……………………….Jan. 2011 began with two items. The reorder stripe sweater with the addition of a new color, Perfectly Pink and Navy, and a cotton sateen stretch unlined jacket with metallic heat applied golden discs in an ethnic pattern…..It came in Chino, Black and Olive……..2011 was off to a slow start.
…………………….Many years ago Jac asked me to plant cherry trees along both sides of the brick path leading to the lawn that opens up to the water of the Long Island Sound. She wanted an “allee of cherry trees” that she could walk under when they were in full bloom…….The trees are on the west side of the house, and can be seen from every room on that side. You can see them from the kitchen windows, which Jac loved, from the hall leading into the dining room, you can see them from the dining room windows and the family room. On the second floor you can see them from my office, a guest bedroom and bathroom. Sometimes I find myself sitting at my computer staring at the flowers, and getting lost in the beauty in front of me…On the back lawn [photo lower right] is the cherry tree Teresa and Franco gave me when Jac passed away over three years ago. I am surrounded by Jac’s memory, her spirit and her love of nature……..it’s a beautiful sight……..Jac would take me by the hand, away from my work, and say “come on, I want to show you something”…..We would walk to the brick path and stand under the cherry trees in full bloom. We would look up through the branches of pink blossoms to the blue sky. Jac would say, “sometimes you have to take a break and look at God’s gifts”. It was and is a beautiful sight….Jac always taught me to take time to enjoy life and nature……Something women often do……and men forget to do……I now make sure, when the trees are in bloom, to take the time to go out to the path and look up……..
……………………….I sit at my computer and I’m mesmerized by the beauty of all the “perfectly pink” blossoms of the cherry trees. The trees have grown so much since Jac had me plant them years ago. On a very windy day the air is filled with blowing pink petals. It looks like it is snowing cherry blossoms…..The blowing petals are so very beautiful, but also bitter sweet………….A reminder that nothing lasts forever.
…………………….To produce these “Look Books” it takes a group of very talented people…..each an expert in their own fields. Before this trip even takes place there is a lot of planning to be done. A mock up of “the book” is worked on with me, the art director, Marc Balet, and the copy writer, Connie Francis, who just happened to be my public relations person. Connie, myself, and Joe Stafiniak [the Anne Klein sales manager], decided which outfits we wanted in the book, and Connie would take polaroids of each outfit, [remember polaroids?]. Then we called Marc in, and decided the layout of the book placing the polaroids on each page so we would know basically how the book would look. Then we would put the models name on each of the outfits they would wear, and all the information about what accessories and shoes would be needed for each outfit was listed on each page. We always sent extras just in case of a mishap! When the layout was done we had a meeting with the photographer, Torkil Gunnason, and showed him the book. Marc would discuss with him where he envisioned each picture taken. Some would be double page spreads and some single page shots. They discussed the layout and which pages Marc planned would be across from each other. When everyone was in agreement plans were made for the shoot. The outfits and all accessories had to be packed, the models had to be booked for the certain days they would be needed, and rooms had to be booked for everyone to stay in. We also had to make sure all props, like white beach chairs, would be avail.Transportation had to be arranged for this caravan! We usually rented a trailer that could take the team from location to location. It had make up tables and hanging bars for the clothes…..steamers and irons, and everything else that could possibly be needed including a bathroom.. Then the happy group went off to East Hampton, and Montauk Point. It was usually, if memory serves a week or a week and a half long shoot depending on the weather!. Sometimes an extension was needed. The models would come and go depending when they were booked and needed for the shoots. Connie had it worked out down to a science. She was also in charge of budgets!! I only remember two of the models names, and surprisingly they were not given name credit in the book? I would have changed that today. It always surprised me how short the blond model was, and how TALL she looked in the pictures. Famke was about 5’11”. Standing next to Famke the blond model must have been at least 3 to 4 inches shorter. In photographs, if you are well proportioned, it doesn’t matter, and she had super long legs!!…..The team from left to right front row: Stephen Knoll/Stephen Knoll Inc, did all the hair. He was a sweetheart and always funny….You can tell just by looking at him how mischievous he could be, but he was a genius with hair…..Lydia Snyder for Pierre Michel did all of the makeup. She was one of the top makeup artists at the time and was in high demand…another sweetheart….She had a light touch, which was perfect for out door sunny shoots…..It’s important on trips like these to have a group of people who are all sympatico…..The blond model [sorry don’t recall her name]….Famke Jansen, model/actress….Marc Balet, art director. Marc was the art director for all of the “Look Books” we produced, and was the art director for our national ad campaigns. We would choose the models and photographer for each campaign…….we did some incredible work together……happy to say he’s still going strong!…….Ida Pedrotti, was an Anne Klein salesperson, and worked with some of our major clients. She was HAPPY to volunteer to come on the trip, and to be responsible for the maintenance of the clothes and getting the models dressed……..Connie Francis, was my right arm. She was responsible for everything!!!!!and very capable she was. She came off as somewhat shy and quiet…..but look out….do the job right or you would hear it from Connie. I adored her!…………..SECOND ROW: Torkil Gunnason was the photographer. I will let the photos speak for themselves….I think he did a fantastic job!…He was a very soft quiet man, and never got flustered…..totally professional. It was a lot of work and a lot of photos to get done in a short period of time. He, and Marc would decide which outfits they wanted to shoot in the morning, afternoon and twilight….according to the right light they wanted. Thank goodness they had beautiful sunny weather, and all worked out as planned………Joe Stafiniak was the sales manager of Anne Klein….no small job. He had to oversee the sales staff of 5, and work with all of the major stores and boutiques on buys, ads, special projects like trunk shows and outside shows for charities etc……and so much more…Joe along with Ida, also helped getting the models ready for each shot, and kept things organized and moving. When an outfit was shot it was packed up and gotten out of the way. Joe, Jac and I became good friends, and we are face book pals……Brunette model [don’t remember her name]……a smiling “me”………the last gentlemen to the right looks surprisingly like Torkil. He was Torkil’s assistant, but wasn’t given name credit which I think anyone in the picture should have gotten…..I’ll have to speak to Connie about that….LOL……I went out to the Hamptons for the last two days of the shoot to have my picture taken by Torkil for the book. Everyone was tired by this time….it’s hard work!….but I heard everyone was having a great time. When these kinds of shoots go well, and the weather couldn’t have been better, everyone knows it was a successful trip…..spirits are high no matter how tired you may be…….and after all you got to spend a week or so, out of the summer heat of NYC, in the Hamptons!!…………….This ends my tale of the AK Resort Look Book shoot of 1991.
……………………..Classic, timeless pieces, done well, will always be in style………….A beautiful jacket, in a beautiful fabric, with a beautiful cut and a perfect fit, that is impeccably made can last forever! These pieces will always be a focal point in any women’s wardrobe. Clothes they can always count on to look good…These are not clothes that scream “look at me”, but the people around you can’t help but notice how beautifully and simply you are dressed…..It’s called “class”. The Italian wool gaberdine pieces above are prime examples. The Sand suit with the two button jacket and flap pockets has just enough pizzazz to always make it look current, and never dated. The straight leg pant is universally flattering…The whole look is trim and clean, and just looks like money….Double breasted styles have a certain panache that is undeniable. The reference to men’s suits is always very sexy on a woman. Above, the DB navy suit and the navy DB dress, are both in gaberdine…..These are definitely styles for very confident women……chairman of the board women.