During the last photo shoot we finished up the Spring 2012 images and there was enough to make another  video. It takes a long time to put together, so I've employed my twelve year old son, Chase to make the next one for Fall. Crossed fingers!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwSa8NTINVU

Fall 2012 Photo Shoot

Done! I think we photographed nearly 30 dresses.  Lara was amazing. She took so many great images. I can't wait to post them.

Here are two of my favorites:

1. Alicia in the new silk dress- Fall 2012.

For our 7' Coterie poster we like to show a print dress against a print "wallpaper."
Here I am getting the wallpaper ready- silk twill taped to foam core, leaning against Jody's wall at the end of her drive.

And here is a shot of Alicia in the dress in front of the fabric wall. I can't wait to see Lara's final image.

I LOVE this dress. The print is called Malibu Dusk but we don't have a name for the style yet. Suggestions?

2. Alicia in Trudy Black/White knit dress- Fall 2012.

The neckhole on this sample was tight and we didn't want to ruin Alicia's hair, so we cut apart the dress at the shoulder. To cover it up, I put my cardigan on Alicia. I think it works.

I used one of the silk ponchos as a scarf, it was a last minute idea. We really don't have much planned in advance. We just bring everything we can and throw it together in the minutes before the shot. 

We all went outside to the VW camper where Dottie was ready to go! I had to wait behind the hedge because Dottie kept trying to run to me. 

I'm already thinking of the next shoot which happens in July. I'm ready to hit the road (or rather just cross the bridge) in an RV and go to San Francisco to get some city shots. Curtis and I are browsing the internet for a something to convert into a mobile studio....

Photo Shoot Checklist

1. PHOTOGRAPHER: Lara Rossignol- love her. check.

(included- all of her vision and inspiration- hairstyle idea below)

2. LOCATION: Jody's house. check.

Can't beat it. Her house is to die for and she let's us all tromp through without a second thought. What a dear friend. I know it's an imposition but she acts like it's nothing.

3. MODELS: Alicia and Page.  Love them and they complement each other...hiccup...NOT check.

All was set as of last Thursday...

Lara (in email)- CALL ME!!! Page just shaved her head!

me (in my mind)- YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!!

Lara (in email)- Do you think we can work around it with a scarf or a wig? I'm calling Josh (H&M guy) to see what he can do.

me- Really?? 

me- (30 seconds later after looking at the reality of the new do, which was truly a mohawk)  NO way. find someone new.

Lara quickly called the agencies and thankfully found a lovely replacement, Alexis. whew.

okay, starting over-
MODELS: Alicia and Alexis. all set, last minute switcharoo, check.

4. HAIR and MAKE UP: Joshua. (used him last time- cute, sweet and talented- booked him) check.

5. STYLIST: Laura. (day job- in charge of sales and tons more at LE) check.

In fact, at the moment she is out shopping for all the stuff that we need. She's a great shopper and has THE BEST taste, so we are in good hands.

6. CATERING: Erin. check.

She has put together a perfect menu and I am so happy to not be doing it myself, which I did last time.

7. PROPS: Candes and Jody. check.  

Candes is gathering from Lara's list all the essentials- parasol, chess set, and so on. Really it's a like scavenger hunt.

Jody has gone around the neighborhood scouting out cars and more locations. Nothing stops her. Just a knock knock, Jody here! and acquisition complete.

 This is one of the cars she has set up for us- dreamy. 

8. DRESSES: me. almost check.

Fall 12 (below- a few that are ready, but still sewing) and some more Spring 12 (pulling from the production line)

I'm sure I've forgotten something, but I'm at the hair salon and need to talk about my hair color, or rather lack of,  so this post is over!

The Tree!

Can I just say, I HATE shopping for a tree.  It seems we all disagree on which one to get. We debate as if we are buying a sofa that we plan to keep for 15 years or more. Seriously, can we just get the tree already?? 

In previous years we've been known to drive around from lot to lot comparing, contrasting, arguing. I like a 7-8' Noble Fir with lots of space between the branches. That way there is space for the ornaments to hang.   Curtis likes a perfectly shaped full, fat tree. Will just wants tall. The taller the better. And thankfully Chase is agreeable, but tends to side with Curtis.

Here's what we settled on this year: 8-9' Noble Fir, fuller than I'd like.  And it only took 45 minutes total. Whew.

 

Now the next debate- colored lights or white lights.

Spring 2012 Photo Shoot VIDEO

I just finished my first video. During our Spring photo shoot last August I carried my Flip in my back pocket and pulled it out when I had a moment. Then I watched the tutorial on iMovie, downloaded what I had and spliced in the amazing photography by Lara Rossignal, and here is the result.  I hope you like it!

and here is the link to a higher res version on YouTube-
http://www.youtube.com/user/LesleyEvers?feature=mhee#p/a/u/0/xt_1QZbAua4

Dottie L.O.V.E.

This afternoon a couple of friends dropped by to pick up kids and ended up staying for dinner. Jody (http://aboutlastweekend.blogspot.com/) shared they have decided to get a dog despite her reservations. Alison and I are both dog lovers and immediately launched into all the reasons why this is a brilliant plan.

In fact Alison's dog is the reason I have Dottie. I loved her little Lucy so much I begged and begged Curtis for a dog for probably over a year. Finally he agreed in a moment of weakness and the next afternoon Dottie was mine. I am smitten with this dog and she goes nearly everywhere with me. This photo, taken at my house by our fashion photographer Lara Rossignal of Piewacket, is my ALL time favorite. She looks so regal, doesn't she?

8 months since my last post...

I haven't posted in MONTHS! I don't have a good reason other than it's a bit against my nature to write and then just put it out there in the world. I feel like I am starting from scratch since it's been eight months.

Coterie went really well in September.  Here's a picture of me, Laura, Karen and Becka selling the line. Three days at the Javitz Center is tough- no sunlight, no healthy food, and high heels all day.

Here we are at the end of day at a hotel near the Javitz- Ink 48- for drinks and dinner. I think Karen had the waiter take this with her iphone and it was dark. It's fuzzy, but I still like it. I had on the Marley in Blue Skies with white pants from J. Crew. It was my favorite outfit that week.

We had drinks on the rooftop before dinner. On the way up we squeezed into a small elevator with another group. By chance we were with the buyer from a store that was on our wish list. Everyone always wants what Laura wears, so naturally the buyer said to Laura (who was wearing the Miranda dress in Cobalt)- "great dress!" Luckily, I had a postcard with our booth number in my purse (usually I am unprepared).  I handed it to her and she came and bought from us the next day. It was a magical moment!