Designer

Jac and I consider our lives together an adventure……some GREAT….some Good…..and some…not so. Well this past Friday evening we had an adventure that was not so. The evening started off great. We went into the city to meet a  dear friend from LA…..Robyn….you remember the Robyn shirt….Since she was flying out early the next morning we had an early dinner at Le Colonial on 57th street. It always a beautiful place to go. We had a lovely dinner, great conversation and finally the evening ended. We dropped her off and we were on our way. The President was in town and there were many roads blocked off, but we chatted our way to the New England Thruway. We made great time and at 9pm we were literally two minutes from our home. We were heading down the main  road and coming to a curve. Out of no where were TWO HEAD LIGHTS COMING STRAIGHT AT US! Yes, some one was driving on the wrong side of the road SPEEDING on  a thirty mile an hour street……coming straight at us. I couldn’t even get the curse words out of my mouth as I turned the wheel of my car to get out of the way of the on coming car when BAM…..the car hit the passenger side of our car, spinning us around, air bags going off!! After I checked that Jac was OK and had nothing broken I got her out of the car as quickly as I could. She had to get out from the drivers side as all of the doors on the passenger side were crushed and could not be opened…..the wheels were sticking out, totally broken off the car like a cartoon……I went looking for the driver of the other car……but I didn’t see it????? It bounced of my car from the impact and was on someones lawn. At this point all of the neighbors were out of their houses, the fire engines were blaring and the police and ambulance were on their way. The driver of the other car was a young girl about 20-25 and DRUNK. A half bottle of cheap whiskey was found in her car. This investigation is on going. As of this writing the accident report isn’t avail yet, but I have been told this is quite often the case with drunk driving accidents. The bad news is my car was totaled…..the GOOD news is we are basically OK. Jac’s  right side is black and blue and she has a stiff neck, her blood pressure went through the roof and hasn’t been sleeping well, but that’s to be expected when you see two head lights coming straight at you.  She has been checked out by the doctor and I’m seeing one today because I jammed my knee and it’s been pretty painful. All in all…..we are lucky to be alive…..Oh yes….the STUPID girl who was arrested…we think….was driving a VW and walked away unhurt. She should thank me for having my wits about me and swerving away in the nick of time avoiding a head on collision or she probably would have been dead………As I said life is an adventure…..some are GREAT and some ……..not so……………….now I’m car shopping……………………………as I always tell my family and friends….”WATCH OUT FOR THE CRAZIES, there are millions of them out there!!!”………….be well and God Bless……….Louis

The GRAND FINALE of the OCT. sneak peeks is the SEQUIN top and skirt ensemble. The SEQUIN TOP is……. A238537……. and the SEQUIN SKIRT is …..A238538….. I used the exact same fabric that I used last fall for the SEQUIN DRESS, A229711……It came in Black and Purple………. The fabric is not covered in sequins. The tiny sequins are sewn on with a very fine BOUCLE YARN….adding an extra texture and dimension. They are also SPACED giving a TWINKLE effect when caught by the light…….these are NOT GARISH sequins…… I, who usually prefer BLACK SEQUINS…..have fallen in love with the LAPIS and the RUBY sequins to follow……The colors are deep, saturated JEWEL colors and are very CHIC and SOPHISTICATED…..worn with the matching TOPPER, A238159, it is a pure DESIGNER LOOK………totally WOW!……A heads up…. DSW has a matching Dorsay suede pump in the Lapis….unbelievable!!…..I even got some for the show………….The SEQUIN top, A238537…… has an extended shoulder cap sleeve, and a V-NECK line. The top is lined in the tricot knit. This fabric has stretch, but is not overly stretchy!….So be careful of the measurements. If you are in between sizes….size up…..if you have bust measurement issues or hip measurement issues….size up. It does have a defined waist…so for all of my lovely APPLES….[there so good this time of year]…..look at the MEASUREMENTS! I would say this top fits more like  a B&M garment. In My opinion it is not vanity sized. That is my opinion from what I see from my xs sample….. It fits my form perfectly……As I said……I really don’t like to give fit advice because everyone likes things to fit differently….so….look at the garment measurements carefully!………………..The SEQUIN SKIRT, A238538…….is also lined in the tricot knit. The very narrow single button waist band is also made from the tricot knit…..so there is a nice comfort stretch. It has a back zip …………………..Together they make a fantastic TWO PIECE DRESS…….but……..they are wonderful separate pieces that can extend your wardrobe in multiple ways. Wear the top with the LAPIS GABARDINE PANT or BLACK or GREY or NAVY or IVORY or WHITE…….Worn with the LAPIS TWEED SUIT, it adds a whole new dimension to the suit……..mix it with your BLACK & IVORY HOUNDS TOOTH CHECK pieces from last year or just pair it with an ivory jacket and black pants or skirt, and you are ready for any special occasion no matter what time of year!…..Wear the skirt with any of the LAPIS  or IVORY WK SWEATERS and the TOPPER or the TWEED JACKET, [LAPIS or BLACK]…..A solid BLACK or IVORY JACKET over the sweater and SEQUIN SKIRT would look outrageous!!………Of course all of the jewelry above is LINEA…..The EARRING, J284037……the CROSS, J284039…..the LONG NECKLACE, J284036……combined make one SENSATIONAL STATEMENT!…………………………………………..HAPPY HOLIDAYS………………………………enjoy…………………………….much Love…………………………………………Louis

OH LA LA…….WHAT A WAY TO WEAR RED!…………PURE & SIMPLE…The SEQUIN TOP, A238537, and the matching SEQUIN SKIRT, A238538 is just GORGEOUS…..The Lady in RED and what a beautiful saturated RUBY RED. There is nothing cheap, garish or tawdry about this outfit….it is all due to the depth of the color and just the right amount of sequins that make this one heck of a SOPHISTICATED and CHIC LOOK!………WORN with just the RUBY WHISPER KNIT TURTLENECK, A72448…..is pure editorial….always classic and ALWAYS MODERN!! Actually any of the RUBY WK SWEATER will garner the same effect….The V-NECK will be SUPER SEXY!………….Don’t hesitate…………if you like it, but maybe it’s outside of your comfort zone………………..JUST GO FOR IT……………..maybe it’s time for you to SHOCK some people! It can be lots of FUN!!!………………………………………………..

…………….HAPPY HOLIDAYS!…………………………………………………………………………..enjoy……………….much Love………………………………………………………………..Louis

The LADY IN RED appears again…..this time in just the RUBY SEQUIN SKIRT, A238538……………..if you’re traveling….take your RUBY RED WK sweaters for your day wear…wear the cardigan and any other layering piece……with jeans or trousers……….At night….if you are  going to a lovely restaurant….say in PARIS or to a dressy business function or a wedding that you had to travel for……pull out your SEQUIN SKIRT…. a change of JEWELRY……maybe your MULTI STRAND GLASS BEAD NECKLACE, J284038, your RED STONE GOLD CROSS, J284039 and your long BEAD NECKLACE, J284036…..go ahead pile it on….live it up!!………. and VOILA! you will look smashing!!……….For a semi dressy function….maybe a charity event, an engagement party…..a cocktail event after work………wear your RUBY TWEED jacket your RUBY WK TANK and your new RUBY SEQUIN SKIRT……….I guarantee you will be the best dressed woman in the entire room!!!….DSW also has some fantastic RUBY red shoes that I picked up for the show….so keep your eyes OPEN…..I just couldn’t depend on the models having the right shoes to go with these clothes…..SHOES ARE IMPORTANT to complete the entire look……..and they were incredibly reasonable………Red is the color of success and the Chinese believe Red is the color of happiness and prosperity………that’s why traditional Chinese brides wear RED……………………………………….HAPPY HOLIDAYS……………much Love……………………………………………………LOUIS

You know………I couldn’t offer you anything in sequins….without offering you ……..BLACK SEQUINS!!!!! I am a sucker for sequins. My very first sight of a TRUE DESIGNER DRESS, when I was seventeen, was when I went to work for Norman Norell as an intern for a summer job before I started Parsons School of Design. I was brought to the all mirrored [ceiling and walls with a black and white diamond patterned marble floor], waiting room. There was a huge bouquet of Mr. Norell’s favorite flower…the Calla Lily. They were in a huge Lalique vase perched on a mirrored Parsons table…..I sat on a white satin covered bench with gold leaf legs waiting……in this ante room immersed in Norell perfume…..To this day it’s my favorite, but it isn’t made any more….another story another time, but I still have one bottle!. It was truly an assault on the senses…..something I will never forget…….. I was then brought into the showroom, on my way to the back rooms, to meet the people I would be reporting to. As I entered the showroom I was confronted with a GOLDEN RACK of five MAGNIFICENT SEQUIN DRESSES……each costing $25,000………….WOW……….that did it for me.!!…. They were made of  silk jersey…..covered with INDIVIDUALLY HAND SEWN tiny sequins….no machine or chain stitched sequins here! …..Each dress was EXACTLY the same….only each one in a different color. It was astonishing!!………I remember I had to deliver a “MERMAID SEQUIN DRESS” to Lynn Revson’s town house…..her husband owned REVLON…..at the time the number one makeup company in the US, maybe the world. I was in a sweat!! She opened the door in a bathrobe! I was stammering!!!…………..anyway I digress…………..Mr. Norell showed me and taught me the RIGHT way to do sequins…..and believe me there is a right and wrong way to do SEQUINS……….you never want to look like a hoochie mama in sequins…..I think you know what I mean. Sequins can be elegant and sophisticated…..even at these affordable prices…..it’s strictly a level of taste…………………..Above, I have shown the top and skirt as the all important two piece dress……..and for a more fun edgy look…..with the white cotton “KATE SHIRT” and the my FAUX FUR PERSIAN JACKET, J229709………..If you are daring enough……you can create your own NORELL LOOK……..by wearing the new COTTON BOW BLOUSE and pile on the new JET BEADS coming in NOV……a FABULOUS party look…Mr. Norell was know for his PUSSY CAT BOWS…..If you aren’t acquainted with Normal Norell, I suggest you google him…..He was considered the BEST AMERICAN COUTURE DESIGNER in America. Yes, he did true COUTURE……hand made clothes. In the back rooms were custom forms of ever important socialite in NYC and around the country, who came to him each season to have their clothes made. I am proud to say, in my second year at Parsons, I won the Norman Norell Scholarship, that is still given to this day…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………….HAPPY HAPPY HOLIDAYS…………………….much Love………………………………Louis