Hat Inspiration for the Kentucky Derby

In preparation for the first Saturday in May, lets talk hats! The Kentucky Derby isn’t only about horses and gambling but also about fashion. I recently caught up with a good friend and hat designer, Satya Twena to get pointers on Derby-Style. She suggested to always to pick your hat first, then your dress.

This is a great tip since when it comes to derby-style the hat is the headliner act, so treat it that way. It’s easier to pick a hat to go with a dress than vice versa and don’t limit yourself to hats, feel free to wear a fascinator. One other tip when prepping for the big race is to not match your hat to your outfit, a little color blocking can be perfect to help your hat to stand out.

I considered her suggestions and took to the streets to find great head pieces that’ll easily translate to everyday wear. Let’s be practical, obviously we’ll want to wear our hats on those hot summer days.

Here are some great finds that’ll help you go from Derby to City-Chic:

1./7. Consider using fascinators! Check out this edgy downtown spike headband by Satya Twena and sweet frilly bow headband by Yestadt Millinery.

3./6. Loving this color-blocked pink brim hat by Yestadt Millinery. Dress it up for the derby with a bright color dress like Blair from Gossip Girl or style it with shorts and a tank for a chic city look

5. DIY! Fold and pin a flower on this wide brim summer hat by Satya Twena for 2 different looks to carry you from the derby to the beach.

2./4./8. Who doesn’t love a straw hat? They’re perfectly paired with any sundress or beach attire yet the bow adds a little spice and enables you to dress it up amazingly for the upcoming horse races! These are fromThe Hat Shop NYC, B arbara Feinman, Yestadt Millinery.

9. And finally for the men, throw on any fedora or bowler and you’re guaranteed to look handsome. With the great line up at Barney’s, you have it easy. (PS- male styles for women, aka Ambit, as worn by Shayna can work too!)

Coverage by Chelsa Skees

April 26, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Visiting Ace & Jig with Steven Alan

How many of you know how hard it is to make a fabric swatch? While we often focus on the printed surface here at Pattern Pulp, it’s always fascinating to hear how various designers approach their craft. Last Wednesday, I accompanied the fine folks at Steven Alan to interview Jenna Wilson and Cary Vaughan, the talented duo behind Ace & Jig at their studio in Cobble Hill. We spent an afternoon sifting through texture, munching on cupcakes and diving into the incredible story behind their brand and business.

While it’s understood that most designers buy their fabric- Jenna and Cary do everything from scratch, a laborious (but rewarding!) process that utilizes their years of industry experience and involves ongoing trips to India. The ladies work with a textile guru who’s as obsessive about the outcome as they are, “it’s a great process working together, it’s really fun and inspiring. He’s as meticulous as we are, and we respect each other’s expertise.”

So what’s a day in the life like when the ladies are at the factory working alongside the weavers and dyers? Follow along with our Q&A as we dissect the success that’s been their past year, how they’ve set a high ethical standard and what a dream collaboration would look like (a little teaser, it’s pattern based)…c lick here to read the interview.

Photos courtesy of Steven Alan & Ace & Jig

April 26, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Mexican Palettes for Spring

With this teaser of a season, everyone’s jumped the gun, then pulled back, then gotten sick about 3x and counting now. Spring and summer season’s on every merchandiser, buyer and customer’s mind, so it’s only appropriate to share a few patterns and palettes that caught our eye this week. Drawing inspiration from aztec culture, this Harvey Faircloth print was recently styled on Moda Operandi by Taylor Tomasi Hill. Similarly inspired by Mexican patterns, this Lulu Tulum Tunic from Calypso St. Barth is bold and festive.

From afar these palettes look similar, though up close, you’ll notice the subtle differences- saturation, balance and variation…one’s rather commercial with wide appeal while the other’s riskier with a more paired down palette, can you guess which is which?

April 25, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Nate Williams

Nate Williams is a designer who specializes in silkscreen illustration, hand lettering and art licensing. He values creativity, curiosity, inspiration, play and discovery. Working with wide variety of clients, his hand drawn lettering and illustration has touched a diverse spectrum of audiences throughout the globe. While presenting work as both himself and Alexander Blue, Nate also runs Illustration Mundo and Letter Playground, two popular illustration community portals. The award winning illustrator also works with the charity organization, Art With Heart and has contributed to the Truth Anti-Tobacco campaign.

Partial Client List: Coca Cola, Urban Outfitters, Converse Shoes, Cartoon Network, Dell Computers, The North Face, Harper Collins, Penguin Group, United Airlines, Microsoft, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Wired Magazine, Nick Jr., BETC PARIS, Draft FCB Toronto, Landor Associates, Leo Burnett, TBWA Chiat Day

April 24, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Helen Dardik

Helen Dardik grew up around the world, creating art all along the way. The talented illustrator and designer now calls Canada her home where she lives with her three little girls. Her exuberant and vibrant work is praised throughout the industry for it’s combination of retro whimsy and modern panache and pattern. Her designs have shown up in a multitude of mediums from patterns, editorial illustrations, book covers & illustration, cards, products and even temporary tattoos. Her client list is already impressive and is constantly expanding. Stay up to date with her projects on her blog Orange You Lucky.

April 21, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Friday Quick Links!

1. Tara St. James’ behind the scenes look at Shibori dyeing (with our very own Chelsa Skees as the model!) via of a kind
2. Tel Aviv designer Hilla Sharmia stunning furniture melds wood with metal via jeannie jeannie
3. Dutch art collective We Make Carpets created these carpets out of plastic clothespins via Plenty of Colour
4. Stunning scarves from Charlotte Linton via Honestly WTF
5. Gorgeous use of color in Amy Sia’s work via Design Crush
6. Impressed by Tilo Uischner’s wood portraits via The Jealous Curator
7. Carnovsky now makes RGB scarves, which may or may not be cooler than their wallpaper via Trendland
8. Definitely coveting these pink smiley shoes via Design For Mankind
9. Emily Forgot’s whimsical Toile de Jouy fabric for the W Paris Opera Hotel via Poppytalk
10. Loving Charlotte Lancelot’s cross-stitch inspired Canevas Collection via Apartment Therapy
11. Lovely new cut book illustrations by Thomas Allen via This is Colossal
12. Natalia Grzybowski‘s Hybrid collection is breathtakingly beautiful via Trendland

Coverage by Emily Gup

April 20, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik