Here, Wear This with Jeans
Bandana-rama! And why I chose to make The Daisies.
I love bandanas.
I’ve worn them for years and on some of my most memorable days. Bandanas are useful and soft. They are colorful and stylish. Riding, and skiing, and fishing, and falling in love – bandanas are good for all of these things.
Bandanas look great with jeans, of course, but that’s not why I wanted to design one. I wanted to design a bandana because I use them all the time and I thought it would be exciting to take part in something with such a rich history. Bandanas originated in India, where an ancient dying technique called bandhani was used to decorate silk and cotton kerchiefs in exquisite patterns. By the early 19th century, French bandana-makers had created a dying process that, according to Smithsonian Magazine, was “so complicated it inspired all sorts of industrial espionage.” Since their arrival in the Americas, bandanas have been used as headscarves, belts, burp cloths, and sun protection. They’ve been made into maps, napkins, and even coded symbols of sex culture. Today, cowgirls and bandits and rock legends and movie stars wear them. They belong to revolutionaries and style icons, former presidents and pets.
My Daisies bandanas are made of Japanese cotton right here in Los Angeles. They’ve been dyed six beautiful custom colors, then screen printed using a bleach transfer process that bleeds the white part of the pattern through the fabric so that it’s revealed in reverse on the back. (On bandanas made of thinner or synthetic fabrics, this see-through effect is easy to achieve; on mine, because the cotton is so finely woven, it was a challenge and something that took many, many attempts to get right.) A limited selection of the Daisies has been embroidered with a stitched frame and stars in each corner. It was important to me that this embroidery look clean on both the front and back sides of the bandana, so that no matter how you tie or twist it there’s never a messy moment.
All of the Daisies come with a button hole that’s decorative and practical. You can use it to attach your bandana to a jacket so you don’t lose it at the park or the bar. Personally, I like to secure the Anchor Charm to this button hole and thread the opposite end through it when I tie the Daisies around my neck (pic below). If you buy a bandana this weekend, I’ll send you a Charm as a gift so you can try this styling trick yourself. Don’t worry, I’ll show you how (follow me on Instagram). It’s easy.
The pattern I designed was inspired by my time in Madrid, where the grass is flooded with white flowers in the spring. Sitting in Parque del Oeste making daisy chains with my kids is one of my fondest memories from our stay. I knew in the moment how lucky and happy I was, and also that one day (like today), I would miss those dream-fields terribly. Bandanas can be commemorative, too. I hope I have a reason/memory worth designing another one for soon.
I try not to let the bandana’s association with Western wear deter me from using the Daisies in daily (read: non-costume) life, and to this point I prefer to treat each one as a layer, versus a “look” – something you tuck into the hood of a sweatshirt, or under the neck of a sweater; a piece you wrap around your head (à la everyone’s current obsession, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy). I confess, I’ve never been someone who really loves baseball caps. When I can’t handle my hair, a bandana is the best. Plus, it makes a great vehicle for fragrance. I’ll spray my embroidered Daisies with this scent one day, and that scent a few days later, and the combination is subtle and kind of incredible. Borrow my bandana and I’m sure you’ll agree.
That’s it for today. I’ll be doing a bunch of how-to’s on Instagram this weekend, be sure to follow me @janepageherman. Thank you for reading. I love making things and sharing them with you. As always, Denim Forever.
Jane
More good links:
Last week I wrote a thorough guide to Nili Lotan’s 7 essential jeans, from the ever-popular Shon to the 501-inspired Briana.
I also interviewed the Nili Lotan herself…respect!
Lately I’ve spent so much time gushing over Emme Parsons’s Stretch Boots, I almost missed the fact that my favorite moccasins now come in red leather. (Remember, JoJ readers get 10% off with code JANE10.)
A friendly reminder that &Daughter makes the greatest be-yourself sweater. I have it in grey.
Love the styling under the hoodie. Never thought of that!
I've ordered 3 embroidered bandanas and can't wait for them to arrive. The size is perfect as well. They'll work in so many ways, and looking forward to the tutorials! X