Author: Louis Dell'Olio

Jac and I made it home SAFE and SOUND and I have to say it was a trying trip. We saw quite a few skid outs along the NJ Turnpike and the CT Turnpike so we were happy to get home, start a fire in the fireplace and have out girls show us how much they missed us! We were surprised by the amount of snow we received….8 inches. We were so tired I think we both fell asleep before our heads hit the pillows. There is nothing like being in your own bed!! I had a wonderful message from my dear Lisa Mason when I got home!!! We had a nice long chat today and promised each other the four of us will get together for dinner real soon. I told her I would say hello to all of you and she wanted you all to know she is doing great. From what she told me that is one lady who isn’t letting any grass grow under her feet. I really do adore her. It’s time for me to go and watch the second football game. NE won now I have to watch my Giants win….that will make for one great Super Bowl.

If you are wondering what the sticks are for in the photo…..they aren’t to see how deep the snow is! They keep the geese off the lawn. What you can’t see are the strings criss crossing  from stick to stick…..it keeps them from landing. They get used to going somewhere else and in the spring we take them down and we haven’t had a problem ever since we started doing this. The owner of the garden center gave me this tip and it works! If you think the picture looks cold…..it is! The wind off the water can take your breath away.

Once again, I want to thank you  for all the support you have shown to Jac and myself…..it means very much to us………much Love, Louis

Sneak Peek #9 is the last  photo of the items that will be shown on the three shows: 1/20, 9am, 1/21 2am, 1/21 Am Style at 8am.

This is my Python print jacket A221791, and a beautifully done print it is. What separates my prints from many others is the amount of screens and the technique in which they are printed. Where as some will use 4 screens to achieve a print…. I will use 8 or 9 screens which gives greater detail and depth. The fabric of this jacket is a new one for me. It is 100% cotton and has a very fine basket weave which you can see in the close up of the background shot [the olive print]. It has the feel of a cotton pique, so it is a tailored cloth. The length of the jacket, size XS, is aprox 22 3/4 inches to 23 inches. It has a 3/4 length sleeve and is fully lined. This is NOT a boxy jacket. It has princess seams front and back for a subtle shaping. What is truly wonderful about this jacket, besides the print and fabric, is the details and there are lots of them. EVERY SEAM and EVERY DART is piped, even the armhole is piped. Take a good look at the photos and you will see the collar, the hem of the jacket and sleeve, the front darts , the back darts and every body seam has black piping. When I showed this sketch to my manufacturer I could immediately tell the amount of labor to make this jacket was shocking. I said “lets make the sample and if adjustments have to be made we can decide then.”……..no “adjustments” were made! The jacket is exactly as I designed it. There are no buttons on this jacket. It closes down the front, single breasted, with large industrial snaps which gives the jacket a modern edge. There are also horizontal narrow band pockets that disappear in the print of the jacket [they will come sewn closed for shipping]. This jacket also has an interesting and different neckline. It sits close to the neck at the shoulder and then gently spreads out creating a high open neckline………Python prints are slowly becoming the “new ” animal print. I love them because of the graphics of the design. If you forget for a second the connection of the print to the animal [and I choose to use the word animal]. you really become involved with the intricacies of the design…..it is one of natures wonders and I have tried to do justice by it……but to get right down to it….Python prints are VERY IN! This is practically a 12 month jacket…..depending on wear you live. Layer it up for immediately wearing or come spring early summer…..a tank and capri pant, skirt, jeans or dress pant is all you will need. This jacket can go casual or to the office. The colors are: OLIVE and yes my olives will work, BLUE….jean friendly and BLACK which has a lot of gray shades. Each jacket is piped in black so they can all be worn with black.

Again, all of the clothes in all 9 sneak peeks will be spread out  within the three shows. I also will have a few sneak peaks of things to come!……..Enjoy the shows!     much love to all, Louis

Sneak Peek # 8 consists of two items: A221800, the pebble crepe top and A221804, the pebble crepe long skirt. These are a must have for my PEBBLE CREPE fans. You know the fabric well….it is 70% Rayon and 30% poly and it has natural stretch. These are perfect travel pieces and easy care garments. The colors  are black, sand and pale terracotta [a soft coral].

A221800…..The body of the top is very similar to last seasons ballet neck pebble crepe top. It has the same sewn on patch pockets with a bison opening in the patch, side slits and a bracelet length sleeve…..good for showing off lots of bangles….. The top is aprox. 27 inches long for an XS. The neckline of this top is the focal point. It has a draw string funnel neck which can be worn many different ways. Leave it totally un-drawn and it becomes a lovely soft cowl neck…..just tie the streamers and let them hang [no knot….just flip them through as you would when tying a knot, but leave off the last step……or tie them in a bow. Draw the funnel in and you have a softly gathered collar. I think this way of wearing the collar can come in very handy on cold blustery days…..wear a turtle neck under it and the top gives you an added light layer and extra protection. Come spring and summer…..you have a wonderfully breezy and cool top. I would say this top is more casual than dressy, but is certainly suitable for lunch with the girls, and less dressy functions…..showers, birthdays graduations….you get the idea. Put it on with jeans and this replaces you hoodies and sweat shirts. It really can be worn for almost any occasion depending on how you accessorize it. Remember, it is the same pebble crepe fabric as your crop  and long pull on pants from last season. This can easily  become a go to piece.

