“THE CLAY COTTON/SPAN KATE SHIRT”

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…………………………The “KATE” shirt, A214116, has been reordered once again……..due to popular demand. “Kate” is a name I have dubbed this style, and you will not find this name listed on the Linea QVC site so just look for the “A” number…..The new color above is…………CLAY……………..This is a soft TERRACOTTA color. We used to call this type of color a MAX FACTOR color, because it was reminiscent of a makeup color. I think it is a beautiful complexion color, and adds color to the face. This, by no means, is a washed out drab or dull color.. It is EARTHY and RICH………For those of you who are newer to the Linea line I will tell you about this shirt. It was inspired by Kate Hepburn, who was know for wearing white cotton shirts and pants, and named after Kate Karam, one of my Linea Ladies, who repeatedly asked for a good cotton shirt. I’m sure you are all familiar with Kate from my website and the Linea Fashion Forum…… A few years ago when I introduced this shirt, my goal was to make a man tailored shirt for women with all the details and quality of a MAN’S shirt…fit for a WOMAN…… Jac, my wife, would always complain that since I left Anne Klein she hadn’t been able to find a decent white cotton shirt. They were thin cottons that were see through, and badly made. She resorted to buying mens shirts…… First, I had to find the right fabric…..easier said than done. Since I couldn’t find one I liked or could afford, I decided to have it made exclusively for Linea, The cotton is a super fine yarn woven in a fine twill which uses more yarn than a flat weave….therefore the see through problem was solved…..Adding the spandex also adds to the weight with also helps it from being see through…..plus adds comfort to wearing the shirt…..Fabric….CHECK……Next the style. I wanted a shirt to fit a woman so I added body darts so it wouldn’t be straight and boxy, and to give it the proper shape without being tight or constricting…….This requires a delicate balance when using a woven fabric….. especially when dealing with so many sizes.. Then I sent the pattern to the factory with one of my shirts so they could copy all of the mens details….down to the COLLAR STAYS. When was the last time you saw COLLAR STAYS in a woman’s shirt???…..The shirt came out exactly as I wanted and it was an instant success………..Yes, it is all cotton with a little span….no polyester, so there will be some ironing required. I ironed the sample above [learned how to iron in design school], and all the samples I am about to present….it took about 4 minutes. I do not like iron free shirt fabrics, because for the most part chemicals are added to prevent wrinkling. There is no SUPER STRAIN of COTTON….at least none that I’ve heard about…………..Above, I have the CLAY shirt with the new CLAY WK TN, A72448 and the new CLAY BOYFRIEND SHETLAND CARDIGAN, A259619…..The fabrics and the textures and the colors look wonderful together….a TRUE AMERICAN SPORTSWEAR DESIGNER LOOK. ….As the Sondheim song goes, “pieces by piece, putting it together”……..In some of the photos I have the new SLIM LEG OLIVE PANT, and in others the SLIM LEG STONE PANT, A259702 REG, A259705 PETITE…….both work equally well………To accessorize………….The DOUBLE STRAND CHOCOLATE BEADS, J296893……….The new FREE FORM BEAD necklace in the ROOT BEER/GUNMETAL NECKLACE, J317652……and the color station SPICE BEAD NECKLACE, J288007…. The previous two work perfectly together for a layered look without getting heavy………….”Piece by Piece”………………I would call these looks…….CASUALLY DRESSED……………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………….enjoy………..much Love……………..Louis

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“THE STONE COTTON/SPAN KATE SHIRT”

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……………………………….Stone…………….is the second NEW COLOR being offered in the “Kate” shirt, A214116…………There are many color names I could have given this color such as Elephant, Pumice, Putty, French Grey, but we went with STONE…………………………It’s a great shirt to wear layered or on it’s own…..or as a perfect SHIRT JACKET for those of you who live in warm climes……………There are many styles that will be avail this October in STONE. Unless they are in the same fabric, like a Whisper Knit top and skirt, they are GUARANTEED not to match…..but they will BLEND beautifully. Personally, I think that is a much more interesting way to put the pieces together…….TONAL………..In the above photos there are THREE different STONE FABRICS…..The COTTON SHIRT, A214116, the WHISPER KNIT SHORT SLEEVE JEWEL NECK, A257382 [coming in Jan.], and the RAYON/POLY/SPAN slim plant, avail in reg and petite lengths…………..None of them are an exact match, but the overall effect is very good. The Shetland cardigan is also avail. in the STONE which will add a fourth texture and shade to an outfit…..if you choose to dress in shades of one color………if not…………I have added the GREY BOYFRIEND CARDIGAN, A259619, as an accent……very CLASSIC…..always SOPHISTICATED. To accessorize I have added the new “Free Form Bead necklace” in the grey, A317652. I must say the photos on the Linea QVC site do not do these necklaces any justice. They continually back light transparent beads, which washes all of the color and dimension out of them, and there is no way to tell what the actual size or heft is from the photos.. Each bead is a different ORGANIC shape and they are quite chunky. The “RINGS” have a free form shape and work perfectly with the free form beads. I hope you do not judge them by the QVC photos. What I love about this GREY and SILVER combination is…..the beads have just a tint of gray and pick up whatever color you wear them on….cameleon like…….The STONE KATE shirt is a wonder basic to add to your sportswear separates……………………………………………………….enjoy………………much Love……………………..Louis

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“THE WHITE COTTON/SPAN KATE SHIRT”

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…………………………………It started right here, a few years ago, with the ………..WHITE “KATE” SHIRT…………………If you love the idea of a  white cotton shirt……….you will or already LOVE this shirt…..Really, what’s to say about a CLASSIC, TIMELESS, always CHIC WHITE COTTON SHIRT…………….you’re either a devotee or not…………..Carolina Herrera, a very famous designer….know for dressing very sophisticated women……comes out onto the runway at the finale of each of her shows wearing one of her WHITE COTTON SHIRTS……….it has become her SIGNATURE LOOK………………I know some of you have three or four of these white shirts alone. Kate has told me she has some that are pressed for that Crisp Perfect look, and some straight out of the wash, left to dry, and then are worn for a more casual….edgy look………….However, and whatever your style is….A WHITE COTTON SHIRT is as important to  American Sportswear as a Navy Blazer…………………………enjoy……………..much Love…………………………Louis

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“THE SHEER TIGHT SAGA”

I have been asked what is the correct terminology….TIGHTS or PANTYHOSE….since I have no idea….I just design them….LOL….I went to the experts. I was told they are the same. Older women call them “Pantyhose”….younger women call them “Tights”……………..not my words….this comes from the professionals in the field. The description I was given is this….they are 20 denier sheer legs with 70 denier control top with a reinforced toe…….I would have never thought there would have been so much controversy over a pair of Tights/Pantyhose…..I hope this clears what ever confusion there is………Louis

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