Crochet Inspiration, Styling, and Perception

I had to laugh today when my Fire Whirl Hat was featured on Crochet Me's Facebook page. I read the comments, and found that everyone thought the hat reminded them of the hats that the band Devo wore in 80's. Honestly in all of the time I spent designing this hat, and in the time since the Winter Issue of Interweave Crochet came out, that reference never crossed my mind. I was a child in the 80's and I remember loving those hats in Devo's "Whip It" video. Now I am wondering if somehow they did influence the design! When I was designing the hat, I remember loving the idea of a flat top, and I wanted each layer to have a flat top. 

I think the styling of the hat and the fact that one of the hats had red in it, may have evoked more of a Devo feeling than I originally intended. Actually, the hat sample that the man is wearing was made to be a child's sized hat. They decided use it on the male model at the photo shoot instead. That shows how well the hat stretches and how versatile the pattern can be! 

When I submitted the design to Interweave, I showed it worn slightly to the side, which I thought made it more elegant. I also suggested using the same winter white color for the magazine sample. It is amazing how a small shift in the way something is worn, as well as the color choice, can give it a very different vibe.

I love that the style of this hat can go in a another direction, and I hope one day soon I will see some photos on Ravelry of this hat crocheted in all red for a Devo fan!

Original Styling of Submission Sample

Unintentional Inspiration Reference: Devo circa 1980