The Top Lids & Totes

Worn by the likes of Madonna, Oprah, Angelina Jolie, and Naomi Campbell, Eric Javits’ hats have long been a summer mainstay on every social scene, from Saint-Tropez to the Hamptons. Javits patented the iconic Squishee packable hat; perfect for the jetsetting elite, the Squishee maintains its shape after being squished into the smallest of bags. Javits hats have been an essential accessory at every major equestrian event, from Cartier polo to the Dubai World Cup and Royal Ascot, because Javits’ passion for design is apparent in each of his creations. “I regard hats as functional sculpture for the head,” he says. “As an artist-turned-designer, I think of the face as a three-dimensional volume. With the juxtaposition of the 3D volume of a hat, there can be a harmonious interplay whereby the overall appearance of the face can be more balanced and more attractive.”

But as every well-dressed woman knows, the ideal companion for the perfect hat is the perfect bag. For his Autumn 2009 collection, Javits has unveiled the wildly popular Calder bag in various suede colors as well as brown and black leather. “Several months ago I saw an Alexander Calder exhibit at the Whitney Museum in New York and was inspired by his simple linear forms that created motion,” Javits explains. “This handbag’s hardware doesn’t specifically look like Calder’s forms, but I tried to duplicate the boldness of his geometry as well as the fluidity in the bag’s overall shape.” Found in leading fine retailers such as Neiman Marcus in New York and Harvey Nichols in London, the Calder bag and accompanying hats are set to be the “it” accessory for autumn.

www.ericjavits.com