Author: Louis Dell'Olio

“April Sneak Peek #9” is a two for one! They are my MOROCCAN TILE PRINT shirt, A223655 and my MOROCCAN TILE PRINT skirt, A223656. One of the greatest things about traveling is the inspiration I get from the places I visit. Morocco provides me with an endless source of ideas……especially the TILE WORK and the COLORS. The pattern I used for the print is authentic…..though the colors are a mix of what I have seen and  my imagination.

The fabric is my poly crinkle georgette…..by now most of you are very familiar with it and the  wonderful way it feels on the body….how easy it is to pack for your travels and its easy care….. without any fuss. The colors for both pieces are either TURQUOISE or ESPRESSO. The Turquoise combination has black, fuchsia, magenta, deep red, lime emerald with a white that looks like white mortar. The espresso, which is a chocolate color…..has orchid, gold, ivory, terra cotta, rust and two shades of a dusty rose.

A223655, the  Moroccan tile print shirt has a classic straight shirt body…..no darts…no shaping. It has an open notch collar and a 3/4 sleeve finished with a loose elastic….nothing binding or tight. The shirt has side slits. I chose to do this shirt UNLINED for true summer dressing…..though you could certainly wear it year round. Wear it open as a breezy shirt jacket or buttoned up on it’s own. Wear it out with it’s own SELF BELT, or tuck it in and wear your own ethnic looking belt. ……worn loose is always an option. I have shown  the Turquoise shirt tied at the waist with a black tank, and the Espresso shirt worn belted on the outside with the A199257, the Espresso peasant skirt. Take note of the TANK under the Espresso shirt, A224278…..it’s new and it is made in a very special yarn. It will be offered on this show too…..a sneak peek is coming. You can wear the shirts with your bohos, your short  georgette double flounce skirt, your pebble crepes etc. etc. I’m sure you have many things you have already collected to wear with these shirts.

A223656, is the Moroccan tile print skirt is a pull-on skirt with a full elastic waist. It is lined in a poly georgette to keep the skirt feather weight and breezy…..a swirl skirt. The skirt has two tiers…..the first starts 6 1/2 inches below the waist band and the total length is approx.28 inches long. The types of footwear you can wear with this shirt is limitless…..from flip flops to jeweled sandals. Wear it with the matching blouse or chose a solid shirt, tank, or peasant shirt from a number of tops you already own. I do suggest the A215163 top in black or the A213616, jersey black top to wear with the turquoise………even the new black georgette peasant top with the satin stripes would work with the turquoise skirt……you must experiment with what you already have hanging in your closets……..you may be very surprised with what you come up with. For me, I place these print pieces in the same category as my Ikat print separates…..they are pieces you collect and wear year after year…………..they never go out of style………..like the beautiful tiles of Morocco……….enjoy, Love Louis

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“Sneak Peek #8” is the long awaited return of A214117, the crinkle georgette shirt with matching tank. This style is quintessentially me. It is a CLASSIC SAFARI SHIRT, but made in a fabric you wouldn’t equate with safari….. it is made in my poly crinkle georgette, which is the same fabric as my Boho skirt. Many of you had hoped this shirt would be repeated and many also requested what new color they would like to see it in. The BLACK and SAGE are returning. WHITE was the most requested color and I felt it was the perfect new color to bring to you. I have it paired with my white pebble crepe pant which is a perfect match. There is nothing more beautiful in the summer that the perfect ALL WHITE look. I tried accessorizing it with, many different necklaces….gold, silver,lucite, wood, horn, bone and colored beads…all looked great, but in the end I chose just lucite earrings and bracelets…..I decided to let the shirt speak for itself. It does come with a faux de chine tank which is the perfect weight to wear under the safari shirt, but it really is a little too sheer to wear on it’s own….that was not its purpose. The buttons are GENUINE SHELL which is a rare thing at this price point. The sleeve is a 3/4 length which can be left down or it can be rolled or simply caught up with the tab and button. The workmanship and the stitching are superb, and it compares to shirts 4 times this price. For me, this is the PERFECT summer time shirt. You can keep your arm covered and still be cool and comfortable. The crinkle fabric, with  its easy care, makes this shirt a terrific travel companion………….If you already own it……I know you will want the new color…..if you don’t….. you will have a tweet in store for you!…….enjoy, Louis

Jac, I and the girls want to wish all of our dear friends a Happy Easter and a Happy Passover! Enjoy the day!!

“Sneak Peek #7” is my new “WINDOW PANE PRINT” cotton sateen jacket, A223937. For many years I had been able to offer you a wonderful shirt/jacket in a silk dupioni window pane pattern. Unfortunately, with the sky rocketing cost of that silk fabric, I had to discontinue the item. Then the light bulb went off….I may have to discontinue the fabric, but I can REINVENT the window pane pattern. I took my sample of the original shirt, laid it on my drawing table….placed a sheet of tracing paper over it and started playing with different patterns until I came up with the one I liked. The pattern has the CLASSIC look of a traditional window pane, but has a modern edge due to it’s BROKEN, THICK & THIN line work. I hope you like it as much as I had fun doing it.

The jacket is in my COTTON SATEEN fabric…..97%cotton, 3% spandex. The colors are WHITE/BLACK, NAVY/WHITE and TURQUOISE/WHITE…..all FRESH and CLEAN. It is an unlined jacket, which gives it an extended life. It has a slight A-LINE SHAPE, with a SPREAD SHIRT COLLAR, and a 4 button front closure. The jacket has some TRENCH detailing……the the straps on the 3/4 length sleeves, the back buttoned down flap and the INVERTED PLEAT all add to the special details of the jacket. Please notice that the back inverted pleat has a 3/8ths inch top stitch which will always keep the edge of the pleat sharp. The front has two INSERTED band pockets…..I capitalize “inserted” because this is a much more expensive way to make a band pocket. The collar has a HALF MOON STAND which is another detail that adds to the DESIGNER QUALITY of the jacket, The straps on the sleeve, the back flap and invert pleat, the half moon stand and the inserted band pocket could have all been left off and it still would have been a cute jacket….but….not a LINEA JACKET!

A223938, is the coordinating  cotton sateen CROP PANT. The colors are BLACK , which is VERY BLACK, WHITE and my deep beautiful NAVY. They are VERY similar to the cuffed crop pant from the past. They have a zip and button front……mens’ trouser slant pockets…..a FULL elastic back and a partial elastic front. They have a 24 inch inseam with a 7 inch bottom opening…….I would classify them as a SLIM LEG pant. They have a 1 and 1/2 inch cuff with a 3/4 inch hem. Everyone NEEDS these ESSENTIAL pants and you know they will go QUICKLY. I hope you like my EASTER WEEKEND SNEAK PEEK!!……much Love, Louis

“Sneak Peak #6” is the reorder of A199266. This is my cotton blend shirt with the mesh and cotton strip inserts.

There isn’t much to say about this sweet little shirt that it’s group of fans haven’t already said. Everyone loves the light weight stretch fabric and the fit seems to work for many women. They especially love the short sleeve which is neither matronly, which some short sleeves can be, nor is it too short and junior looking. The workmanship on this yoke is quite amazing and the stripes are pre-made and then appliqued on top of the mesh………Accuracy is crucial to the success of this little blouse. Wear it with jeans, a boho, Capris or a pencil skirt….to the office or to church on hot summer days. The new color is FROSTED LILAC with the return of OLIVE and WHITE……and YES…..it does work with your FROSTED LILAC JACKET A213623………………Enjoy….Love, Louis