To The Red, White & Blue: The American Flag in Fashion

Happy Independence Day 2025! What better way to show national pride than by wearing iconic red, white and blue?

The first official flag of the United States was introduced on June 14, 1777 and represented our founding 13 colonies with thirteen stripes in red and white and thirteen stars.

Did you know that the American flag as we know it today has only been around since 1960?

It was introduced shortly after Hawaii became the nation’s fiftieth state, and in its long and tricolored history, there have been a grand total of 27 official, government approved versions. As states were added, so were the stars. What has remained consistent is the flags thirteen red and white alternating stripes, representing our original thirteen colonies.

America was seen as the land of economic prosperity and enabling dreams – “The American Dream”.  This slogan was made popular through intense marketing. The goal was singular: to project America to be the best place in the world to be living in. And it paid off. America became an attractive destination for some of the world’s smartest immigrants and global investment. Is that now in jeopardy?

Through the years, the American flag has become a fixture in the fashion world all across the United States and even overseas. The fashion world’s homage to the flag has been a little more abstract. It’s most definitely a popular motif, but the banner’s many variations run the gamut from straight-up remodeled – case in point, Givenchy’s spring 2014 men’s techy colored jumpers – to Catherine Malandrino’s gauzy iconic flag dress  (which featured heavily in FIT’s 2009 “Fashion & Politics” exhibition).

Catherine Malandrino
2001 (Courtesy of Pintrest)

Givenchy Men’s Spring 2014 (Courtesy of Vogue.Com)

Most often it’s a bankable commodity – look at Ralph Lauren. The designer has been printing the American flag image on variations on his t-shirts for years. You cannot attend a 4^th of July party without someone in the crowd wearing a Ralph Lauren iconic flag tee. Tommy Hilfiger is another sportswear giant who has consistently incorporated the iconic American symbol as a logo for his collection.

Tommy Hilfiger X Gigi Hadid spring 2017 (Courtesy of Tommy Hilfiger)

Denim & Supply by Ralph Lauren (Courtesy of Lyst.Com)

Thom Browne became famous for his signature red, white, and-blue grosgrain trims, that blend country-strong iconoclasm with theatricality and excitement. Meanwhile, Chanel’s pre-fall 2014 Dallas rodeo extravaganza at the hands of Karl Lagerfeld, embraced the motto “Everything is bigger in Texas.” The show was a star-spangled barn-burner.

Thom Browne Spring 2017 (Courtesy of ssense.com)

Chanel pre-fall2014 (Courtesy of Vogue.Com)

So, in honor of Independence Day, wear your flag motif proudly. No matter your political party, we should all be patriots!

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By: Francesca Sterlacci
Title: Patriotic Fashion- Happy July 4th
Sourced From: www.universityoffashion.com/blog/patriotic-fashion/
Published Date: Sat, 05 Jul 2025 14:19:56 +0000

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