“MAY 03”
………………………..The May 03 group was very large with a fun assortment. This marked my 3rd Anniversary….. From the amount of clothes I would guess this was a two hour show. Starting on the top row at the far left is a linen/rayon tunic with deep side slits and beautiful thread emb. It had a buttoned placket front and 3/4 sleeves….next was an unlined easy denim jacket with patch pockets and ivory pearl buttons……The next tunic shirt was a patchwork silk print shirt with contrast narrow banding on the collar and down the front. It too had high side slits…..perfect over jeans and leggings……The next dress had a ballet neckline, 3/4 sleeves and a side slit. I don’t recall if this was a sweater knit or a light ponte knit………the next item became one of my most successful that reordered year after year until the Fuji silk became too expensive. I called this my work shirt….It had so many wonderful details. It had straight bands at the shoulders [a sort of yoke] that extended passed the armholes for a drop shoulder look. At the end of the bands there was an X stitched just for emphasis. It had two breast pockets and buttoned flaps as a work shirt would have. The sleeves were long with classic button cuffs, but they rolled up and had button tabs to keep them there. It had a curved shirt tale bottom, and the back was slightly longer than the front giving the shirt the high low effect. Everyone else was making their bottoms straight across. The next season there were many high low hems. They say that copying is the highest form of flattery. If the vendors didn’t do it QVC would have anyway. They were always quick to jump onto a good thing whether it be a silhouette, a detail or a color…..even color names were used for other vendors and that continues today. Not too long ago when I introduce the name Loden the buyers didn’t even know what Loden was and gave me a hard time for using it. I explained that a Loden coat was a classic Austrian coat and usually in these olive-ish shades. Today everyone has gotten on the Loden band wagon. What also made this shirt super special was it had a hidden button placket, meaning the buttons didn’t show, but in between each button was an emb. horizontal bar in a tonal emb. color the width of the placket. This really made the shirt look upscale and designer. No detail was spared…..Next was a Milano Knit open front cardigan. I was the first to introduce this double knit in sweaters. I don’t recall but it may have had a shiny rayon knit trim? The sketch below was a reorder that was done in new coordinating colors. Ending the upper row was the reorder windowpane shirt with the addition of red and white…..On the second row, far left, is the linen/rayon jacket. It had a stand collar, straight body, and long sleeves. The collar, edge of the front, bottom edge of the jacket and sleeve were banded in a contrast color. The emb. matched the banding. The bottom picture is a detail of the emb…..The next sketch was a favorite of mine because it was very unexpected for the mid range market but was a major trend on designer lines especially in Europe……the print spring coat. This was a large abstract floral in white with navy and beige with black……Next was a woven stripe shirt/dress with white cotton collar and cuffs. It had high slits and looked great on its’ own or over skinny pants or leggings…….The next jacket had a large white plastic industrial zipper for emphasis. It had a jewel neckline with long sleeves and pockets. The entire front had cotton appliques as well as borders on the sleeve. It was all in a beautiful quality cotton sateen. I believe it came in navy with white, chocolate with white and black with white……,These pieces became collectors items and are just as modern today as the day they were introduced……..next was a linen/rayon solid tunic shirt…..and above that a linen/rayon safari type coat/dress. It was unlined and could double as a dress or a jacket…..Safari items would always make an appearance somewhere!
