Author: Louis Dell'Olio

The two additional colors in the FJ hooded Tunic are the AQUA and the SMOKE GREY, which seems to be becoming everyone’s favorite color in many of the pieces. The AQUA is exactly the color of the Caribbean….how can you not love that color………………..when ever I see this color it transports me to the beach………………..The SMOKE is a wonderful MYSTERIOUS color, and will be a great transition color into fall, but for right now it will look fabulous with WHITE and SILVER…..very modern……………………………………………………

During this past trip to QVC, I saw so many of the models, running around back stage, were wearing maxi skirts and sandals or flip flops and they looked great. For me, what makes a “Summer” maxi skirt successful is the fact that it is light weight and has wonderful liquid movement. I am happy to say my MAXI in the Feather Jersey, A , fills the bill. You can see in the photos above how the skirt falls and drapes, and yet lays smoothly over the hips……this skirt is half lined……has a full elastic waist and comes in a petite length too……… When Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec comes along it’s going to look great with boots and some of my new SILK/CASHMERE sweaters……………….by the way………….the name should be decided soon. The lawyers are checking to see what names have already been registered…..or not…………………..

If you are looking, or needing, or wanting light weight, cool, breezy bottom pieces that give coverage…..I think the FEATHER JERSEY pant and maxi skirt are the answer. If you are looking, needing, wanting a new un-constructed, soft, stretchy and comfortable pull-on pencil skirt, The FEATHER JERSEY SHORT SKIRT, A233969, is definitely the answer. It is supper comfortable and is like wearing nothing, but it is fully lined to give you all the security you need. I truly believe this is a sleeper. It has already gotten six reviews and all are FIVE *****. If you are a pencil skirt, or short skirt lover, than this one you must try. I don’t think you will be disappointed. The hot summer weather has barely arrived, and I’m sure this will be the piece you go to…..For you working gals……it will be a work horse in your wardrobes……………………

Every season TRENDS develop. Some “speak loudly” and are very obvious……like the maxi or asymmetric hem lines………….others are more quiet. It takes an astute editor with a keen eye to notice that a certain style, color, ethnic influence etc. has appeared on enough runways to legitimately call it a “TREND”………………The BATTLE JACKET or WIND BREAKER is such a trend……………….it appeared on PRADA, ARMANI, CALVIN KLEIN, DOLCE and GABANNA, PROENZA SCHOULER, ANDREW WANG and RALPH LAUREN’S runways……to name a few……….quietly, but it was there………………My contribution to this trend is the FAUX SHANTUNG JACKET, A234416, featured above. I have successfully used Faux Shantung before, but this is a new quality. It has less shine, and a little more surface interest……..it  is also a little softer to the touch with out loosing the characteristics  of shantung. It is made in 100% POLYESTER, and it is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!………and machine washable too!!……unlike real silk shantung…….. This jacket has all of the details you have come to expect with a LINEA product. It has a zip front to give the wind breaker effect. It has  FOUR PATCH POCKETS and FLAPS with DOUBLE SNAP closures. There is a yoke front and back. The neckline is slightly SCOOPED, and the sleeve is 3/4 length. The sleeve has a band with two SNAPS FOR ADJUSTABILITY. At the side seam hem there is an ELASTIC GORE for greater ease, but frankly….I LIKE THE JACKET WORN OPEN. What bridges this jacket from being totally UTILITARIAN…..is…………the TINY RUFFLE that trims the neckline and sleeve hem……. a touch of FEMININITY . The top stitching gives the jacket a  “sportive look”. The jacket is approx. 23 1/2 inches long……a true WIND BREAKER length. There is no lining in the jacket, but the back of the fabric has a SATIN FINISH, very different from the surface……which makes the jacket slide over the body with ease……and is super comfortable. The color above is…………HEMP……..but………..it does not match the hemp Feather Jersey…..not that we didn’t try…..the mill just couldn’t do it. These taupey/beiges can be very tricky to match from one fabric to another….even if they are both polyester. The hardware on the HEMP jacket…..the zipper and the snaps………are all gunmetal……so the SMOKE FEATHER JERSEY pieces look FANTASTIC with the Hemp jacket.  The SMOKE tank above is A233962. Take out your SILVER or GUNMETAL jewelry and WATCH and the look is complete!  A GUNMETAL sandal would be the perfect finish. You will be able to wear this jacket NOW….through the summer and right through fall. For many of you this will be a year round jacket…………………………………..The FAUX SHANTUNG SKIRT, A234433,  is a simple affair………………..it has a side zipper, a back vent and is approx. 24 inches long. It does have elastic in the waist band, but since this fabric hasn’t any STRETCH……the waist band does not have a great deal of stretch and extra fabric. This was done  to avoid a lot of shirring of the fabric which can cause puffiness……..so be aware of the measurements………The sizing for both pieces is SML………………..These are transition pieces, and I really appreciate clothes that TRANSITION well from one season to the other……….. I know you do too…………..scroll down for more pics………………………………………………………………………………………….enjoy…………….much Love…………………………..Louis

The FAUX SHANTUNG JACKET above is A234416……………the color is……………………MIDNIGHT BLUE………………….This jacket is also trimmed with GUNMETAL colored hardware. In the photos above I have used the NAVY FEATHER JERSEY as layering pieces………the TANK, A233962, and the MAXI SKIRT, A233970………….I also have this photographed with the matching FAUX SHANTUNG SKIRT, A234433….for a soft and unconventional “suit Look”…………………..Many of you, I know will wear it with a tank or a white T- shirt and you favorite pair of slim leg jeans…….Now, that’s a fun HIGH/LOW look! Take a good look at all the details above and don’t forget to enlarge the pictures by clicking on them once to reduce it, and then clicking once more to get a super large picture…….scroll down for one last collage……………………………..enjoy…..much Love…….Louis