……………….The inspiration of Mondrian and other Modern Artists played a big part of this Spring 1991 collection………The pieces above were made in a fine wool crepe that was made for me by an Italian Mill called Fila [not to be confused with the sportswear company]. I worked very closely with a woman name Magda Ferrare, who I am still in touch with all these years later. She even bought LINEA!!! The sleeveless dress and coat to the left were engineered so the stripes of the dress lined up with the stripes of the open front coat……Even the lining of the coat had a pieced together stripe lining that lined up with the outside of the coat. These special attentions to detail is what makes designer clothes…..The Checker Board Sleeveless dress “seams” so simple……….but………each seam of each box was shaped to give the dress a gentle silhouette, or it would have been a boxy chemise……..These clothes were all about precision and expert workmanship.
Bullock’s Wilshire brings back memories. It was like going to a fashion palace. Or what you’d imagine fashion heaven to feel like.
When you were recalling your friend who married a Chandler, it reminded me of another great department store, Buffums. The Buffums and the Chandlers were married, too. Dorothy Chandler was a Buffum. She’s an LA legend. Her son, Otis, was involved in an accident as a child and was pronounced dead at the hospital, but Dorothy wasn’t having it, so she put him in her car and took him to a doctor who was a friend and he was revived! That’s what I call not taking no for an answer.
Mary’s husband Ralph was a cousin. His grandmother was a Chandler.
Ooh memoriesLouis. The Mondrian look was a huge trend, not just in fashion but architecture and art period.
Right? It was everywhere, from household items and
furniture, to this beautiful dress. Primary colors , balanced by black , were key in the design. I found my dress while my Mother and I were shopping at Bullocks
Wiltshire, an L.A. store, to find a gown for some special
event she was going to. Bullocks Wiltshire was to the
Bullocks’ chain, what Starbucks Roastery is to Starbucks—a “Specialty”. store and so much fun to shop. Mine had neutral colors and black binding. I think I got it years after the trend hit but this trend held on! It was my Go- To outfit for many occasions. In this store, the Second floor would have been where the Louis Dell Olio Anne Klein Trunk show happened. I hope this trend will return in some way soon. The design seems to empathize with the balance in life we are all longing for.