• Go for Winterwhite…I think it feels so right at the holidays…You don’t only have to dress like a Christmas elf in red and green to feel festive! Add some silver or gold for gilded holiday feel!
• Sweaters…Love them! Either for relaxing at home by a fire or going out to a holiday party…They are so comfortable and really chic! Leave the whimsically themed sweatshirts at home and step it up a notch! Add a rich scarf or my “of the moment” accessory…the floral pin!
• I think Rafaella’s ergofit slimming pieces are a God-send at the holidays…after too much egg nog or a few too many treats…no one will know! You will look slim and sleek without having to miss out on all the fun!
• Even if it’s below zero outside…you can feel like you’re in the sunshine with bright colors! Indulge in orange or turquoise to give you that lift! I say it’s like going on a vacation without getting on a plane!
• Of course, we all think red at the holidays! I love pairing it with bright fuchsia or shades of magenta…It’s really a sophisticated look that will get you noticed at all the holiday parties.
• An easy way to impress someone this season is adding some glitz…Nothing is more exciting than opening a gift that sparkles (especially if diamonds are not on the budget this year!)
• Gold is at an all time high both in terms of the economy and fashion! You can get in on the action this season without paying 18 karat prices. Sequins and shine in molten shades of gold are perfect!
• Even if your spending all your time at home…you still can be the belle of your own ball. Get out of the sweats and loungewear and throw on a pretty cardy…Add a dressed up slipper or cozy scarf!
• Show off your legs! Tights and opaque hose are great and you won’t feel the chill! Wear with a pencil skirt or chic sheath to show off those sexy gams. Paired with a boot or to show you really are “in-the-know”; a shoe-boot (shabootie as fashion’s inner circle like to call them).
• You do not only have wear tops printed with holly or reindeer games…go for an animal print! During this festive season, pair it with Christmas red! But the best part is that you don’t have to pack it away with all the ornaments till next year…animal prints work 12 months a year.

Photo shoot time…Holiday 2009 collection…whew! A whirlwind of shoes, belts, jewelry, shoes, etc…

It’s fun pulling it all together and giving life to the line on great models. It is all things that people think I spend everyday doing…dressing models, choosing hair and makeup, flashing lights and photogs, etc…But the reality is; it is one day every season that i get to create the ‘image” of the season through pictures and express my vision in it’s totality.

Armed with a team of professionals we work out what we want the hair to look like, what we want the makeup to feel like, and what kind of accessories we want to use. I am very opinionated and know what I like…sometimes I have to compromise, but usually I don’t give up until it is done the way I see it in my head.

As we try things on, some things work and some things really don’t. I can understand the frustration women feel in fitting rooms across the country…Trying to figure out what to wear with what.

I wish I had a simple formula, but I don’t…It’s all trial and error!

I’ll share a few tips I try to live by:

1. FIT….FIT…FIT…make sure your clothes fit and use a local tailor to adjust things just right…everyone’s body is different, so a little tweak is no biggie! Hide the not so good partsand show off the great!

2. Pick your accessory statement: is it all about the necklace or all about the earing? Don’t make multiple statements in one look…It can be dizzying! I see women all time trying too hard!

3. Splurge on great shoes…for both comfort and also an expensive shoe will make the whole outfit look expensive. (Remember shoes and bags don’t have to match and the shoe doesnt have to be the same color as the outfit)

4. Don’t be afraid to be unique: express your style with unusual mixes and artistic flourishes that give an outfit your personal stamp.

5. Experiment, ladies! fashion is fun…

A few pics of the shoot…

24 hours on planes and running through airports, AGAIN!

Getting off my flight in Toyko yesterday, I was totally mesmerized by a female passenger who emerged looking chic after 14 hours in the air…relaxed and simple with just the right attitude…

After years, how come I still can’t get the packing down to a science…

i am inspired now! what pieces can i design that would be perfect travel gear?

