Notes &
A Moment with Emily Kammeyer
We’re always fascinated by designers’ methods and inspirations, and E. Kammeyer Accessories designer Emily Kammeyer is no exception. We had the pleasure of chatting with the talented hair accessories designer about her work, the royal wedding’s impact on hats and fascinators, and much more.
Don’t forget, you can shop Kammeyer’s collection right here. We love the studded headbands, but the set of hair ties might just be our favorite. They are both exclusive to Closetista, and you won’t find them anywhere else.
What drew you to designing hair accessories?
Initially it was the need of friends getting married that drew me to start my business and grew my interest in hair accessories. My background is in creative design and merchandising so creating beautiful hair accessories was any easy transition from beautiful clothes. A number of friends started to get married after I graduated from college and needed veils and hair accessories. So as my wedding gift I created these pieces for them. It was such a special way to be a part of some of my best friend’s weddings.
How do you see this market growing and changing in the coming years?
Hair accessories have become a staple in women’s wardrobes over the last couple of seasons. Everything from simple everyday headbands to large over the top fascinators. The royal wedding definitely had a big influence recently, spurring many women who may have looked past using hair accessories to take a second look. It’s a niche market that is continuing to grow, and will not be a short lived trend.
What is your favorite aspect of hair accessory design? What do you find to be the most challenging?
I don’t know if i could choose just one thing. There are so many. I get the opportunity to work with so many different fun materials every day, some of my favorites are leather, french netting, bleached peacock feathers and studs. I love days when I am able to work with new materials, cover the floor with feather, leather and what ever else strikes my fancy. Once I have an idea for something, there’s really no stopping the creative process until I’ve turned the idea into a tangible object. The most challenging aspect has been learning to be a good business woman. I am constantly making mistakes and learning from them. Starting your own business is incredibly rewarding and exhausting.
Many women are intimidated by hats, and certainly many can be intimidated by smaller hair accessories as well. What would you say to women who may want to try the look, but are unsure of how to wear it? Any styling tips?
Start small. Go with something simple that is easy to integrate into your wardrobe like the black beaded applique headband. A hair accessory is an easy way to add interest to an every day outfit, cover up a bad hair day, and add spice to your wardrobe.
What is the inspiration for your designs?
My collection definitely has a vintage, 1920s, art deco feel to it. I draw a lot of inspiration from my collection of vintage fashion books and clothing. I am a regular at The Met and MOMA as well as a number of small art museums and collections. I love and follow a number of blogs including: Creature Comforts for researching color stories, HonestlyWTF for all things trending and inspirational, and StreetFSN for street style shots. But the best inspiration of all is New York. There’s an endless supply of vintage markets, great little boutiques, amazing street style and stunning architecture.
