Author: Louis Dell'Olio

Since The blouse is already on the LINEA site and ready to sell, I thought I’d better post my sneak peek! Actually, this will be TWO SNEAK PEEKS…….the first being the BLOUSE with the TIES, A228338….the second being the SUNBURST PLEATED SKIRT, A228339. The colors for the top are……..IVORY……..BLACK………TARRAGON………the colors for the skirt are …..BLACK……TARRAGON. I love a very feminine blouse under all kinds of jackets and sweaters…..from denim jackets………to biker jackets,….leather and suede jackets….. to tradition and not so traditional blazers and tuxedos…….cardigans, crew necks [both long and short sleeves], to the tradition V-neck to the new ballet neck tunic. Don’t forget to try one of your WHISPER KNIT TANKS over the blouse as a vest look. I LOVE the look of THE PLEATED SKIRT with the TIE BLOUSE and the TWEED JACKET worn over it……it’s very “JEAN BRODIE” or something you would see one of the women wearing in one of those wonderful “English” TV series or films. The IVORY BLOUSE under the BLACK LEATHER JACKET with the PLEATED SKIRT is SUPER CHIC!!…..and the BLACK BLOUSE  with the BLACK WHISPER KNIT PANT is TDF!!!

A228338….THE BLOUSE……..has many special details,….the most obvious is the three REMOVABLE STREAMERS. There are  three flats narrow bands of fabric that are attached to each other at the center. They pass through a FABRIC LOOP that is attached to the stand part of the collar at the center back…..so they are totally REMOVABLE. IF you got the ivory and black blouses you could even put the black ties on the ivory blouse. The front has a FLY FRONT CLOSURE, meaning all of the buttons are HIDDEN, keeping the front perfectly CLEAN. This way, the buttons will not interfere in any way with your JEWELRY! The blouse has a THREE BUTTON CUFF which adds just a little something……..a little VICTORIAN or GIBSON GIRL……..maybe? There is a front and back YOKE from which there is a little shirring………so your front “click here’ measurement might seem a little large to you…..however……this is not a darted FITTED BLOUSE. It is supposed to have a little drape and if you choose to “tuck”, you will have a beautiful soft, some what 40’s look. There is also a little bit of shirring in the sleeve cap just to add to that feminine retro look. As you can see from the close up shot of the Ivory blouse at the bottom center, this is a beautifully tailored and superbly made blouse. I like the ties tied in a double knot and left to hang….or worn with out the ties and either left open for a more casual look or buttoned up with a wonderful broach……which I have coming in three color ways.  Nov. is the planned due date, but knowing QVC, Dec. is more likely. I will point them out during the show. By the way…..I picked up the OLIVE BERETS in Paris on my recent trip……………..made in CHINA!

The SUNBURST PLEATED SKIRT, A228339, is a pull-on skirt….no zippers. The skirt from the bottom of the full elastic waist band measures approx. 29 inches long……perfect for boots or opaque tights and heels……I prefer a thicker heel. You have a little leeway with the length because of the elastic band waist….meaning you can wear it a little higher on the waist or lower…..more waist down. Again, this skirt has a very retro look and as far as pleated skirts go…..very slimming. Think of a sunburst pleated skirt as a FAN…..there is less at the top of the skirt and then it ” fans” or “sunbursts” out at the bottom……..which is not to be confused with an accordion pleated skirt, where the pleats are the same top to bottom. Sunburst pleated skirts can range from full circles, to half circles and less…..this one is less. The FABRIC of the SKIRT and BLOUSE is exactly the same…… 95% poly and 5% span….. I have used a light weight fabric so I could use it for both pieces. The skirt is surprising light and feels like nothing when worn. Wearing them  together  makes a FABULOUS SKIRT WAIST DRESS…..something Goldie Horn would have worn in “Swing Shift”?….. As separate pieces they will add something very new and fresh to your wardrobes. I would bet you don’t own anything quite like them……………………………..and they are washable!!!! Holey Moley!!…..but you know how I feel about washing pleated skirts……for me…..straight to the dry cleaners……really…. how often do you need to dry clean a pleated skirt? The blouse….no problem….throw it in the washing machine, but follow the instructions!

