Pattern Pulp

New York: Looking for Magic




For the first time in it’s 8-year history, the New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA) presented an art fair in New York last week. The inaugural edition showcased over 60 international galleries from 24 cities representing 11 countries. Lucas Knipscher was on hand, representing Los Angeles’ Thomas Duncan Gallery and it was extremely impressive.

The trained photographer has taken to bending the boundaries of his medium, stretching his skills into alternate realms including the involvement of textiles.

His expanding artistic practices are rooted in finding the “magic” in photography and in exploring the limits of both the medium and of himself. The results of his experimentation are fascinating, engaging and fun.

For more info, click here & here.

NADA New York: 548 West 22nd St. New York, NY 10011

 

May 14, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Sharing Closets / Sharing Style with Emily




You probably all know Emily by now. She’s a big part of the Pattern Pulp team, forever researching, compiling and writing. She also composes our Friday Quick Links, an inspiring favorite for so many. Emily’s a gentle, intelligent soul with quick wit and a creative hand in crafts. Every time we meet, she’s reinvented a vintage piece as a headpiece, a belt or as jewelry. Unsurprisingly, she’s a lot like her mother.

In her own words…

I’ve always loved looking at pictures of my mother when she was young. When I was little, it was interesting to see the younger version of the mom I knew, and as I grew up I found it fascinating to see how much we mirrored each other in looks and mannerisms. Of course, as a long-standing vintage clothes fiend (probably before I was old enough to even think of going to a thrift store), I frequently told her how I was a little miffed that she hadn’t kept more of her clothes because – especially as a teenager – those styles were the things I most wanted to wear.

Nowadays, my mom and I have different tastes and styles but the same zest for finding something a little different. We’ll go shopping together and dig through each other’s clothes, sometimes trading them and sometimes helping each other find new ways to wear them as current styles change and as we, ourselves, evolve.

 

May 13, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Sharing Closets / Sharing Style with Sarah




Meet Sarah LaFleur, the brains behind Mémé LAFLEUR– a womenswear line for stylish ladies in the corporate sector. Sarah and I met about five months ago through a mutual friend to discuss branding and design, and it’s been an absolute pleasure getting to know her. Her mother is Japanese and her father is American and as you can imagine, she’s been heavily influenced by her mother’s style.

In her own words…

The trend that repeats itself, if it is a trend at all, is comfort, represented by our favorite, big, chunky sweaters.   I’m pretty sure my mom still has this white one. Both she and I worked long hours in a corporate environment and wore wool suits, button-ups and tights all day. She would jump into her over-sized sweaters and yoga pants (or “leggings” as she’d say) as soon as she got home and lounge around the house in those until she went to bed. 35 years later, I do exactly the same.

 

May 13, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Sharing Closets / Sharing Style with Eliz




Meet Elizabeth. You may already be familiar with her, as she’s an occasional contributor on jewelry trends and is forever sending pattern-related articles my way. Our professional paths have always overlapped regardless of the cities we’ve lived in. Be it branding, licensing, our collective stints in women’s lingerie or careers spawned by social media, whenever we’re in a room together, we talk shop (for fun)! Her acute business sense is complimented with sincere support for everyone’s personal projects, a trait worthy of recognition. Unsurprisingly it’s one she shares with her mother, supporter and confidante.

In her own words…

We share a love for bold colors and patterns- in both our clothes and interior decorating choices. It also helps that we share clothes and jewelry. We love vintage shopping and she’s a pro at finding scores- from hand embroidered pillowcases to pearls- on ebay, 1st Dibs, Malleries and Beladora. My mom also likes to share her jewelry with her buddhas- she adorns them with necklaces in the house. Where we differ is that she always believes “more is better” and accessorizes absolutely everything.

