Tuesday, July 31, 2012

OLYMPIC SIZE HATS-LONDONS HATWALK


The 'Hatwalk' comes to town

The likes of Lord Nelson, King George IV and Queen Victoria have been given new hats thanks to 'Hatwalk', the latest creative project to celebrate the Olympic Games.
BY BIBBY SOWRAY | 30 JULY 2012

Lord Nelson wearing his new hat by Lock & Co and Sylvia Fletcher. Photo: Getty
When Stephen Jones told the Telegraph back in May that 2012 would be the year of the hat, citing Ascot and the Jubilee as the main reasons, little did we know that there was another, rather surprising, reason for his belief that he was keeping firmly under his, well, hat.
This morning that secret was finally revealed when 'Hatwalk', the Boris Johnson brainchild curated by Jones and fellow milliner extraordinaire Philip Treacy, was unveiled in London's Trafalgar Square.
The project, which is part of the London 2012 Festival, sees 21 established and emerging millinery talents recreate headwear for some of the capital's most famous hat-wearing statues - including Lord Nelson, King George IV and Shakespeare.
Beginning in Trafalgar Square, the situation of some of the city's best-know statues, Nelson's iconic bicorn hat has been updated by Sylvia Fletcher and Lock & Co (the very same milliners that created the original) to include a Union Jack and Olympic flame. King George IV - and his horse - now wear lavish crowns created by Stephen Jones and inspired by the Brighton Pavillion, the late King's seaside retreat, and Sir Henry Havelock dons a iridescent satellite creation by Philip Treacy.
"The rest of the world see hats as an innately British thing so this is a great celebration of that, our eccentricity and our talent for millinery," Jones told us before revealing that the Duchess of Cambridge is his current favourite hat wearer. "The designs that Sylvia Fletcher creates for her are perfect. They obviously have such a bond when they work together. The hats never wear her, she always wears them."
The project was born about a year ago, thanks to the Mayor of London, and has involved the employment innovative techniques to ensure that the pieces don't damage the statues, but also so that they will withstand the British weather.
"The idea is to make tourists and London to look again at the history of the city and these incredible historical figures, the kind of people that made Danny Boyle's narrative of history come to life in the Opening Ceremony," said Munira Mirza, Deputy Mayor for Culture and Education.
Other designers involved include Charlie Le Mindu, Piers Atkinson, Gina Foster and J Smith Esquire, who have created pieces for the likes of Isambard Kingdom Brunel on Victoria Embankment and Queen Victoria on Blackfriars Bridge.
The hats will be in place around London for the next four days, and life-sized copies of the pieces are on display in BT House at BT London Live in Hyde Park until August 12. 

Admiral Lord Nelson statue in Trafalgar Square given a new hat

Various statues across London, including the famous one of Admiral Lord Nelson in Trafalgar Square, have received specially commissioned headwear to celebrate the best of British millinery talent.

Statues across London have been, specially designed by some of Britain's top hat makers, including Philip Treacy and Stephen Jones.
The two also curated Hatwalk, a new project, which aims to both celebrate London as the home for traditional millinery and draw attention to some of the capital's most iconic yet overlooked statues.
A total of 20 statues can be seen donning new headgear. Amongst them are the statues of Admiral Lord Nelson in Trafalgar Square and former US president Franklin D Roosevelt, whose statue sits next to that of Winston Churchill on a bench in Bond Street.
Lord Nelson's new updated bicorn hat showed the British colours and came complete with a replica of the Olympic torch, designed by London's oldest hatters, Lock & Co who are famous for making the late admiral's original hat.
John Boyd designed Roosevelt's new headpiece, which attracted attention by tourists, who were eager to pose on the bench next to him.
Hatwalk is part of the 'Mayor of London presents' initiative that sees various pop up initiatives around the British capital.

Monday, July 30, 2012

Cheat Sheet- Summer 2013 trends

Summer 2012 may be drawing to a close in many parts of the world but in the fashion world, summer 2013 is just around the corner. So here is a cheat sheet of what you will be wearing and what your customer will be looking for next summer.

                                                     PRINTS AND MOTIFS

*What is summer without pretty flowers. Next summers annuals will be over-sized sketched flowers and also tiny digital floral prints.

*there are birds of every feather depicted on pretty summer frocks. Run Tippi, run!!

*Another perennial classic is the OCEAN. We see lots of deep sea creatures from coral to starfish.

*Mirror prints are a fresh trend. It looks great on clothing, purses and shoes but might be a little tricky on hats.

*Color blocking continues as a strong trend and works great for hats. See Callanan style CR166-asst below.
* Baroque as seen on satin scarves with fleur de lys and leaf scrolling, also looks great on bags and summer hat detailing. I think this trend will be even bigger for fall 2014 with velvet, lace and pearls.

*Animal continues to trend with ZEBRA being the animal du jour.

                                                              TEXTURES

*Exotic skins continue to trend. From snake, to water lizards and crocodile. These work into the Future Fiesta key trend.

