Yes, I realise that the objective is most likely the exact opposite, but I feel it makes the car look cheap and tacky. Even more so if the body is red as well. It just doesn’t work for me.
It’s the stitching especially on seats which I’m talking about – regardless really, whether it’s just regular stitching or piping. And more specifically, it’s the red type which is more often than not used as a contrast to a seat of a different colour.
Oddly, I must admit that the red sole on a Christian Louboutin stiletto has a brilliant visual impact. So much so, that he has patented the stylish yet seductive effect. For the benefit of our readers who are unwilling to admit that they know of the Louboutin stiletto, we hereby give you a small gallery of eye-candy:
To the best of my knowledge, no one has yet attempted to patent the red piping which we sometimes find in various cars.
Not surprising if you ask me. Because why would you? I truly dislike the look, and I’m even quite adamant about it looking cheap and nasty, pretty much regardless of which car the red piping is used on. An opinion which should be viewed in context of me normally having a great appreciation of subtle and tasteful contrast colours on classic cars – and I suppose on new ones as well for that matter. But it just doesn’t work when we’re talking red piping. And as already mentioned – it’s only made worse if the car in question is sporting a bright red paintjob as well.
My close friend and ViaRETRO’s International Editor recently sent me a link to a classic car which was up for sale. To be honest, it was a thoroughly stunning car too! After all, has TVR everbuilt a car that wasn’t stunning? But it had red piping on its seats, which immediately made me realise that red piping and me just don’t gel. It was of course made even worse by this specific TVR being painted red. I generally struggle with red cars in the first place, but when further red effects are put into play as well, one really needs to tread carefully. It would need to be applied very discreetly – not something which has ever been TVR’s core competence. But if nothing else, I suppose that particular TVR at least displayed this fact perfectly.
So thank you for the link Anders, but no thank you. The red piping ruined it for me.
But thinking about it afterwards; was it a hysterical overreaction? Should I perhaps show a bit more tolerance towards TVR’s grave mistake? Or was there something universally wrong with what they had done?
Eventually I concluded that yes, there is in fact just something universally wrong about red piping. And not just in red cars either, as they always seem to look vulgar and somewhat crude. Which is really quite ironic seeing as its usually an effect utilised in an attempt to make a car appear more exclusive and upmarket. But the end result never fails to be the exact opposite. It appears over-the-top and just plain Bling!
I only managed to find one single car which could just about get away with it: The Rolls-Royce Camargue – the elegant version of late-seventies extravaganza. In my opinion, this statement of stylish decadence can indeed carry its red piping with some degree of success. What say you dear reader?
But every other picture I could find of red piping or stitching, only went to confirm my point: It looks plain cheap.
Truth be told, it’s the red one which I’m apparently especially oversensitive towards. Contrasting grey, green or blue tones are not near as bad, and white piping in combination with the right colours can actually look quite acceptable. Yet as a general rule, I would still prefer my seats sanspiping. But don’t just take my word as gospel. View the pictures below and please do chip in with your own views in the comments area below.
