Repetition Elsewhere: Hosiery Hues

The Color Association‘s started sending a newsletter, entitled Cause for Thought. Monday’s topic covered hosiery from the 1920’s and the history behind the palette. I found it fascinating. When hemlines rose, so did the desire to wear stockings. The colors reflected society’s optimism for a brighter future following World War I.

“The Standard Hosiery Color Card of America was issued in 1927 in co-operation with the National Association of Hosiery and Underwear Manufacturers. This report consists of 88 hues that include: 12 pastel shades such as Sky Blue, Turquoise and Apple Green, 12 brights such as Yale Blue, Golf Green adn Mandarin, countless beige; Grain, Aloma and Alesan along with taupes ranging from Gravel and Piping Rock.”

November 16, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Tribal Packaging with L'Occitane

L’Occitane’s recently released a limited edition line of beautifully marked shea butters inspired by the scents of Africa. The markings are reminiscent of Aboriginal design, though specifically reference West African traditional Bogolan fabric. I snapped this shot in the Marais yesterday. The collection’s vibrant and a beautiful interpretation of these mud markings.

October 24, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Trend: Confining Soft Geometrics

Anyone who knows me will attest to the fact that I’m very passionate about technology in the print, pattern and color departments. As much as I love documenting the internet’s future unfold from a visual point of view, I also love finding organic solutions to daily design dilemmas.

This leads me to today’s feature on soft geometrics. Rough-cut collages have been popping up all over ffffound and Pinterest filling mood boards and music posters for over a year now- it was but a matter of time before artists and designers started applying a commercial hand, reinterpreting their voice through this jagged aesthetic.

Cynthia Rowley’s current Fall collection reminds me of a God’s eye craft project, it also looks like a texturized version of my old portfolio site, Pixel Rumor. Ana Montiel‘s most recent collaboration with Nina Ricci reveals a stunning work in progress of diamond-cut shards, texturized into the shape of a heart. Proving the iPad can serve as a canvas, paintbrush and scissors, Nathalie Chikhi has created a series of digital designs. All beautiful, inspiring and infused with a feminine hand.

September 13, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Retail: Displaying Terracotta

When everyday items turn up in unexpected places, the results can be really fun. Even a terracotta pot can tell a story when displayed as a pattern on a wall. Taking a page out of Anthropologie’s playbook of presenting small things in mass, Pylos, a Greek restaurant in the east village of Manhattan has had their ceiling covered with curvy jugs since the day they opened.

On the other side of town in the meatpacking district, L’occitane‘s latest retail venture utilizes a similar concept. Terracotta pots line the entrance and ceiling. The impact is strong, the concept creative and budget, most definitely affordable.

August 18, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Beauty: Nail Commitments

Inverted manicures, leopard prints and African inspired patterns are all a part of the photo reel on Hey Nice Nails. We’ve been watching several of these trends blossom over the past year, particularly the inverted manicure trend. For the allotted real estate, the textured results are impressive.

For more committed beauty enthusiasts, tattooing has returned as a high maintenance option, as noted by StyleSight‘s latest facebook report, referencing Jacci’s beauty experience on her blog, Being Perfect is Hard.

While the designs last as long as the nails do, the feeling of permanence (and rebellion) is still present, making for a nice semi-commitment that packs a punch.

July 26, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Beauty: Chanel's Digital Dance

Chanel’s gone and outdone themselves! With the help of Peter Philips and his brilliant animation eye, this monolithic brand has jumped into the animation pool head first, proving they’re not second fiddle behind Burberry in the pool of digital relevance. This Chanel beauty kit comes to life as a robot, interestingly giving us a masculine take on a brand that’s so extremely feminine…love the mix up. Click here to watch this Trontastic video.

January 27, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik