…………………………September 04 allowed me to experiment more with fabrics and embroideries.. With each new collection I feel my design esthetic took hold and expanded…….This was an extensive group with many new items and many reorders [not shown above]. There was a Boiled wool woven blanket stripe topper that came in two beautiful color combinations…The second coloration had a soft Taupe ground with soft mid range colors, like dried flowers……below that sketch is the intargia diamond panel sweater that coordinated with the stripe jackets………at the top, next to the stripe jacket, is the suede zip front vest with the rib knit collar and back…..it had body seams for a good shape and inset band pockets…..also in that sketch is the georgette midi plaid skirt…….the actual swatches of the fabrics are below, but my pictures couldn’t capture how vivid the color were. This silk georgette gored skirt sold out in a flash. When we tried to reorder it the print factory refused to reprint it because it was too difficult……the original fabric was very detailed and fine….it came from Europe and was extremely expensive…..The next sketch is of a new solid boiled wool jacket with knit rib collar and sleeves. Looking back I’m amazed with the amount of jackets I was allowed to do in one month!…..The next two sketches coordinated…….The first is an angora blend sweater with tiny tonal sequins for an all over emb. It was an open jewel neck sweater with a REMOVABLE COWL PIECE……In the following sketch is the reorder Wheat emb. boiled wool jacket which had been a TSV the previous year. Now it was in two new colors, plus we brought the old colors back with the matching TN sweaters. Here you see the emb. angora sweater without the cowl under the jacket……..below that is the Honeycomb stitch reorder sweater blazer in the new RED………Below the knit blazer a brand new suede jacket with the Whip Stitch leather detail……..all the way over to the bottom left is an amazing jacket! It was again Boiled wool and had an amazing amount of faceted flat back jewel beads all hand emb……It also had tread work for the vines and leaves. The emb. was dense and BEAUTIFUL It was avail in the black only with the multi color stones that formed flowers and leaves. I wish I still had this sample!!!! It really was a treasure, and a collectors item for sure. I have never seen it being resold anywhere……If you see one grab it!!!!……..This is another example of something that could never be repeated again today for anything less than $500 or more………..As the years went buy the boiled wool also became too expensive to continue with. The factory tried to make a new “lighter weight” version, but I hated it…..it was just cheesy, and the ivory and light colors were slightly see through which they never were in the original fabric…..I knew the ladies would not like this cheap looking substitute that was the same price as the heavier original!…Wool prices were on their way up. China was not a big wool producer and had to import the yarn. Unfortunately the countries, like Australia and Mongolia, where China was getting their wool from did not make fabrics, but for now the boiled wool was a great price so we kept using it……..until we couldn’t……Looking at these pictures there isn’t a thing I wouldn’t repeat today…..and IMHO is so much better than anything the Q is offering today!
Louis, I missed so much! Boiled wool, silk skirts, and angora sweaters?? I missed all these wonderful fabrics. I especially love wool as I’m a northern girl. This must have been a popular fall collection. I would want everything!
They should start calling themselves QMart.
I’m enjoying your postings everyday! Thank you so much for sharing them. I’m not sure when I became aware of your fashions. I guess I’ll figure it out when I start to recognize specific styles in your retrospective. Despite being home most of the time now, QVC holds zero interest for me. A few of the remaining longer term hosts are as lovely as ever. It’s too exhausting / annoying to hear the hyperactive barrage of nonsense from so many of the hosts. They’re trying too hard and I’m not interested in what they are selling. I guess it’s what they believe they must do to keep their jobs. Once I’ve exhausted my Linea shopping, that will be the end of looking at the website. I’m almost to that point now. I’ve purchased several beautiful jackets (as well as other things) which I probably would not have purchased all at once, if not for being the end of the line. I love that I can adapt them for my retired lifestyle, dress them up or down and are terrific with jeans. All your styles are truly timeless.
The Q’s offerings just boggle the mind. I accidentally
Visited a site yesterday that looked like a cross between Donna Reed and the Manson family. Lots of
Baggy dresses in cotton — like fabrics with tiny prints or no print, even children’s clothing in this vendors line. Frumpy, frumpy frumpy and very sad.
But this group is exactly how I used to dress in college.
All wool sweaters in muted colors in geometric patterns
like above , including tweeds, striped patterns lots of pullovers in surprise styles. I wore lots of midi skirts and jackets in camels and Taupes , never solid black.
Black was worn for one purpose only and any kids who
Wore it were labeled “weirdos and sat alone . LOL. The
Jackets and skirts I had were wool gaberdine mostly in
Camels, wines and sometime rust colors and the jackets were long, with long lapels, that buttoned kind of
Low. The skirts were not pencil skirts like today . They were called “dirndle” skirts with soft gathers into the waistband. These clothes above are artisan and remind me of those days, but we had jeans, too!
Love all of these! I’d buy/ wear these today.
Louis – WOW! I love everything! The Boiled Wool Woven Blanket Striped Topper – caught my eye – it’s exceptional! The Q’s offering……I have no comment……will leave it at that.
Seka.
Louis, I love all of these! I have the raspberry suede vest- would you pair that with the boho skirt or even the pleated skirts , the one that came in adobe or chive?
Btw- I have the adobe pleated skirt on today with the black mock neck & feel great about this outfit . Thankyou
Nikki….ABSOLUTELY…..it would probably look great over what you’re wearing today! You could wear the vest over practically anything and every type of skirt from a pencil…the bohos solid and printed, WK skirts long and short, straight or gored…..and lots of different print skirts. I would LOVE IT over the new ruffle Moss Crepe long skirt with boots….FABULOUS!!!!
I can’t wait to try these suggestions. I love the moss crepe skirts also, I have both and wore the navy one on Monday with the Linea denim jacket.