Monthly Archives: May 2024

…………….As I have previously explained a “CROQUIS” is a quick sketch to jot down ideas so you don’t forget……….The train of thought for these sketches was the BIG SKIRT. I planned to do them in cotton poplin, and in Linen, as the stripe linen version, third in from the right illustrates. The linen fabric had a fine horizontal black stripe woven into it….The two piece dress in the middle was actually inspired by an outfit Kathrine Hepburn wore in the movie, “SUMMERTIME”. She is wearing it in the famous scene when she falls into a canal in Venice…I always thought she looked so fresh and cool…that’s before she fell into the water!…..I think hers was made in white linen…..With each skirt I sketched a different top that I thought would work well….The wide shaped belt had antiqued brass metal medallions attached. Some were embellished with stones and some were plain. I actually found military medallions that I used for inspiration at the Paris Flea Market in a dusty box……The ruched georgette top, far right, had fine elastic rows to add stretch. I show it here with the drawstring linen/rayon blend cuffed pant. Though the top isn’t drawn with a big skirt, it was a quick idea I wanted to get down on paper….. I thought the top would also work well with the skirts………There are times when every designer hits a brain fog, so when ideas come it’s best to be ready to record them……Brain fogs happen, and you think you’ll never come up with a new design again…….so when the fog happens……you just keep sketching and doodling until things clicks!……They always did!!

……………….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!”.