Designer

……………..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!

………………….Unfortunately, the world it full of selfish people……Just eliminate them from your life!

…………………….An Anne Klein photo shoot with two of my favorite models…….Paulina Poriskovia and Dalma Callado……These photos were taken in the late 80s……The clothes, over 40 years old, are timeless and could be easily worn today…….In the photo at the left they are both wearing white leather skirts with navy sweaters detailed with gold ball buttons……Dalma on the right is wearing white Italian gaberdine pleated trousers with a navy knit “40s” inspired halter top……. .I remember the day Paulina walked into my studio on a “go see”…..She was newly arrived from Sweden. She was actually born in Czechoslovakia, but her parents left the country due to political unrest, and moved the family to Sweden……..I was told I HAD TO SEE this new beauty from Sweden……….When she walked into my studio she was wearing a tee shirt and jeans with out any make up, and her hair just hanging straight down…….OMG…..she took my breath away! She was, and still is a natural beauty…..one of the best ever! I immediately started to book her for everything I could….runway and photography. I don’t remember all of the countless shoots she did for me. What really struck me was her attitude……She really could have cared less about being a model, and I truly believe she took her beauty for granted. The way she looked was just something she was born with. At the time of our first meeting she said she wanted to be a concert pianist, but her modeling career took off and that dream never happened……When she decided to take an exclusive contract with Este Lauder at the height of her career she stopped working for anyone else….Many, including myself were very disappointed….She was one in a million!….She married and had two sons…….Today she still does some modeling, has written a biography…. but is more of a celebrity……………Dalma Callado was the first Brazilian SUPER MODEL……….She was one of the most popular models of her time, and worked for EVERYBODY!!!! I adored her….She was, and I’m sure still is one of the sweetest persons I have ever met in this business……After an incredible long career….she decided to retire at the height of her career when she was still in demand, but I think Dalma realized her time was coming to an end. There was a whole new wave of beautiful models coming in, and instead of being given second best….she retired on her terms. She moved to Italy, married and had a son. For many years she worked for Valentino, but I don’t know what she is doing now…….What I do know is that the most recent pictures of her prove that she was once the most beautiful exotic model in the world…..and still is!……She hasn’t changed one iota!!

……………………..Every once in a while something fabulous pops back onto my Linea Fashion Jewelry site on QVC…….The Loden pearls, and Faceted bead combination with the matching stud pearl earring is just such a set….The Sante Fe Faux Pearl and Earring Set, J485358, is now avail……The pearls and glass faceted  beads are strung on crude, GOLD WASHED leather cords…..giving this a very casual look! It is extremely limited which means there can be one or two or three pieces at the most……..so if you have any interest in this very unusual set DO NOT HESITATE! I was going to post another one of my favorite necklaces….The Coin Necklace, but when I went to look up the style number it was GONE!……..The Loden Pearls with the Olive tinted faceted Glass beads on the Gold Washed leather cord make this an exceptional unique piece…….A COLLECTOR’S PIECE!

……………..I came across this quote, and thought of the many times I have changed the course of my life’s focus………..You are NEVER TOO OLD or TOO YOUNG to CHANGE YOUR PATH IN LIFE!…………….You have a CHOICE!!