CLOTHING
Ray Cole hand-painted on silk 2-piece top and skirt. I wore this to the opening of the Saks Fifth Avenue Store Opening at Canal Place in New Orleans in 1983. As their newly appointed Fashion/PR Director, I wanted to wear something from SFA, but as the store was not open yet and the other SFA stores I visited as part of my training did not have anything in my price range that I really liked. So, I chose a New Orleans designer that I liked and because I wanted to promote his unique designing style. It was one of the Ray Cole original color blocks with his signature at a discreet place on the back side of the kimono style jacket. The straight skirt was slim and I slid it down to hip level to make it seem longer and wore a hip length black silk tunic to hide my finagling trick. The jacket finished off the three piece outfit and I felt slim and stylish for the event. I was delighted that Ray Cole at a later date had a special showing in the Designer Department of SFA in New Orleans. In researching for this list I realized that Ray was for the last 40 years one of the best known New Orleans designer’s of not only clothing and accessories but household items, Fine Art, and many other artistic pursuits. Only the jacket is for sale…the skirt is now two scarves.
Wrap yourself in this cozy fleece coat wrap which can be worn either light with dark accents, or dark with light accents. You will feel warm and toasty and completely fashionable whether you are going somewhere casual or fancy.
SFA stores I visited as part of my training did not have anything in my price range that I really liked. So, I chose a New Orleans designer that I liked and because I wanted to promote his unique designing style. It was one of the Ray Cole original color blocks with his signature at a discreet place on the back side of the kimono style jacket. The straight skirt was slim and I slid it down to hip level to make it seem longer and wore a hip length black silk tunic to hide my finagling trick. The jacket finished off the three piece outfit and I felt slim and stylish for the event. I was delighted that Ray Cole at a later date had a special showing in the Designer Department of SFA in New Orleans. In researching for this list I realized that Ray was for the last 40 years one of the best known New Orleans designer’s of not only clothing and accessories but household items, Fine Art, and many other artistic pursuits. Only the jacket is for sale…the skirt is now two scarves.
White channel quilted long sleeved jacket by Mary McFadden bought st Saks Fifth Avenue in the early 80’s. McFadden was known for her designs inspired by ancient civilizations and the Marii pleating, on a synthetic charmeuse fabric that was reminiscent of Fortuny’s Delphos gowns. I chose to buy the basic off-white style when at one of McFadden’s trunk shows, her Representative wore the same jacked with a black skirt and I liked the look and felt it was a classic style I could wear and feel good about the look for many years.(That was 40 years ago….best to learn how to take care of your treasures and they will look almost new for a long time.) I also bought one of her pleated tunic blouses to wear with this jacket and one of the less expensive black pleated skirts that were knock-off’s in another department at Saks. (Many of you may know already of this practice that many department stores that sell expensive designer clothing “knock-off” the designs and sell them at a lower price in one of their budget departments as a “Store Brand” . (I discovered this in my early career in my first retailing job when I discovered that what I had bought at a higher price was “Knocked -Off” at a lower price in the next Department over…I learned to be a smarter shopper and not to be fooled again!) Originally a size 10, as I grew older I took out the quilted pockets and used them to add gussets to the arms and sides to make the jacket fit better with my added size. I replaced the pockets with off white silk satin which is unseen. I also adjusted the collar as I like a popped-up collar on many of my jackets. All it took was a thin silk off white bias strip hand sewn over the seam to hide the stitching. Voila! Just the way I liked it!
This hand crocheted top made of strips of leather was my first foray into the second hand market when I was selling some of my furs in 1989. and spotted this and could not resist buying such a unique piece. I have since re-made it into a vest for more versatility. Unlike sweaters which can be cut and re-sewn, you cannot simply do that when re-making crochet! My system is to zig zag two lines on either side of the place I want to cut to stabilize the loose crochet and then cut. Then I place a heavy strip of tape or fabric on the back side of the vest and stitch the strip to the garment, fold back and then secure with another stitching line with matching thread as a final finishing touch. I have no idea who made it or when, but I do know that the person was a creator of beautiful stitching with an eye for beauty. The seaming on the shoulder is supurb and the stripping of the leather precise, The color is a mix of brown/grey/olive green and would mix well with any of those colors as well of course with black. 30’’ Length from shoulder seam to bottom of hem and width is 55’’ across at bust and hip. I added a large hook and eye from another coat at the neck to keep it in place and like to wear it loose over a t-shirt or casual shirt of cotton or light wool in colors that blend together. This may be for sale or not…now out of the closet…I am remembering how unique this is …I’ve never seen anything else like it. As I said it was found at an exclusive re-sale shop at a small retail cluster of shops at the bend of St. Charles Avenue as the streetcars turn into Carrollton Avenue. At least they did when I lived there…who knows now? That was over 25 years ago! Time flies when you’re having fun! ….lol
Ray Cole black silk crepe cape/poncho wrap with gold accents that can be worn many ways and would elevate any outfit to something special. I have worn it over black for most of the time, but can see it over a gold sweater and pants or a gold silk or satin blouse and black pants or even a gold colored dress. When I bought this from Ray I wanted the longer version but he convinced me that this shorter length was the more practical choice, He was right! The length is 34 “ long and each front panel is 18 “ wide and can be crossed over and thrown over and back to ease over the shoulders. This gold on black technique is one Ray worked on with chemists at Dow Chemical Company to perfect, creating his “latex lace” method. This one is edged with rolling curves and blocks of squares and random gold latex circles at different sections. of this unique piece.
Moon Dance by Jacqueline Lauren black and brown beaded long sleeved evening jacket has hooks at front every 2” so can be worn closed or left open over a camisole or round necked top. Made in India, the beading is exquisitely done and is one of very few beaded jackets that I would consider practical. It is really a classic timeless style that would be an excellent addition to anyone’s evening collection. Length 29 “ from shoulder seam to bottom of hem, width 44-45 across at bust and hip.
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