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]]> Our latest from our 25th Anniversary Celebration Series of our favorite looks and moments from MAGID BERNARD history!

]]> http://magidbernard.com/archives/1137/feed 1 http://magidbernard.com/archives/1080 http://magidbernard.com/archives/1080#comments Tue, 14 Jun 2011 19:03:47 +0000 admin http://magidbernard.com/?p=1080 It would be wrong, very wrong (as well as untrue) if I said that I that was anything less than a fanatic fan of the LBD (Little Black Dress).  When Coco Chanel introduced it back in 1920, it not only changed the world for fashion designers…but for women everywhere.  Today,  the LBD is ubiquitous.   We all have at least one.  And we slip it on like a uniform – always pretty, always correct, always acceptable.

Photography, Steven Forster [...]]]> It would be wrong, very wrong (as well as untrue) if I said that I that was anything less than a fanatic fan of the LBD (Little Black Dress).  When Coco Chanel introduced it back in 1920, it not only changed the world for fashion designers…but for women everywhere.  Today,  the LBD is ubiquitous.   We all have at least one.  And we slip it on like a uniform – always pretty, always correct, always acceptable.

Photography, Steven Forster / Model,Joanna Broussard

BUT,  let’s admit it…every now and again we women take a look at our closets full of LBD’s and wish we had something totally different!  Something with color.  Something with sparkle.  Something that makes heads turn when we walk into a room.  As much as we all love our LBD’s , there are times when we get bored, showing up for every special occasion in a dress that might (with different shoes and jewelry) also serve at a business meeting or…heaven forbid…a funeral!

I think that’s where my designing mind was back in the 1980′s when we created the two-piece dress shown above.   The cranberry top was made of silk taffeta, and the pleated skirt was a wool blend.   Chic, feminine, flirty…it was fabulous!

The two-piece dress was originally part of the collection my brother, Bernard, and I had at our store  BBZ, the first Punk/New Wave clothing store in the entire South!

Morning Advocate, Baton Rouge, LA, Thurs. June 24, 1982

It sold so well that Magid and I did several variations on it, including Pleated Flounce Dress  that appeared in the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate (see left).  This version had long sleeves and a black cotton faille body that buttoned all the way up the back!  (Yes,  that is me posed to show all the buttons going up the back…which of course don’t show up at all! )

I  also wore this outfit to an interview for the European Fashion Fair held in New York.  I walked in with my little portfolio and one of the panelists said “Did you make that dress?” and I said “Yes”.  “Here’s your registration material”,  she said.  That was it.  No interview required.  As it turned out, I was one of only five American designers who were accepted!

Times and fashions have certainly changed over the last 25+ years, but two things have remained constant:  the popularity of the Little Black Dress, and women’s desires to break free of it every now and again.

Magid and I are mindful of that when we choose fabrics for each season’s collection.  You will always find a bit of color, punch and sparkle to hang next to our newest Little Black Dress!

]]> http://magidbernard.com/archives/1080/feed 0 http://magidbernard.com/archives/1069 http://magidbernard.com/archives/1069#comments Mon, 23 May 2011 21:17:20 +0000 admin http://magidbernard.com/?p=1069

We love it when clients visit us in our Los Angeles showroom, and it was no exception when the bell rang a week or so ago and in walked Elisa Wayne!  We hadn’t seen her in months, and it’s always such a treat!  A high-powered attorney by day, Elisa is a stand-up comedienne at night.  When she walks into a room, she takes command, and can slay you with her brilliance or wit – or both, depending on her [...]]]>

We love it when clients visit us in our Los Angeles showroom, and it was no exception when the bell rang a week or so ago and in walked Elisa Wayne!  We hadn’t seen her in months, and it’s always such a treat!  A high-powered attorney by day, Elisa is a stand-up comedienne at night.  When she walks into a room, she takes command, and can slay you with her brilliance or wit – or both, depending on her mood.  That morning was no exception.

“I had a dream…” she announced at top decibel.   “I dreamed I was somewhere…some store…and I was desperate for a dress.   Desperate.   But I couldn’t find anything.  And they kept trying to force me into something floral.  And I’m not a floral kind of girl.   I’m a solids kind of girl.   But they wanted me in floral.   It was agonizing.   All I kept thinking was…get me out of here…I’ve got to go see MAGID BERNARD.  She shuddered and shook her hands as if trying to rid them of something awful.

