TheCreativeRoutine

The Painter’s Khaki

There are few clothing items currently in existence that shout summer more than khaki shorts. As far as classics go, they’re as classic as it gets. Everyone owns a pair. But does everyone own a pair that’s been splattered with paint? The question is rhetorical, and the answer is clearly no. But I’m beginning to think that perhaps nothing screams timeless style meets youthful modernity louder than a pair of paint-splattered khakis.

The cool thing about paint-splattered khakis is the uniqueness of each garment. It’s really an opportunity to infuse your own personality into the clothing, to truly make it your own. Pre-made paint-splattered khakis that are worth buying are hard to come by. But that’s okay. Because splattering them yourself is half the fun. There’s a certain joy that comes from reminding yourself that at the end of the day clothes are just clothes, and they exist for your amusement. After all, it’s the carefree irreverence of past painters that first inspired regular people to splatter their own garments with paint.

jackson pollock was notorious for the paint-covered items in his closet. after all, paint splattering isn’t limited to khakis.

pollock dripping paint on the canvas, and himself

And of course who can forgot Basquiat? As I’ve highlighted before, Jean-Michel was known to paint in his thousand dollar Armani suits. The brilliance of it was the fact that he bought stylish and expensive suits, then proceeded to get paint all over them, showing just how not serious everything was to him in the long run. It’s just part of the effortlessly cool persona he exuded.

basquiat and cat, presumably also covered in paint.

Then there’s Andy Warhol who apparently wore a pair of Ferragamo brogues quite often during the mid-1980s. Needless to say, by the time he died they were dotted with paint. It still continues to wow me how fashion has such an amazing skill for re-apportioning trends and aesthetics from different areas of life and adopting it as stylish. It’s one of the best things about fashion. When you don paint-splattered khakis (or jeans or shoes), you’re making a statement. You’re in a way embodying the same nonchalant and carefree, creative energy that past painters and artists embodied. You’re channeling that same attitude. Because ultimately, you’re just having fun.