Not sure if Congress had the 64 Crayola Crayon set back in 1776 but if they did, do you think the colors of the flag would be different? Probably not, because the colors for the 'Stars and Stripes'  were chosen specifically for their attributes and the positive characteristics they impart. Nobody ever wanted the Burnt Umber crayon.  But this red, white and blue color scheme was chosen originally for the Great Seal of the United States - and then, a year later, adopted for the flag itself.

From the book "Our Flag" published in 1989 by the House of Representatives...

"On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress passed a resolution authorizing a committee to devise a seal for the United States of America. This mission, designed to reflect the Founding Fathers' beliefs, values, and sovereignty of the new Nation, did not become a reality until June 20, 1782. In heraldic devices, such as seals, each element has a specific meaning. Even colors have specific meanings. The colors red, white, and blue did not have meanings for The Stars and Stripes when it was adopted in 1777. However, the colors in the Great Seal did have specific meanings. Charles Thompson, Secretary of the Continental Congress, reporting to Congress on the Seal, stated:

"The colors of the pales (the vertical stripes) are those used in the flag of the United States of America; White signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness & valour, and Blue, the color of the Chief (the broad band above the stripes) signifies vigilance, perseverance & justice."

Also this from a book about the flag published in 1977 by the House of Representatives...

"The star is a symbol of the heavens and the divine goal to which man has aspired from time immemorial; the stripe is symbolic of the rays of light emanating from the sun."

So while you're enjoying lawn parties, boating, sunsets and family this weekend, and if you happen to don some patriotic apparel, you can thank the 1776 U.S. Congress for not choosing chartreuse, periwinkle and burnt umber. 

Monday June 21st is the longest day of the year.  However, just how long that day is depends on what part of the world you are in.  if you are in Alaska, you've got a long day ahead of you. And a Monday even.  Sunrise in Anchorage was at 4:20am and the sun won't set until 11:42pm. If you're in New York the sun came up today at 5:20am and won't set until 8:30pm.  Good luck getting the kids to bed.

Some facts about summer. The phrase 'dog days of summer' actually came from the Egyptians.  They believed that the constellation, Sirius, the dog, since it was visible at sunrise and sunset, actually contributed to the heat that the sun gave off - therefore the dog days were even hotter than the rest of the summer.  A popular misconception was that 'dog day's' referred to the way dogs lay around in the heat. Well that can be true but I'm pretty sure Fido's naps are seasonless and he won't be up doing his taxes when Fall rolls around.

In the Victorian era, people felt the sun was a nice thing to enjoy - from a distance.  Women wore long dresses and carried parasols to prevent any sun exposure (and this also explains the multiple fainting spells.)  Popular thought at the time said that having a tan meant one spent a lot of time working in the fields so it became symbolic of class level. This fair-skinned trend lost some steam when in 1903 Niels Finsen was awarded the Nobel Prize in medicine for his “Finsen Light Therapy."  He discovered that sun exposure increased the Vitamin D intake therefore warding off the diseases popular in that day such as a form of tuberculosis and rickets.  Then, in the 1920s, two French women officially swung the trend scales towards tanning. Coco Chanel got a sunburn while visiting the French Riviera on the Duke of Westminster's yacht and Josephine Baker, a “caramel-skinned” singer in Paris, became popular. The popularity of these fashion icons turned the public's perception of tanning to something beautiful, healthy and even luxurious.
Today medical science tells us that tanning really isn't healthy but it can be healthiER with the right SPF sunscreen.  That's Sun Protection Factor.  Or Some Pretty Fashion.  So wear a big hat and enjoy the dog days of summer.  That's fashionable!

When I say Fedora, you instantly picture a classic scene: It's dark, most likely raining, a siren wails in the distance and a soft plume of smoke rises from a cigarette as a man steps out of the shadows, wearing a trenchcoat and a slick, stylish fedora on his head with the brim pulled down low over his eyes.  He says "Here's looking at you, kid."  (clutch heart, faint.)