Note the use of faux snake on Callanan style CR167-asst.
and CR141-ASST


*Perforated and mesh fabrics. This works into a key trend Sports Authority.

* Eyelet and lace fabrics.
*Metallic, metal and fabrics with high shine.
*transparency- Sports Authority

*Raffia....Woven not crocheted. Works will in bags, hats and raffia trimmed shoes.

*Embellishment, lots of it! Works with the key trend Deco modern.

                                                                   COLORS

* Neutrals, Beige, Brick, Burnt from the key Trend African Oasis.
Style LM161-ASST.

*WHITE.

*BLUES, you can't go wrong.

Carter wearing LM324-asst and Amanda LM326-asst.

* Greens in all shades from mint to pistachio but keep an eye on Jade.

Carter wearing  LM314-asst.
*Yellows.
*Pinks.
*Orange. Pantone nominated tangerine their color of the year 2012.

Style CR129

                         THE FIVE KEY TRENDS

* SPORTS AUTHORITY.
Millions of people will have watched the OLYMPICS this year. These people will be looking for sporty looks for next summer.

*DEMURE DIVA.
Mad Men and The Help. This is a very modern lady like trend. Retro looks fro the 50's and 60's but updated for the 21 century lady.

*DECO MODERN.
The remake of the classic The Great Gatsby will have ladies looking for more embellished accessories.

*Future Fiesta.
Think exotic reptiles, bright ethnic details and neon.

*African Oasis.
Classic safari, animal, tribal and handcrafted themes.

hats off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The good news is that hats will work with all these trends. Fashion hats like fedoras will continue to sell  as will large brims that offer UPF50 SUN PROTECTION.
BUT KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON BASEBALL CAPS. We are not talking Gap caps and sports logo caps here. The fashion customer may be tired of jockeys and cadet caps.
It looks like fashion baseball caps may make a resurgence. Here are some from the latest fashion shows.

Might work into the deco trend.

Demure Diva.

Color block/Sports Authority.

Sports Authority
Africa Oasis.
African Safari.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

hats trends winter 2012


Hats for fall 2012

I am often asked what is the if tend for next season. Menswear inspired hats like fedoras are still very popular as are 1920/30 cloches, but at the end of they day hats are a very personal accessory and a very emotional purchase. Large brims did not retail last season but I am once again seeing them in designer windows for fall 2012.  Ditto for bowlers, I have tried them the past 2 years with luke warm reaction. Ladies will usually buy a mans tweed flat cap from the haberdashery department, so for fall 2012, I am once again betting on fedoras with a feminine trim, molded felt caps and my trade mark cloche styles.
I have just shipped my Downton abby inspired cloche into LORD AND TAYLOR
My 2tone Carnaby fedora will also be available at Lord and Taylor for fall 2012.




In fall 2012 hat holds a special place among the relevant headwear. This colorful accessory can definitely help in creating of an unforgettable image, which is the main goal of the season fashion collections.
Hats for fall 2012
Betsey Johnson, Ruffian, Fatima Lopez, Ralph Lauren, Cacharel
Except romantic wide-brimmed and classics of the 40th – Feodor - among models of fashionable female hats it is possible to meet retrohats of the 20th – cloche hat, and also kettles, boaters, cowboy's and decorative female hats.
Hats for fall 2012
Burberry Prorsum, Max Mara, Hermes, Ralph Lauren, Giorgio Armani
In a fashionable tendency of using a man's image, the hat serves as a finishing touch. Therefore, female hats and caps in man's style become one of the hottest season trends.
Hats for fall 2012
Fatima Lopez, Temperley, John Galliano, Nicholas K, Marc Jacobs
Thanks to the inconsistency of autumn 2012 fashion trends fashion-mongers can wear both tiny female hats and volume models of hats and berets which are also trendy this season.
Hats for fall 2012
Ermanno Scervino, Kenzo, Ralph Lauren, Emporio Armani, John Galliano
Berets can be not only volume, and a variety of models of fashionable caps includes standard baseball caps, flat, rigid, caps with protective "ears" and even the models reminding Russian ear-hat.
Hats for fall 2012
Tracy Reese, Tommy Hilfiger, Moschino, Cacharel, Charlotte Ronson
You can see not only the cowboy hats at fashion shows. Jockey caps and also hats, more like pilots’ liners of the 40th, are really popular in the new season.
Hats for fall 2012
Betsey Johnson, Tracy Reese, Nicole Miller, Tommy Hilfiger, Acne
It’s possible to meet a full palette of relevant season colors in collections of women's hats in autumn 2012: black, dark blue, red, burgundy, brown, orange, mustard, green and gray. To a lesser extent, but still you can meet the cage, as well as animalistic and geometric prints: for example, polka dots and fir-tree. Except traditional felt, smooth and patent leather, fur and dense fabrics, including fabrics with pile, are used.
Information garnered and curtsey of stylishcube.com