Happening soon will be the New York Show, Atelier, which I participate in.  For the Cici Bianca Spring 2011 line, my color inspiration  came from the paintings of French artist, Pierre Bonnard. Bonnard, known as a superb colorist, was a member of Les Nabis a group of Post Impressionist painters.  Drawing from his landscape and still life palettes, I used shades of blue, green, peach and yellow.  Working with those colors and their juxtapositions, resulted  in a dozen or so combinations I was able to build the line around.          

121 HT Cote d'Azure

His blues really inspired me – soft blues, vibrant blues, green blues, sky blues - some paired with maize, leaf, melon and bits of black – all make for interesting color combinations and add life to a wardrobe filled with neutrals.      

121 HT Lt Blue/Blk Tweed

117 HD Vista

I particularly love his use of muted orange, coral and peach.  These are soft and flattering colors that given the right shade, many can wear .          

117 HD Peachy

121 HT Pale Nude

Bonnard’s use of sharply contrasted colors as seen here in the painting “Woman with Dog”  inspired the jacket colors of “Maizy” and “Sapphire/Black” both of which can be worn casually with jeans or over that LBD.          

121 LL Maizy

117 F Sapphire Black

Universally loved, but often a hard sell in fashion, blue really is my pick for next Spring.   We’ll see if any of the buyers agree with me!     

           ”Color does not add a pleasant quality to design – it reinforces it.”  Pierre Bonnard     

Pantone's Turquoise

Last December PANTONE, the world-renowned authority on color announced that Turquoise was the color for 2010.  Even though we are halfway through the year, we are still seeing this shade everywhere.  According to Pantone, “Blue has long been considered America’s favorite color. This Turquoise is one of the brightest, cheeriest shades in the family.” 

Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®, spoke of Turquoise and credited its connection to feelings of serenity, protection and luscious escapism.  “Through years of color word-association studies,” she said, “we also find that Turquoise represents an escape to many — taking them to a tropical paradise. And who couldn’t use a bit of fantasy these days? ” Don’t we all agree??? 

Tracy Reese Style .com

Jill Stuart Style.com

Rochas Style.com

Amid all the Greys and Blacks in the Collections for Fall 2010, designers featured bits and pieces of Turquoise as item pieces or accessories in feminine shades of pale aqua to deep sophisticated teals. Turquoise is said to have more to do with feeling and creative expression than with rational thought.  Because it combines the light blue of the sky with the invigorating green of the seas it give the sensation of happiness and relaxation.

Petrol

My take on Turquoise for Fall was more subtle with variations of  Teal, Petrol and Slate.  Soft and earthy, this jacket works well with blacks, shades of charcoal and dark browns.

Missoni Style.com

Dsquared2 Style.com

Chanel Style.com

Oh, the inspiration of beautiful turquoise water.  I could float in this for hours and just gaze at the sky.

Turquoise

This is what that enchanting water has inspired…  For Resort/Spring 2011 I have chosen this wonderful bright shade of Turquoise for the Cici Bianca  line.  Love this color – it is relaxing but fun and cheerful and overtly optimistic!  We’ll see if the buyers in Las Vegas and New York agree with me.

Tiffany & Co.

And as a final word…

Transcending all forecasts of color and style  is “Tiffany Blue” – one of the more iconic shades of Turquoise.  The color of this little blue box, the international symbol of style and sophistication, makes my heart (and many others ) beat just a little faster.  Ah… Turquoise… Beautiful… 

For the past 15 years I have done a little modeling for Ford/RBA .  Sometimes I have worked a lot, other times, not so much.  There have been fabulous jobs – ads for major corporations, annual reports, a job that took me to Greece on the Windstar Cruise Line but also some real tedious jobs like sitting in a car dealership and handing out brochures or ultra boring fashion shows with crappy clothes.  But a job is a job and you take what is offered to you!

