Author: Louis Dell'Olio

Did I happen to mention that STRIPES are going to be a BIG TREND this SPRING??? Stripes of all sizes and widths, done in a variety of fabrics from prints to knits. Sneak Peek #2 & #3 is of the knit variety. ………………………..The V-neck T-shirt top is A232518………..The fabric is 75% Polyester and 25% cotton.The yarn has a nubby slub in it, which gives the stripe an uneven variegated look.  For me, the combination of the yarn and the narrow variegated stripe looks fresh and new. The T-shirt has an open V-neck…..front and back!!……is bra friendly……and has a cap sleeve. There is a  COVER STITCH outlining the V-neck, the sleeve hem, the bottom garment hem and the center front. The length of the garment is approx. 24 inches for the XS. Once again , I have taken the stripes and cut them on the BIAS, creating a MITERED V FRONT. This not only gives the garment a beautiful “hang” and drape, but is very slenderizing. Between the narrow stripe and the cut of the garment…..anyone of any size and shape can wear this style and still be flattering. This is EVERY WOMAN’S STRIPE……….The colors are………………

…………………………SUNSHINE YELLOW………………..INDIGO…………………ESPRESSO………all with WHITE………….. Wear it belted, if you choose, but it really isn’t necessary, because it does follow the line of the body without being tight. DO NOT BUY it SMALLER or LARGER or you will be disappointed! …..but always check the MEASUREMENTS, especially if you have a particular figure problem. For most of you I would suggest to buy your normal size. You can see in the photos above I have paired the tops with The JEAN JACKETS, A232350, in Indigo and Sunshine Yellow…..the white is splendid too. Your peplum jackets. last year’s denim or this years TSV, look great with these tops. I am sure you have a zillion things already in your closets that you can wear these tops with. Also, in the pictures above you will notice, at the bottom right, the yellow top with the new WHITE BOHO!!!! coming later in the season…………………Also, in the pictures you will notice the matching STRIPE SKIRT…..that is SNEAK PEEK #3…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………….Scroll down for those pics…………………I hope you enjoy…the last STRIPES of the season……………..much Love……………………….Louis

March Sneak Peek #3 is A232517, The MITERED STRIPE SKIRT. The skirt is the same knit fabric, 75% Polyester/25% Cotton, as the V-neck T-shirt top. Again, it is cut on the BIAS and has a MITERED front, The bias cut gives the skirt a wonderful drape and naturally follows the line of the body….NO CLINGING!!!! I left the cover stitch off the skirt because I felt it would be more versatile for mixing and matching with things you already own. It is a PULL-ON skirt, with a full elastic waist, so it is very comfortable, The sweep of the skirt is a little more than a simple A-line, but not too much as to be cumbersome for summer wear. The skirt is approx. 32 inches, and it is an easy alteration for those who may have to hem, but I don’t think too many of you will have to. If you are very short, you will have a new MAXI skirt! The Colors are the same as the T-Shirt……………SUNSHINE YELLOW……INDIGO…………ESPRESSO……………….Only the Sunshine Yellow skirt is lined. Frankly, I didn’t think a lining was necessary, but my buyer thought the yellow should be…. just to be safe……………………Both the V-neck top and the skirt are MACHINE WASHABLE, which makes them ideal for travel. I know many of you already have plans to go to Europe this spring and summer…..I think these pieces would be ideal to take……FASHIONABLE….COMFORTABLE……and….EASY CARE!. You can see in the photos above I have paired the skirt with the matching top, a vintage Linea Espresso tank, a White short sleeve mock neck, the WHITE KATE SHIRT, A214116….the JEAN JACKET…..the PEPLUM JACKET……and a sneak peek of the………….NAVY/IVORY LACE SWEATER…..coming later in season. Also, notice I have accessorizes one photo with the LOVE KNOT NECKLACE!…………it’s been reordered in BOTH LENGTHS….along with the MULTI CROSS NECKLACE and EARRINGS…….HURRAY!!!!….. I don’t have a clue when it will be delivered as it was just reordered….so it will take at least 6 months, but it will be making a return!,,,,,,,,I felt it was important for my women to be able to have stripe clothing, this season, that was not only of the moment, but timeless, and was FLATTERING and something enjoyable to wear…….

