Author: Louis Dell'Olio

The “Safari Pant Suit Sneak Peek” above is actually a CUSTOMER REQUEST! For quite a few years many of you have asked me to do the A83571, brushed cotton Leopard print jacket in SOLID COLORS. I actually had a sample made in the solid brushed cotton a while ago, but it just didn’t “sing” to me, and I didn’t know why since I truly loved the jacket. What I came to realize was I like the printed version much more and if I was going to repeat this style it had to be  a NEW VERSION…..not the style, but the FABRIC. So what you see in the two photos is the new SUPER FINE TWILL. This fabric has more drape than the cotton and I have done it UNLINED to add to the languid drape of the jacket. It has a very vintage YSL look to it. The construction and workmanship are absolutely SUPERB!

The style number of the jacket is A227581. The colors are…..MUSHROOM…..and…..NAVY….. It has all of the details as the original Leopard jacket. There are four patch pockets with button through  MILITARY FLAPS, and the bottom pockets are DOUBLE ENTRY……meaning you can enter the pocket from the top, or from the side…..double entry….DOUBLE POCKETS. The entire jacket is BEAUTIFULLY stitched with DOUBLE ROW TOP STITCHING. It has a flattering wing collar that frames the face. There are straps on each sleeve that go through a belt loop and then button. The jacket has a front and back yoke and from the back yoke are two small ACTION PLEATS. There is also a self fabric belt which is optional. The jacket does have belt loops, as the original did. LADIES……everyone’s waist length is different….some are short waisted, some are long waisted…….if the belt loops are in the wrong place for you….either have them taken off or have them moved……this should take any tailor  fifteen minutes. In the photos above you see the jacket worn with the brown cashmere blend sweater and the new Whisper Knit walnut pant……..the Mushroom Whisper Knit Turtle neck and the knew Dark Mushroom knit pencil skirt is another option…..and of course, HEAD TO TOE mushroom….jacket, turtleneck and pant. There are a million ways to mix and match this Mushroom jacket…..the Ivory Cashmere turtleneck and JEANS or the white KATE SHIRT and jeans…..or the white Kate shirt and the new BLACK pleated skirt……and on and on and on……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

The pant is A227582, and again, will be sold in numerical sizes. It will  come in one length……an approx.  32 inch inseam. It has a front zip and button closure…..slash trouser pockets, and an elastic back with a flat front. They are unlined which gives them a lovely drape and makes them wearable for all SEASONS! The colors are…….. MUSHROOM…and…NAVY……You will be reaching for these pants over and over. The Mushroom will become your new favorite as it looks great with every color……from every neutral to every fashion color……..There is nothing to be said for a good pair of DARK NAVY pants….everyone need them…..they are an ESSENTIAL!

……………………………………………………….Enjoy…………………much Love, Louis

The photos above show the new SAFARI JACKET, A227581, and the matching TROUSER PANT, A227582, in the DEEP NAVY color. I thought it deserved its’ own page…..because it is a BEAUTY! It really doesn’t get more ICONIC than this!! It is a CLASSIC, TIMELESS, ULTRA SOPHISTICATED jacket……………. SPRING, WINTER, FALL………………………………………………and yes the IVORY pants are coming in OCT.

Hello Again! With all of the shows and showings next week, I will just have to pile on the sneak peeks!! The ANIMAL PRINT DRESS IS….. A227573. As you can see it will be avail. in two colors…..HENNA/BLACK……and….GREY/BLACK. The dress has a back zip and is approx. 41 inches long….great for boots or black tights and pumps, ankle boots etc. etc. The dress has princess seams with INSEAM POCKETS. There is a seam down the front that goes into an INVERTED PLEAT. This avoids pulling at the pockets, and in general gives the dress ease. The fabric is a light weight Ponte Knit and is a Poly/Rayon/Span blend. You can wear it belted just to change things up, but it was fit to be worn without a belt. The shape grazes the body and follows the form without any tightness. For those days when you just don’t want to think about the coordinates…..this is an easy, simple and comfortable way to “dress”…not to mention a very sophisticated way to look. I think this print takes animal prints to a new level. The grey is a HEATHER GREY which makes the fabric look very expensive, and it is VERY SOFT…………..Now back to the Olympic Games!…………………Enjoy……………. much Love, Louis

The “Sneak Peek Textured Blazer” is style A227574. The colors are…….. MUSHROOM…..or……..BLACK…….The specifics….This is a single button blazer and it is fully LINED. There are no buttons or opening on the sleeve, so if you need to shorten…..it is an easy alteration. There are flaps with bison pockets underneath the flaps……they will come sewn shut, so if you wish to open them you can, however, if you do not plan on using the pockets it is best to leave them closed. I would call the jacket shaped, but not overly fitted. If you wish to have this jacket more fitted there are many seams to take the jacket in. You should first consider how you intend to wear it and how you plan on layering it. The length of the jacket for size XS is approx. 26 inches. The TEXTURED FABRIC is a blend of POLY/ACRYLIC/WOOL and RAYON. It is very common for textured and tweed fabrics to have multi yarns.

The BLACK combination has GREY, BLACK and a GREYED WHITE woven together in a BROKEN PLAID pattern. I thought this pattern was very UNIQUE and very DESIGNER  looking. This is the kind of fabric I have always gravitated to, and could only find in Italy. The MUSHROOM  blazer is a combination of MUSHROOM, DARK MUSHROOM and WALNUT, which is a very dark and deep brown…..one of my new ESSENTIAL colors! There will be new WHISPER KNIT  essential sweaters and the WHISPER KNIT pant [coming in Sept.]…. all in the new WALNUT. You should also know the fabric of this blazer has a nice touch to the hand….something you can’t tell from a photograph. I would say the colors of the jackets show up most accurately in the photos along the bottom of the collage. You can also see from the photos that the FEATHER PRINT was designed to work perfectly with the plaid jackets…again…very designer boutique. In another photo you can see how easily the CHILI PEPPER shirt/jacket works as a layering piece under the black blazer combined with the black feather print. There are three pictures of pleated skirts….the black feather print and the DARK MUSHROOM and BLACK light weight crepe skirts. As I said before…..PLEATED SKIRTS have made a STRONG return this year…..you knew it was bound to happen!!!You will see pleated skirts at all lengths this fall season…….. from MINIS [for the junior market] to MAXIS and all lengths in between………I can never show a collection without a GREAT WHITE SHIRT LOOK……this is pure LINEA pure ME. Of course, for me,  the CHICEST way to look is wearing a great fitting BLAZER, a terrific pair of PANTS, [in this case the new Whisper Knit pull-on pant in black which will be coming in Sept.] and a GREAT WHITE SHIRT…….the KATE SHIRT…..This is TIMELESS, CLASSIC and reeks CLASS! You can’t ever go wrong with this quintessential AMERICAN LOOK! I hope you enjoy the new TEXTURED PLAID jacket that I will be bringing to you on August 6th at 4pm…….much Love, Louis

8/3….6:00am, the A221794, paisley border skirt in Olive, Chili Pepper and Straw
8/3….4:00pm, The A227580, the feather skirt and the A227579, Feather print blouse.

Let’s see how many more changes they can come up with…LOL