 

May 13, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Sharing Closets / Sharing Style with Allison




I’ve known Allison since the early Bat Mitzvah days when we were in the same after-school Hebrew class, trying to master and dodge puberty at the same time. From day one I admired her magnetism and compassion, not to mention that polished bohemian look that made her so effortlessly cool (and popular with the boys)! We’ve both lived in Manhattan close to a decade and it’s been a crazy ride swapping stories and sharing advice on how to turn creative dreams into reality – I couldn’t imagine this city without her.

In her own words…

It’s funny because I used to always wear my mother’s clothing, but now she wears mine, and will go in my closet even when I’m not home to pull things out. A lot of times we end up in similar outfits, though we both do it in ways that are age appropriate.

My grandma Eva, my mom’s mother, was a wonderful artist, and amazing painter- and somehow I think that her love of color has always woven it’s way, even subtly, into the way both my mother and I dress.  There was always a splash of turquoise or coral, or a fuschia flower being brought to a canvas or crocheted onto an afghan.  

When I left to go abroad in college- winter in Ireland under overcast skies- my mom knitted me a bright pink scarf for the journey, and I remember her saying, “you’ll put this on, and it will brighten your day, and everyone else’s, too. It’ll give you joy.”  And I think that way, too now: every time I need a lift, I grab for something bright or handmade, or put on a vivid floral print, and it changes things!  

As my grandma once did, my mom often knits for all of us– just this past winter, my dad randomly pulled out an old scarf and proudly announced, “your mother made this for me for our first Valentine’s!”

 

May 13, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Sharing Closets / Sharing Style with Emily




Meet Emily. She’s one of my newest and kindest friends in New York. We met through the tech and social media circle that is Tom & Jerry’s happy hour, and have been bouncing ideas off one another ever since. From running and technology to Ask Roulette and an ongoing match of Draw Something, she’s an encouraging and practical sounding board, not to mention a very gifted writer. Watching her Instagram feed last weekend inspired me to kick off this series- she ran a half marathon with her beautiful mother and the pictures were just amazing.

In her mother’s words…

Perhaps it seems unreal, but sometimes when I look at my grown daughter, I remember if only for a quick flash, her tiny little legs when she could not yet walk. She could crawl so quickly around our home I called her lightning legs.  Now, almost 28 years later, her legs are stronger and faster than mine.  She encourages and coaches my recoveries after a long run, or shows up with flax seeds to sprinkle into my oatmeal for the boost I might need when I hit the wall.  I taught her to walk, talk, sing and love life.  Now she is teaching me to walk when I need to, run the hills, have songs in my head for company when I am alone, and take each step with humor and dignity. I do not hope to win a race but to be light on my feet.

This keeps me more alive and has been a way to heal a broken heart after the loss of my daughter’s older brother. She knows that I did not know how to continue my life after his death.  Putting on running shoes and  running has been the breath of life I so needed.  She spots a race, registers us, and keeps me focused on the next race…far enough in advance that I keep lacing up.  Thanks lightning legs, for helping me to heal my broken heart.

In her words…

My mom is my inspiration. She’s amazingly kind, strong, generous, adventurous and just plain wonderful. She believes in me so much that I can’t help but aspire to do great things and make an impact in this world. I am so very lucky.

I usually call my mom when I’m walking home from work. One of her favourite questions to ask is: what are you wearing? She loves to be able to picture me amid the beeping taxis and the whir of New York City.

While I gravitate toward pinks, florals, lace and ruffles, my mom loves stripes, polka dots, bold bright colours, bangles, beads and matching outfits. But there’s something amazing that happens quite often when we’re together: we end up accidentally coordinating, borrowing bits of style from one another.

It’s because there’s an essence of style that she’s passed along to me, a lesson about fashion and also about life. It’s the notion that — while experiences are more valuable than things and it’s what’s inside that really counts — the way you take care of and present yourself are some of the things you can control amid all the uncertainties in life. It’s the version of you that the rest of the world sees. And why not make them smile.

I love you, Mom. Thanks, Shayna for featuring my amazing mother and me.

 

May 13, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Tracking Repetitive + Awesome.
On Instagram.