You know………I couldn’t offer you anything in sequins….without offering you ……..BLACK SEQUINS!!!!! I am a sucker for sequins. My very first sight of a TRUE DESIGNER DRESS, when I was seventeen, was when I went to work for Norman Norell as an intern for a summer job before I started Parsons School of Design. I was brought to the all mirrored [ceiling and walls with a black and white diamond patterned marble floor], waiting room. There was a huge bouquet of Mr. Norell’s favorite flower…the Calla Lily. They were in a huge Lalique vase perched on a mirrored Parsons table…..I sat on a white satin covered bench with gold leaf legs waiting……in this ante room immersed in Norell perfume…..To this day it’s my favorite, but it isn’t made any more….another story another time, but I still have one bottle!. It was truly an assault on the senses…..something I will never forget…….. I was then brought into the showroom, on my way to the back rooms, to meet the people I would be reporting to. As I entered the showroom I was confronted with a GOLDEN RACK of five MAGNIFICENT SEQUIN DRESSES……each costing $25,000………….WOW……….that did it for me.!!…. They were made of silk jersey…..covered with INDIVIDUALLY HAND SEWN tiny sequins….no machine or chain stitched sequins here! …..Each dress was EXACTLY the same….only each one in a different color. It was astonishing!!………I remember I had to deliver a “MERMAID SEQUIN DRESS” to Lynn Revson’s town house…..her husband owned REVLON…..at the time the number one makeup company in the US, maybe the world. I was in a sweat!! She opened the door in a bathrobe! I was stammering!!!…………..anyway I digress…………..Mr. Norell showed me and taught me the RIGHT way to do sequins…..and believe me there is a right and wrong way to do SEQUINS……….you never want to look like a hoochie mama in sequins…..I think you know what I mean. Sequins can be elegant and sophisticated…..even at these affordable prices…..it’s strictly a level of taste…………………..Above, I have shown the top and skirt as the all important two piece dress……..and for a more fun edgy look…..with the white cotton “KATE SHIRT” and the my FAUX FUR PERSIAN JACKET, J229709………..If you are daring enough……you can create your own NORELL LOOK……..by wearing the new COTTON BOW BLOUSE and pile on the new JET BEADS coming in NOV……a FABULOUS party look…Mr. Norell was know for his PUSSY CAT BOWS…..If you aren’t acquainted with Normal Norell, I suggest you google him…..He was considered the BEST AMERICAN COUTURE DESIGNER in America. Yes, he did true COUTURE……hand made clothes. In the back rooms were custom forms of ever important socialite in NYC and around the country, who came to him each season to have their clothes made. I am proud to say, in my second year at Parsons, I won the Norman Norell Scholarship, that is still given to this day…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………….HAPPY HAPPY HOLIDAYS…………………….much Love………………………………Louis