I hope you are  having fun building a wonderful new FALL LINEA COLLECTION! ………………..Enjoy, much Love………………….Louis

“Sneak Peek #4” is one of my most favorite pieces of the collection. It is my REAL LEATHER and RIB KNIT combination BLAZER. The style number is………..A228554……..the colors………..BLACK……….TARRAGON………….

The quality of the leather is superb and feels like soft glove leather. The styling is CLASSIC with a TWIST. This is a three button jacket, BOUND BUTTON HOLES of course. There are two patch pockets with flaps that are DOUBLE ENTRY, which means when you raise the flap  and you can get into the patch pocket…..or……..you can enter the pocket from the side. This is an extra detail that has become a SIGNATURE  LINEA element. The jacket has a beautifully PROPORTIONED collar and lapel. What really gives it the newness and separates it from all other leather blazers is the rib knit. The sleeves are rib knit so there are no worries about shortening…..just roll them once or twice for a cuff effect….or push them up a little and show the white cuff of you “KATE” shirt. From the PRINCESS SEAMS in the front…..to the leather panel in the back……..it is all rib knit. A more comfortable jacket in leather…. you will never find. The knit also adds another interesting texture and contrast to the leather that truly makes it look like a “DESIGNER JACKET”, and stands apart from any other leather blazer. It can go very casual as you can see in the photo at the top  center. There you see the Tarragon jacket with the Tarragon crew neck tunic and a pair of jeans…..[don’t worry about the sweater coming below the jacket…..it’s supposed to], add a pair of boots and a shoulder bag and you are set…….or change it up with the Tarragon crepe shirt and Tarragon WK pant and you are ready for the office, a lunch date or dinner with your special someone…….there’s also a picture of the same outfit with the Tarragon pleated skirt. Naturally the Tarragon will mix with many color bottoms…..black, charcoal grey, navy and the new walnut…..just to name a few. This is a jacket that you can create many different outfits with. Depending on your mood….. you can go from “TOUGH CHIC”….black jacket, black turtle neck, black pencil skirt, black tights and shoe booties……don’t forget the black sunglasses………to “BOHO CHIC”….. Tarragon jacket, a color turtle of your choice and a boho skirt, printed [think black or olive paisley] or a solid…. such as the new CHILI PEPPER and TAUPE with either color jacket. You can even wear it dressy with my sequin cowl neck sleeveless top, a pair of black jeans, and sky high heels. There is no limit how you can wear this one jacket! I rarely do leather pieces…….good quality leather is getting more and more expensive and you are seeing less and less of suede and leather on the Q. This is the one and only piece of leather , or suede, I will be doing for the entire fall/winter season…..so I hope you like it and take advantage of it…………..One warning…….lock the jacket up when you are not wearing it or your daughters with be wearing it for you!!!!!!!!!!……………………………………………………………………………….ENJOY, much Love………….Louis

28 1/2 inches for petite, and 31 1/2 inches for regular measured laying the garment flat on a table. I have been told due to the weight of the knit they will probably hang 1/2 inch longer so the on the body length will be 32″ and 29″. I hope this answers all questions about this pant…they are letter sized. Please re-read my post for all other info…..thanks, Louis

Dear Kate….and all who are interested in the new WHISPER KNIT PANT, A228555. I thought it would be a good idea for Jac to try on the XS sample I have and give a report from a woman’s point of  view on how they fit and feel. First, she wants everyone to know they feel wonderful on, exactly what you would expect from WK. She also loves the wider waist band which she said holds you in and feels very supportive. It also is the kind of waist band that will not turn. The weight of the fabric is not flimsy or heavy and what she loves about the leg is ….it’s a little wider but does not “flop around you ankle when you walk” which she “hates”. The 32″ inseam works for her wearing  flats, low heel boots, and shoes! She can wear high heels with black hose but they will not cover her foot entirely. Remember she is 5′ 10″” and 1/4″ which she reminded me of. I’m 5′ 10″………no 1/4″. There is a little room to play on where the waist band rests on the body depending on your particular rise. It can hit waist down or slightly above…….also because of the stretch you can really play with where you want it. Jac wanted to say that she already owns the slim  WK pants I did years ago and never had a problem with bagging or anything like that. I hope this answers all of your questions………Louis

