……………………….This “Runway to Reality” show had only a few “designers” in it. We had to have the actual runway piece the QVC garment was inspired by. Both the original and the one created for QVC were shown on the runway. It was a fun concept, and a fun show to do……..Naturally, I had an Anne Klein Boucle Tuxedo. The fabric was French and the satin was nice and weighty so no backing to beef it up was necessary….just some fine tailoring. Elaine did a marvelous job of reproducing it, and I’m sure many of you still have it….a TIMELESS PIECE…….It came in Black with Black satin, and a Deep Magenta with Black Satin…There were matching boucle skirts…..The next sweater was I believe in silk/nylon. It had small cupped sequins sewn upside down so they had a slight dome. It came in RED with Matte Gold sequins, and BLACK with Silver Matte sequins……..The original piece it was inspired by was an Anne Klein mini dress with spaghetti straps. It was a sort of slip dress, but the neckline just went straight across the chest with the straps to hold it up. The emb. pattern was the same swirling pattern, and was inspired by a combination of Van Gogh’s Starry night and an Italian fabric I used in a similar pattern……However…..the dress was complete covered in Swarovski BLACK JET BEADS and CRYSTAL BEADS….The dress was quite weighty but FABULOUS. Jac wore it in the QVC show, and in the Anne Klein show. She also wore it to a few very special events, but it was the type of very memorable dress you couldn’t wear often. I had asked her if it was too heavy to wear. She had worn many many embroidered and big gowns that were even more heavy in fashion shows, and answered me with a smile on her face, “one must suffer for fashion!”
Louis, This was a time when we were going to a good many black tie events and galas, so I bought the tuxedo jacket in both colors along with the red sequin sweater. Do I still have all of them? Of course! But alas!!! What used to be black tie events have evolved into events more like galas, the men no longer in tuxes but the women still dressed up. I think what happened is that the men put on some retirement weight, outgrew their old tuxes, and didn’t want to have another one made! So dark suits became the new dress code here for the men.
My tuxedo! I love it–I have both of the jackets and the black skirt. The jackets look great with our sequin pants, too! I have a black sequin skirt, too, that goes with the jackets, although I have a black jacket with sequin trims that I usually wear with that skirt. I think I have a gray sequin skirt, too, but it’s been ages since I laid eyes on it. I might have to go for a rummage in the special occasions section of the closet. I’ve worn both tuxedo outfits to weddings. They look very special and very upscale.
Carol there was a grey sequin skirt….knowing you if you got the grey skirt you must have gotten the top that went with it…..LOL
Dear Louis,
👏 Thanks for sharing the beautiful fashions.
I would have loved to have seen Jac in the starry night crystal dress !!
I missed So much but I’m really enjoying your posts.
Thank you .
Hi Louis,
Do you ever wish you had kept one of each of your creations? I realize that you would have had to rent out a storage unit for such a HUGE inventory – but what a museum collection it would have been! When I read your descriptions each day, I am amazed by your meticulous memories of each grouping. It certainly demonstrates just how personal each design was to you and how important it was that each piece was executed with the highest quality and forethought. I have very little interest in watching QVC anymore, and anytime I am scrolling through the channels it seems that all they offer now are sloppy, untailored t-shirts and loungewear. What will they do once life resumes again and people actually go to work, meetings, appointments, parties, vacations, and celebrations? I predict they will be realizing the error of their ways and will be begging you and your classy line to return.
Angela, at one point I had EVERY SAMPLE in every color from the beginning!!!! I did have to rent a ware house space to keep them……I still have it! Over the years I started to cull through it and gave a lot away to different women’s organizations. Of course if you were an xxs or xs you were very lucky. Now I’m getting rid of most of it….giving it to my niece who fits perfectly. She’s a young mother of 3 boys. Many things I gave to Angela, Chantal and Kate. As a matter of fact I still have 3 huge bags of their clothes that they picked and couldn’t fit into their car it was so packed. What they don’t want will go to charity. I just don’t want to leave it to my heirs to decide what to do with it all