I've often talked about the versatility of a scarf.  It's the one fashion accessory that can be a shirt, belt, wrap, jewelry, hat and framable artwork outside of it just being really good at being itself: a scarf.  It can be symbolic of a charity (Dress for Success, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, etc.) and of special moments in your life (wedding, first job) or of a sentimental token handed down from one generation to the next.  But it also makes friends. One New York Mom met a Mom from London and the subject was scarves.    Let me introduce you to Britt and her blog FanFamFun where she writes about her family and life as an illustrator and a mom.  For Britt, the scarf is all of these things - and a lot more - with which I'm sure many other moms will agree! "You should treat yourself to one. I think that out of all the baby things I had for my two kids a scarf is the most important. Sounds crazy, but totally true. If you make sure you wear a scarf every day when you leave the house you will always be prepared. x Britt" 

Here's her list of great ways to use your scarf.  

When you need to carry your baby it's a sling.
When your toddler's bored it's a scary ghost costume.
When your child's tired it's a comfy blanket.
When your little one needs an emergency change of clothes it's a skirt (or a kilt!).
When it starts raining it's a rain cover for you or the kids.
When the sun is shinning it's a sun shade on the stroller.
When it's lunch time in the park and you've forgotten your picnic rug, it's a... can you guess?
When your baby needs changing it's a changing pad.
When your little monkey needs entertaining it's a 'peekaboo' game.
When you need to nurse in public it's a nursing cover.
When you're on a beach it's a beach towel or a sarong.
When you need a stylish scarf, oh yeah, almost forgot, it's a scarf,
the most versatile thing a mum can own.

  

illustration courtesy: Britt Louise Hanson

Echo's solid wool wrap with silk protein was featured in the October 2011 issue of Real Simple magazine in a one of fall's bright bold colors: chartreuse!  This wrap is the perfect accessory for fall.  It hits a beautiful functional note by keeping you warm when you wear it over a jacket, but it's also pretty as a melody when added to any outfit.  As one of Echo's most popular styles, it has a range of colors and has a unique manufacturing element.  You may be wondering, 'what exactly is silk protein?'  Was it made with silk from a silkworm on the Atkins diet?  Not exactly.  The wrap is 100% mercenized wool, meaning that it's a high quality wool that is treated with an alkali to increase its strength and receptiveness to the dye which also gives it a silky look and finish.  The end result is a super soft, beautiful and very versatile wrap that will take you from the office, to an evening stroll, from a shopping trip to a fancy dinner.  That's really simple ;)

Mixing patterns works not only in fashion but in how you fashion your home. Work within a similar color palette and let your imagination run wild. 

Ireland may not be known for its contribution to modern fashion and couture, but instead the culture's input can be seen more in the foundational basics of texture, patterns and materials.   Celtic - as a style, language and a culture actually combines Irish and Scottish influences and since both are seaside nations with pasts marked by tumultuous religious exploration, Celtic usually means things made of wool, in colors representing the countryside and weaves and knits resembling fishing / maritime knotting and religious iconography.   

The most symbolic is the classic Fisherman sweater, identified by the telltale cable knit wool.  Often hand knitted by the fishermans' wives, the sweater was made  using unscoured, undyed wool that retained its natural oils (like lanolin) therefore making the sweater water resistant. A fisherman's tools are few but meaningful.  The cable or rope moored his ship when in port, lashed canvas sails to the mast and provided strength in his net.  Therefore the cable knit is said to be a wish for safety and good luck.  Another type of stitch on variations of the fisherman sweater is the basket stitch, which represents hope for a plentiful catch.  Lastly, to be a true Fisherman sweater, the stitch must be symmetrical from the center on both front and back.  This symmetrical interweaving can represent all the convergence of all paths in life which conveys a somewhat religious connotation. 

We love the versatility of wool - especially for scarves.   Wool can be used from not only sheep but alpaca and goats and can be woven many different ways.  The characteristics of wool differentiate it from hair because of the way it's clumped together.  The wool from an alpaca wool has long strands or fibers.  The diameter of a strand determines it's softness.  For example, Merino is a very fine gauge or diameter so it is extremely soft.
Also, a strand of wool has scales.  That's what causes some wools to be itchy.  Merino wool is much softer because the scales lay flat. Another popular wool is Mohair which is actually goat hair. Angora can either be from a rabbit or a goat.   And contrary to popular belief the word pashmina is not a style of wrap, but the contents of the wrap.  Pashima is the wool made from the hair on the chin of a cashmere goat. 

Regardless of time and place, our wardrobe still needs to satisfy our basic needs for warmth and protection. The colors, patterns and textures we choose beyond those needs can become symbols of our family, our identity, our religious beliefs - basically our 'fashion' as an individual or part of a community.  We've come a long way from needing a sweater to protect us from the elements while battling waves aboard a fishing vessel in the Irish Sea, but it's grounding to recognize how our ancestors mined and multipurposed everything the land gave them.  

The beauty of a monochromatic palette versus one that uses a range of colors is in what the lowlights and highlights reveal. We can appreciate the subtleties of the different shapes and lines that are revealed when only one color is used, in this case, a neutral.  Photography is a great way to showcase this as seen in this photo by Jan Masny below.  The fabric appears fluid and even though the image is static, the movement is implied by the depth and dimension that could still be seen if each dress were a different color, but since this is all in greys, the results are much more evident and striking.  Color is a great tool but experimenting with an all-neutral palette in your wardrobe or in decorating your home can be a wonderfully interesting.

