Avast: Pirate Chic Returns

Break out your eye-patch and shine up your thigh-highs -- pirate chic is gathering steam as a sartorial trend this season. Over-the-knee boots were big on FW09 women's runways (including those of Prada and Rodarte), but it was Vivienne Westwood who resurrected the style for men this past week at SS10 men's shows in Milan. And there was nothing subtle about the latter's reference to wayward vigilantes of the sea; her second look down the catwalk consisted of silver, barely there swim trunks, a graphic knit tee, and nothing else save for an eye-patch, suede boots, and a sword slung in a scabbard at the waist of the mannequin in question.

Keeping with the pirate trend is this month’s issue of L’uomo Vogue. Ed Ruscha mugs for the cover of the rag, an image captured by photog Mark Seliger. In addition to a coat and shirt from Prada, the iconic artist is seen sporting an eye-patch. Chalk it up to Somalian rebels finally infiltrating the fashion industry. Regardless, this is one trend that likely won’t surface on too many streets no matter the high-fashion push.