The “October Sneak Peek #14 & #15”, will be the FINAL Sneak Peeks for the OCT 19th SHOW. It is a beautiful LACE CARDIGAN…..A229467. If you haven’t heard “LACE” is one of, if not the KEY FABRIC TREND for Fall 2012, and it will be continuing right into Spring of 2013. This is one of MY PERSONAL FAVORITES! You will be seeing a lot of lace out there and most of it, unless it is true designer at true designer prices, is just awful. When I found this lace, which was the only one like it amongst a rack full of lace, I did the “happy dance”…..then I asked…gulp….how much was it. Well it definitely way HIGH but I said what the hay….nothing ventured….nothing gained….the buyers loved it, and they have seen plenty of lace from many vendors. What makes this particular lace so special?? First it’s the 75% RAYON and the 25% NYLON blend. When you enlarge the photo above, by double clicking, you will notice the special weave and the two tone effect. The nylon is the black thread that is the background and weaves through out the lace motif…..giving the lace strength. The Rayon becomes the FLORAL PATTERN. It takes color incredibly, while the nylon always remains black. The rayon also has a sheen that reflects light in a very romantic way. The other quality of this lace that attracted me was the weight of it. Many laces are flimsy and have no weight or drape. NOT this one…..the only way I can describe the weight is….. the way OLD METAL TINSEL used to feel compared with the horrible weightless, blowy tinsel they replaced it with when lead was no longer allowed……………………..oh for the good old days…………………I don’t recall anyone ever dieing from Christmas tinsel!?…………………………….Excuse me I digress……………………………….the colors………………………………OLIVE……………..MAGENTA…………………SILVER GRAY……………….The cardigan measures approx. 31 inches long to the front point and 26 inches long in the center back….so it has an asymmetrical hem. I know many of you do not see lace as a casual item…. well, maybe your not going to do house work in it, but it can certainly be worn for the day. I think I have illustrated that in the picture above with the OLIVE TURTLENECK, the OLIVE LACE cardigan tied at the waist….notice how beautifully it drapes……and JEANS….BOHO CHIC……VICTORIAN CHIC, it will certainly turn heads when you go out for lunch with the girls. Of course the BLACK and MAGENTA turtlenecks work beautifully too. The MAGENTA LACE is worn with the sunburst pleated skirt and a matching Magenta tank. I love the cardigan wrapped at the waist and tied in the back….a great look for HOLIDAY PARTIES. The SILVER GRAY lace cardigan is worn slightly wrapped and a skinny black belt to hold it in place……a black tank and the BLACK WK PANT or my BLACK or OLIVE JERSEY pull-on pant A221815,will finish the look. Take a special note of the JET/GUNMETAL and CRYSTAL BEADS in the photo in the upper left corner….on the silver lace…..they will be avail in NOV! along with a matching bracelet, earring and broach. They will also come in a second SURPRISE color way that I know you will all love! I will sneak peek them during the show….so keep sharp!! Of course the cardigan looks GREAT just worn simply HANGING OPEN;. It flows and drapes like as dream….can you tell I love this piece. This I can guarantee……you will find nothing quite like it …..in my specially dyed colors, at the incredible price it will be offered at…..and I don’t even know what price it is!!!….but it will be incredible for what you are getting.
Sneak peak #15 is A229468, the matching tank. It is made in my 96% Rayon/4% Spandex jersey blend. It is beautifully made and the neckline and armholes are piped in the self knit to give it a clean and elegant finish. The colors are ………..MAGENTA……………….OLIVE……………….BLACK………….. This tank was specifically designed and dyed to go with the lace, but they make great tanks for all seasons…..and they are in colors you rarely find in tank tops. These are “ESSENTIAL’ investment pieces. The tank is approx. 25 inches long. They are smooth as powder and feel incredible against the skin…..really what else do you need from a tank?……………………………
I sincerely hope you have found things through out the season that please you. Dressing should give you JOY and never be a hassle……life is too short…….. so my friends, ENJOY………….much Love, Louis
Louis, first let me thank you for helping me look more stylish than I have in a while. I live in a warm climate so will wear the two herringbone pant suits year round. I’m wondering if the new olive tank will go well with the light olive pants suit? Thanks for taking the time to answer our many questions.
Kay
Dear Kay,
That’s the plan. I gave the p. olive herringbone fabric to thw knit factory to “match”. Fingers crossed.
HI, Louis! Is the Silver a metallic thread or am I just seeing the sheen of the rayon?
Hi Barbara…..there is no metallic thread. It is the sheen of the rayon and they are gorgeous!………real collector pieces.
:-).
I have not bought any of the lace that’s everywhere this season/year as I don’t consider myself a lace person, but……… I’m really loving the olive lace! It’s such an unexpected color in lace, and one of my favorite colors. So I’ll be studying the models and styling on the 19th. Love that Louis brings us a surprise twist to go with the fabulous essential pieces.
Just beautiful, Louis! When you show these, please give us a demo on how to tie them in the back.
Thanks,
Celia
Celia….will do!
