Spring hopes eternal

Wow, this page and I have not been together in a long, long time. Deadlines, life, and so much more have gotten in the way. But as the year winds down, and I'm working on the last party wear of 2009, my mind is on spring, and what it will be, and when you'll all see it. This is very much a hard time for many in their day to day life, and so many more of us in our brains. What will happen, where is the world heading, what should we do and not do? One thing I know for sure-for spring, i will not look back, and neither should you. The future is now, we all need to get there.I think about these things all the time, but that doesn't stop me from wanting to make a really pretty dress. I'll show you things that make sense, but they should still wow you. In the meantime, come one down to the store and be wowed for the right now. There's so many great pieces to get you through the holidaze, and all at great prices for right now-you don;t need to wait for a sale, I built the sale price in when I designed them. Pop in for one of the Saturday Soirees, and help me celebrate the three fastest, and most rewarding years of my life.

A dress well suited

I can't stop making dresses. For daytime. Maybe the part of me that plays adult Garanimals every morning wants to call it a day. Maybe acting out against the sight of one more black fitted suit, one more supposedly new boyfriend jacket, one more rehash of skinny pants/man jacket pretending to be fresh. But the idea that I can zip up and go, hold my own in a roomfull of "suits", and still feel more than fine-I'm up for that. You?

The Kids Are Alright

I just came back from the shop, and working on the kids clothes. Although they don't represent a large part of what sells, they're a large part of my life-1/2 my family. My daughters are a huge influence on what I make for kids-if they don't like it, it doesn't happen.I run ideas by them, tell them what I'm thinking about making,ask them what they would want to wear, and work it all out so it doesn't appear like we're a traveling circus. I've been making over 90% of their clothes all their lives, and I know this may change quite soon, my hope is that they will carry this into adolescence, and the rest of their adult lives. Individuality and creative, useful ideas get the mind working, thinking big thoughts, and hopefully bringing positive influence into their lives. This may seem like a lot coming out of a 15" skirt, but it's got to start somewhere. I remember making a really great dress up in my room when I was 15, to wear that night to see U2 on their 2nd US tour-yes, I'm that old-and walking downstairs to have my Mom tell me there was no way I was leaving the house in something that short. I'm sure I have that coming in spades, but I'm hoping I can say-"Can I just run off a quick pair of leggings for underneath?" and only get an eye roll, an "Oh, Mother", and an eventual yes, even if they get shoved in their purse as soon as they get to the concert.

Here Come the Brides

Despite the odds, folks are still getting hitched, and it's always an honor to be the one making the dress. Between brides, mothers of the bride and groom, flower girls, bridesmaids, and people looking for something special to wear to weddings, it seems wedding season lasts around nine months at the store, with a little time off for a honeymoon from December through February. I've just finished the last draping on a gown with a gold french lace inset at the waist, which nicely offsets the gold organza hemband. Why leave the metal only on your finger? There's also a panne silk velvet gown, a slinky sequined silvery num-bah, even a silk velvet pantsuit in case Heather has two mommies-Hey, when in Connecticut...My shows now end in an all bridal finale, as opposed to the traditional one bride representing the look of the season. Besides reducing all the "HEY! why does SHE get the be the bride?!" model infighting, it shows my idea that a bridal gown can make a big impact without looking like a walking cake, and be fun, beautiful, comfortable, and let the bride be beautiful. Other than true love, and hopefully not a lot of rain, you can't ask for more than that.

A Month of Mondays

With the Fall show at FTC officially a month from today, the workload heats up. The pieces go from thoughts to 3D objects that need to fit a person and a purpose. And...I stop sleeping. Too much to do, and never enough time, and why close your eyes when you only dream about what you haven't done yet. Which is why I end up looking like Start Me Up era Keith Richards, as opposed to Satisfaction Keith Richards come showtime. But I'd like to bring you all in on the behind the scenes goings on, since so many people ask how do you go from concept to something hanging on a rack(and hopefully in your closet). My friend videographer Doug De Mille will be popping into the shop doing video updates, we'll post shots on works in progress, model fittngs, and we'll take you backstage on the big day. Your invites are on their way, tickets go on sale for non-FTC members tomorrow, and me, I start sleeping even less

So... how's it going?

