Yearly Archives: 2018

………………..A friend of Jac and mine, Able Rapp, just sent me this pic from years ago. In case you don’t recognize her…that’s Janice Dickinson when she was absolutely beautiful…..always a wild child, but when you looked like her in this business…how could you help it……I think this was at  Studio 54, but I really don’t remember much about those days. Once I was with Jac those days were all but over. We did go there once in a while just to see friends, but we rather stay home!

…………..By profession……..I am a Designer. I have been a designer since before I graduated Parsons School of Design, and had my first position at Teal Traina in 1969………Doing the math, I am approaching my 50th year designing clothes. I approach designing today as I always have. I design things I love and hope there is an audience for it. I design clothes for women who have the same sensibility and taste level I have. I don’t claim to design for everyone, nor would I want to…………….The total outfit above is something I have designed this year, but I could have very well designed it 50 years ago. It would have been as relevant then as it is now. This could walk on any runway, and be the hit of the show!

……………………..The CARAMEL TRENCH COAT, A343460 for the reg. and A343462 for the petite is a superb piece. A coat like this does not come around often, not even from Burberry! For those of you who are new to Linea, and may not know the origin of the Trench coat….a short story. During WW1, the British government commissioned a men’s company named Burberry to design an all purpose coat for the soldiers in “The Trenches”, hence the name “Trench Coat”. Burberry was a very staid classic men’s company specializing in outerwear. It was far from the company it is today. First they branched out into women’s raincoats, recognizing how many women were buying the men’s coats. As a company it kept growing, and evolving until the Fashion powerhouse company it has come to be. Every trench coat you see from every designer and manufacturer has its’ origins with that first coat made for “the soldiers in the trenches”.

……………………The Trench Coat above is exactly the same as the trench coat I did two years ago, which has sold out. The only difference is this new version is longer, approx. 50 1/2 inches for the size 4, and is ever so slightly A-d out for walking comfort. When it’s on the “A” isn’t noticeable. Everything else is the same….the fabric, the lining, the classic trench collar with the metal hook and eye closure, the epaulets [from which the shoulders hung their rifles when not in use, so they wouldn’t be in the mud], the button down flaps, front and back, used to let the rain fall away from their bodies, adjustable sleeve straps to prevent the wind in, the double breasted style to give the body extra warmth and protection, the deep pockets. Originally, the trench coat had a button out solid flannel liner that was also used as a bath robe. This coat, as my original, has two sets of belt loops [photo at lower left], to provide you with the correct placement for the belt. The original trench had metal loops attached to the belt where shoulders hung canteens, shovels etc. Every thing had a function.

I love mixing textures, and every piece that I have put together to create this outfit adds something exciting. The WK Caramel TN, A72448, the faux Shetland long open front Caramel cardi, A343439 [shown belted], the faux suede Caramel pull-on stretch pant, A343444, and the Trench…..all add up to one fabulous, timeless, sophisticated, and forever chic outfit…………………………………………………….enjoy…………………………much Love…………………..Louis

………………………..The “LADY IN RED” can be you! I promised you a SCARLET RED TRENCH COAT, and here it is. Some may think it’s on the edge, but to me it can become a staple in your wardrobe……Why can’t you become know for the Lady with the fabulous RED TRENCH COAT!………………….The color is even more beautiful than I had hoped for. The coat is alive with color. I know when you get it home you will be thrilled………What else is there to say………..To create the Lady in Red look I have chosen the Scarlet Red swing WK TN, A268137, which has been reordered and is back! The Super Ponte straight leg pant, A298447,  has also been reordered for a Nov. delivery, and Scarlet Red is a new color……Since it is a reorder, as soon as it gets processed, they probably will post it earlier. It will be avail in reg and petite lengths………A RED pant…..why not! This is a color that can be worn all year round……perfect for the holidays with a great winter white top, and some wonderful new Holiday jewelry, and come spring wear them with a navy blazer or cardigan and the white wing collar shirt!…..The Art Nouveau pendant is new, and will be avail Oct/Nov…………This season QVC has some great RED pumps and booties……………….I guess RED was in the air!!!!!……………………………………enjoy………………….much Love……………………..Louis

