According to legend, the Chinese zodiac originated long ago with the Jade emperor. The emperor decided there should be some way of measuring time, and so challenged the animals to a swimming race across a swift river. The first 12 animals to complete the race would each have a year named after them. The story says 13 animals raced, with the cat coming in last after being tricked by the rat. The sixth animal to complete the race was the sneaky snake.
Tomorrow marks the start of 2013, the Year of the Snake. Snake characteristics include traits such as intelligence, motivation, and influence. In honor of the Year of the Snake, I’d like to use today’s blog post to look at the influence of snake imagery and snakeskin on the worlds of design and fashion.
Snakeskin is a very conceptual texture, something a lot of people love. It’s not for everyone and typically works best in small doses. Snakeskin is about confidence and bringing out your inner fangs!
The use of snake imagery doesn’t have to be literal. It can be incorporated into hardware or mirrors or simply suggested in shapes and lines. Snakeskin is a dramatic choice as well. I used this gorgeous Maya paper on the face front of interior doors in a NYC residence with really amazing results. It’s high glamour, over-the-top chic that doesn’t scream “reptile.”
In fashion, snakeskin is all about confidence and bringing out your inner fangs! I sport snakeskin about once a week on my shoes or bag. It’s a really bold pattern and I love it!
What does the Year of the Snake have in store for you?