Everyday, someone asks me that. Like we're all going through experimental drug therapy together. Like we've all gone on "Recessiontrex'at the same time, and wondering if it's keeping you up at night, too. No, not to be flippant, and by no means am I'm chauffeured in my Lamborghini to work everyday, but we're crazy busy. Maybe I'm doing something very, very wrong to be still driving my 11 year old clunker to work and be so busy I don't know what day it is, but maybe that's the point. To keep plowing ahead. Everyday, we have to get dressed. Someone gets married, someone has a huge meeting, someone is hitting a milestone. Showing up naked-frowned upon in most circles- so i still have a job.One that I love. Someone came in today for a fitting on a muslin, after a first meeting a week ago. She brought reinforcements to help her figure out which end is up -"Am I making the right choice?" "Does this suit me?" "Have I lost my mind to think this is the best idea?" I completely understand this-we all have too much on our plates, and are all afraid of making the wrong choice. I brought out the muslin I'd make, showed some swatches I'd found, and everyone was in agreement we'd hit upon a winner. I think the key is that I'm not trying to sell you 'a dress' because I can make any dress. I'm trying to make you look fantastic, which only reflects on me poorly if I don't do it right. Once I'm in, I'm in all the way-you had me at "Hello, I need ..."

Idle Hands..

I know this is a busy time of year-impending nuptials, bar/bats mitzvahs, weddings.."Holy crap, I might lose my job if I don't look the part"-wait-that hasn't been declared a national holiday, but i think it was on the bill..I'm so glad to be busy, I'm so happy to fuel people's fires, and I'm so glad we had a great showing, and a hopeful spring appears in the horizon. There are pieces in this collection that are so fresh, even to me, they seem from a foreign land. Pics will go up soon on the website. I love this-I love what I do, I love when YOU love what I do, and I'm happy to make you happy-it's win/win all around...

Who, who is it?

Who has clothes made? It's a question I get asked a lot-who is my customer? Is she a shop-a-holic? A fashionista? Uh, no-that's a bad movie plot. Brace yourself... She's...she's..a librarian. She's a mother of four. She's the mother of the mother of four, making her a grandmother of 7, and her youngest son is getting married. She's a doctor. She's a lawyer. She's every woman, except Chauka Chan. But that's only because she hasn't met me yet. More and more I ask myself, in tough times, who is my client-and I answer it on the runway. As I come back to the workroom at 10:30 on a Friday night, I'm hoping she has more of a life than me, but I know she doesn't. She's juggling, she/he's balancing, but hopefully excited about what they do. I wrote orders this week because I've been thinking. A lot. This season, I'm thinking you're sick of the cold, and the gray and the dreary, and when I saw the fashion week pages and pages and pages of gray clothes for fall 09, I'm think "I do NOT want that" and I LOVE gray. Love it. But it all looks like a pile of sadness. And we so, so don't need that now. We need useful joy. A glass of wine, a fabulous song, a great read, some kind words, a beautiful..raincoat..? YES, because it's raining cats and dogs in the world. And a knockout evening dress. And a killer suit. I hear you, but maybe I filter is through my slightly askew brain, and I come up with something you didn't know you wanted, but there it is, and it speaks to you, and it fits you PERFECTLY. It's so you...because I've been thinking about you.

When Things Go Right

A beautiful woman left with a beautiful coat today, for $200, which I think was in the end less than it cost to make it, even though I made it, and am writing off the labor. But I am not hung up on this as "ART", I only know it's better not sitting on the rack, but on some one's back. She had red hair, a Copper Topper coat, a cold day, and she loved it. A perfect moment. And she, like a lot of women who come in, have a "You're my favorite pusher" tude, but since every one's veins not only remain clean, but minimized by the right red tones, it's a win/win deal. I sent a lot of things out the door today to make room for the new spring pieces, but I also was wearing a 2 year old sweater of mine and 19 month old pants. I know these things will be in people's lives along time, loved worn, and making new friends when the pieces from next season move into the closet with them. But come on down soon, because I'm running out of stuff....