………………………The BLACK TRENCH COAT……………….a TRUE ESSENTIAL! I know this is a tough choice…….CARAMEL, or SCARLET RED, or BLACK, or CARAMEL, or SCARLET RED, or BLACK……I’m glad I don’t have to make this decision…..Which ever is coming home to you….I know you will enjoy your new TRENCH!………………..much Love…………………….Louis

……………………….The “BIG DEAL” Leather Jacket…… A343472…… will be presented on OCTOBER 10th at 9:00pm on QVC2. For QVC to even select a leather piece for the Big Deal…..is a BIG DEAL! The leather is LAMB, and is so super soft. The different qualities of leather is as long a list as the different qualities of fibers. The animals selected, the size of the leather, and the purity of the surface [no scars] all goes into the grades of leathers avail. Inexpensive leathers have painted surfaces to hide all of the imperfections…making the garments stiff, and with time the “paint” cracks. This “paint method” only covers the top and does not penetrate the skin. That is certainly not the case with my jackets. We use special dyes, and the skins are dyed in vats allowing the dyes to penetrate through the skins keeping them supple and natural. Then the skins are tumbled and treated to make them even softer. This is a time consuming process, but the more care given the higher the grade of leather.

…………………PORT……….is one of the colors I have chosen for the jacket. With all of the coordinates….the blazer coat, the new blazer, the many W Knits….sweaters,  pant, and skirt, the wing collar cotton shirt , and the Ponte pant….[have I left anything out?]……I felt the leather jacket completed the group, and provide the COLUMN OF COLOR so many of you favor. Who else at QVC, or anywhere for that matter, offers you such an extensive range of of garments and coordinating accessories, in different fabrics all in one color………The jacket is in numerical sizes for a more accurate fit. If you have purchased any Linea jacket or coat in a numerical size I would recommend choosing the same size. The collar is called a WIDE SPREAD like a man’s dress shirt collar. There is a back “half moon” stand which gives the collar a beautiful stance…..great for flipping up when it gets windy. There are five buttons down the front, and five BOUND BUTTON HOLES. They are not machine button holes, again quality….There is a TOP YOKE front and back, which with the attached shoulder pad, gives the jacket a good line………The body has a slight fit through the rib cage. It does not nip in at the waist. It glides over the body. There are princess seams that provide this gentle fit front and back. The back has a very wide panel of leather so when it is on the body the leather is the predominate feature…..The jacket for the size 4 is approximately 31 1/2 inches….We used to call this “The Car Coat Length”…The RIB KNIT….creates side panels on the jacket, and a panel on the under sleeve. There are so many advantages these knit sections provide…..mainly FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT! Of course there are inseam pockets placed on the princess seam so they are easy and comfortable access. The jacket is FULLY LINED except for the knit panels so they can stretch without the lining constricting them…….You can see in the photos how DEEP and RICH the color is….now just imagine how soft all that beautiful color is!…………………..Above, I have the jacket with the Port tunic sweater with side slits over both the WK Port pant and the WK Port skirt. When wearing the skirt you must wear the PORT TIGHTS, A343938….It is very important in keeping that column of color, or else it is broken up by a bare leg, and the effect is no long there.. QVC has a nice range of Pumps, Booties and Boots in BURGUNDY which is a nice deep shade and matches very well. Marc Fisher is the brand I usually request in this color…………The PLUM STATION GLASS BEAD necklace and earring set, J356989 is the perfect finishing touch!…..The PLUM CARNIVAL necklace, J354006, will also be a fabulous accessory for something a little more dramatic…There are many Linea necklaces from the past and more recent that will work beautifully with PORT……These are MILLION DOLLAR DESIGNER LOOKS that you will never be able to find anywhere else except LINEA……………enjoy…………………much Love………………………….Louis