Author: Louis Dell'Olio

………………….NAVY LINEN……….I had this navy color specially dyed for me……I was very picky about the way the navy color should look….Not too green…not to red….not ROYAL BLUE or purple….not too light either!….It had to be the deepest INK NAVY….It became the Anne Klein Navy, and it was my standard color navy for ALL SEASONS….ALL FRABICS….even leather goods like shoes….I did the same thing with my Linea collection for QVC…The model at left is in a simple chemise dress with a SQUARE NECKLINE, and a navy soft calf belt, and a custom large “FISH HOOK BELT” made for me by my jewelry licensee….even the gold stud on the belt was made by my jewelry licensee….DETAILS MATTER…no matter how small…..The “fish earrings” and the gold plate “disc earrings” were all part of the resort collection…….The two models on the right are both in the same navy linen. On the right a double breasted V-neck dress, and on the left is a double breasted “BOYFRIENDS BLAZER”, worn with a sleeveless white mock neck sweater and a white cotton twill skirt…..All of the gold buttons were made for me by my jewelry licensee, and they were 18 karat gold plate!……Again, DETAILS MATTER!

……………When I had this FISHNET fabric made for me in Italy….my mind started to imagine the many different ways I could use it…..YES, the obvious was to utilize it in clothing….such as the two T shirts pictured here for my Resort 1991 AK collection…..but I played with it as an accessory…..and I started to sketch….I sketched it for a detail on espadrilles….a variety of bags, and even the crown of a sun hat…both shown here…..This cotton large fishnet was unique, and worked well to expand my vision……I put my licensees to work having my ideas come to life…..The buyers and clients all loved it in its’ many forms……The model on the left is wearing a fishnet back T-shirt with cotton trill shorts. She’s carrying a large canvas tote with the fishnet outside pocket. On her head a fish net combined with a cotton twill for the sun hat…..The model on the right is wear a fishnet T- shirt, with a crest embroidered cotton twill elongated blazer and a cotton twill skirt……ALL in BRIGHT WHITE!

………………….Happy Father’s Day in Heaven Dad…….I’m sure you are enjoying it with your dad who you were so very close to….My father’s dad, my grandfather, top picture second in from the right, was a loving compassionate man who adored his grandchildren. I remember him fondly….My father was his first child….his first son to be followed by FIVE GIRLS…..so my dad was very special to him. Eventually, after the six children my grandparents had another son, my namesake, my Uncle Louie, and then their baby my Aunt Edith…….from left to right…my mom and dad with my brothers Mauro, and my brother John in my Dad’s arms….Next is my dad and me in a park in Brooklyn…..My grandparents with their children. My dad is at the extreme left….I have to say my grandfather had great style!…The top right photo is of my parents, my brother John and me…..I was such a GEEK….The haircut, which my dad gave me. didn’t help…..He use to cut my hair until he nipped off a part of my ear. It didn’t hurt, but I bled like a pig! That was it!! My mom forbade him from cutting my hair ever again!…..The bottom right picture was taken in the Catskills on a family vacation…..I hated going there because I had terrible allergies, and there were SNAKES!!!! that always seemed to find me!………My favorite memory of my dad was….we would sit together after dinner in our finished basement, which was his pride and joy, with the lights very low, and listen to music….He would always pour for me, in a beautiful cordial glass, some RASPBERRY LIQUOR. That’s how I leaned, and grew to love all of the great singers and the wonderful bands……Something young people don’t know or appreciate today…My dad had over 1000 albums…..I also grew a fondness for fruit liquors!!!! I know my Dad is celebrating Father’s Day today with his Dad, my Mom and my brother John, who I would also like to wish a Happy Father’s Day in Heaven to.

…………………..Recently, when the temperatures soared into the 90s, I was inspired to make “SUMMER SALADS”…..all from Jac’s receipts……..I made a PASTA SALAD with BARILLA TRI COLORI RIGATONI. al dente [you can substitute TORTELLINI too], multi color CHERRY TOMATOES cut in half, PITTED BLACK OLIVES….STEAMED BROCOLI, on the crisp side [you don’t want them mushy!]…a diced RED PEPPER [optional]……MOZZARELLA BALLS….1/2 to 3/4 cups of OLIVE OIL….1/4 to 1/2 cup RED WINE VINEGAR…..and I like to add PAUL NEWMAN’S YESTY ITALIAN DRESSING…mix it all up…You can add a little salt and pepper to taste…I let it cool and cover with saran wrap…a CUCUMBER SALAD…..I take four large cucumbers, cut the long ways down the center, and scoop out the seeds…..Then I slice them about 1/4 inch thick and put them in a bowl. Next I salt them and take another bowl filled with water and place it on top of the sliced cucumbers. I press the water filled bowl down on the cucumbers, and let it sit for at least one hour. This helps the cucumbers to “sweat”, and get rid of excess water. Then I drain the cucumbers in a strainer….I then, in a sauce pant, put 1/2 cup WATER and one cup of DISTILLED WHITE VINEGAR with a 1/2 cup of SUGAR. I bring the liquid to a boil stirring to dissolve the sugar…then pour the boiling liquid over the cucumbers….I add one small finely chopped RED ONION, some fresh minced DILL, mix it all up and let it all cool. Then I cover with saran wrap…….The THREE BEAN SALAD…..I take one can of CUT STRING BEANS, rinse them in a strainer, and put them in a large bowl. I do the same thing with one can of CHICK PEAS, and RED KIDNEY BEANS…..I add one bunch of finely chopped SCALLIONS, and a finely chopped RED PEPPER…..Then I pour one cup VEGTABLE OIL…..one cup APPLE CIDER VINEGAR….1/4 cup SUGAR, and mix it well…..Cover with saran…..I then put all of the salads into the refrigerator…..If you make them in the morning you can serve them in the evening….but……it’s best to let them sit in the refrigerator over night so the flavors can really meld together!…….There’s nothing like cool summer salads to have as a meal or serve as side dishes!

………………..Last night Lou and I had a “BOY’S NIGHT”……….Actually I did invite Lou’s wife Maria to come, but she was a little under the weather….so it was just the two of us…..We ordered pizza, had a few beers, and had my chocolate cheesecake for desert…and smoked cigars….actually Lou did the smoking….cigars aren’t my thing!……It was also the first time I lit the firepit. The weather was perfect….The air cooled down from the 90 degree heat and there was just a slight breeze off of the water