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!!!!!

Who's Clueless?

There's a story today on the front page of the New York Times Style section today. It's about "interview suits". But it really is about what any woman in the work force should wear. And in fragile economic times, I find it bananas that Nicole Miller would think a woman she spotted on Wall Street in a pants suit "looked dated". Granted, Ms. Miller's bread and butter is cocktail dresses and 24 hour party girl looks, but a pants suit, dated? Hell-O!? This is what's wrong with the fashion industry. If they make a suit,it's either for an androgynous heroin addict or her mother who's uptown having lunch, wondering "What happened to my daughter? She used to look so nice." Women work. They need clothes to wear to work, where they are surrounded by men, competing with men, men in suits. If you're wearing a sweater set and the guy across from you is wearing a suit, you are automatically demoting yourself-"Oh, don't mind me, I'm just here to fetch coffee. If a guy showed up to work in a cardigan, the reaction would be "Mr. Rogers, the train to the Land of Make-believe just left". I know dress codes are not super strict anymore, but suits are power. They say "I'm here to work!" They don't need to be dull, navy deals with no style. They can have great, great flare. More than anything I do here, I make suits for women. They are repeat customers, they wear my clothes all the time, and I make their lives easier, so they can do their job. That's the nice thing about being so close to the customer base-you actually know what they want and need, and you can use your design skills to take it to the next level. I think 7th avenue needs to think a little bit more, so there's not piles of product in discount stores and women walking around wondering if they're wearing the "right thing" to work.

life goes on...

Okay, so the world's a mess. Go BUY A DRESS! Seriously, I have not taken over Vogue as written by the Bush Administration. The markets crash, the sky is falling, the world is about to stop rotating on it's axis. Guess what-you still have to go to work tomorrow. And that wedding you're going to-it's still happening. And your 50th birthday party -uh huh-trust me, if I could stop that one, I'd be as loaded as your guests at your open bar. It's where you chose to spend it that makes all the difference. When it's right-when is looks fabulous, fits perfectly, and most of all, has supreme purpose, that's perfection in a nutshell. A love supreme. So many times this week, I heard women say "I love my pants", "I love my clothes-they're so special", "I'm so happy I did this". Well, I love my job because of it, and that doesn't sound like the Apocalypse to me. But talk to me Wednesday.....

for a few dollars less......

Say you've got s new potential job offer. And you need a fast makeover. And Tim Gunn's out of the question, because you think he and his kind are the anti-Christ. What do you do? Do you go to Neiman Mark-up, and blow $150,000? Nah-You come to see Jennifer Butler(that's me), and despite the fact that I'd be tempted to tell you we're all God's children- sisters and brothers, brothers who want to be sisters, brothers who dress better than their sisters, etc.- but I don't because I don't believe in mixing clothes and state. Instead, I'd tell you you can't buy style. But you can leave the styling to me, you can look great, and feel great about yourself, get in touch with your true best self, and I can get you there. For a lot less than $150,000. It will take more than a day, and a three store shopping spree. But you'll love your clothes, and you'll have them for a really long time, and they'll fit like a glove. And they will reflect you at your best.
And okay, okay, while we're on the subject-I must say, the boots gave her away that she was under outside influence. No one in Alaska with that hairdo has 4" heel patent pointy toe boots. Unless she's being a "naughty witch" for Halloween-oh-hey....come to think of it.....

Yes! A Dress!

Fifteen minutes to get ready this morning-how to cope? A forgotten dress! I told myself I would wear what's on the floor this season- not the bedroom, the store- and I had forgotten about this great jersey dress, printed, easy, and fifteen minutes, shower to door. More than ever, with all the stress we are under these days, the faster we can get out the door looking pulled together, the better. I love the versatility of a skirt and jacket, or jersey, but I did some great dresses this summer, and have carried it through to fall. Check out the show under see the latest show on the website, and better yet, pop in the store, and see how easy looking fabulous in a snap can be

That's right- I have a blog...

Work, work, work...no time to think-Hey, I should run for office! A friend just linked his blog to mine, and I realized I haven't had time to post in quite some time, since every Friday I am amazed it's Friday again, since wasn't it just Saturday, and wow, look, I'm 80 now! Anyway, I'm sure many of us feel that way, but you know what makes it better? Perfect pants. And a cocktail dress. At least that's the story around here. We've been busy filling orders and doing fittings, but will soon be posting the photos from the fall show, in case you didn't make it. In the meantime, if you didn't make the show, stop my the store, and see what you missed. It's my favorite collection ever- smart, gorgeous, and full of surprises.

I'm fat, and I just want to have the baby

I have never gone quite full term with a pregnancy, but I think this is how it feels. Months of work and anticipation, and then you just want it out. When the baby comes, I will love the baby, but I want to see the baby, not be working until 3 am squeezing it all in. Fall has been in the cooker for months and months, and now , on this 80 something degree night, it will be unveiled. See you there, at FTC-come have a preshow drink and some great food, then sit down and enjoy. Doors at 7, Models hit the stage about 7:45.