The Fedora almost has it's own identity - one it has maintained through various incarnations of pop culture trends but always staying true to it's basic message: Class. Contrary to popular belief, the Fedora was a popular women's style before it became the classic film noir calling card for men's fashion.  The hat that we now call the Fedora existed before we called it the Fedora - most likely known as the Homburg, but the name Fedora stuck because of the popularity of one woman.    In 1882 the tragic, dramatic stage and later silent screen actress Sarah Bernhardt starred as the heroine in a French play called Fedora, by Victorien Sardou, in which she played Princess Fedora. Bernhardt, a.k.a The Divine Sarah, was considered the most important actress of her time so even 100 years before Madonna, throngs of women were dressing like their idols. Women had been wearing widebrimmed, elaborate hats at the end of the 1800s and with the introduction of open-air cars and public transit - often quite crowded - you can imagine the potential problems. Also, men of society never stepped out without a hat so the practicality of the short brimmed, flexible fabric Fedora worked for everyone.   The theme of the play Fedora was Nihilism and carnality (Madonna again anyone?) and she took her roles seriously. It was during this time that she acquired her famous coffin, in which she often slept in lieu of a bed, claiming it helped her understand her many tragic roles. In a performance of Fedora in Seattle in 1923, she arrived in true diva (pre-Madonna) fashion, entourage and all, in a special 12-car train comprising three Pullman cars, two private cars, a day coach, five baggage cars, and the engine. One of the Pullman cars was Mme. Bernhardt’s personal car, a traveling home “fitted up in the most elaborate style” as “a palace on wheels.”

Sarah Bernhardt, emoting the Drama

Today the Fedora has become a stylish accessory for men and women. The official definition of a Fedora is any hat creased down the center, pinched on both sides of the front and worn with the brim bent down low over the eyes. A similar style is the Panama hat - usually made of a lighter fabric or woven straw, with a fabric sash.  Panama was the first stop for these hats first made in Ecuador and the term Panama Hats stuck as a result of President Theodore Roosevelt wearing the hat on a visit to the construction of the Panama Canal. The first Fedoras were made of a heavier felt leaving the Panama hat to become associated with the tropics, and any seaside locales due to it's lighter fabric. Both styles were and still are popular due to the ability to protect the wearer's head from the wind and weather, and the fact that they are great for traveling.   Most versions of both styles can be rolled up for storage and easily pop back into shape.  How many trends can you say that about?

What is a Polka Dot? And what's it got to do with dancing?

Polka. Dot. 
We know that Polka is a kind of music and also a dance. And dot, well that's just a simple small round mark.  So what's one got to do with the other and why, when put together, do they refer to that pattern made so popular by I Love Lucy?

Polka comes from the Polish word “pulka,” meaning half-step, as in the dance.  The dance was first introduced into the ballrooms of Prague in 1835.  It was a Czech peasant dance in 2/4 time, developed in Eastern Bohemia (now part of Czechoslovakia). Depending on the region is is performed, polka music can have different influences giving it a more Latin or German (Oktoberfest) feel,  but most definitely all include the telltale accordion.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines “polka dot” as “Any of a number of round dots of uniform size repeated so as to form a regular pattern, usually on fabric.” The term itself first appeared in the mid-1800s (”Scarf of muslin, for light summer wear … surrounded by a scalloped edge, embroidered in rows of round polka dots,” 1857).  So, what does the polka dance have to do with polka dots? Nothing - just timing - and marketing. The polka craze, which lasted for several decades in the 1800s, was a pretty big fad so every industry tried to capitalize on it.  Fashion just started adding the word 'polka' to everything.  They had polka jackets, polka hats, polka socks, men's ties, you name it. Sound e-familiar? iDon't know. Then In the '50s and '60s the polka dot had a resurgence and appeared on swimwear (and pop music: 'The Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini'), Lucille Ball's dresses, dinnerware, handbags, ties, you name it. That pattern today can be considered kitschy but contemporary depending on the placement and color combinations.  Polka dots have graced high-end wedding dresses, invitations, pillows and bedding, handbags, umbrellas, scarves and dresses.  So you can wear the pattern even if you can't polka. 

