Yearly Archives: 2024

……………….Raincoats were not something I did often, but if I thought they added a special element to a collection I would add them, and they were fun to create. Sometimes, for spring and summer, I did them in nylon or coated cotton like the ones sketched here. The Zebra coat was in the coated cotton, and the solid colors were in the nylon……The solid bright colors came in a range of colors like the HOT PINK shown……YELLOW….LIME ….TURQUOISE……and WHITE……..I liked to show them over simple skimp dresses like the solid cotton/rayon/span white dress, and the striped cotton/span knit V-neck dress…….The nylon coats folded, and packed to nothing, so they were great for travel………They became very popular.

……………………The use of ties wrapped around the body to keep the fabric close to the body goes as far back as ancient Greece……These are some quick sketches of matte jersey styles using self fabric cords and narrow straps to wrap and tie around the body…..Sometimes the ties would be made out of other materials….like leather……..The idea of using these cords never went out of style after centuries of using this method, and this concept is still used today, and keeps showing up on designer’s runways. The Greeks and the Romans were brilliant with draping fabric as the many ancient statues and drawings clearly illustrate.

…………Inspiration sometimes can come to you by just playing………I started playing with a large scarf folded in half, and I tied it around my mannequin and started to imagine what it could become…..The sketches are the result of my imaginings……I always say “you must play with your clothes, and accessories!”.

…………………..First, I’d like to wish all of the mothers here and in Heaven a Happy Mother’s Day………..There have been two women I have totally, and unconditionally loved in my life………Jac…….and my Mom!…….To try and list all of the many many things my Mom did for me through out her and my life would be impossible…..She was simply the VERY BEST…………She ALWAYS let me know how much she loved me. She was my great champion and support, and she always made me feel special…..I was “her baby”…..I never ever felt the loss of someone dying until my Mom died. It was sudden and devastating. I fell into such a depression, and I never thought about mortality until her passing. I have a photo of her when she was young and so beautiful on my bed table. When I moved into NYC at 19 it was very hard for her….She was now without any of her boys……..Mauro, John and me……She would bribe me to come home!…..”Lou” she would say……”come home and I’ll cook for you so you can take food back into the city…..and bring your laundry and I’ll do it for you”……My brothers would say…..”MOM, you’re still not doing his laundry!”, but neither one of them moved out of the house until they were married, so they went from my Mom to their wives who took care of them!…….My Mom was definitely our ROCK, and the center of our universe…..This picture was taken in Mass. at my aunt’s house. My brothers were ushers at my cousin’s wedding…..I always plant zinnias in my garden, because they were my moms favorite flowers…I’ve planted three flats so far!…..There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of my Mom…………..Happy Mother’s Day in Heaven Mom……..all my love always and forever….It will be a happy day when we are together again…………your Lou