“Oh no” I said consolingly “that’s hilarious.  So what’s up?”

“Well”, she said, “I really do need a dress…I think that’s what the dream was telling me. Go to MAGID BERNARD because you need something amazing (she imitates a zombie walking in Night of the Living Dead). Seriously, I’m going to my niece’s Bat Mitzvah next week.   I want to look…well, elegant, cultured, sexy…but not too sexy…quietly sexy…but not sexy, sexy like my last one.  Elegant.  And happy.  Happy for her.   That’s what I want!   I want my dress to look happy for her!   Do you know what I mean?  But only if you have it. Because I need it next week.”

I knew what she meant…sort of.   We can do happy.   But as anyone who knows us knows, our clothing is custom made from our Collection.   So we have Collection samples, but we rarely sell them.   First, because they’re part of the Collection, and second because it’s rare that they are a perfect fit. And we’re sticklers for perfect fit.   But, because I love Elisa so dearly, I thought perhaps we could find a happy sample that would suit the occasion and not require too much retro-fitting.   We went into the fitting room with a rack full of beautiful gowns…eggplant hammered silk, yellow hand-painted silk chiffon, green sequins.  Hair up, hair down.   Different shoes, different jewelry.   Great looks all, but nothing that was perfect.

Hmmm….I went to the back…and pulled out a long silk-charmeuse gown in a salmon, silver and off-white floral print gown. Simple cap sleeves, a graceful neckline, a bias cut to the floor – with a long, but discrete slit up one leg.   I loved this gown…it was one of a kind…but it was floral.

I parted the curtains to the fitting room. Elisa took one look at the dress and threw her hands up in mock horror. “FLORAL” she shrieked.  It’s my dream!!  You’re going to force me into floral.”   Then she settled down and struck a pose with her hands on her hips, her head cocked to one side and a piercing look in her eyes as she surveyed the gown I stood holding (I can just imagine her sizing up a witness with that same withering look).   “I….like…it” she said slowly.

She slipped the gown on over her head and it slid down her body as if it had, in fact, been made for her.   It was perfect! Unbelievable in fact.   The colors warmed her skin, brightened her eyes and gave luster to her dark chestnut hair.  Even without makeup, she was a knock-out in it.   But an elegant knockout.   A Happy Knockout.   She glowed.   “I can’t believe my dream came true!” she sighed.

We’ll press it, add lingerie straps, make a tiny adjustment here or there – you can pick it up in a day or two.   And she did.

This is a true story.   And sometimes, truth is stranger than fiction.  Who knows why Elisa dreamed she had to come to MAGID BERNARD that day….or why a floral gown was central to that dream’s message.   But I do believe that every dress we make has its true owner out there, somewhere… it’s just a matter of waiting until we find her….or she finds us.   Sometimes all it takes is a dream.

It was the mid 1980′s and we were still based in our hometown of New Orleans.  We had a great following there, as well as a strong network of stores throughout the North East.  Now, we were hoping to expand into the great state of Texas.

Culturally, Texas had been a “Nirvana” of sorts for fashion designers over the past several decades.  Its affluent, oil-based economy and “formal” lifestyle meant that many Texan women [...]]]>

MAGID BERNARD DIAMOND WRAP TOP

It was the mid 1980′s and we were still based in our hometown of New Orleans.  We had a great following there, as well as a strong network of stores throughout the North East.  Now, we were hoping to expand into the great state of Texas.

Culturally, Texas had been a “Nirvana” of sorts for fashion designers over the past several decades.  Its affluent, oil-based economy and “formal” lifestyle meant that many Texan women needed, and wanted, the kinds of clothing turned out the world’s top couture designers.  Cost was not an issue.

Then in 1985 the Great Texas Oil Bust hit.   Retail sales in 1985 declined for the first time ever in Texas history!  Texan woman were forced to reassess their clothing budgets, and hoped to do so without compromising quality or style.

