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!

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.

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!

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!

First Glimpse of Fall '07 at Stacia

I know it's still blazing hot out there and the worst is yet to come, but yes, it's time to unveil Fall '07. Designers and retailers traditionally drop the first delivery of Fall in August to get a jump start on sales and hoping that their audience will buy their Fall wardrobe in advance (not necessarily a 'wear now' market.) I feel like Summer's just getting started, but I'm reluctantly shipping my Fall line to stores and putting it up on my web site. Fortunately, I've consistently tried to design a 'transitional' knitwear line with my rayon collection of sweaters that can work for all seasons and temperatures. I don't know about you, but I find it hard to pay $300 for a cashmere sweater in August that I can't wear until October! My sweaters are lighter in weight, almost like a tee, and are made in rayon, which breathes better than cashmere in the heat and warms you like silk in the cooler temps. My favorites this Fall at Stacia are the Honeycomb Trellis cowl neck (love it in Montauk!) and the effortless La Femme trapeze dress in Buttercup. They're easy, wear-now pieces that help you look the part for Fall, yet you won't be sweating it when the thermometer reads 89 degrees during Indian Summer (or during the Santa Ana winds). Check out the complete Stacia collection of knits at shopstacia.com!