………………….SCOOPED AGAIN!………I was very surprised to see that QVC had posted this “EXOTIC FLORAL PRINT”, A302600, so early before it gets aired!……To say that SLEEVE TREATMENTS are one of the BIGGEST TRENDS happening in fashion today would be a huge understatement……….To say that FLORAL PRINTS are one of the BIGGEST TRENDS would also be a huge understatement……and not only for spring and summer…but going forward into fall of 2018………..I certainly realize that there are those of you who are not enticed by either trend, and will take a pass. That’s alright. Not everything is for everyone, but I’m a designer, and it would me extremely remiss of me to not recognize what’s happening in the WORLD of fashion and what will happen going forward. I can tell you without a doubt that both of these fashion statement, sleeve treatments and floral prints are moving forward………This botanical print, or as I call it the “Exotic Floral” is reminiscent of many scarf and garment prints from design houses such as Hermes, Gucci, Valentino, Armani, Etro, Erdem, Ferragamo etc. etc. etc. They really are on every runway around the world………The color is called……..ALABASTER MULTI………It is NO ACCIDENT that your Alabaster 72 inch faceted glass bead necklace works perfectly with this print! I chose the colors in the print to work with the necklace…….This is what I call building a wardrobe……..In this case the necklace came first!……The blouse has a easy fit because there is no stretch to this fabric. It feels like a beautiful light silk crepe de chine…..It is perfectly smooth. The fabric is just dense enough so there is absolutely no see through….. The V-neckline is piped, and I would call it a modest V. There are bust darts for balance and shaping. The bottom is straight…..ALL OTHER MEASUREMENTS are already listed on the Linea site……………OKAY……lets talk about the elephant in the room…..First, Jac and I LOVE elephants, we adopted two, but pachyderms are not what I’m referring to………Let’s talk sleeves……There are some who love this revival of fancy sleeve treatments, and some not. Fancy sleeve treatments are nothing new. You can trace it back to Elizabeth the First, and Marie Antoinette, and even much earlier, so let’s agree it’s not going anywhere……For those who love this feminine look, but worry the sleeves are too long that truly isn’t a problem…..if…..you are willing to have it shortened. This is a DOUBLE FLOUNCE, meaning the two layers of material are attached at the upper seam, so there are two complete layers…..Both layers are finished with baby hems, so shortening is not complicated. If you sew you can do it yourself. If you don’t the alterations person in a dry cleaner can do it. It’s not complicated…..Now you have many choices. 1- You can just shorten the lower longest flounce. It would not hurt the design of the sleeve even if you had to shorten it 2 or 2/12 inches and more. You would still get the doubled layered look. 2- If you have very short arms you can shorten the bottom flounce so it is the same length as the top flounce. The two layers will still show when you move. The fabric flows and moves beautifully…..So the length of the sleeve really should not be a problem if you want to take the time and spend the money to have it altered………If the length works for you as is….but…..you prefer a shorter length with this type of flounce….then just shorten the bottom layer equal to the top layer……..customize it to how you like it…………If you are worried about this type of sleeve going into your soup…………the easy solution is……DON’T EAT SOUP when you’re wearing this blouse!………I know many of you have confessed to not being “print” people, but I am telling you….you are missing out on a lot of fun, not to mention prints are wonderful at camouflaging!…………For bottom colors you will be astonished at all the things you already own that work with this print! Of course the obvious are you alabaster bottoms. The new ALABASTER Super Ponte B.C. pant A268216 reg, and the new this season, A303147, the petite version are now avail. They haven’t even been aired yet. Once they are you know what will happen. You have been asking me for this pant to be avail in petites for a long time. If it does well I will be able to bring more and more colors….you asked for it, I fought for you, and now you have it. It wasn’t easy to get them to order this because it takes a lot of dollars to order three colors, black, dark olive. and alabaster in a full size range in two lengths…….Then you have the light weight ankle length Ponte pant, A265615, that so many of you love, in the new alabaster……NOW start to play! I just put the blouse next to my crepe gauze pants and so many of the colors work…the truffle, the ivy green and even the new SANGRIA looked wonderful…….perfect for transitioning into spring/summer and back into fall. If you own the Moss Crepe pants in colors try them all…..they look great. I even tried the SUNBURST pleaded skirts and the Boho skirts and many of the colors look fabulous……so you see the possibilities are truly endless, and I bet you thought this would be a limited thing to put together!………………..Wash and wear……easy to travel with and so FASHIONABLE…………give it a try…..you may surprise yourself……………………enjoy………….much Love……………….Louis
The alabaster top arrived! Sleeves too long, which I expected. The sleeve edge stops where my fingers begin. It will be altered to equal the length of the upper flounce. Perfect match to the gauze crepe pants & slim ankle ponte knit pants in alabaster. Looking forward to wearing it this spring.
Chris, I sure it will come out just fine.
On top of everything I ordered yesterday – with Free Shipping today – just ordered this Blouse in both colours – the Boho Skirt in Wine – and an extra pair of the new Gauze Crepe Pant in Black!
Wish the Q would have posted the other Jewellery Items today!
Beautiful! Having a hard time deciding which. Leaning toward the alabaster. I’m dark strawberry blonde with blonde highlights, fair complected…
This would be so pretty especially for Easter.
Dear Debbie, not that both colors wouldn’t look good with your coloring, but I think the Alabaster for Easter would be perfect.
Louis,
I don’t know what happened, or why Debbies’s name showed up, but I’m the one that asked the question. (Melissa in Florida). Not that it matters, but it was bugging me.
Anyway, thanks so much for responding. Free shipping at QVC today so will be ordering this beautiful blouse for Easter.
Melissa
Well that’s a strange thing to happen…..take advantage of free shipping, and enjoy your blouse!
So, the other elephant in the room…have the necklaces been reordered?
I don’t know yet. I’ve asked the same question since they completely sold out twice, but don’t you own all the colors already?. Maybe some new colors???
Oh, I have all three, but others will want them for sure. Yes, new colors! Something a strand that goes with your dark navy, dark gray, and port? Is that possible?
For you….everything is possible. Jac always enjoyed getting you ready for the red carpet.Helping you to pick what shoes would be best with which dress. It was like paper dolls for her. As a little girl she would spend hour after hour playing with her paper dolls and her Barbi dolls. We would play a game and would go to Vogue .com and look at the designers who did the best evening wear, and pick out what gowns Jac would wear on the red carpet. We did many red carpet events here in NY, but not for some time.
I was always terrified walking into those shows, as that’s my BFs world, not mine. Once I threw myself on Jac’s mercy and took all of her advice, I was okay at those events. I knew that I looked elegant and “Jac approved” which was such a gift from her to me. I have to go to the Oscars and, to have a little piece of her with me, I will be wearing the blue shoes she advised me to buy to wear with a black dress–something I would never have done. I think of her so often, and am reminded that kindness is a gift that has no end. It lives on.
You take the best photos. I might be interested in this now in alabaster after reading your blog suggestions.