Still Life NYC
By: Heather Hoskeer


In Spain you won’t find any dogs or cats named spot or fluffy, or the Spanish equivalent thereof. You are more likely to bump into a dog named Juan Pedro or a cat named Dolores. Why? Because in Spain, pets aren’t just pets, they are living breathing members of the family. Their proper names are a sign of love and respect. Well, at Still Life NYC you won’t find just hats, you will find the deceptively sweet J. Nicely, the daring Villain and the slightly off kilter Oscar Wild, to name a few. With their evocative names, sculptural appearance and fashion forward blend of form and function these are not just hats, they are members of a sharp and good looking family.

Still Life is the creative venture of Double Penny Collections partners Frenel Morris and Jesse Nicely. Morris is a self professed hat person, claiming "you just won’t see me without a hat." So, I am not surprised that, when we finally meet up to chat, he is, of course, wearing what I recognize as the J. Nicely, a hat described as “a modern twist to the Sherlock Holmes look” and named for Still Life partner Jesse Nicely. I am also not surprised when Morris tells me that Still Life as we know it began with a hat he created for himself. "I created the Prem as a hat that I would want to wear and from there I started thinking of designs to accommodate everyone," Morris says. And he really means everyone. The Prem, a simple, versatile classic sparked an evolution of styles ranging in form and function from the sublime to the bold. Morris naturally drew his inspiration for the expressive names and eclectic styles from his friends and his environment. Utilizing various classic fabrics, from soft cashmere, fine corduroy and smooth lambskin to sturdier varieties of leather and tweed to create fresh, contemporary, urban designs Morris has managed to create a line of hats that your grandparents would approve of and your friends would be instantly jealous of.

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