…………..By profession……..I am a Designer. I have been a designer since before I graduated Parsons School of Design, and had my first position at Teal Traina in 1969………Doing the math, I am approaching my 50th year designing clothes. I approach designing today as I always have. I design things I love and hope there is an audience for it. I design clothes for women who have the same sensibility and taste level I have. I don’t claim to design for everyone, nor would I want to…………….The total outfit above is something I have designed this year, but I could have very well designed it 50 years ago. It would have been as relevant then as it is now. This could walk on any runway, and be the hit of the show!
……………………..The CARAMEL TRENCH COAT, A343460 for the reg. and A343462 for the petite is a superb piece. A coat like this does not come around often, not even from Burberry! For those of you who are new to Linea, and may not know the origin of the Trench coat….a short story. During WW1, the British government commissioned a men’s company named Burberry to design an all purpose coat for the soldiers in “The Trenches”, hence the name “Trench Coat”. Burberry was a very staid classic men’s company specializing in outerwear. It was far from the company it is today. First they branched out into women’s raincoats, recognizing how many women were buying the men’s coats. As a company it kept growing, and evolving until the Fashion powerhouse company it has come to be. Every trench coat you see from every designer and manufacturer has its’ origins with that first coat made for “the soldiers in the trenches”.
……………………The Trench Coat above is exactly the same as the trench coat I did two years ago, which has sold out. The only difference is this new version is longer, approx. 50 1/2 inches for the size 4, and is ever so slightly A-d out for walking comfort. When it’s on the “A” isn’t noticeable. Everything else is the same….the fabric, the lining, the classic trench collar with the metal hook and eye closure, the epaulets [from which the shoulders hung their rifles when not in use, so they wouldn’t be in the mud], the button down flaps, front and back, used to let the rain fall away from their bodies, adjustable sleeve straps to prevent the wind in, the double breasted style to give the body extra warmth and protection, the deep pockets. Originally, the trench coat had a button out solid flannel liner that was also used as a bath robe. This coat, as my original, has two sets of belt loops [photo at lower left], to provide you with the correct placement for the belt. The original trench had metal loops attached to the belt where shoulders hung canteens, shovels etc. Every thing had a function.
I love mixing textures, and every piece that I have put together to create this outfit adds something exciting. The WK Caramel TN, A72448, the faux Shetland long open front Caramel cardi, A343439 [shown belted], the faux suede Caramel pull-on stretch pant, A343444, and the Trench…..all add up to one fabulous, timeless, sophisticated, and forever chic outfit…………………………………………………….enjoy…………………………much Love…………………..Louis
