Monday, December 29, 2014

Ombre :: Hombre

So when did ombre become such a big thing? I hadn't realized it was until my daughters were asking for clothes that were 'ombre.' I wasn't sure what it was exactly that they were asking until they explained "you know mom, it's graduated colors." As if everyone knows that. And yes, my 12-year-old used 'graduated colors' in her definition. 

But see that's the thing. I never thought of ombre having to do with color. The word always reminded me of those old Westerns. The ones with a poncho-wearing Clint Eastwood that would talk through his cigar; saying just a handful of words as he squinted at the sun.

I figured that I just must have had the definition mixed up. But when I went looking for the meaning of ombre, I found several. The classic Spanish (hombre) for 'man.'  Ok, there's my Clint Eastwood reference. But there is also another that dates back to Spain (16th Century) for a card game like the game of Whist.

So how did this definition become known in the fashion world for the graduation of color tones? Apparently that definition comes from the French for 'shade' ... which was then applied to clothes, hair or even art when using graduated colors.

I didn't even think of it as something people do to their hair until the last season of The Voice. When I saw Gwen Stefani's hair I realized that this was a style I was seeing at the office. I had noticed girls were darkening their roots leaving highlights on the ends. At first I thought it was just a messed up dye job, but then saw too many people with the same style to think it was a mistake. A quick google told me that I was simply out of date and not up on my fashion jargon for the ever popular 'ombre hair.'

So I'm not ready to be doing any 'ombre' to my hair, but I kinda like the look for beading. So I did a bit of simple peyote and just changed up the colors as I went. Then I beaded it into a strip of old jeans. I did a straight cut and wore it for a couple of days as I wanted it to fray just like we used to do in high school when we thought it was cool to have that worn in look. Yeah, I might be out of style, but if I wait long enough it comes back.

14 comments:

  1. Okay, I'm chuckling because you work in NYC and you just now found out about the ombre style! Thank Cod for kids huh? :) I love how your bracelet turned out! Great idea to use jeans too!

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  2. Hilarious! You sound like how my husband would respond if I said I wanted to do my hair ombre or find a ombre'd sweater. lol! The good, the bad, and the ugly..! Hear the music?

    Love the cuff. :-)

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  3. I love your bracelet! I also like ombre'd things a lot!! Happy New Year!

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  4. When my granddaughter, Delaney, was visiting for T'giving, we did ombre nails before we went to a big game. Delaney would love your beaded denim bracelet. I love it, too!!!

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  5. I love it and the use of the old jeans for the closure. Your color choices are great.

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  6. Hombre and ombre always peak my interest ;-)
    The addition of the denim is just genius! And it looks so comfy. Clint would probably like to see it in worn leather, too, Hombre. (or is it Wo-Hombre?)
    I am smitten with the width too ~ great piece!

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  7. You're not alone. It took a long time for me to get the concept.
    Thanks for sharing the history.

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  8. Nice job on the beaded denim! Very "ombre". I have been noticing tons of ombre hair recently. If I was young, I would want to give it a try. Over 40 would probably be pushing it!

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  9. I have been under the weather and knew if I popped into your blog, you would have me giggling! HAHA...Bad Dye job! I also never understood the two-toned hair, but then, I am so not hip! It's all I can do to keep up with covering all the gray!

    Love the bracelet - and the pic of Clint, of course!

    Happy New Year to you!

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  10. Love the cuff! Very innovative to put it on denim. I still have a pair of jeans I wear that are "fraying" they are my favourite and wear when painting, etc!

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  11. I love the ombre style and your cuffs are fabulous! For clothes it is sometimes referred to as "dip-dye".

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  12. Love the bracelet! Very creative! Happy New Year ;o) Many blessings for a great 2015 ;o) Big Hugs ;o)

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  13. This was a VERY EDUCATIONAL post! haha! I just learned something new. Thank you!

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  14. For me the jury is still out on the ombre hair. But the jury returned with a verdict on the bracelet - a winner! I love the idea of fray. I see transitional mysteries in the ombre pattern you stitched up.

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