Recently I had the opportunity to do a modeling job for  Smith & Nephew,  a company who develops advanced medical devices for health care professionals around the world, and specifically their division of Advanced Wound Management.  They were participating in an international WOCN conference and trade show in Phoenix, AZ.

I was fortunate to work with some really lovely and savvy people from Smith & Nephew and the company that  produced and staged the show I participated in.

My cohort was another model from Ford, the lovely (and fun) Faye Morse from Tucson/LA who modeled with me the three days.  We  interacted well together – really “clicked” - and most of all, had a great time.  Hopefully this is just the beginning of a long lasting friendship and working relationship.

Our job was to display and demonstrate the products Smith & Nephew have developed for the treatment of wounds.  Billed as a fashion show of sorts, it was an innovative and experimental way to introduce products to the clinicians and nurses who specialize in wound treatment.  Never having any kind of exposure to wounds (and hoping to never have) this was an amazing learning experience for me and one more of those little life adventures I get to add to my mental resume!

Sedona Arizona ranks at the top as one of the most beautiful and spiritual places in our country.  Amazing vistas surround you in every direction.  According to the official Sedona chamber of commerce web site, “The red-orange color of the rock is one of the most neuro stimulating of colors. It enhances creative thinking and problem solving.”  Well I need a little creative thinking and problem solving, so what a perfect place to do a trunk show for Cici Bianca!

 The wonderful store, Isadora, located in the Tlaquepaque Village was where I showed my work.  Owner Wendy McKeown has filled her gallery with outstanding handwoven items and beautiful jewelry from artists all over the United States.  I was fortunate to have the opportunity to stay with artists Deanne and Byron McKeown in Deanne’s inspiring, positive energy filled, studio where she creates her bronze sculptures. 

My early mornings were spent out hiking around the rocks (trying to discover my own vortex…).   I walked a little trail called Mystic which is near the famous Chapel of the Holy Cross.  The scenery could only be described as breathtaking and the nature that surrounded me - awe inspiring.

The wild flowers in the high desert were beautiful so of course I had to snap pics of those I saw along the Mystic Trail to add to my cache of flower photos.

In addition to being one of the most georgeous places on earth, Sedona is a haven for creative people. One of the most creative people I know, actor, designer and artist Lea Gracer had an opening one evening of her current Mosaics at Canyon Moon Theatre.  Her work is detailed, sophisticated and sometimes whimsical.  But what really draws me to the work is her use of color.  Brilliant! 

The whole weekend left me on sensory overload on top of an already scattered mind.  This condition was remedied with an incredible energy reading by Dr. Lester Adler of  Sedona Center for Complementary Medicine.  The session with him gave me the clarity, direction and calmness I sorely needed.  Time to get back to the world of my own creating!

  For Fall I’m loving Camel – all shades of Camel.   

I know its kind of crazy thinking of Fall when its not even Summer.  Except, Fall Fashions are in production now with all the large companies and have been for several months. Since I run a little company, I have the advantage of quick turn around because I only have one line and manufacture in Phoenix, Arizona.  Like many other small designers, I look at what the big houses do and then follow their lead.  

This is a beautiful, easy and elegant look, and no one does it better than Michael Kors.

I love the classic combination of grey and camel and should design a Jacket in these colors.

I think it will look like this. 

Definitely I would finish off the outfit with this fabulous Michael Kors Python Bag!

Then I will be all set for my September Show in New York where I will show jackets for Spring…

Images:  Style.com, Neiman Marcus, Cici Bianca

If you have the opportunity, check it out.  The show runs through May 9th

We are so fortunate to have in our city the world class MIM – Musical Instrument Museum.  Housed in this fabulous building are 14,000 musical instruments from all over the world, accompanied by audio and video which showcases how they are played in their native lands.

The museum is the brainchild of the former Target CEO and visionary, Bob  Ulrich who spent the evening at one of  the opening nights mingling with guests of the museum .

