Designer

………………..I love this wonderful candid photo of Amber Valletta getting ready to go out onto the runway in Navy knit separates with Gayle Elliot in the wings lining up waiting for her cue to go. You can just barely see the person standing there to the left…with the clip board in hand ready to give Gayle the go ahead……I love the way Amber looks with the dark bob wig…All you see is her thin brow……the eye……and the crimson mouth against the very pale skin.

………………..Midnight Indigo came in knitwear as well as woven jackets and wool gauze………..Above left, on Naomi, a two piece knit outfit consisting of a knit tunic with a mock neck and flared sleeves. It had a high center front slit. Under the tunic, Naomi wore matching wide leg knit pants…….Her only accessory were a pair of navy leather gloves……..The model on the right is wearing a four button front jacket with a pointed collar, and a cutaway front in gaberdine. She’s wearing it over Midnight Indigo wool gauze fluid pants. The buttons were dyed to match navy pearl…….She was accessorized with navy leather gloves and navy suede boots.

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………………….Dark deep navy has always been one of my favorite colors………..The kind of navy that almost looks black, but is definitely blue….It has always been a pet peeve of mine how so many blues are called navy….but they are not. When I established this deep navy for leather and suede accessories, especially in footwear it was an instant success. Women really loved the fact that their navy shoes were just as dark or darker than their clothes. It became an Anne Klein color, and I used it consistently for years, and continued using it at QVC……The Midnight Indigo wool and cashmere maxi steamer coat, worn on Claudia at right, had  a luxurious swing body…….A very young Tyra Banks, in a blond bob wig, wore a white mock neck sweater under a long midnight cardigan knit tunic vest over a long knit skirt with a maxi cardigan over everything. It had tons of swagger…..or maybe it was TYRA who had the swagger!

………………….Cognac Barathea is a deep rich color, because of the fabric………The carved shorter jacket has five dyed to match buttons and four band pocket with buttons and a high lapel and collar… Gayle is wearing a black cashmere TN a cashmere wool long slim skirt….and a gorgeous Cognac Crocodile belt……..The black knit cap and knit gloves finished Gayle’s look.

……………………I worked very closely with a company in Italy that specialized in chenille and novelty woven fabrics like tapestries and jacquards. The woman who owned it didn’t speak any English so at every meeting her very talented young daughter, Alessandra,  was there to interpret and add her valued opinion. We became very close friends. They worked very closely with many Italian designers, and Armani was one of their biggest customers. I loved working with them, because every time I went there it was like going to a candy store. I couldn’t wait to see, and be inspired by the new fabrics and patterns they created. The mother was a true genius….They also made shawls and scarves……For this season they developed this beautiful, solid chenille,  small check jacquard textured patterned fabric for jackets. This cognac elongated V-neck jacket was collarless and had a three button front…..I had the same chenille yarn sent to my sweater factory in Italy, and I had them make a few styles in the chenille plus scarf mufflers and cuffed caps….The yarn was rich and luxe, and the saturated colors were simply beautiful…..I showed  the long cognac chenille jacket over a long simple button front knit sweater dress with a wide contour belt in shiny lizard. It was worn with a jewel neck matching chenille sweater tied around the neck of one of the most beautiful Italian models I had ever scene…….SIMONETTA GIANFELICI……She was very famous in Europe and was featured in every magazine, and the famous photographers loved her……However, this was the only time that I can recall that I used her in a show….She rarely came to America, so when she did I booked her immediately….From the moment I saw her until this day I think she was one of the most beautiful woman I have ever seen….She always reminded me of the incredibly beautiful Virna Lisi…..She could have easily been the star in a film by Federicio Fellini…Vittorio DeSica….Michelanglio Antonioni….or….Luchino Visconti…..all great Italian movie directors.