Well,  necessity is the mother of invention, as they say…and that’s where MAGID BERNARD stepped in.   We had recently made some pieces for the lovely Marcia Gottesman, who owned the finest childrens clothing store in Dallas (Marcia’s).   She was so taken with our work that she personally made calls to Tootsie’s, Harriet Hart, and other well-known specialty stores in Texas, and before we knew it,  we were selling through Tootie’s and Harriet Hart and, shortly thereafter, through Esther Wolf, Cavaletto and others!  They were crazy for it!  We were featured frequently in Dallas WWD Best of Group, The Houston Chronicle and other press, and we began to develop a private clientele that continues to this day.

One of the most popular pieces from that collection was the Diamond Wrap.  Made of imported wool jersey, it could be belted at the waist and worn over a matching straight skirt or pants.   We showed it initially in a deep, dark, gorgeous jade and ultimately in a variety of colors and fabrics.  It was an instant…and long lasting….success!  Another favorite was our Color Blocked dress as shown below.  We offered it in jade/black or red/black combination in the front with a solid (super slimming) back.  It was spectacular!

Color Blocked Dress

Looking back at this collection is quite satisfying to us – not only because of its tremendous financial success, but because of the quality and versatility of the clothing.  These were dresses, suits and separates that truly could “take you anywhere”.    I believe that if we produced these pieces today, they would sell and sell again!  They are classic, yet modern;  minimalist, yet detailed;  feminine, but not fussy; tailored, but not boring.   Timeless,  investment dressing at its best!

~Michele

Houston’s CultureMap editor, Shelby Hodge, posted a piece about the grand opening of the new Houston Ballet Center for Dance.  Five years in the making, the curtain officially went up on the new Center on Thursday, April 7th with a glamorous fete for mega-doners.

Our dear friend and client, Merrill Hafner was center stage at the opening ceremony, with her husband, Joe Hafner, who is Chairman of the Houston Ballet Board of Directors.  Merrill wore [...]]]>

Anne Graubart, Joe Hafner, Merrill Hafner

Houston’s CultureMap editor, Shelby Hodge, posted a piece about the grand opening of the new Houston Ballet Center for Dance.  Five years in the making, the curtain officially went up on the new Center on Thursday, April 7th with a glamorous fete for mega-doners.

Our dear friend and client, Merrill Hafner was center stage at the opening ceremony, with her husband, Joe Hafner, who is Chairman of the Houston Ballet Board of Directors.  Merrill wore a sophisticated two piece outfit of imported Italian silk by MAGID BERNARD.

You look beautiful, as always, Merrill…and we just adore you!

To read Shelby Hodge’s complete story, go to: http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/04-07-11-houston-ballets-center-for-dance-launches-with-four-days-of-festivities-including-one-swell-big-money-dinner/

photo credit: Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com

MAGID BERNARD Winged Victory Dress

The Winged Victory dress, of silk crepe de chine, was an instant success because could be worn straight or tied in seven different ways – taking it from casual to the most elegant evening. [...]]]> During the 1980′s  we presented two more phenomenal sellers…the “Winged Victory” dress and the “Knotted Triangle”.  As we look back,  we’re not entirely sure why both dresses played off the idea of knots, but they did, and it gave each tremendous versatility.

MAGID BERNARD Winged Victory Dress

The Winged Victory dress, of silk crepe de chine, was an instant success because could be worn straight or tied in seven different ways – taking it from casual to the most elegant evening. Here you see it with its two winged sides hanging simply and beautifully. In addition, each side could be tied at the side, in front (high or low)or  in the back (again high or low), as shown below.

Winged Victory tied in back

One side could  even be drawn up and tied at the shoulder for more coverage and an incredibly elegant drape!  I wish we had more photographs of this dress, because the looks it achieved were wonderful!  So wonderful, that it was knocked-off by a very prominent New York designer (whose name will go unmentioned), who is still in business today.

MAGID BERNARD Knotted Triangle Dress

The Knotted Triangle dress was another super- sophisticated favorite.  It was a wedge shape, for which we were well known.   Clients loved the camouflage silhouette as well as the versatility of the dress.  The beauty of the Knotted Triangle was in the three colors of heavy silk crepe de chine used for the body and triangle overlay, which displayed its contrasting colors when knotted. It was an easy dress to accessorize, you just needed fabulous earrings!

Next in our series…A Study In Black & White