There are Accordions (who knew there were so many different kinds used by so many different cultures??), Steel Drums, Ocarinas, Stringed Instruments of every type and even John Lennon’s Steinway Upright that he used when he composed Imagine.

This is Charice, a young  Filipino pop singer discovered on YouTube and subsequently made famous by Ellen DeGeneres, Oprah and David Foster.  She was chosen as one of the inaugural performing acts in the new 299 seat concert theatre at MIM.  I kind of expected to hear “World Music” rather than “Pop” considering the global nature of the museum. It was an unusual choice for sure and not well received by some of the music aficionados in attendance.  Personally I liked her – but then I watch American Idol…

Here I am with Charice.  Now really, why didn’t I have my picture taken with Target guru, Bob Ulrich???  He  was totally accessable.

  Instead I got my picture taken with Bullseye, the iconic Target dog.  Silly me…

So what does all of this have to do with Cici Bianca and Jackets???  I am anxious to go back and spend a few more hours just watching the videos and listening.  It’s all about the senses – and that’s where inspiration comes from.

By the way, one of the curators loved my jacket and asked if it was French…

Images: Cici Bianca, Wikipedia, JW Marriott – Desert Ridge, 

Our green desert has begun to change to brown but along with that comes an abundance of yellow flowers, trees and shrubs.

The golden yellow puff ball flowers of the Acacia tree are now in full bloom.

And shortly following them will be the all the varieties of the Palo Verde tree with their new light green growth and lovely lemony blossoms.

In flower beds all over the city, but especially at the resorts, you will see masses of golden yellow snapdragons.  I love how the gardeners use them in borders.  When I have tried to grow them, they always look a little puny… 

I have never considered myself a fan of yellow.  Maybe because unless it is a real icy yellow I cannot wear it.  But daffodils, well that’s another story.  I am crazy about them and love buying bunches of them for $.99 at Trader Joes!

Many years ago, during a spring trip to London, I was amazed by the daffodils blooming in Hyde Park. While I was there I bought this Aynsley China Bouquet as a remembrance and even today when I look it at I see those fabulous beds of  daffodils in the park. 

One of my favorite blogs, Habitually Chic has done several posts on the uses of yellow in interiors.  I particularly like this Kate Spade combination of grey and yellow.  Elements of Style also did a great post a few months ago on yellow, showcasing the color in both home and fashion.

I really do like these yellow, kitten heel slides.  I might take off the bows and add a flower or two.  Maybe I can design a jacket to go with them.

Here we are – This might work but yellow is a tough sell!

Images via Cici Bianca, Habitually Chic, The Biopsy Report

The early spring rains were plentiful this year resulting in an unusually green desert with abundant wildflowers.  From a distance the ground looks covered with soft green growth but in actuality it is all pretty rough and prickly.  Yellow is the predominate color of our flowers with faint splashes of purple and red.

The desert washes – the paths the rain take as it flows down the hills and through the desert, are always a source of flowers often changing and blossoming every few days.

From what I can tell from Arizona Highways and their book on wildflowers, this is Desert Goldenrod.  (I think my allergies will agree…)

Desert Marigold is lovely with its lemony colored flowers and grey- green foliage.

The Globemallow and Brittlebrush are just starting to flower and with some warmer temperatures will be in full bloom in a matter of days!  Stay tuned…

Last evening I decided to sweep up the leaves on my patio, pick over the flowers and water all the pots.  It was very lovely out – temperatures in the low 80′s and quite dry.

The sky was beautiful – a very simple and pretty sunset.  As I was gathering up the leaves I realized I was enveloped with the wonderful springtime scents of Geraniums and Alyssum and one more amazing fragrance.

Orange Blossoms -  Fabulous, glorious, fragrant Orange Blossoms!!!  Years ago, before many of the groves were removed to build houses, you could smell them all over the city.  Now it only seems you catch their fleeting scent in the early morning and at dusk.  There must be an inspiration for a jacket here somewhere.  It will probably hit me in the middle of the night…