fucking shame on them and no jackets make that okay.
Ah who am I kidding. The olympics is such a vortex of moral relativism and corruption I'm sure it's hard to view anything objectively if you're entwined with them.
posted by smoke at 6:03 PM on October 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
Boycotting the fucking organisation and event that is tacitly supporting it.
Dressing up like a pseudo-rainbow is not very subversive - or difficult - compared to calling out hate and making it clear you will not support it in any way shape or form. If athletes believe their opportunity to skate in a circle or whatever for a prize is more important than a human being's right to live unmolested, fucking shame on them and no jackets make that okay.
Ah who am I kidding. The olympics is such a vortex of moral relativism and corruption I'm sure it's hard to view anything objectively if you're entwined with them.
posted by smoke at 6:03 PM on October 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
My friend, Duke, wore this jacket to an Olympics qualifying event in Stuttgart. When he arrived, he didn't see anyone else wearing this fashionable jacket. After speaking with an event organizer, Duke was informed that he'd arrived a day early and was, in actuality, attending a GWAR performance.
posted by horsewithnoname at 9:56 PM on October 2, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by horsewithnoname at 9:56 PM on October 2, 2013 [5 favorites]
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I do like them, statement or no!
posted by tilde at 9:01 AM on October 2, 2013 [2 favorites]