A221804 is a long pull on, elastic waist skirt…..an essential. The colors are black, sand and pale terracotta. It is basically a long straight skirt with a high enough slit for easy walking……no pockets…. Pair it with the top, as in the photo of the black top and skirt or wear it with many things you may already own…….and more things to come……i.e. the paisley top and the lace trim sweaters…..plus more coming on future shows. It truly is a must have spring /summer /early fall  transition skirt. It is unlined, as the pants were, and is a marvelously cool skirt to wear this coming summer……a great pair of sandals and off you go. I know you ill get a lot of use from a skirt like this…..another hard to find item……………………………much Love, Louis

Sneak Peek #7 is A221792, a brushed cotton “PEA JACKET”. First, there is nothing more American Sportswear than a Pea jacket, and one of my favorite types of jackets. For me, it is as important as a trench, safari, or military type jacket. It’s that wonderful combination of masculine and feminine which I fine very sexy. The fabric is my brushed cotton/span quality, like my blazer with the zipper trims all around it, or the blazer with the gunmetal buttons and zipper pockets [both reorders for 2012]. For my southern ladies and my snow birds, this will be a great outerwear jacket right now. For the ladies in the colder climes this can be worn as a blazer just as the other two blazers are worn. This jacket is fully lined in my beautiful satin lining. The details on this jacket are endless. First, the BUTTONS……..this is my new SIGNATURE button and the quality is superb! They are slightly domed and have four “Ls” pierced through. There are TWELVE buttons on each jacket plus a spare on the inside. LADIES…..please make sure your buttons are sewn on securely!!! and put the extra button in a safe place. This Pea jacket has body seams front and back so it has a lovely shape….not tight, but an easy….follow the lines of the body shape. There are straps on the sleeve that button with the new signature button and there are epaulettes on the shoulders that also have the new button. The pockets are in the seam, but if you look at the green photo in the upper left, you will notice there is also a set in band to accentuate the pocket opening. This is an extra design detail that most would have left off. There is also a back belt, again with the signature buttons! I spared nothing on this Pea Jacket! ! The colors are Green, Ivory and Cobalt. There are so MANY ways to wear this jacket….dress slacks, JEANS, pencil skirts, pleated skirts Capri pants, shorts and it looks incredible with my printed chain print and floral print pencil skirts…..I could keep going on and on but I think you get the idea. I have my WK red turtle neck, the “Kate” shirt in chambray blue and the new navy boat neck sweater from sneak peek #5 in the photos above. Of course, my GOLD CHAIN NECKLACES and BRACELETS were made to go with these jackets. I can’t close without mentioning…..this is one of JAC’S PICKS…..she LOVES this classic all American Pea Jacket…..I hope you will too!…………much Love, Louis

SNEAK PEEK #6 is the poet shirt, A213626. I decided to post this ASAP because many of you have inquired about it. Since there isn’t any video on the QVC site and the picture posted there is less than stellar, I know many of you wanted a “good look”. This a a reorder shirt from last spring that sold out in the two colors avail., white and khaki. Those colors are returning plus the new “PALE AQUA”. The fabric is something I had developed exclusively for the Linea collection and is “made to order” for Linea only!. This is not a quality one can find on an open line. It is a very fine twill which gives it a weight that is not often found in cotton blend shirts today, especially in the “Women’s Market”. This is more like a men’s shirting. As a matter of fact I gave the fabric mill one of my dress shirts so they could reproduce the fabric…..nothing is easy…..not even finding a decent cotton/ span shirting….no polyester…….my choice. Yes, it may need a little more maintenance, but for me, it is worth it. Jac finally doesn’t have to go to mens store to buy her white shirts. I call the style of this shirt the “English Gardener’s Shirt”, or ‘Poet’s Shirt”. It is a tunic length, it has a roll-up sleeve with a tab and button, and a classic shirt collar. It has, stitched down patch pockets and the entry is on the slant so they are very comfortable to use. The front of the shirt has an inset bib like a man’s tuxedo shirt and a placket front that ends in a point just below the bib. The shirt is slightly A-line so it is suitable and comfortable for ALL shapes and sizes. There are also side slits. Let’s talk size and fit, which we all know is subjective and personal. For ME, the shirt fits EXACTLY the way I wanted it to fit. It is roomy, easy and comfortable. I like the relaxed look of the shirt. If you go on vacation to a warm climate, as Jac and I have , it is a great shirt for sight seeing, shopping, lunching, and a terrific beach cover up…..you want it away from your body so it is cool and comfortable….you don’t want anything binding. Then….there is the other camp who thinks it is over sized and you should size down one size……Ladies you know what you like….either way works….it’s up to you whether you want to listen to the designer or them…LOL…. JUST KIDDING!!!!What ever your preference is fine with me! This shirt looks great with leggings, crops, Capri pants, slim pants, my cropped pebble crepe pant from last spring. and even a short pencil skirt [if you don’t like your knees this will not work for you because the skirt must be short or the proportion will be off].  You can wear it layered with a turtle neck right now, or layer it with a tank for a shot of color and Capri pants later on. Notice, I have the pale aqua with my steel gray pant…..she could easily have the steel gray turtle neck too. What ever your preference, however you wish to accessorize it…or not…..it’s a work-horse of a shirt and has lots of pizazz!……enjoy……Louis