Over a year ago, I wrote about the Keep Calm and Carry On poster, an old WWII British propaganda sheet that was revived in 2000 by a bookshop owner who found an old copy and began producing new prints. They became insanely popular. The stiff upper lip attitude is inspiring a few Yankees these days (that's us) and has even debuted in big box stores, like Target. This spring the bullseye brand released canvas versions of the poster, and a series of trays with tongue-in-cheek inscriptions: "Keep Calm and Snack On."
Other home decor products are getting the chilled out treatment: here a rug from a UK boutique provides a welcome reminder before heading out the door.
But - don't discount the posters! They're still popping up in decor everywhere from Vanity Fair to People magazine. Rumor has it that 10 Downing Street has one, and the U.S. Embassy in Belgium.
Like any other popular trend, it's invited its own imitators and mockers - here are a few favorites:
Like any other popular trend, it's invited its own imitators and mockers - here are a few favorites:
And let's not leave out Etsy! A trend isn't a trend until the crafters say it is.
So what do you think? Is this trend done? Or still fun?
Various posters from Flickr.com; room images, Flickr.com. Other images, companies, as attributed above.
