Author: Louis Dell'Olio

LET THE GAMES BEGIN! A new month is coming….but Fall is OFFICIALLY here! I thought I would start the Oct. Sneak Peeks with something very RARE for Linea…..a COAT!………..However, this is not just any coat…. this is a VERY SPECIAL  coat in a very SPECIAL FABRIC. If I was going to do only one coat for the season…it had to be spectacular!  Since many of you have already previewed it in the  QVC magazine, I thought all of you should have the same opportunity to see it and not just read  about it. Actually, I was a little surprised that the buyers were willing to buy it, but they fell in love. The style # is…..A229477………..it is 50% WOOL and 50% polyester. It is approx 38-39 inches long for the XS. The colors are…..BLACK…..and………ROSE QUARTZ……..the most beautiful winter pastel [more about this later]. It is fully lined in a luxurious satin. The silhouette is some what retro and yet extremely MODERN. The fit is through the rib cage and then gently goes out to a very slight A-Line. The FAUX FLAPS are placed to accentuate the high fit, but the actual pockets are hidden in the seams below the flaps. There are six DYED TO MATCH BUTTONS down the front that will protect you from the winter winds. This is not just a pretty coat….it’s very functional! I call this a “DRESS COAT”. This is not the kind of coat you wear over blazers or chunky sweaters, thought you can wear it any way you want….I won’t know…LOL…..For me this is a coat you wear over a wonderful dress or a terrific new WHISPER KNIT sweater set and pencil skirt, or just a great LINEA CASHMERE BLEND TURTLENECK and the WK pant. Wear it for a casual Sunday brunch with the WAIST WHITTLING sweater and some great black jeans, a pair of great black boots, a wonderful black leather tote and great big black sunglasses….to chic for words. The FABRIC of this coat is what makes ALL the DIFFERENCE. As you can see in the photos it is a nubby, looped fabric that has a brushed look…..and the look is EUROPEAN ALL THE WAY!!! This is a coat you would expect to see on the runways of Armani, Ferragamo, Bottega Venetta, or Jill Sander. When Jac first saw it her eyes opened wide and immediately tried the Black XS coat on. It fits like a GLOVE! Now the COLORS….of course the BLACK is GORGEOUS!!!!!!……However…..the ROSE QUARTZ is the best kept secret of the Fall/Winter season. It is a COOL GRAYED PINK which , for me, is strictly a WINTER COLOR.  If you have ever been in a store where they sell huge chunks of different minerals and rocks of semi precious stones……….that look like they have just been dug up from the center of the Earth…..then you know what this color looks like. Look through your “INSTYLE” magazine and all of a sudden you will see a celeb wearing the most beautiful Rose Quartz short coat…..which just happens, at first glance, to look a lot like mine! Now look through your newest “VOGUE”….and guess what….a beautiful PINK COAT!…….So, as you look through your closet and decide if you need a new black coat……. THIS IS THE ONE…..I will say…. that this is not totally about NEED….it is definitely more about DESIRE……..If you looked at the ROSE QUARTZ  coat and you sigh and your heart melts a little….it should be YOURS ……and you deserve it…..!!WHEN are you going to ever see another coat  like this????? …….and you know it will never be reordered…..treat yourself to something FABULOUS……..and IT is!……Enjoy, much Love…..Louis

Dear Blinddogs,
Deborah Macy wanted me to pass this message along to you. She has 2 pair of the WK pants in each color in size Med. She heard you were stalking them and she would be happy to sell you her extras. If you are interested let me know and I will send you her e-mail so the two of you can hook up……..

Sneak Peek #7 is the reorder, A217986, cardigan. I think the success of this cardigan is the shape. The ribbing through the mid section, though not tight ribbing, still gives the wearer a gentle shape, and even when only the first two top buttons  are closed and the rest are left open [as in the picture on the left of the all Tarragon outfit]…..there is still an illusion of shape. The wide ribbed band at the bottom of the sleeve echos the ribs on the body of the sweater. These ribs create a slight blouse effect which gives the cardigan a feminine attitude. The colors are……BLACK…….STEEL GREY…..and the new…….TARRAGON  & PERSIMMON. These are great sweaters to wear with prints, or monotone ……or color blocked. I especially love the Persimmon with Olive or the color of the season AUBERGINE. which this season they are calling Merlot, Burgundy and OXBLOOD. Of course, we all know you had it last season! This sweater works for any life style….whether that is super casual…….or more dressed up…….. It also is light enough to layer under jackets, which many cardigans are not. They look especially good under the tweed jackets and the steel gray or black look great under the black/grey plaid from the last show…..they also look great over the feather print blouse or a simple white cotton T shirt…….the options are limitless! I think this cardigan has easily moved  in status from a “Fashion” sweater to an “ESSENTIAL”, and I know that you will get years of enjoyment  wearing this particular cardigan…………Enjoy……..much Love…..Louis

September Sneak Peek #7 is an ENGINEERED……..”MEDALLION PRINT” sweater. The style is…..A228335. It is 100% cotton as other printed cardigans I have done and the reviews on the yarn have been  terrific. This is a crew neck cardigan that has the look of a vest. The trims around the neckline, the  hem and the sleeves are always SOLID BLACK. The print in in the front and the back only. I think it makes the medallion print look very special, instead of it printed all over. This is definitely one of those pieces you can use very casually or more dressed up. I have it paired with  my short sleeve shell sweater in black, my cashmere blend sweater in black and my new WK ballet neck tunic sweater………you can basically wear almost any style sweater under this cardigan. I chose to only show black sweaters under the cardigan, but there are many colors in each of the sweaters y0u can pick to highlight the sweater with. The colors are ……BLUE………PURPLE…….. MERLOT. For bottoms, I have the WK black pant, the black crepe sunburst pleat skirt and jeans. Again there are many things and colors you can put with these sweaters The length is approx 24 1/2 for the xs. It is a very unique print and was inspired by a scarf print that was given to me by Mr. Etro years ago. The black scrolls printed on either side of the body bring the eye in for a slimming effect. I know you all have a zillion things that can already work with this fun and sophisticated sweater…………….Enjoy……………Love, Louis

“September Sneak Peek #6” is  A228334, a ponte knit dress. The colors are…………HEATHER GREY……………..GRAPE…………………TARRAGON………….This is a controlled draped dress…..meaning all of the pleated drapes are held into place with different kinds of stitching. The back of the dress has two PRINCESS SEAMS and a center back seam for shape. The front has a PRINCESS SEAM DART. The front drapes start at the back of the neck and are stitched then released at the side of the neck. They are draped and held at the waist with two top stitches. These drapes are great for both full busted women and women who are not. The skirt portion has a center inverted pleat with pleats on either side……great for hiding a little extra weight. There are long sleeves and a V-neck. The dress is approx.  40 to 40 1/2 inches long. It is very soft and very feminine dress……great under jackets, as you can see from the photo of the TARRAGON LEATHER JACKET with the Tarragon dress. On it’s own, it really needs nothing else. You can wear it belted….or not. Different accessories will keep the dress looking fresh and new with each wearing………………Tres Chic!……………Enjoy, much Love, Louis