Navy really IS the new black

I'm dripping with navy here. I don't even like navy, and it's all over the place here, and it looks fantastic. I always associated navy with uptight conservatism and helmet hair, and that is so very much NOT what the navy pieces I'm working on are now. There's a beaded bodice long sleeve gown with a bare back, a fluid georgette draped gown with a moving giant, slit, and a sassy short shadow stripe chiffon over periwinkle charmeause dress, and all sorts of slate(the color, not the online news sight) leaning navy for day that looks fresh and modern. What gives? Maybe it's the change from tired, dry, dull, everywhere black. For evening, I know it's the idea of not being another person in a black dress at whatever event you're going to, a flock of crows at the bar, but maybe not being up for being the girl in the red dress, especially if it's a long dress. But a tall drink of water in Saphire? Now that sounds like a vision...

i like to party?

i was talking to a friend going to the shows, who said "all anyone wants to do is make evening gowns". Which is so true-so many times you wonder "who will wear this that doesn't get it for free at the Oscars?" But someone came in for a gown today, and I nothing but what I'm doing for Spring seemed fresh. I'm so excited about Spring, all the rich blues and metallics and glam. But I also know, I've got to wake up the next day and go to work. So the answer for me-great dresses. Zip and be done with it. And keep going until the next day. And a jacket that gets you through day after day. Come see it all at the Delamar Hotel, March 25th

Time For a Cool Change

No,no, no-not the Little River Band-time to switch it up.It's this time of year I start actually making the spring clothes. You know, while you head's real clear, looking at 2 feet of snow. Seriously, the absurdity of it all is pretty amusing. But one thing I do know, there with be a new way to show-I am going to the still evolving Delamar Hotel, in Southport, and showing as a fundraiser for the public library. So save the date-Friday, March 25th, 7:30 PM. I'm very excited-new venue, new clothes,new ideas, but same concept-amazing design at your fingertips that fits you like a glove. We'll do cocktails in the lobby, show in the meeting room, tours of the suites, and more food an drink, while you paw over the collection and chat me up-hope you can make it. Tickets go on sale through my website, www.jenniferbutler.com-just click the "Delamar show" link for info. meanwhile, I better get back to making this stuff....

drink me, eat me, fit me

So a very tiny, very lovely woman came in today with her slightly less tiny daughter, and when I stepped into the dressing room, to fit her, and show her how a long dress can NOT overwhelm a littler person, it was like I was Um, Alice, after she eats too much of the 'makes you bigger cake' in Tim Burton's recent Alice in Wonderland. A giant person, in a world of smaller people. Now those of you who have met me know I'm not Um-like, and pretty much avoid cake, but do actually have questionable Mad Hatter hair. But the whole point of this is that if it fits, if it's made for you, you can wear a lot of stuff that otherwise seems off limits. Both she and her daughter were amazed how weightless the clothes were, how great they felt one,and how a little tweak here and a little nip there makes all the difference. The same goes for people with Um-like bodies. But none of it matters if the dress is a big yawn-it's got to wow you. Not every dress does for every person-me, I love all the stuff I make, but when the right dress meets the right person with the right fit-now THAT'S cause for a party involving more than tea.

That Fresh Feeling

Nine weeks until showtime-time to get crazy busy. Time to make the new ideas real, get the samples finished,fix what isn't right, and take a long look at everything I'm saying. I can't imagine what I'd do if I couldn't re imagine clothing twice a year. Not doing a collection, not rethinking everything, not coming up with something new-it would be a rather joyless existence. But so would sitting in a shop with nothing selling. There's nothing like that moment, when someone says-"Wow! I love that-it's just what I needed" when it didn't exist a few months ago.The relationships I have with 'the regulars', the people who know they can come to me, and get something fantastic, that easily works with their lives, but makes everything new, is a fabulous way to spend your day. But when someone who has never been in before stands there astonished saying "you made all this?"-that's the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

Jacket, you're dead to me now

So it's only the first day of June, and already, it's time to take stock. What sold, what didn't, what you loved and thought was great idea, but sits there unordered, what you thought was nuts and sold through the roof. Welcome to retail. Or at least retail at my place. My husband just made me watch a few minutes of Jersey Couture. My eyes bled. Now I'm in the middle of making the Fall samples, deciding what to produce, what to take a risk on, what answers the needs of the women who walk in the door everyday, and maybe don't know what they want, but more what they don't want. And i hope I'm more on the side of knock your socks off than "Oh, that's nice", said with a yawn. But I also hope there's still some hope for the cool red eyelet jacket that hasn't made anyone swoon. Yet.

The Idea Farm

"Where do you get all these ideas?" I hear that all the time. From everywhere. From everything. From daily life, as in, I overslept this morning, have a terrible headache, and had to get ready for a 10 hour work day in minutes. Answer:a gorgeous green hounds tooth wool jersey. From customers:"My son is getting married, I can't find anything that doesn't make me look 60 and tired, or like I'm 60 trying to look 25" Answer:a silk chiffon and stretch lace gown that weighs less than a pound, and looks like a million buck (for a whole lot less, I may add). From the fact that's it's been freezing in May, and I had no great jacket to grab every morning that made sense.Answer:I'm working on it.. From the smart, modern, thinking grooving Massive Attack show I saw on Wednesday.Answer: Come see my Fall 2010 show at FTC on September 24th, but in the meantime, keep checking my blog and facebook page for updates as we make the samples for the show. And in the meantime, pop into the store for some of the great pieces that make that 5 minute morning dash easier.