satin. "The fabric talks to me," she
says. Her clothes are often modeled
after things she thinks her friends
might like to wear.
She has even coined a phase to
describe her style — "shmic," which is
a fusion of smart and chic. Her collec-
tion ranges from full tartan taffeta
skirts to creme brulee-colored jackets
trimmed in velvet, to slinky silk chif-
fon gowns.
Her designs are a staple in fashion
magazines around the world and have
been exhibited in New York's
Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Weisel admits that she and Handley
sometimes differ on what they think
works for her line but then adds with
a laugh, "If he doesn't like it and I do,
I go, 'Eh, what do you know!' "
Her label doesn't come cheap.
Garments by Weisel range anywhere
from $195 to $5,500. Neiman
Marcus in Troy currently carries her
clothing. The most expensive
designs come from her bridal collec-
tion which is produced exclusively
for the upscale department store,
Bergdorf Goodman.
But Weisel has just started creating
more checkbook-friendly accessories
like wraps and capes.
A portion of the sales of each of her
wraps goes to support the Susan G.
Komen Breast Cancer Foundation —
a charity that is particularly close to
her heart since she lost her mother to
the disease.
Though her extended family is still
observant, Weisel refers to herself as
more of a "cultural Jew" She no
longer keeps kosher but does observe
Jewish holidays and occasionally
attends services or Shabbat dinner.
The woman who claims she will
never leave New York also says she
can't imagine having any other career.
She is looking into producing a line of
sportswear as well as a men's line and a
bottled fragrance. In the highly com-
petitive world of fashion, Weisel feels
confident that her designs speak for
themselves.
"If you do what you've always
believed in, then you have your sig-
nature," she notes. "If other people
are doing it, it's a little harder to
stand out. But if you just keep doing
what you believe in, you will stand
out.

The Fine Stores of Lincoln Center
Are Ready for The Holidays. • •
Are You?

Greenfield at 10 1/2 Mile

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ANN ROSMAN FOLTYN & ANGER WINSTON

32751 Franklin Rd. • Franklin, Michigan

(248) 538-8870
Fax (248) 538-8871

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