Today In Silkland...

Or at least that is what it feels like.
cut..baste..admire..cut...baste...admire...Reality check-where's the party? Aren't we all down in the dumps? Isn't the sky falling? Well, yes. It's actually below the ocean floor at this point, I think. Yet, there's a wedding coming up in your future. A batmitzvah. An engagement party. You're turning 40, and you'd like to present yourself like you're turning 30. So, you need a dress. And I'm your girl. And I'm workin' hard. Clean, shape, fluid, but LESS. Less stuff, less pouf, less flouf. But by no means simple, and by no means dull. I counted yesterday, and I think I'm at 30 cocktail dresses, so perhaps it's time for a intervention. Or, an invitation....

Clean Slate

It's that time again-time to clear the decks and get ready for the new season. EVERYTHING is 50% off or more. I love what I make, but I love it more when someone is walking around in it, so come on down, and land some great deals.

Knee Deep and Lovin' It

There was a moment this week when my cutting floor was piled with things, and seven different ideas where floating in air and there was a hem to be done and 2 shirts for pick up, and I had to stop, inhale/exhale, and collect myself. Where is all this going? What am I trying to say with the clothes this season? Well, first off, it's not "Your strap is trying to escape from you giant puffy cake dress" and secondly, "Mamie Eisenhower called from the great beyond, and she wants her coat back". If I took a gorgeous, trim, strong woman and did those things to her, I'd have to shutter the store in 2 weeks. I think that's the difference in working with actual people, in the marriage of design and reality. I looked at all the fuller, beautiful organza skirts today and I had to check myself-Is Grace Kelly going to the Ting Tings? I think not. How many women will actually WANT that, AND be able to carry it? So maybe temper that with something that makes it work for more people. I've made some stunning raincoats this season. They look like cocktail dresses. They weigh 10 ounces. You could stand under a sprinkler in them, and look fine. I've been asked will I play it safe in this economy. Big fat NO. My motto-Give the People What They Didn't Know They Wanted". You get one chance, one glance, to hit people's soul. "Where did you get that?" "I love that!" I have the Branch Effect coat from this season, and it is no exaggeration that if I am in earshot of someone, they say "That coat looks great on you" Not just "That's a great coat" You're most likely not going to hear that about a black coat, in as much as you're not going to hear that about a coat that looks like a couch from a 1960's tea room. But it's my job to make you see that maybe that "perfect black raincoat" is really shot with pewter threads, or maybe it's not black at all-it's copper. Or gold. Or both. And no matter what, you will not leave me looking like we ate a few pizzas during the fitting. I can't tell you how many times a day I'll drape something on myself, then remove it and ask myself, "do I look thinner in that, or out of it?" And I'm thinking, I'm not a big girl, so let's ere on the side of caution. But maybe I'll make the middle with sheen, and the edges flat, so the hip dissipates into nothing..." But you don't see any of that. You see "Great skirt-and I look so thin!" That's my job when I do it well. And yours is just to sit back and enjoy yourself in all your fabulous glory.

Holy Bejesus Batman! I haven't blogged in months!

So, uh...Happy New Year! Well, it's 2009, and around here, the physical start of making a new season. I am at once sad and happy to say we have been too busy to chat up the Internet, but we are now making Spring, and that is when the wheels really turn. But not without the catalyst of the work that brought us through the season. Things are completely bananas, no one knows which end is up...want to buy a raincoat? Why, yes, YOU DO! apparently, you cannot call in "depleted"to work. You still have to get up, get dressed, and work your bum off. Or perhaps, despite the 50/50 chance of success, your daughter's getting hitched! And not only do you have to pay for it, you have to look like Carla Bruni. We are about to shoot the photos for spring 2009, and my brain is SPINNING. Luckily, so are the wheels on my machines. Raincoats that bowl you over, and weigh a feather...eye popper evening looks....super suits...People of America! I will NOT fail you! I am doing a dress for one fave model Tim's wife-they are going to the inagural Tech Ball. She said Black. I said NO! Red, sister, RED!!!!It is the dawning...of a new era!!!!!