Trend: Baring it with Bubbles

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Bubbles have been inching their way into our commercial consciousness. Be it a translucent outfit for pop starlet Lady Gaga, chemically treated typography on the visual tagging website, ffffound, or a high-end glass necklace made by the Sent sisters of Italy, we can’t help but fixate on the transparent quality of this effervescent material. Danish poet, Hans Christian Andersen illustrates our voyeuristic sentiment best in his famous novel, The Emperor’s New Clothes. Just as the emperor assigned value to the concept rather than the final product, the idea of wearable bubbles is certainly the definition of “fashion over function,” at least when sitting’s involved.

August 4, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Trend: Designing Frequencies

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We seem to be taking our patterns back to the basics lately; finding new and interesting facets to things we see in everyday life — focusing on form rather than utility. Recently, we’ve been noticing an increase in the use of sound waves as a design element. With instant access to fresh new tunes served daily from music influencer sites such as RCRD LBL or Pitchfork, the general population has been able to “see” their music that was once invisible. Illustrating this concept in the most tactile of ways, Lorick’s SS ’09 collection romanticizes the audio file, while this New York Time’s info graphic proves that chaos and structure can be balanced with the simple use of argyle. This cone shell forces us to acknowledge nature’s ongoing influence, making us ask- what came first the ocean wave or the sound wave?

Additional contributions by: Emily Gup

July 31, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Follow-up: Marketing the Disco Ball

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As Lady Gaga’s fame rises, so does her love for all things flashy. Beyond her dance beats and uniquely costumed performances, her devotion to the disco ball is a constant for most of her shows. As we noted last month, the convergence of fashion and nightlife continues to intersect in the most literal of ways, spurning metallic fabrics for nighttime use as well as day. This pyramid studded pocket, which we spotted on one of our favorite inspirational blogs, JBlyth, showcases two trends in one: hidden details combined with punk attitude- the perfect blend for a fashionable night out.

June 30, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Follow-up: Linear Jumbles

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It’s always fascinating to track overlapping color palettes. Now that we’re in the thick of spring and bright colors have again become the norm, it’s worth noting that linear jumbles are continuing to pop up around town and throughout the web. This gouache painting by Pattern Pulp favorite, Amy Soczka, appeared on her blog, Things That Make My Day about a month ago. Her delicate strokes have a tactile, organic vibe that are particularly heightened beside Depeche Mode’s album art, Sounds of the Universe. Though it’s doubtful that the designers involved tapped each other for inspiration, it’s no coincidence that their environmental influences overlapped.

May 12, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Trend: Teal Appeal

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The print world is finally catching up to the runway. Over the past few weeks, Pattern Pulp has been noticing a wave of teal-doused signage throughout various marketing campaigns and street murals. The choice of teal is a smart one, as it signifies winter’s end, linking lighter moods to summertime anticipation. The design teams behind Luciana Souza’s jazz posters, American Apparel’s swimwear campaign and the new Rockefeller University Posters all utilize color to communicate their message. At Pattern Pulp, we find it refreshing to see texture, photography and vector art all merged by the simplistic uniformity of a single pantone besides white.

Additional contributions by Emily Gup.

April 24, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Fashion: David David's Geometric Extraveganza

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnHCAzlftsU]

Downtown Music has a knack for finding sound visuals to accompany their music. One of their latest collaborations pairs Santigold’s “I’m A Lady,” a Diplo remix featuring Amanda Blank, with David David’s S/S 09 Fashion collection. The resulting product is a masterful film, directed by London talent Zaiba Jabbar. The film was created to showcase David Saunder’s latest collection and was inspired by the fantasy world of Busby Berkley. Berkeley was famous during the 1930’s for his elaborate musical productions that often involved complex geometric patterns. The parings all seem to make sense, as the mélange of brightly patterned tops and accessories coupled with heart shaped arm choreography is just the right dose of brightness to motivate us during these rough times. “This season, like the rest of my work, is about complementing geometry and giving it fresh energy,” a moto Saunders lives by.

February 16, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik