“GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT THE DOT”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

………..After doing a quick series of polka dot croquis…..it was time to think this out, so I continued doing more sketches of polka dot print clothing….The Viscose/Linen blend three button PIPED jacket was a perfect balance to the coin dot print wide leg georgette pant…The rayon georgette “dime’ size dot dress had an empire waist and buttoned down the front….The notch collar, short sleeves and godet skirt gave the dress a retro vibe……Georgette “dime” sized polka dots also came in the form of a short sleeve dress over a tank dress…….and a one button long jacket worn over a tank and linen drawstring pants……..Lingerie took it’s place in a polka dot silk “teddy” with lace trim worn with a single button jacket and a bias rayon midi tulip skirt…..Spring was certainly in the air!

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“SPRING 1989 CROQUIS”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

………………After dreary winter weather it was always a relief to think about designing Spring clothes…..These croquis were done for the Spring/summer 1989 collection……Once I decided which styles I would put into the collection. I made individual sketched of each style and gave them to my draping assistants, and they would put them in their own binders…….The sweater sketches I would take with me to Italy, and work with my agent, Giovanna Ciampini, to put the samples into work with different mills that specialized in different techniques of knitting……From the left….a longer cardigan With contrast trims and gold buttons. I had all of the buttons custom made by my jewelry licensee. Under the cardigan a cotton poplin shirt with a crest embroidery. The wool crepe pant had a high rise waist line, and tuxedo stripes down re legs……The little shrunken cardigan was in a cable stitch and also had contrast borders. It is drawn with pleated trouser pants. The little sketch next to the little cardigan is a sweater set in cables…..a v-neck tank and an elongated cardigan . The set is shown with a high waisted short skirt with tuxedo stripes…..The blue wool crepe jacket has a double breasted front with the custom gold buttons. It has 3/4 length sleeves, a peaked lapel. and bottom band pockets. The breast patch pocket has the embroidered crest which became a theme in the collection. The “Chanel length” skirt in ivory was also in the wool crepe from Italy……The ivory wool crepe single button blazer also had the embroidered crest on the breast pocket. It is sketched with languid trouser pants in the matching ivory wool crepe………This suit became an editorial in one of the Fashion magazines……photo below.

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“1989 ANNE KLEIN SPRING BLAZER”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

………………….This photo was a magazine editorial of my Spring 1989 wool crepe suit…….The languid ivory pant coordinated to an ivory one button blazer with a Gold bullion, color stones, and pearls all on a navy felt background…..The gold button was custom made by my jewelry licensee………..Considering….the suit is 35 years old!!!….It could easily walk down any runway today!

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“ZEBRA”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…………………ZEBRA……..is a pattern I have used over and over through out my 50 plus years of designing…….These sketches represent the first Zebra pattern I used for a Spring/Summer collection…….I first worked with the famous Italian company ETRO on designing this bold pattern in the early 80s for a Fall collection……We printed the exact same print again in the early 90s for a Spring/Summer collection on a beautiful stretch matte cotton sateen, and a silk crinkle georgette for the blouse. I also did a long shirt dress in the georgette [not pictured]…..The solid pieces were also in the same matte cotton sateen…..SAFARI is also a theme, and an inspiration I have used many times for every company I have worked for…..Of course safari and Zebra were perfect together……..Many of you own the ZEBRA crinkle georgette blouse and the Zebra trench jacket I did for QVC. It was a reproduction of the print I did with ETRO all those years before……and they STILL LOOK GREAT!……I think it is still one of the BEST ZEBRA patterns I have ever seen…….Thank you Mr. Etro……………The graphic Zebra design NEVER goes out of style!

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“PLAYING WITH PIN STRIPES”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

………………..I always loved…..STRIPES……..whether they were woven, as these in the sketches, or printed where you could create very bold patterns………Cutting stripes in different directions…….vertical, horizontal or on the bias, which formed diagonals, always was a fun approach to creating new stripe clothes…..Mixing all three sometimes worked beautifully………Stripes work for all seasons…..spring, summer, fall and winter……..The fabrics they come in are countless from chiffon to menswear woolens, and everything in between. Here are a series of croquis that were done for a woven crepe fabric……The single button jacket is cut on the bias which allows the fabric to mold to the body….The rest are pretty self explanatory……Remember, these sketches are all well over 30 years old

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