Above photo (courtesy Country Living ) features Echo's Pin Dot Shirt Dress.

When we tell people we work in fashion they often assume that we live glamorous, exciting lives.  Sure this is a somewhat skewed perception, but every now and then they would be right. Most recently, a group of Echoans took time out from day-to-day operations in Manhattan to experience one of our most vibrant markets, Tokyo, Japan.

If you were to read anything about Tokyo before you visit, you’ll likely hear it described as the definition of foreign – another world. We didn’t find that to be fully accurate.  Tokyo is an exciting city with many diverse neighborhoods each with a unique feel, similar to New York or London.  One striking feature was the contrast between new and old; the vibrant neon modernity versus the rich cultural architecture of centuries past.  A short walk through the city’s center provides incredibly modern buildings along side ancient temples.  The photo below is of the acclaimed and almost futuristic Prada building in Aoyama, only a few minutes walk from an urban temple tucked in among retail shops.

 Architecture isn’t the only contrast evident in Tokyo. The push and pull between modern and traditional is evident in cuisine, culture, and social interaction.  McDonald’s stands only a few feet from a traditional soba noodle house while a traditional kimono shop could be only steps from modern Japanese designers like Tsumori Chisato and Yohji Yamamoto, not to mention American standbys like The Gap or Ralph Lauren.

 The most exciting thing about our trip to Japan?  Visiting the specialty stores that carry Echo products.  Beams, héliopôle, and Free’s Shop are just a few places you can find Echo products in Japan. 

What’s hot in Japan? Here are just a few of the Echo styles that are flying off the shelves at Beams: our medallion print butterfly dress, terry handheld tote, strapless knit pantsuit, and the smocked spectator dress. 

For a list of countries where you can find Echo products, check out the “international” link at the bottom of the Echo Design website.

PS – Concerned about what to wear on the 13 hour trip from New York to Tokyo? Start with a wrap that will keep you warm (or cool) on the plane and on the street. I didn’t make it past ticketing before I started fielding compliments about my Echo rainbow stripe wrap.

A perfectly planned beach bag is the key to a successful summer day. The walk from the villa down to the cove may be shaded by palm trees, or may take you past the pool, but the point is, in order to be prepared for anything you need the right accessories at your fingertips.  First choose a simple bag of washable light fabric, something flexible and large enough for all the essentials.  A good bag to travel with in general are those that you can fold up small or double as a carry-on bag full of lotion, books and sleepshades in first class.  (We talked about tips on strategic packing in a previous post here.)  Fill the bag with a pair of beautiful sunglasses, a great paraben free sunscreen with a high SPF, a non-plastic water reusable water bottle and your favorite big soft beach towel.  You can also toss in a neat little bikini bag if you're going to change out of your bathing suit before dinner and need somewhere to stow the wet suit without getting everything else in your bag soaked.

In order to cut down on carrying too much you can choose items that are easily adaptable such as a pareo and wear them to the beach.  A pareo is essentially a large lightweight wrap - but with an endless list of possible ways to wear it. You can wrap it around your waist for the walks along the boardwalk or you can toss it over your shoulders while enjoying the breezes on the yachts while island-hopping.  It can even be wrapped and twisted into a unique halter top.  A beach tunic or coverup is also great for the same reasons but the tunic will easily provide an evening option simply by adding your favorite capris, a tank top and some jewelry. Don't forget a light, wide-brimmed hat to protect your skin from too much sun.  Of course the blackberry or iPhone and headphones will need a spot in the bag - in the zipper pocket to protect it from sand. But keep in mind, this is your vacation so skip the work emails and only answer the ones with details about this afternoon's lawn party!  So here's hoping that a cool drink and ocean breezes are in your near future. If they are, be prepared to be cool - and stay cool.

Minnow Bikini Bag; Wide-brimmed braided floppy hat; Short solid butterfly beach dress; Indigo Chevron Ikat Beach Towel

The bag's already there - where are you??

