……………………..There were two groups to July that blended together. They were conceived as one large group, but they had to be split due to the number of garments. The CAD has “Bridge” noted on it so this must have been a 1:00am show…..The jacket on the top row was a fully lined SUEDE….It had ALL OVER tiny GOLD GROMMETS……..The neck band and the band down the front were in leather and had gold dome snaps. The leather bands on the pockets, the hems of the jacket and sleeves were decorated with tiny flat gold studs…..WOW, there was a lot of work on this already costly suede jacket. We offered it in all Black and Chamois with BLACK leather….The sweater next to the jacket was called the “POET’S SWEATER”, because it had a very Romeo and Juliet romantic look to it…..The yarn was a wool and acrylic blend that had become very popular because it wasn’t itchy and was very soft….quality always pays. It had a drop seam on the sleeve that corresponded with the horizontal body seam. From these seams there was shirring. The sleeve had a full bottom that went into a 3 1/2 inch ribbed cuff. The tunic sweater had side slits. It looked great loose or belted. We offered it in BLACK and DEEP MAGENTA….Angela has this sweater and still wears it over her jeans…..At the bottom row, to the far left, was a wonderful, very DESIGNER jacket. It was in BOILED WOOL. This was an unlined SWING jacket. It had CIRCULAR RUFFLES down the front and around the curved hem to the back. The RAGLAN sleeve had a separate ruffle at the bottom. ALL OF THE SEAMS and edges of the ruffles were finished with a cover stitch which kept the jacket and the ruffles light and fluid. All of the seams were cover stitched so there were no seam allowances to add any bulk.. The jacket, considering the fabric, was light as a feather. It is often the construction, facings etc. that add weight to a jacket……..This jacket had none of those things. We offered it in IVORY and BLACK…..13 years latter I brought back a similar design in MOSS CREPE. For me this is a timeless feminine design……..The next sweater I LOVED. I did the exact same thing for Anne Klein. I also did a dress and other variations for AK with the same zip off concept…..The tunic sweater was in the acrylic/wool blend, and was made in a 5 gauge jersey stitch. It was avail in fuchsia and black with gold exposed zippers. It had a zip off ribbed funnel neck and zip off sleeves. The concept was to create different sweaters out of one….so you could have a sort of ballet neck tunic without the funnel, or a funnel neck sleeveless pullover, or a band pockets over sized vest. On one of Chantal’s visits I gave her this sweater, and she told be her daughter, who just entered college, absconded with it, and loves it. I was happy to hear the next generation is enjoying my designs………The next long skirt was actually my first in the ENR Whisper Knit. It had the tubular back with the split. It worked with everything in all of the collections, and for years and years to come. It would not surprise me if many of you still own and wear it….It came in Deep Magenta and Black.
“My goodness, this is fashion.“. I second that Sheri! I need to make sure I don’t gain any weight so I can wear my Linea forever. I don’t know where fashion is going these days, but I’m not going casual, sloppy, unfeminine ever!
Karen….I don’t know where fashion is going either…..it’s all a mess….I don’t get Vogue, and Harper’s Bazaar….I hate the clothes,….I hate the photographs and I hate the models! When my subscriptions run out I won’t renew them and I’ve been getting them for decades. I really think they need new editors in chief….I don’t know what these magazines are trying to be. It’s obvious they are under pressure to diversify everything about themselves, but sometimes I think it’s too political for a fashion magazine. The clothes selection is horrible! I can’t believe that’s all that’s out there and the sitting editors have zero imagination or zero budgets. The “glory days” of Grace Codingtons for Vogue [sp] beautiful layouts are over. Maybe I’m just getting old, but I don’t think so……beautiful is beautiful and a mess is a mess!
I noticed by searching for the numbers on the Q site that the pants & long skirt (A72415 & A72414) were in the Whisper Knit fabric blend, before it became known as such. Wonderful items.
Chris…you’re 100% right. By this time I started using this yarn a lot. Everyone liked it and the styles were always on the reorder list. The silk blends were starting to get pricey, and this yarn seemed to be a good replacement going forward.
Love everything here and so sorry I missed this collection. I find myself saying this to all of the archived collections you are showing us. That sweater with the zip off neck and sleeves – just complete perfection!! What I wouldn’t give to have that in my closet. And with the long tubular knit skirt, it makes me weak just thinking of the places I would wear it! Louis, all of these pieces are so timeless. My goodness, this is fashion.