………………………………………………………………I hope you enjoy…….much Love…………Louis

March Sneak Peek #1, is A232510, THE PONTE KNIT STRIPE DRESS. I thought it would be a good way to start the March sneak peeks…..right where we left off from February. Stripes, as you all know by now, are probably the singular most important FASHION TREND of the season. I capitalize “Fashion Trend”, because stripes have made a very strong appearance, on almost every important DESIGNER runway, on both sides of the Atlantic. How you are comfortable  incorporating them into your wardrobes is up to you…….I can only offer my vision………….. This is one spectacular dress, and I do not say that because I designed it, but because of the way it has been executed. Trust me when I say….you will NEVER find another dress made with this quality fabric, and all the diagonal cutting and MATCHING of the fabric, at the price  I am offering it to you. The specifics……the dress is approx. 39 inches from the HPS for the XS size. There is a side zipper for easy access……… The KEY to this dress is the cut and fit. As you can see the bodice of this dress, front and back, is cut MITERED, so a V is formed. The skirt of the dress is cut on the diagonal……ALL of this creates a slenderizing look….YES a SLENDERIZING look. The only horizontal stripes are the set in band that is cut and inlayed with precision! Where the band falls on your body really doesn’t matter. If you have a  long or short  waist…..it’s all good.  I showed side views of the dress to emphasize the fact that it is impossible to MATCH the front to the back. PLEASE notice the bodice. There are bust darts that are necessary for most women, whereas the back is relatively flat…..This is an anatomical FACT………which makes it impossible to match the side seam. However, the front and back Vs are perfectly matched…….where it really matters. The “darts” on the front and back of the skirt have been left as  tucks instead of sewn down. Optically, it is softer to the eye and a much better look…….it’s all in the DETAILS. There are many options for cover ups for this dress….starting with the MATCHING CARDIGAN, A232510. Yes, I know…… it is a BOLD LOOK and not for everyone………but………for those who can carry it off…..it is spectacular!!! The BLACK CREPE BLAZER, A232344, from February’s show, is another great alternative……and the Ponte TSV jacket would be wonderful with this dress……Black, Ivory or a wonderful color. One of my favorite, and probably most unexpected cover ups, is  A230028, the LONG GAUZE , SINGLE BUTTON CARDIGAN. It is a fabulous way to look. Also, what I like about it is…..when you enter a room, you are not giving it all away at once….if you know what I mean. Then…..when you take the cardigan off you have the GREAT REVEAL!……and show a beautiful dress…..Trust me….all EYES will be on you…..this is not for fading flowers! This is a dress for a life time. Stripes may be up and center this season….but they NEVER take a back seat……………..scroll down for more pics…………………………..I hope you enjoy……………..much Love…………….Louis

The photos above of Sneak Peek #1 illustrate the dress in the two addition colors…………………BLACK/BLUE………………………BLACK/GREY………….. The Ivory/ Bamboo was not purchased for the dress. Again, the detailing and the workmanship of this dress is strictly HIGH END. It is well worth every penny and considerably more. This dress should have actually been more money, and if it should ever be reordered, I know my manufacturer could never maintain the price it is being offered at. Again I am showing the MATCHING STRIP CARDIGAN, A232510, and the WHISPER KNIT BOLERO SHRUG, A232520, an ESSENTIAL PIECE for ALL WOMEN, all sizes, all ages. The look is TODAY and TOMORROW. It is MODERN, SLEEK, ELEGANT, BOLD and very very CHIC………………………………………………………Enjoy, much Love……………….Louis

The MAXI DRESS A224712, reorder is coming back and will be on my March 4th show. All of the original colors are returning, plus we have added two new color combinations…………………………..they are……………………………………BLACK/SUNSHINE YELLOW…………………..SPRUCE GREEN/PURPLE………………………..The sunshine yellow works great with the sunshine yellow JEAN JACKET that many of you already own and many have on wait list……they truly look terrific together. Of course, the white denim jacket looks wonderful too…………..The back ground of the Spruce Green combination was tinted a very pale mint green. Instead of having a stark white ground I thought it would be a little softer adding this tint……it was not an easy thing to do….not to much tint and not too little was a challenge. The accent color is a reddish purple, which I love with green.

I know many of you love  this dress for many reasons…..The print, the length, the fabric, the easy care and it’s so easy to travel with. I know many of you missed out on the first go around, but it’s available to order right now, so take advantage of the early ordering. I hope you like my new colors……I think they came out really well…..scroll down for photos of the original colors that are avail………….enjoy…………much Love Louis