……………….A Story…………..As you know….Jac started modeling in Paris when she was seventeen, for all of the Kings and Queens of Paris Fashion. Through the years she made incredible friendships. What she loved most on her off hours was walking around and discovering all of the different areas of Paris, and all of the little interesting shops…..so different from anything in the USA. Her fashion friends would tell her of all the new and “old” shops she must visit……Fast forward years later when Jac and I went to Paris together. We had both been to Paris many many times for work, but never together. Finally on my trip to QVC, London….Jac and I took advantage of this time, and afterwards took a 10 day trip to Paris. We walked and walked and walked and walked. She showed me all of the little hotels she stayed in during her modeling days, and we visited many of these tiny jewel box stores she frequented that were still there………One was a beautiful lingerie shop on the right bank not far from the Ritz hotel. It was like entering a quilted satin box….so feminine, so delicate. The sales women were so well groomed in their black suits and pretty blouses. I remember well the lovely fragrance that permeated the shop.You instinctively spoke in hushed tones..I truly had never seen such variety, colors, and beautifully made silk lingerie. It was all so expensive. Jac liked to pick up lace trimmed camisoles, and a “Teddy” or two to wear under her blazers and her many tuxedo jackets. It made me so happy to buy these things for her. She always had bought these beautiful things for herself. They were wrapped so beautifully, so delicately, and put in boxes tied with pretty ribbon, and then put into a lovely bag…….Today they are beautifully folded with the same tissue in her draws where they will always stay…………………………………Such sweet memories………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………….When I found this fabric, my first thought was Jac’s beautiful camisoles and our trip to Paris……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
The PERFECTLY PINK TUNIC, A351465, is called an “Inset Lace Tunic”……for lack of a better description, but that is not quite accurate. Inset infers that it is cut and inserted and sewn into the fabric….it is not. Honestly I am not 100% sure how it is made, and I never asked, because for me that is part of the beauty and mystery of of the fabric. I know embroidery is involved because in the close ups you can see the embroidery is extend beyond the lace and into the solid field of the fabric, but the lace is lace, not embroidery……The lace is very DELICATE and FRAGILE “looking”…..like a Chantilly Lace…., and yes, it is somewhat delicate due to its’ fineness, so treat it well…….The fabric is cotton and nylon….The solid is the cotton and the lace is nylon which gives it strength……. The lace creates a CHEVRON pattern. There are fringed lace borders at the bottoms of the sleeves and tunic. The chevron at the side seam is matched as well as it can due to the pattern of the garment……….This is NOT A SHAPED GARMENT……..You can not put body darts in the lace. There are bust darts, but the darts are not cut and pressed open. The fabric is very soft due to the lace so it does follow the lines of the body, but again, IT IS NOT SHAPED!…………There are a few bottoms I do like with this top. If you already own the LINEN CROP PONTE PANT, A302601, it will work, as well as ALABASTER bottoms……..However, I have created a new PONTE CAPRI PANT, A351410, In PERFECTLY PINK, above, and BEIGE, also above. The Beige was dyed to MATCH THE LACE, and I think they did a superb job. I know the question will come up, “what is the difference between the Linen color and the Beige color Ponte.” The Linen has a yellow caste and the Beige a pink caste, as the lace. The lace has an antique TEA DIPPED LOOK………..As for underpinnings, because the lace is see through, I have two choices. Many of you have already purchased the A304658, tank in the Perfectly Pink which works perfectly. I have also added for this delivery an additional color to this tank……It is called BEIGE, and was dyed to match the LACE. It will work with all of the different color tunics. Now you may already own a “nude” tank, and it may look good, but I didn’t want to take any chances that all of you might own such a piece. In case you don’t or the color isn’t right, or it’s too long. or too tight and body hugging to wear in the summer…….I am offering one to you that works and is an easy fit………………I always think of the perfect accessory to compliment the clothes. I designed this PEARL NECKLACE to specifically go with the tunic…….It is called the CHANTILLY NECKLACE and EARRING SET, J393300, and the color of the necklace above is BEIGE. It is 72 inches long so you can wear it many ways, and it can be worn with many things and mixed with other colors……It is avail. now……….This season Sam Edelman has done some marvelous shoes in a variety of styles in a color called “OATMEAL” that works beautifully with the Beige Capri and Lace…… V Camuto does a sandal, A353484 in a color called precious, and a strappy heel in Blush that look great with this top, A353486. He also does a flat sandal wedge in a color called Natural that looks great, A353467……………………Since QVC has already posted this tunic, which will not be aired until May, probably on the 8th at 10am, I thought I had better get busy and post my photos………………..I hope you like………………………..enjoy………………………..much Love……………………………Louis
Hi Louis,
I love the stories you share of Jac & the fashion world.
