“20th ANNIVERSARY”
……………………..The year 2000 was a monumental year for me…..but not for the only reason you may think…………….On February 3, 2000 Jac and I got married. I had known her since she was 17 years old……….a child………a beautiful child, but still a child……..We worked together for many many years, and became friends….then close friends. Our friendship grew until I realized that Jac was the one for me……..Jac had come to that conclusion way before I did, and she would happily tell you so……….The first day we met was in the Anne Klein model’s dressing room. She had been working in the show room modeling the collection for clients. It was at the end of the day about 6:30pm, and I needed a break from the windowless design room. I happened to wander into the model’s room, and there Jac was sitting at the long table with mirrors and lights. The last appointments of the day were leaving. We both said hello, and she introduced herself. There was a brief conversation about her name…..”Jac”….not Jack not Jacque. We talked and talked and then I had to leave for a date. I thought she was a beautiful, VERY young girl, and that was that. Her account of our first meeting was a little different. She said when she saw me she was smitten. She recalled that I was wearing a chambray blue button down with the sleeves rolled up, British khaki pants with the wide waist band and side buckles [I saved those pants, but couldn’t get one leg in them now!]. She said my long black hair kept falling in my face. I kept pushing it back, and she thought that was so adorable. She loved to imitate me doing it, and I loved watching her. She also said I was the one who talked and talked, and she missed her train to Larchmont NY where she lived with her Mother. She didn’t mind because she really didn’t want to leave. How could you not fall in love with a girl like that……..Years later she told me she normally wouldn’t take a job modeling in a show room, but she new I’d be there…………We lived together for many years. We decided to get married when very close friends of ours came in from Italy on their way to Las Vegas for an International Shoe show. The four of us went out for dinner and Andrea Pfister said, “why don’t you come to Vegas with us and get married. We will be your best men!” referring to him and Jean Pierre Dupre, his partner of many years. It didn’t take us long to decide. We had wanted to get married, and discussed it often, but how to do it was always the dilemma….So off we went and got married in the Little White Chapel along with scores of people who came before us. We had a great time…..a time I will never forget……………………………………………..That same year I was introduced to QVC. I really didn’t know what it was, and hadn’t heard of it or watched it. It was far from my world of fashion. I hadn’t been working for 3 months, the only 3 months in my entire career that I hadn’t worked. I met with the QVC people through a mutual friend, and that was that. They introduced me to three different manufacturers who could possibly produce the “Linea” line, and I chose Lai Apparel owned by Elaine Lai. She has been responsible for producing every single item of clothing over the past 20 years. We have seen a lot, and been through a lot together. We have seen many designers and many companies come……and go…..but we are still here. These past few months, with the challenges of the Corona Virus, have been the worst period of our long association………In May of 2000 my first live broadcast was from Paradise Island in the Bahamas!!! That was the trip when one of the models didn’t show up. I looked at Jac, who came with me, with pleading eyes never saying a word. Jac knew what I was saying without speaking, and hesitantly volunteered to take her place 5 minutes before the show was to start……The rest is history……..It’s hard to believe that was 20 years ago. Much has taken place during these past years……many “adventures” as Jac would say, many memories and many friendships established……..I can say there are very very few DESIGNERS in the apparel end that have reached this milestone at QVC, and this May I will be working as long at QVC as I did with Anne Klein……..Combined that’s 40 years and almost my entire career……………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………..To commemorate my anniversary the jewelry company TCJC, that I have worked with from the beginning of the Linea Jewelry Collection, has produced this pendant that I have designed. On one side is the SUN, with its’ far reaching rays, with all the signs of the Zodiac surrounding it. On the other side it says 20th Anniversary, and has my signature…..all in Russian Gold Ox, [ the gray photos are just a result of bad photography. It only comes in the one color]. There is a Russian Gold keeper that holds a thick black cord which goes around the neck and hooks in the back with a Lobster Claw…………….Why did I chose the symbol of the Sun as my message?…..for many reasons…….I’m a LEO, which is a sun sign. Many many years ago when I read what the characteristics of a Leo are they had me pegged pretty closely. I have been told, due to the hour and date of my birth the sun plays a major role in my horoscope. It’s supposed to be a good thing! I’m not too knowledgeable about these things, but what I do know is………the sun gives us warmth and gives life……It has existed since the beginning of time, and will be here until the end of time. I sometimes think of all the human beings, all the people who have lived before, and the famous people from history. All that have looked up and have seen the same sun we all look at, and take for granted. Thinking about it can be overwhelming….I think of all the times Jac and I enjoyed swimming and laying in the sun and feeling its’ healing warmth………..This Sun Anniversary Pendant has more meaning for me than you can know……………I couldn’t think of a better sign to represent my anniversary and my life……………………………..I hope you enjoy it……………………….much Love………………………Louis