Let me know what you will wear to travel this summer…what is your travel style and what would you love to see designed…

Here is my must have list:

1. a lightweight scarf that works as a style accessory and does double duty as a pillow (BUT THERE IS RARELY A DAY I AM WITHOUT A SCARF..IT IS MY DEFINING ACCESSORY)

2. i cardigan or stylish hoodie…you know it can be awfully cold on board!

3. lots of trashy tabloids

4. a comfortable pant that doesnt wrinkle too much (cotton is out of the question)

5. a cool slip on shoe…got to make it easy at TSA security

6. AIRBORNE!!!

The office was all abuzz yesterday when we received the new “O” magazine featuring our Ergofit red sheath dress!

I have been designing clothes for years and this idea of stylish clothes with built in “secret” slimmers has been so fun to work on and I know something women will LOVE.

check it out!

I am heading back from a long trip to Hong Kong and my head is full of details…fabric information, trim information, style details, trends, color names, etc…

Every style is like my child, and I have just given birth to a family of 150! Who knew I was so fraternal!

But all kidding aside, it amazes me the amount of T.L.C. needed to make the perfect fitting pant, the right blouse, the best knit, and achieving that perfect “not too bright but yet not too dull” color. It’s great to bring those special details to women; the “secret sauce” for Rafaella is doing that at a great value. Sometimes, we all take it for granted. The pride and work not only I, but also the entire team at Rafaella puts into making clothes that you love!

Let me set the scene and give you a glimpse into the process. Arriving in Hong Kong after a 16-hour journey, I am excited to unpack and get to our office to see all the prototypes for the new line. I travel with my design and production team who work tirelessly to make sure we have an exciting line ready 4 times a year to show buyers and ultimately get to stores for you to buy. We are about to see the first results of what we have been laboring over for months…the good, the bad, and the ugly!

The prints go up on the walls for me to absorb. Fabrics in an array of colors are laid out everywhere. Belts and buttons come and go for me to pick and samples stream in…a lot gets rejected; “She wouldn’t wear that,” “Where is she going in that?,” “that feels too old” all come out of my mouth as I review styles that I reject. Then I excitedly say (and loudly, I must add) “oh, that looks great,” “that is THE new item,” and “wow, that print is a winner” to styles that pass the first test. Frenzied and excited, the team buzzes about discussing stitching colors, trim designs, fabric hand feel, special linings, and all the “little” things that make Rafaella a favorite for so many women and keeps them coming back season after season.

So much to do with so little time…we spend 2 days just trying on every style on a fit model. We make her walk, jump, sit down, bend, and most importantly feel every style These clothes have to not only look good, but also work for your everyday life…how can I expect you to sprint to your boarding gate, drive your long commute, or race around with the kids if you can’t move? Pieces that passed the first review get a second thought once we see them on our fit model. Our fit model is not some young uber-thin amazon you see in the pages of fashion magazines, she is a real everyday woman with 2 kids who lets us know when something just doesn’t feel right! If it is too fussy or difficult to wear or it makes her feel like she is trying to be something she is not…we make the hard decision to drop the style. There is no way it could go in the line and live up to our mantra… smart, beautiful clothes for work and life.

My favorite moments in the birth of each line are found in these days of fittings. Hashing out the details, working out the little things that mean so much, assembling the perfect garment that looks and feels just right…rolling up our “designer” sleeves and making it all come together. I am like Edward Scizzorhands; I love cutting styles apart, discarding parts of the designs that are unnecessary or annoying. My senior designer, Jung, hurriedly pins and pulls the prototypes on the model until it makes sense and flatters the wearer…We stand back and assess, sometimes we disagree or debate, but in the end we challenge each other on each detail in order make it right. Styles we originally loved, unfortunately don’t work out and others surprise us and turn out better than we anticipated.

It is as if the line is coming to life in front of our eyes! I can see how and where you can wear it, what you can put together with what, and take a guess at what will become instant favorites. I even can see what we missed and need to add.

