Disturbed & Estranged

Like these jeans? They're from Rock & Republic, one of the binomially named fashion companies I mentioned in a post last week. The jeans themselves have a binomial name: Crazy B#@!h. Yep, that's their actual name and verbatim spelling. The color? It's called Violator.

If "Crazy B#@!h" and "Violator" sound like names you could wear with pride, you'll love the rest of Rock & Republic's nomenclature. Jeans style names include Disturbed, Undefined, Informer, Grieve, Estranged, Resentful, and Voracious (Ouch! That's my thigh you're noshing on!).

Then there are Crazy B#@!h's badass sisters, Skinny B#@!h and F#@k Me B#@!h. (Bergdorf Goodman primly abbreviates the names to Crazy B and Skinny B.)

As for color selection, the various shades of indigo include Deranged, Tabloid, Laced Bondage, Apocalypse, Hypocrite, Black Eye, Standoff Duel, Cursed, Sabotage, Stagger, Desecration, and Tragedy.

I'd been aware of Rock & Republic, but hadn't done an extensive study of the brand's naming system until today, when Karen alerted me to it. She'd noticed some of the names at RueLaLa, a flash-sale site that's offering discounted Rock & Republic clothing and accessories for a few days this week.

Oddly enough, Estranged, Disturbed, et al. coexist at Rock & Republic with a set of more-conventional  style names such as Cindy, Melody, Larissa, and—but of course!—Pandora. Most of the men's styles have ho-hum boys' names—Neil, Flynt, Floyd, Taylor—although I did discover "Super F#@!" at Bloomingdales.com.

I've never owned Rock & Republic clothing. But, like most women, I have tried on some jeans I suspected of being resentful. I resented them right back.

Comments

[Kristina Moore]

So when I walk into a store, can I ask where are the “F#@k Me B#@!h Bondage and Black Eye Rock & Republic jeans? Are you kidding me?! I had no idea R&R used such derogatory names. As a stylist one of the main features I look for is best fit. Obviously, I am familiar with the jeans and several styles actually do have a nice fit, but give me a break! Now, I will continue to pay attention to fit and pay even more attention to style names and wash names. I fully support good fashion as a tool to aid us at being our best selves – to look confident and to feel empowered. Based on the detailed information that you brought to my attention, I don’t think R&R’s mission is the same. I am all for being cheeky, but I will not be a Hypocrite and Sabotage the female gender under any circumstances. Just call me Deranged! Words do matter. Thank you Nancy for doing this study!

[retro Jordans]

I am familiar with the jeans and several styles actually do have a nice fit, but give me a break!