Yearly Archives: 2025

……………………When you’re cooking for one you really have to be “IN THE MOOD”….you have to be INSPIRED……or else it’s easier to make scrambled eggs or open a can of tuna!….I’m sure many of you know what I mean…..Last night I was in the mood for my…..ITALIAN HOT SAUSAGE…..CHICKEN…..PEPPERS…..and POTATO dish…….It’s really easy….yes you do have to peal and cut the potatoes……cut the sausage and chicken into smaller pieces and slice the peppers……Anything good does take a little effort!…. I cook them in three roasting pans….The chicken and sausage in one…the peppers in another and the potatoes on their own in another…..Just as all three are getting done I put them all together with the chicken and sausage….mix it all up and let it finish cooking….and VOILA…..dinner is served…..and there is plenty left over for another one or two dinners…..It’s so delicious…..and….IT’S VERY ITALIAN!

…………………I always loved to use the very small hand sewn sequins. They gave a lacquered effect……….Christy is wearing a SEQUIN CHEMISE dress in RED….while Giselle is wearing the signature shape of the collection in ACID GREEN sequins….The jewelry was all made out of resin faceted beads……They are timeless dresses that never go out of style……After 31 years, for me, they are just as fresh….just as modern as the first day I showed them……..Jac loved wearing these dresses to different events!

……………….The FACETED RESIN BEADS were used on these two wool crepe dresses…..Giselle, to the left is wearing a more FIT & FLARE SILHOUETTE in RED……..While the model to the right is wearing a short sleeve A-Line dress in HOT PINK……One of my nieces wore the red dress to her senior prom…..She felt so special, and looked like no one else!………………As a designer, my way of thinking was…..NEVER PAY ATTENTION TO TRENDS!……they come….and they go……I always stayed away from the “current hot look”, because I knew the next year they would be gone with the wind!…….I always strived to design timeless, unique clothes that could be worn forever……I think I accomplished that with these two dresses…..A STORY….When I first started in the “Fashion Business” in 1969 “TRENDS” were extremely important…..What were the “trends” out of Europe?……What the skirt length would be and the colors of the season were very important is make a success line….To be “On Trend” was paramount!……I recall there was one “fashion editor” at a major magazine who was secretly paid to find out what the other designers were doing. She had entre into ever designer’s studio due to her position. She would then inform this very unscrupulous desperate designer what all of the top designers were doing!……Eventually, the secret came out about what she was doing and who the designer was……It could never be proved that it was her, but everyone knew that she and this particular designer were best friends…..It was a major SCANDAL, and the news spread like wild fire!…..She was not fired from the magazine, but she was no longer allowed inside the inner sanctum of designer’s studios…..That was a long time ago, and as time passed “trends” like these were no longer important……INDIVIDULATY was the key to a successful designer.

…….”RED CARPET”……..Red carpet moments don’t have to be about long dresses! You just have you make an impressive STATEMENT!…..For my Spring 1991 Spring collection….I used LARGE RESIN STONE beads that came in different shapes to create these short skirts in RED, EMERALD and HOT PINK…..worn with various knit sweater tops…..and matching contour calf belts…..Matching bead earrings, tights and high heel pumps finished the looks………….PURE FUN with a HIGH VOLTAGE LOOK!

………………This past Saturday….I went to dinner with a married couple who have become dear friends of mine…..Alicia and Mike……Alicia is a doctor who DELIVERIES BABIES!…………and Mike works for the Stamford police department….but….is also a FANTASTIC ARTIST!……Saturday afternoon I visited him at his studio, and was blown away……He does portraits of famous people….mainly Rock and Rollers….like Elvis, the Stones, the Beatles, Aretha, Dylan and on and on…..They were incredible!…Later that evening we went to dinner at a restaurant called “BAR ROSINA’S”, in Greenwich CT……It was packed to the rafters, and the food was fabulous!…..They just got back from Paris where they go every six months. They asked me if I would like to go with them this Oct to Paris and the French wine country….I think I will go…I’ve been to Paris a zillion times, but never to the wine country…..and in October it should be incredibly beautiful….We are already planning a trip next Feb. with another of their friends to St Barts in the Caribbean!……..I invited them to my home after dinner for desert. I was going to make one of my cheese cakes, but Alicia told me Mike’s favorite was a coconut layer cake…..so I said Okay I’ll make one….but I had never made one before!!!……….Alicia gave me the receipt…..so on Friday I made my cake….step by step…..It came out GREAT….look wise….but isn’t presentation 90% of the game…if it looks good it tastes good?…..Was it going to TASTE as GOOD AS IT LOOKED?????!!!!!…….I held my breath as Mike took the first bite….and he thought it was fabulous…..He said the cake was moist and the frosting and coconut wasn’t too sweet….just perfect….Then I took my first bite and VOILA…..I can now add COCONUT CREAM LAYER CAKE to my repertoire!!!…….It not only looked beautiful, but it came out perfectly!