By the time the line gets to the store, well over 6 months from now, it will be the embodiment of “form and function.” You will put it on and not only feel great but also most importantly look great. Some details will be apparent to you, others will not. But rest assured, that attention to detail is there…we did the work for you so you can rely on it to be perfect for you. We don’t just create beautiful pieces of clothing, we address what you need for your lifestyle and how to make looking great a sure-fire experience.

Think about that next time you hang your favorite style up after a long day…observe how great the fabric still looks after running that busy marathon of a day; look at that button that never seems to fall off; notice that cool seaming detail that makes it fit just right; marvel at that stitch that keeps your pocket from gaping open; admire that pretty print; re-live all the compliments you received on how perfect that color was on you… it’s all in the details!

As I fly home thinking about what we all just accomplished, I am happy knowing that our hard work is what makes Rafaella stand out amongst the rest. But we won’t be resting on the accomplishments of this trip; it is time to start on the next line and do it all over again!

CHRISTA MICHALAROS

I am asked everyday: “How do I get inspired to design a new collection?” “Where did the idea of that new style come from?” “How did I decide on that color?” The answer is simple… I have 2 women that I see everyday that inspire me and give me insight into what women on-the-go really need. They are “designer gold”… they are my reality check and your crusaders!

I would like to introduce you to those 2 women… my in house muses, my wear-testers, and many times my voices of logic: Christa Michalaros (the CEO of rafaella) and Rosemary Mancino (President of rafaella). Mothers, executives, commuters, and women who want to feel and look great and not fuss over what they wear. They are your champions, your peers, and the smart, successful women who I know love to wear rafaella. They are the basis of the design mantra at rafaella: smart, beautiful clothes for work and life… They commute a distance to work, race from meeting to meeting, travel for business, and need to not spend an enormous amount of time thinking or worrying about the impression their wardrobe makes. I make everything pass that test in order to get that rafaella label. When that label is sewn in, it means it has the rafaella seal of approval.

ROSEMARY MANCINO

Christa is a modern mother of two active sons who likes to feel sexy but yet appropriate. A youthful executive who is tall with a worked out physique… she likes easy to understand fashion that seamlessly melds into her wardrobe. Christa always reaches for a great tailored jacket and has a keen eye for a beautiful pant. I do not think I have ever seen her in a skirt, unless it was at a black-tie event. She gets so excited to see the new season’s styles and she is my litmus test for what works. Trying the new styles on, she is full of practical advice on how a style feels, the ease of putting a style on, and how she feels in the fit.

She will say: “I wouldn’t wear that!” or she will ask me what is the new “thing”. She translates what the women shopping reacts to and I can in turn make sure to use that advice to inspire each item that is designed and make each piece something I know every woman will love to wear.

Rosemary, also a busy mother of 2 boys, has a different style, but with the same needs. Petite and sassy, she doesn’t have time to shop…her family is her priority, but she still likes to look professional and appropriate. She shies away from anything too sexy or overt. She loves to dance and enjoys showing off those great gams. So a great pencil skirt suits her perfectly. Her fun personality looks great dressed in color and loves fashion that is easy but yet, she doesn’t like to think too hard about what to wear with what. No fuss, but without sacrificing style.

Rosemary is always curious about new trends and colors…she will push me to “wow” her with something exciting. She will pull me back from the ledge when my design meter goes off kilter (when I allow my designing to get overdone or fussy). She reminds me of what women want to feel when they buy great clothes and what scares them away. Inspiring me to take all the trends and make them something everyone can wear and feel great about, she is that reminder of what you expect from rafaella!

They are my true inspiration…before I swatch, sketch, or stitch a thing…I just have to look at my muses…these 2 inspiring women who you all would relate to. They embody all that rafaella is. I know that my inspiration will keep flowing and you can be sure, rafaella will continue to produce the great styles that you have come to love and continue to treasure.