To make the pillows look plump but I just shake mine and then arrange them. I too don't like the "karate chop" look.

So that people know they are down-filled ?

Try karate-chopping a stiff polyester filled pillow, lol

My guess is that pillow owner sees the karate chops in a magazine
and tries to duplicate the look; PO has no clue the pillows are going to
be discussed on the world wide net.

You should start a blog about those idiosyncracies that beg for an explanation. I probably have a few of those in my house.

Could never figure it out. Dorkiest thing.

Raising hand meekly I kind of like the look

I've been meaning to ask the same question! At least I now know what to call "the look".

Maybe one or two, but not all.....

Always hated the look on pillows scattered on furniture throughout a room. Hate it even more in a grouping like this.
Gayle

My MIL does that. I have never quite understood why. Maybe, the karate chopping vents some frustrations? hmmm, perhaps I should try it! :)

There was a moment in the 80's when a row of loose square pillows replaced traditional back cushions on sofas, and one particular advertiser and a bunch of shelter magazine stylers started karate-chopping the pillows, I suppose thinking that it created a new look that would catch people's eyes.

Speaking as someone who redesigned an old sofa with that kind of back pillows (but NOT, I hasten to add, with the chop), I understand it as a way of organizing the pillows. Don't like it, but I understand why somebody tried it.

It went away pretty quickly in the original places, but it seems to have developed a life of its own.

Here's mine, without the chop...and they could have been a lot less messy for the photo!

If you sew big eyes and whiskers on the pillows you will have seven kitties on that bed.

Snort, snort.

I don't punch or karate chop my pillows, but I do arrange by size and color. Good one sable!!!

The first time I saw this look was years and years ago in Europe--way before it became fairly common in the US. I suspect that it also had something to do with the pillows being down as was mentioned earlier, so that the slump is somewhat automatic, and perhaps we've gone overboard with the "chop". It seems to be a more casual look so perhaps that's also what those using it were trying to achieve.

LOL ... looks silly to me ... way too contrived!

I love down pillows - heavier, just look better to me. They do tend to kind of fall that way (like the one in the front in the pic), but the *karate chop* is a bit overdone.

tina

Crazy about the kitty-eyes idea!
Too funny.

Doesn't look any sillier than any other bed full of decorative pillows IMO. But I think the down pillow "slump" previously mentioned is the inspiration - if they are going to slump then get them to all slump the same.

Maybe it's the fun of yelling HIIIII-YAHHH! as you do it. :)

OK, This is how it all started ~~~~~

{{!gwi}}

need I say more ~~~~~

Karate chopped is an understatement in my bedroom. Looks like most hate it? I love. Love. Love.