………………….The May 09 day show had unique wonderful pieces…..The short sleeve jacket at the upper left was detailed as a safari jacket with four patch pockets and buttons. The short elbow sleeves had cuffs. The high button jacket had a notched collar, body seams and an optional self tie belt. It was in a beautiful stretch cotton with a very silky hand….It came in butter, sand and white. There was a coordinating crop trouser pant with cuffs. It had pressed creases to give the pant a slimmer sharp look. It too came in butter, white and sand…..Th next sleeveless tunic had a fit and flare shape. It had cut in shoulders and it was fitted through the upper torso The seams gave the top its’ shape which hid inseam pockets. The shirt collar and stand were small, and it had a button front….it came in flame, royal and black. This was one of Jac’s favorite tops. Her broad shoulders looked incredible in this top…..The next skirt was a wonderful separate piece to wear with tee shirts and WK sweaters flip flops and sandals. The paisley embroidered pattern was a tiered skirt in cotton….lined in a thin cotton batiste….The short sleeve shell that is below was very special. It had a very special process of puckering in a Chrysanthemum pattern. This was a one time only even though it sold out and QVC wanted to reorder it. The factory refused to make it again!!! Due to the puckering it was extremely difficult to cut the garments and maintain the correct sizing so it was dropped. It came in off white, pink and turquoise….It looked great under jackets and on its’ own….For those who were able to get it, it is a true collector’s item……The V neck tunic was dip dyed. It had a silk lining and a silk chiffon bracelet length top…both dip dyed. The colors were turquoise and yellow…..Th next shirt was one of my and Jac’s favorites. It was basically a classic shirt with a narrow button front placket, a 3/4 sleeve with a french cuff….but it was the front bib that was the magic! The bib was made out of sheer organza….then narrow strips of cotton were appliqued on top. The cotton strips were approx 3/8th of an inch wide with 1/8th inch spacing…Yes, you could see through the spaces but very little. A nude bra was all you needed, Jac wore both a nude no bra bra, and a black bra depending on where we were going!…….The last two pieces were definitely made in one of my favorite Ikat prints…..The fabric was a SILK crinkle georgette. The blouse had a scoop neck, button front, side slits and 3/4 length full billowy sleeves. The skirt was a slim pull-on with two bottom ruffles It came in two fabulous colors….espresso multi and black multi.
It was interesting how he treated Ines. Catherine Deneuve who was the face of Chanel 69-75 became the face of Marianne in 1985. Lagerfeld was all over her. Newspapers, magazines, etc. he couldn’t get enough of her.
Louis, are you thinking of Ines de la Fressange?
Yes, she was the first model to sign an exclusive contract to a couture house Chanel, but when she agreed to have her likeness on the bust of the “Marianne”, the symbol of the French Republic he fired her thinking this too common.
The white paisley skirt with cotton batiste is one of my favorites as is the espresso ikat print skirt. Love!
OMG, I’ll take ONE OF EACH. !!! If I was exploring
An exotic land, like Indonesia, this is exactly what I would pack, and pray that the mosquitos don’t like my
taste.
Louis,
Although I do not respond to your every post, it does not mean I do not read them. I am motivated to write today because I am enjoying looking at all the beautiful fabrics. I wonder how many you bought as is from a fabric designer, or how many you designed yourself and had made. Regarding a prior post, you mentioned the model Yasmeen Ghauri. How does a designer connect with a super model? Does she free lance from designer to designer, or does she contract to an exclusive designer. When you designed for AK,I am guessing different models had personalities and looks that highlighted a certain collection more than another. The fashion business is not something I am familiar with so I am just curious.
Dear Jackie, all models belong to agencies. Anyone who can afford them can book them. Of course some became very select who they worked for when they reached a certain fame. There are very few who do not. Some models do contract out to designers like the French model [can’t remember her name} that had a contract with Chanel. She was Karl Lagerfeld’s muse. He fit the collections on her, she did all of the advertising, was always first and last on the runway and traveled with him as his representative. That was very rare. It was mostly cosmetic and perfume companies that contracted models. Lauren Hutton was one of the first to sign a contract for Revlon…Este Lauder always contracted models for there advertising. Sometimes, depending how successful they were, could last for years….Karen Graham was one lasted for years….These models make lots of money because they can’t work for anyone else……As for the fabric each seasons I look at fabric companies and make selections. Some prints we buy from print studios out of England, Italy and some French. Many prints I design myself.