It makes the clothes seem even prettier or more special, knowing what inspired your designs.
Happy thoughts,
Patty
Hi Louis am patiently waiting for the perfectly pink capris could you tell us what the inseam might be for us shorties? Will there ever be a pant in this color Thanks for your beautiful items
Dear Judy the inseam measures 18 inches. I’m pretty sure it doesn’t change per size. This is a size 6….There is always a chance for a pink pant. I’ve done it before.
Beautiful top. Since you shared your story of Jac’s Paris teddy, I hope it’s ok to share about my trip to Paris in 2016 to watch my sister’s last week dancing in the Moulin Rouge. Her outfits were relatively modest thank goodness, but wow what outfits!
Reading your story, thinking of Paris news, and watching the new Les Misérables on Masterpiece, Victor Hugo’s quote comes to mind, “Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise”
Sierra….that’s a beautiful quote, and so simple, but true. WOW your sister must have such stories. Do they still do the Can Can??
Yes they still do the Can Can, along with many other elaborate acts!
(P.S. like the cloud blue especially)
Louis, of all the lace tops on QVC this is by far the prettiest I’ve seen. Thank you for the story as well. Your clothing is the best and makes us feel beautiful every time we wear it.
Louis,
The top is very attractive, but your story is what made me want to own it. The top matches your description of the atmosphere in the Paris shop and it sounds delightful. How blessed you and Jac were to have shared such a wonderful life. Thank you for sharing bits of it with us.
Donna from California
Thank you. The magical time that you and Jac shared will make my selections even more loved.
We were so lucky to have found each other. Remember she was 17, and let’s just say….I wasn’t so we knew each other for quite a few years before we got involved. We liked the same things….the same music, movies, Broadway shows, restaurants, books food, vacation places, everything, and we both loved fashion so we shared our work…..Lucky for me she even liked the Yankees! She was very funny, which most people don’t realize, because her modeling persona was the cool B—H, which is why she did all of the European Couture….no smiling…..We just liked to be with each other all the time….That was good and bad….it’s very hard being without my better half.
Oh, Louis, I know so well the pain of being separated from the “other half of the orange.” The two halves comprised the unit that was you, the couple that became one. It hurts. You are fortunate to have your fashion line that demands your attention and gives you satisfaction. Although the rewards are not the same as having Jac’s sweet companionship and love, you do have something to help sustain you.
Louis, Thank you so very much for your description of the Paris shops. I was in in Paris for only a few days and only got to see the usual tourist spots. I knew there was much more to see and experience. I really appreciate your vividly taking me back there. How fortunate you were to have Jack as a guide. The blouse is beautiful. Thank you for the detail photos. Can not wait to purchase the pink one along with the pink and beige Ponte pants. The sage necklace is also on my list to go with my dill lace pants. Thanks again.
Spell check changed Jac to Jack. So sorry.
I just finished reading and rereading your fascinating description/story of this garment. Your style of writing holds my attention in the style of Armistead Maupin in his “Tales of the City” books! You really need to write all your fans a book. You may have two callings! Design and writing.
What a lovely memory to share with us!
So the beige tank is sold with each color lace top. So it’s 2 pieces, correct?
Chris
No Chris….the tank is sold separately and will eventually be added to the white, black, nectar and perfectly pink
Oh, Louis, you brought me right into that petite boutique, I could smell the faint aroma of perfume, feel the touch of the silk and lace, hear the tissue being softly folded over the garment. With a painters brush, you gave me a beautiful canvas!
Thank you so much for the details of these beautiful garments. They are magnificent, exquisite, feminine. I shall feel very female wearing these and very french as I remember in detail your story concerning them! oxoxoxo Cat