Which is the meaning of the fez in lounge culture? - Beyond Tiki

DTG DJ Terence Gunn Member Joined: Jun 20, 2005 Posts: 250	DTG DJ Terence Gunn Posted posted on Fri, May 18, 2007 1:25 PM I think far too many people are 'reading into' the implementation of the fez-wearing trend in today's (and yesterday's) Lounge culture fashion. It has absolutely nothing to do with Shriners/Masons or Polynesian culture, nor to do with enlightenment and religion (forbade to bear one's head, for example). Has it to do with a connection to an exotic locale? Yes: Egypt and North Africa (French Morocco, in particular), and Turkey. Has it to do with 'I saw other people wearing them at a cocktail party'? Definitely yes. Has it to do with 'I saw fezzes being worn in films like Casablanca, etc., when they were in a nightclub, restaurant, etc., smoking and drinking; and I noticed that the fez complements well its coupling with a tux jacket'? Most definitely yes. Has it to do with 'I keep seeing the fez pop up in Lounge/Tiki art'? Most assuredly definitely yes. Read into the meaning all you want, but basically the fez today is a fashion trend like any other; one that someone adopted for reasons other than its connection to Morroco and the Turks, but which its imagery and influence layed in (most likely from films), and which others soon emulated. The fez works well for balding men and men who wear their hair extremely short. And although the fez DOES look complementary to a white tux jacket and tie, with a thick head of pompadoured hair, I wouldn't be caught dead in one.

I think far too many people are 'reading into' the implementation of the fez-wearing trend in today's (and yesterday's) Lounge culture fashion. It has absolutely nothing to do with Shriners/Masons or Polynesian culture, nor to do with enlightenment and religion (forbade to bear one's head, for example).

Has it to do with a connection to an exotic locale? Yes: Egypt and North Africa (French Morocco, in particular), and Turkey.

Has it to do with 'I saw other people wearing them at a cocktail party'? Definitely yes.

Has it to do with 'I saw fezzes being worn in films like Casablanca, etc., when they were in a nightclub, restaurant, etc., smoking and drinking; and I noticed that the fez complements well its coupling with a tux jacket'? Most definitely yes.

Has it to do with 'I keep seeing the fez pop up in Lounge/Tiki art'? Most assuredly definitely yes.

Read into the meaning all you want, but basically the fez today is a fashion trend like any other; one that someone adopted for reasons other than its connection to Morroco and the Turks, but which its imagery and influence layed in (most likely from films), and which others soon emulated.

The fez works well for balding men and men who wear their hair extremely short. And although the fez DOES look complementary to a white tux jacket and tie, with a thick head of pompadoured hair, I wouldn't be caught dead in one.

Post #307336 by DJ Terence Gunn on Fri, May 18, 2007 1:25 PM