September Sneak Peek #3 is actually two items…..the WHISPER KNIT LONG PULL SWEATER, A228341…..and…..the WHISPER KNIT PULL-ON PANT, A228555 [regular length 32 inches], and A228556 for the petite, [approx length 26 inches].

For quite some time many have been asking for a LONGER length sweater in WK….here it is. This sweater has a lovely ballet neckline, long sleeves and measures approx. 29 inches for the XS. It is in the WK jersey [the same as the essential sweaters]. The colors are………….TARRAGON……….WALNUT [a very dark brown]…..and……….BLACK….Jac wants all colors but three in black. This is the type of sweater you can wear very casual with jeans or leggings , or very dressy with a sequin or lace skirt…..even a floor length skirt with some dazzling jewelry will be the chicest, and unexpected, BLACK TIE look. As you can see from the photos, this sweater takes all of the LINEA JEWELRY very well……it is the perfect canvas for accessories.. Belt it with a wide or narrow waist belt…….or a fabulous belt slung on the hips to create a totally different look. I love the sweater over the white “Kate” shirt…..leggings and a short denim jean jacket. It looks terrific with the sweater pulled way down below the jacket for that very “edgy” layered look. For my petites……I can hear you say….”it’s very nice, but not for me”. I say “it absolutely is for you”. Wear it with tights, or leggings and boots or shoe booties all in the same color…..to create a longer look……wear it with a short pencil skirt, again with matching tights and shoes…….push up the sleeves for a “ruched look”….throw on some wonderful bangles…..and I guarantee you….you will look like a million dollars….and very modern too!

The A228555 and the A228556, has been a long time coming! I did a WK pant years ago and they were fabulous, however, they were not reordered. I believe the reason for that was two fold……one the colors….if my memory serves, they were in black, magenta and a teal. It is always tricky trying to sell pants in “fashion colors”. The second reason was……high returns due to multiple buying of sizes. As happens so often, many women buy two sizes and return the one they like least. I know this happens, but it will kill any chance for a reorder, no matter how big the wait list or even with zero inventory. I only say this for you…..for you to have the opportunity to be able to get these pants in more colors next year…….. Buy wisely. The women who own them, Jac being one of them, swear by them!!! They are done in the EVERY NEEDLE RIB, which is the same construction as the knit pull-on pencil skirt, A09484. They DO NOT BAG. they wash beautifully as you already know from your other WK pieces, and the colors [………BLACK…..TARRAGON…..WALNUT…..] are saturated and STAY that way. Anyone who owns a WK will tell you how WONDERFUL they FEEL on the BODY. You should definitely buy these pants in your REGULAR size. When we fit them, and there were many fittings to get them just right, we made sure the leg was easy enough so there was no grabbing or hugging….and Whisper Knit DOES NOT CLING! The bottom leg opening is approx. 8 1/2 inches, not narrow, not overly wide……..for this pant in this fabric…..perfect.They are the best travel pant, and because the colors are so rich and the Walnut and Black are so deep, they go with absolutely everything. You will see one of the new trends of the up coming season is to tuck shirts into pants…..if you decide this may be something you will try…..these are the perfect pants to do that look with…why?……because there is a lot of stretch in this very comfortable waist band, and you will not feel confined or STUFFED. I envision the likes of Julie Christie, Lauren Hutton and even Jackie Kennedy…. strutting down Madison Ave. with the paparazzi taking her picture, wearing this sweater and pant. If I were to do only one pant from now on….. this would be the pant, that is how much I love them. I hope those of you who try them for the first time will feel the same way…………….Enjoy, much Love……..Louis

P.S. Sorry I can’t give you a better picture of the pants but, I can’t get pants on my mannequin.