The key to a great look for your warm weather vacation is in the simplicity and versatility.  Not only do you not want to travel with a huge wardrobe, but you don't want to wear a huge wardrobe when the tropical breezes are in the 90's.  Packing simple, lightweight cotton staples like a tailored pair of cropped khaki pants and crisp white blouses is the best start. Build a wardrobe from there that is easily adapted to where ever you are:  the cabana, the pool or the yacht.  A pareo is a great item to wrap around your waist poolside or wrap around your shoulders as the sun sets over the harbor.  The right beach tunic can be a coverup by day and paired with a a tank and jeans, a breezy chic top at night. Jenni from DailyWorkIt  shared with us some great vacation pictures featuring a few items from  Echo's beach collection and she shows how one simple accessory, like the lightweight infinity neckring, can be worn several different ways, and be that special statement piece too.  Thanks Jenni!

One of Echo's designers, Sarah, went to Paris recently and came back with notes on what styles are in Paris stores and what they're wearing on the streets. 
She said Paris was only half ready for spring this season.  The major department stores still had a lot of dark winter clothes   Yet, there were a lot of beautiful spring clothes.  Most of the stand alone shops on the left bank were in full spring mode. Overall, the clothes and accessories were very pretty and wearable with great attention to detail.

As always, the French are obsessed with all things nautical and there was more of this theme this year than ever.  Every designer had their knit stripe sailor tee but the newness was in the unexpected color and details - such as ruching, piecing and the use of different scale stripes in the same garment.  There were whimsical additions such as hot pink palettes sewn into little flower shapes atop a pink and white striped sweater at Sonia Rykiel; silver chains applied to a draped boat neck at Kookai;  wide studded belts wrapped around gondolier tops at Victoire. Paul Smith and Claudie Perlot had applied fabric bows on shirts, dresses and pants.

Nautical stripes are a great addition to your wardrobe for spring - in a scarf, dress, umbrella or a cardigan. These are easy, simple pieces that can be the statement in your ensemble without making you look like a sailor on the high seas. Unless of course, you want that. Pirates are all the rage right now. 

Striped cardigan;  striped scarf ring; bold stripe umbrella; one shoulder sailor striped dress; striped t-shirt dress with cut out

Summertime is great for so many reasons, but one of my favorite reasons is that the warm weather allows us to integrate nature and the arts.  In New York City, nature is a hot commodity: a 4' x 4' foot roofdeck with grass and a tree is considered exotic.  But city planners have granted us several beautiful and spacious parks right in the middle of all this concrete for all visitors to enjoy.  Central Park is by far the largest and most elaborate of these parks and Conservancy has quite a schedule of summer concerts.  Tonight the New York Philharmonic will be performing Mahler's Symphony #1 and Copland's 'Old American Songs.'  Also tonight outside in the Sculpture Garden at MoMA,  Brazilian pop singer/guitarist Adriana Calcanhotto will be performing as part of MoMA Music: BRAZIL.

So whether you are in the city and are already planning your trip to the 'Great Lawn' this evening, or if you are in another town, I hope you get the chance to enjoy music at sunset, with the blades of cool grass between your toes and fireflies in your hair.   Remember, every occasion calls for the right clothing ensemble so here's a tip from one of our designers, Hannah, on what to consider when planning your evening outside under the stars.

I always make sure to wear something feminine and summery, but totally easy and comfortable.  A knee-skimming dress or full skirt usually works best to stay lady-like when sitting on a blanket.  A wrap or cardigan is essential, not only to stay warm, but also to protect from mosquitoes!!!   Although I always have had aspirations of being "that girl" and packing the perfect picnic basket, I usually end up picking up last-minute fresh sushi, a florally and crisp bottle of Viognier, and a bar of dark chocolate.  Lastly, I always pack a deck of cards for the impromptu game of Rummy.

When you're in the 'cement jungle' of the city, the beach is like a figment of your imagination. Not today though! Good Morning America trucked in the sand for that authentic beach look behind the season's beach fashions.

Check out Echo's woven tote (in chocolate brown) - which actually looks good on the sand AND in the city.