Louis, what a beauty! Will the magenta look good with your purple velvet skirts? Also, I want you to know that I purchased your new earrings in both gold and gunmetal and will being wearing them alot. Even though I own real gold earrings similar to these, I will be taking yours on all my trips – why worry about losing real gold when these look just as good? I also want to commend you on the packaging of your jewelry. The earrings come in separate plastic bags so they won’t scratch one another – what a classy thing to do!
Dariann
Dariann….I am so happy you are liking the jewelry. That is a very wise thing to do….not taking your real jewelry. Jac never takes her real jewelry and she wear a very simple gold wedding band when we travel. Thank you for the compliment on the packaging.
Sorry, I never answered your first question……the mind is a beautiful thing to waist…………The magenta and the purple velvet are totally different colors and for most people do not go together….However, Yves St. Laurent used to put these colors together in a masterful way all the time. So, my answer to you is….yes…and….no…..if you are good with pulling things together and making things work that for others would be a trial….I say YES…..if it is a trial….then no…..you know your own comfort zone. Personally, I love them together…the two fabrics together are very decadent!!…..also I love the olive lace with the purple skirt and the silver lace with the black crushed velvet skirt is exquisite.
Dear Maria…..I’m not a very ruffle-y kind of designer either! and I don’t consider these pieces overly girly girly, that why I liked the lace and did them in these un-lace like colors…..so you are safe. For me it’s about adding another texture to your layering…….something a little alluring, eye catching….but always sophisticated and chic. You stick with me kid….I won’t steer you wrong!
Your designs have given my wardrobe a welcome shot of exquisite taste, Louis. Of that, you can be certain. I recall your favorite look, too, especially for Jac — it’s very clean and very tailored. So I know you are not one to go for all that girly-girly meringue. (May I quickly add that there is nothing wrong with that look, either. Taste is what it is. No explaining it.) But it’s fun to add another dimension at times, something you know very well. Having you provide your gorgeous fashions, plus styling tips, is a nonpareil opportunity for me and probably many others who follow you on your blog. Thank you for sharing your gifts and knowledge.
Dear Maria….if the truth be known…..I love all of that MERINGUE…..when it is done BEAUTIFULLY. Jac has a red Valentino dress with all the ruffles that he gave her when she modeled for him…..it is exquisite! It just floats and when she moves……………it is like a red mist…….it is sooooo beautiful. I am in awe of those designers who do it so well. Push come to shove……I can do it too, and I have done some beautiful garments with ruffles on the Anne Klein Couture collection. I seldom do it for QVC because to do ruffles correctly they have to be cut in circles, which takes a lot of fabric and expert sewing. Many of the ruffles you see are half circles or quarter circles when they should have been full circles, compromised for the cost. I would rather not do them then do them badly. When, on the rare occasion, I do them they are done right. For me, a beautiful garment with ruffles is more than taking a bunch of ruffles and plastering them down the front of a garment……just not my cup of tea. I know there are plenty of women who like that look because I see them all the time, but you will never see one from me………..When it comes to ruffles or girly girly creations…….every woman NEEDS a little whipped cream once in a while!
Dear Louis,
Sooo interesting about your love of “meringue” fashions and the workmanship that goes into creating a good ruffle. Jac must be heavenly in that Valentino! I guess I can more easily see the fluffy stuff for evening wear. I tend to restrict myself to a ruffled sleeve or — now, soon to be featured! — some of your lace for day wear. Hey, I’m now wearing sequins during the day — never thought I’d see that! I’m a fool for (almost) all that glistens.
By the way, would the stretch lace top in black/white (A229478) work under the black textured jacket (A219791) for a not too dressy evening out?
Be still, my heart! OMG, Louis, OMG!
Well these are just too good! How to choose???
I’m not sure I know your rayon/spandex jersey. Can you give me an example of a garment from the past few years that is made in this fabric? Can we use the tanks that came with your lace tunic in black and olive with these cardigans?
As always, thank you, and I will ENJOY!
crdlb
This is a new quality….it is the same jersey in the new drape top and long pleat front skirt. Yes you can use the tanks that were for the open work tunics. Those were in polyester and are shinier ….these are in rayon and have a matte finish. Personally I prefer the new ones to wear as a garment. I considered the others as liners….but if you want to you certainly can.
Thanks, Louis. All you have to do is give me a reason why I need the new ones, and I’m scooping them up! I love rayon jersey, especially for travel. Adding them to my shopping list right now.
crdlb
Are you kidding me? Lace in your olive? And magenta? …with matching tanks?! I love them already. Thank you so much for these….
My heart skipped a beat with this one. I was so hoping for something I did not like. The earring shown in the upper left picture, will we ever get that one?
Believe it or not that is the same earring that I am now selling with the multi color drop beads….only the one in this picture is all jet. I will have a different jet drop earring for my Nov. grouping.
Oops. Magenta and not burgundy. Magenta, schmagenta. It looks wine-like.
My heavens, do I always have to get in the “first word” on your new offerings? Here I go again! Louis, you’ve got me in the palm of your hand. Understand, I am not a lace kind of girl. Ruffles, busy prints and super girly-girly frillies do not conform to my style. With you, I’m becoming a whole other woman – one who receives more compliments than ever before, I might add. Anyway, I’m down for the burgundy set. It is so wonderfully tantalizing and beautiful. By the way, “my accountant” doesn’t like you very much. Your fashions this season are phenomenal!