Monthly Archives: July 2023

……………………One of my all time favorite models…………BETTY LAGO………..Betty was a Brazilian beauty born in Rio de Janeiro………Betty was one of those rare EXOTIC beauties that was in demand by everyone……These are all photos from various Anne Klein shows. Betty and I worked very close together on the TV commercials she did for Anne Klein 11…..The theme of the commercials was someone following this woman around NYC….almost stalking….in the subway…..into bodegas…in flea markets…. into bistros….in different parks….and just on the street….wherever the creators could think of. most of the photography was done with a hand held camera…. There was background music, but no dialogue until the very end when Betty turns around suddenly as if to confront the “stalker” photographer……and says with her sweet Brazilian accent………”Anne Klein Two”…….We shot many commercials, and many times I was on the shoot like a fly on the wall. I wanted to see the creative process more than anything……Betty and I had lots of time to talk……These commercials were extremely popular! I think we were all surprised by their popularity………..Eventually Betty retired from modeling and moved back to South America where she became an actress….no surprise to me….she was a natural, and had an exuberant personality! I heard through mutual friends that at the young age of 60, Betty passed away from cancer…………EVERYONE who knew Betty Loved Betty…..She left behind a husband and two children…..She will always be remembered for the light she shined on all she met , and for the beautiful person she was outside…and in!

…………………In the last two days we have had a great deal of blessed rain! Along with the rain came lightning and thunder. I remember, as a child, my Mom telling me the thunder was from people in heaven bowling and making strikes! I bet I wasn’t the only child who was told that story. The prediction was 1 to 3 inches of rain in different areas, but some how it never seems to rain over the reservoirs where we need it to prevent drought conditions. The water company has already given warnings on the over use of water, and restrictions on lawn watering. The tremendous heat isn’t helping either…..Global warming is definitely here!

……………………For me the perfect summer lunch is “INSALATA CAPRESE”…..I buy fresh delicious tomatoes from the Farmer’s market. They are the only tomatoes that taste the way tomatoes should!…..I slice fresh Mozzarella, and put a slice of the tomato on each piece. Then I add fresh Basil from my garden…..I drizzle wonderful Olive Oil on top, and add some WHITE Balsamic Vinegar…….A little salt and pepper. and it’s ready to eat! You can have a piece of Italian bread if you like. It is the perfect bread to dip into the oil and vinegar to clean the plate!……Yum!

……………..Donna Faske and I met in the summer of 1966……..We had both graduated High School, and lived about 20 minutes from each other……Donna had gone to summer camp with a girl named Leslie Mesh, and they had become good friends…..Leslie and I went to the same High School and we were good friends….When Leslie found out that Donna and I were both going to Parsons School of Design she said, “you two have to meet”, and she set up a meeting……..One summer day Leslie drove us to Donna’s house in one of the 5 towns on Long Island [don’t remember which one]…….Leslie drove her father’s white Cadillac convertible!…….When we pulled up to Donna’s she was sitting on the front stoop of her house…….Donna had on a skimpy white ribbed cotton underwear tank top, short, short shorts, a hip belt, and gladiator sandals laced up her long legs…..Her hair was pulled back into a tight pony tail, and she wore zero make up…….I knew instantly that we were to become great friends…..and we did. We were the only two students in Parsons from Long Island. and spent countless hours at each others homes working on our school projects….We had many, many over nights toiling away…. When we stayed at her house we were usually there before her mother and step father who both worked in NYC. I remember Donna always put up backed potatoes! When we stayed at my house my Mom always made us an Italian dinner!!!! We went to Parsons for two years when Donna got a summer job at Anne Klein who convinced Donna to quit school and work for her…..Needless to say I was saddened about her decision, but I understood what a great opportunity this was for Donna……We tried our best to stay close, but working for Anne was a 24/7 job, and once in a blue moon Donna was able to get out and we would get lunch at BILL’S the local bar/restaurant that was frequented by all of the 7th Ave design crowd…….Donna eventually married and became Donna Karan…….After Anne’s death in 1973 I went to work with Donna as her co-designer at Anne Klein…..the rest is fashion history!……The pictures are mostly after some of our shows in the old Anne Klein showroom so they have to be in the late 70s….The one with me sitting on the floor, Donna standing at the left, and the 5 models is from a Fall preview photo shoot for WWD……..Donna and I worked together from 1974 until 1984, but we were friends from 1966…….It was a good run!