 

In your fall and winter wardrobe, choose different tones of the same neutral color family and play with layers.  This puts the focus on the fabrics and difference in textures and patterns.  For example, wear a tweed pencil skirt with a cable knit poncho or cape and tall leather boots. The effect is sophisticated and clean.  In home decorating, it's a standard rule when staging a home to present a neutral canvas for potential buyers to imagine themselves in that environment - to visualize it as their home.  The family's personality can then show with the bold, bright accessories against the neutral shades.  Using this method of decorating also contributes to the longevity of your interior design allowing you to simply change the accessories and accent colors without making a huge investment.  Aside from that, using neutrals in the home is very calming to the eye.  It is one of nature's best palettes after all - evident in the sand and the sea grass. 
   

"I need your help - I am going to wedding in about 2 weeks and I need a wrap or something to wear over my dress. My dress is a crimson red strapless - can you think of anything that would be great to wear outside? The wedding is in Buffalo, so the weather I am sure will be chilly, and its at night..... animal print? black? HELLP? I looked on the website, but I am completely overwhelmed.... Also, what size would you recommend? Thanks so much!!!! PS: I have black heels or I also have brown and gold heels." - Kellie, Sent: Monday, September 29, 2010 4:33 PM To: AskADesigner

Hi Kellie, Thanks so much for writing in!  We agree - there are a lot of wraps to choose from but that's also the beauty of this great accessory: it's versatility. So choosing one wrap doesn't mean you could ever go wrong :)  However, because you had specific requests - i.e. warm yet suitable for a strapless dress at a wedding, as well as specific colors to work with, we had 2 designers, Leslie and Suzanne, weigh in to give you more than one option.  First Leslie suggested " There are two ways to go…..A. Crimson is beautiful to work in this fall with all of the different Berry / Plums and Burgundies. Or B. – go with Bronze and or a Gold.   Either could be worn with Bronze/ gold jewelry, bag, shoes."

Next, Suzanne said:  "If it isn’t that cold, and you would like to wear a more fashionable “night time” wrap, I would recommend the Rose Burnout Wrap. It is one of my absolute favorites of our evening wraps and it is seriously gorgeous. I promise you’ll get compliments on it!  Depending on the color of your shoes and bag, I would either do the shadow which is a silver metallic or stick with black.

If it is cold, I would recommend our Wool Wrap with Silk Protein. It is a very soft (non-itchy) wool. It’s a great weight --  it looks light but its warm because of the fibers. And the great thing about this style is that you can wear it for dressier occasions or casually. Its one of those things you will wear again and again. Color wise, I would stick with black.   Hope this was helpful and have a great time at the wedding!" - Leslie and Suzanne

UPDATE:  Oct. 15,2010 Sent: Friday, October 15, 2010 8:30 AM To: AskADesigner

Hi!  Just wanted to write back and thank you for your help.  I choose 2 wraps:  the solid brown wrap with sparkles (I think it's called hot fudge) and the black one with sequined design on the edges.    I wore the black one to the rehearsal dinner and paired it w/a mauve and black print tank top and knit black pants. I wore the brown one with my red dress and brown & gold shoes. Got tons and tons of compliments on both.  Here's a picture of me and my husband - It's dark I know (and to think an eye surgeon took this pic!) - Thanks again, Kellie.

 

Echo is honored to have our Soft Woven Pineapple Pleat Wrap (in Hot Viola!) featured on the cover of the September 2010 issue. Thanks Real Simple! 

See photos of this scarf worn 3 separate ways or see a video here on how to tie a scarf 4 different ways

 

One of the great trends right now for summer is a military or utilitarian look.  Echo's Imperial Safari collection takes that look and updates it with inspiration from African and Colonial India. Elements of this style can be integrated into any outfit without looking overly military or as if you were actually on safari.  Think: casual world traveler meets crafty elements of the exotic bazaars and caravans of decorative pillows, spices and jewels.  

This look contrasts touches of military influence and soft femininity while pulling inspiration from the luscious patterns and textures of these distinct cultures. Contrasting khakis and earth tones are punctuated with pretty intricate beads, and animal and black prints on delicate fabrics.  Metallic effects on fabrics, delicately powdered with gold and silver give accessories fluidity and femininity. Colors range from earthen neutrals in browns and sand to sun bleached corals, chartreuse greens and watery blues. Animal prints like cheetah and snakeskin are great patterns on lightweight scarves perfect for summer. Organic fabrics like raffia, linen, hemp and ramie become utterly chic in this summer trend because of their versatile, breathable and sustainable qualities.

So you can update your summer wardrobe easily - and quickly - by adding a few key accessories from this trend.   A simple white tee, khaki capris and a passport are your starting point. Add gladiator sandals, bold chunky rings and a beautiful ikat pattern wrap.  Life is an adventure and you are a world traveler - unique and exotic. Take a little bit of the luxury of each country with you as you experience all this world offers.

 

 

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??

Check out all of Echo's island wear, beach wear, swim suits, beach towels, beach bags, etc.