Monthly Archives: January 2024

…………………THE END……………..It wasn’t only the end of my Fall show……but the fall show of 1993 was also the end of my TWENTY YEAR career being the head designer of Anne Klein, which I shared with Donna Karan for ten  years…..Anne, Donna and I were the nucleus of the company……There is no doubt, our direction and leadership is what made the company the success it became…..After I left there was a series of five or six designers who followed me….I don’t believe any of them created more than two or three collections before they were fired!……After this stream of designers the Anne Klein Couture Collection was finally closed due to a severe decrease in business….It was a disaster!…..After going through a variety of designers the Anne Klein Couture Collection had totally lost its’ identity and status, and quickly became a shadow of what it once was…The troves of devoted customers were abandoning the company….Due to the fact that many of the licensees no longer had a clear design direction from these new designers, they too lost their relevance and closed their Anne Klein divisions……”Anne Klein” as a brand name lost its’ RELEVANCE!….The “KISS OF DEATH”…….Terrible management and bad judgement was the cause for this FAILURE……When the Anne Klein Company was finally sold it was called a “FIRE SALE” by the press…It sold for a pittance of what it was worth when I left the company…..After the dynasty of the creators, Anne Klein, Donna Karan and myself…..which lasted for 26 YEARS….it was a terrible conclusion to what was once considered one of the biggest power houses of American Sportswear….This story was not unique…..Many designer name companies closed after the designer no longer was the nucleus of the company, and the “business men” took over the reigns…..I’m sure Anne Klein, as the saying goes, was turning in her grave to see what had happened to the company she put her heart and soul into!……..There is also the saying….”all good things must come to an end” and my end had come…..However, new adventures awaited me!!!………I hope you enjoyed this retrospective!

……………………….The last walk on the runway for Christy…….She was wearing a matte jersey, and sheer stretch georgette combination dress. The sheer top had a bandeau of jersey set into the georgette, and the high waisted skirt of the dress was in the jersey too. It was fitted through the hips, and then slightly flared out…..Simple and unadorned….Again, the accessories continued with the theme of the presentation….a knit cap, short jersey gloves, black sheer tights and black satin pointed toe pumps…..I loved this candid shot from the wings of the stage……The end was near!

…………………….I loved these candid shots of the models waiting in the wings for their turn on the runway……while the photographers was taking their pictures capturing the moment….as the lights were flashing….The excitement kept building like a crescendo…..Amber is leaning on the wall in her bugle beaded dress anticipating her turn…….Under the dress she wore a sheer bodysuit…………It was all very exciting as the show was coming to an end!!

……………………. I used these amazing glass faceted black bugle beads to decorate sheer stretch tulle….The bead design was strategically placed for modesty, but plenty of skin was revealed through the black tulle. The dress on Gayle, to the left, had cap sleeves a jewel neckline. The low slung slim velvet skirt was attached to the tulle top…….The model to the right had on a velvet tank dress. Only the back was sheer with the embroidery. The front of the dress was a tank shape in the solid velvet…….It took weeks to complete these hand embroideries!…. They both wore chenille caps. Anna, in the tank dress wore the velvet choker with the Jet pin attached, and short velvet stretch gloves.

…………….I loved a beautiful Matte Jersey….The quality of jersey on this collection came from Italy…….I used a weighty silk and rayon matte jersey to create a long dress with fitted sleeves ending in a slight flare. It had a beautiful satin wide belt with a domed satin buckle…..The lush removable MONGOLIAN LAMB collar framed the face…..To accessorize the model she wore a chenille cap and black satin gloves………..I also used the silk and rayon matte jersey in a long tunic and wide leg matching pants. Again, she was wearing the lush black MONGOLIAN LAMB collar…..and again, accessorized with a chenille cap and black satin gloves. Rows of tiny buttons covered and loops in the jersey detailed both pieces……They both wore black sheer stockings and satin pumps. The only skin I wanted to show was their luminous faces!………..Using fur 30 years ago wasn’t the issue it later became, and if I were to do it all over I would have found a substitute for the Mongolian Lamb.