Vegas Here We Come

Stacia (the Collection, not me) are off to Vegas tomorrow for the big Project trade show. My fabulous West Coast rep (aka road warrior) is off to the races with my new Spring 2008 collection of goodies. We're hoping for a big turnout this time with buyers ready to pencil in those orders. The show runs from August 27-29 and is at the Sands Expo and we're in the first booth on 5th Ave. - 5001 5th Ave to be exact. Not only will we be previewing Spring, but buyers will also be able to nab some immediates for Fall and our new hot Holiday collection - Boudoir. The 'Boudoir' group features our signature spacedye fabric in a shimmery rayon backed with solid cotton for a cool iridescent look, perfect for those Holiday bashes. The drawstring dress with plunging neckline and demure leg slit in Copper has been a big seller so far. I also brought back a best-seller, the Caftan, which is to die for in the color Jewel. My favorite color in the Collection has to be Fiesta, accented with black, makes for the perfect party top with some jeans. I look forward to checking out this Vegas show (and the town!) next time. My new babe at 9 months is just too young to be toting to Vegas just yet. But good luck to Lori and the gang out there, hoping it's a busy, crazy show!

Jean Therapy

So today is my birthday and it was due time for a little 'jean therapy' to help me get over the fact that I'm 37 now! Yes, I'm admitting my age in print, but really, I don't care about the numbers. It freaks me out more that I have two kids under 4! I hate to admit this as a fashion designer, but the last time I went jeans shopping was after I lost my baby-weight after the first kid - in 2004. My husband took me to Madison in Malibu to score some AG jeans - the Angel series - which I still wear today and love. Once again, after baby #2, I'm back to my pre-pregnancy weight and it's back to Madison again for some new birthday/skinny jeans. Yeah!! I was on the hunt for something new this time (but timeless like my Angel's) and preferably high-waisted or wide leg. Thank God I was pregnant during the whole pegged/skinny jean trend last year. Yes, high-waisted and wide leg is back (very 1970's), but I wanted something that didn't look like I bought it a the local Salvation Army (aka Lee jeans). Hey, if I really wanted that retro 70's high-waisted, wide leg jean look I'd go to the Rose Bowl flea market and snag a pair for 25 bucks. But alas, I found my dream jeans - a chic pair of dark denim trouser-style jeans by Anlo. They have a center crease down the leg to emphasis the wider leg and the most beautiful wood buttons on the flap back pockets. They're not exactly super high-waisted (I'm not quite ready for that), but they're definitely not crack-bearing. My only complaint is that every jean I tried on was made for an amazon model or a 6'10" basketball player. I'm not exactly short here, I'm 5'8" tall, but I'm gonna have to whack off at least 4" off my hem so I don't drown in these pants. If I have to spend $200 for a pair of jeans these days, it would be nice to know I don't have to cut off 1/8 of the pant so I can wear them. It's a good thing I can sew. I feel sorry for someone who just paid 200 bucks and has to turn around and pay for a tailor to cut off the leg. Why do these jean manufacturer's make they're jeans so long? I know this wider leg silhouette looks better with a heel for height, but I'd have to wear a 4" wedge with these puppies! All in all, I love my new wide-leg jeans and think they'll be fabulous this Fall with my Stacia sweaters. I especially think my honeycomb cowl-neck will look hot with these, along with my vintage Robert Clergerie wedges (after a little alterations of course.) So happy birthday to me and thanks to my hubby for my much needed jean therapy day!

Stacia Baby Photoshoot - Part 2

Got some more Stacia baby goodies in today. Time to put my baby girl to work! Today I did an impromptu photo shoot with Kaiulani in Douglas Park to shoot some of my newest Stacia baby samples for Spring '08. What a cutie! I know I'm a little biased, but you have to admit she does know how to work the camera (and the clothes!) But, I must say she was a little more difficult at this photoshoot. Now that she's 9 mths and crawling, pulling up everywhere, it was much more challenging to get her to sit still for the shot. She was showing us a little prima donna model behavior!

I've been waiting forever for this pointelle baby dress with matching ruffle panties (you can't see her bum, but there's the cutest little rows of pointelle ruffles on her backside!) Here she's pictured in Lotus (looks great on blue-eyed gals). This little number will also come in Camilia, which is a great combo of pinks, peaches, ivory, and black spacedye. Next up is the fabulous little beach tunic in Carmel bamboo spacedye with matching bloomers, both with crochet accents. Kai looks smashing in the Hermosa hoodie dress with Chambray leggings - sporty, but still a little girly! The new Stacia baby Spring '08 collection will be in Atlanta this weekend for the kids market. Can't wait till these cute little numbers hit the stores in February. Stay tuned for more Stacia Baby...

Style Icon of the Week - Carolyn Murphy

It's easy to blur the lines between the on-camera style and street-style of a real model. Most models tend to have great personal style and always look like they came right off the catwalk. But one of my fave models and fellow Westsider is Carolyn Murphy. She's beyond the menial day jobs of a typical model -she can say no to photo spreads in Elle and no longer has to strut her stuff on the runways- now it's all about the Estee Lauder contracts and high-end Missoni ads. Good for her! Carolyn Murphy now has the luxury to enjoy life and live it up a the beach. She epitomizes California beach cool and exudes the laid-back lifestyle that inspires my collection of knits. Like myself, Carolyn moved out West after years on the East Coast in search of open air and surf-worthy waters. One of my favorite Carolyn photo layouts (no, not the Sports Illustrated ones!) was for C Magazine's debut issue in 2005 where they interviewed her about her new West Coast lifestyle, love of surfing, and enjoying daily beach-combing with her daughter, Dylan. She was both ethereal and bohemian and would make any woman want to be her. I've seen her up close and personal while Christmas tree shopping in Santa Monica and she looked uber cool with her surf beanie hat, jeans, boots, a feminine blouse, and super long skinny scarf. And as all of my fave style icons, she's a Mom too. I find that most style icons are mothers. Maybe it has something to do with letting go and not trying too hard when you're being a Mom. You have to be put together to keep it together when you're chasing a toddler! I must say Carolyn looks great in the new Missoni ads too. I only wish she was working my spacedye knits instead! I certainly can't afford her, but I do think she'd look fabulous in my spacedye knits off the clock. Mine are a helluva lot cheaper and more practical to wear on her next beach outing with Dylan or Christmas tree shopping excursion! Oh, and happy belated b-day, Carolyn - a fellow Leo too!

Day Trip - Aquarium of the Pacific

Took a little jaunt down to Long Beach to take my kids to the aquarium. Not expecting to find much inspiration in fish and sharks, but low and behold, I found some design inspiration! The colors in nature are so vibrant and techni-colored that they're almost not-real. In the tropical section of the aquarium I came upon a bunch of small tanks that were like still-life landscapes of coral, seaweed, urchins, and tropical fish. The colors and combinations of these colors in nature were out of this world. I've finally found my inspiration for Fall '08! I'm just starting to work on the next spacedye palette for next Fall (I know it's scary- I'm already thinking about next Fall and this Fall hasn't even hit the selling floor!). Check out the quick photo I took above and savor these scrumptious colors of paprika, chocolate, mauve, goldenrod, lavender, and burgundy. What a great combination of colors and they'll be gorgeous in a spacedye pattern for Fall. If I only had the luxury of finding these colors while scuba-diving (I wish! It's been like 3 years since I dove in the pacific). Oh well, for now I have to settle for land inspiration until my next scuba outing where I can see the real-deal up close and personal. Stay tuned for more on Fall '08!

Stacia Resort Photoshoot

I just finished my latest photoshoot for the Stacia Resort/pre-Spring line and I must say there's some great looks in this collection. I'm so excited about the line and can't wait for it to be up on the web and on the selling floor. The "eco-spacedye" collection of bamboo tops and dresses is sure to please the fashion-conscious and the eco-conscious consumer. My favorite silhouettes this season are the easy wrap dress (thank you Diane von Furstenberg for keeping the wrap alive), the updated beach tunic (love the braided ties and reverse mother of pearl buttons), and the chic gathered vee. I've also resurrected two of my signature shapes from my Brooklyn boutique days - the va va voom dress (so sexy in a knit!) and the flutter top (sweet, but still sexy with its low back). Last Spring's best-selling style, the crochet yoke top, is back better than ever in new spacedye colors and even cooler in solid bamboo. Although I'm not a fan of the traditional boring cardigan, it is essential to have a 'throw-on' kind of sweater to cover those chilly arms. My take on the cardi has a little more swing in it and would be great to throw on over jeans or a strappy dress on that next getaway. I'm really happy with the colors this season too - a little earthy, but still pops of color for the break of Spring. And for those of you who crave less pattern, I'm finally introducing some solids too with just a touch of spacedye on the trim for fun. All these goodies will be available this December; just in time for your favorite warm escape during the holidays. And thanks to my fabulous friend Judy (who I was lucky enough to discover in Douglas park literally in the sandbox with kids!) for her effortless beauty and making every piece look like it was made for her.

From the Sketchpad: Eco-Spacedye

Although I've been working with a sustainable fiber, Rayon, since 2005, I was anxious to get on the Bamboo-bandwagon. Bamboo has been the talk of the 'fashion' town for a couple of years now, and I've finally developed my version of this luxurious, eco-friendly fiber in my signature space-dye technique. Rayon and Bamboo share a lot of the same properties and both are a natural cellulose fiber that comes from plants and have a similar manufacturing process. Rayon comes from trees, while Bamboo comes from a grass. Both are sustainable in the sense that they don't require pesticides to grow and they are extremely replenishable. I've found that bamboo fabric is just as soft as a fine-cashmere (but much lighter), more matte than rayon or silk, and breathes better than any man-made fiber out there, and it has been known to be anti-fungal (not that that's huge on my list as a sweater designer). I've been able to achieve the same luxurious hand-feel and drape as my rayon fabric, but I really think the hand is matter and softer than rayon (think less silk, but more like cashmere). My new Resort/Spring I collection of super-fine 14gg knits will debut at the upcoming New York City Intermezzo show at the Javits Center (August 5-7, booth #6027). I'm featuring a new array of spacedye colors inspired by California eco-towns, Ojai, Big Sur, Avalon (Catalina Island), and Carmel. In addition, all my tops will be offered in solid bamboo colors (lime, black, denim, earth, and rose) with spacedye accents for those that crave my designs in a more minimalist palette. My favorite silhouettes this season are the wrap dress, my signature va va voom dress (a knitwear take on a vintage Stacia New York best-selling dress), the updated beach tunic (with nautical inspired braided drawstrings), and a long gathered vee top (pictured above). I'm excited to see the response to the new bamboo spacedye collection and can't wait to wear my own eco-friendly knits next Spring!