06.02 — Marie Claire
Where to Wear
INVITED TO A WEDDING and need an outfit that's appropriate? Take the advice of these wedding experts, and you'll be catching the bridal bouquet.

Colin Cowie: "A suit will always serve you well. Add a hat for classic style..."
Traditional Afternoon with T R I O New York sheath & jacket:

Summer 02 — Lord & Taylor Catalog: The Heat is On
Featured TRIO New York’s (below) floral print peasant dress in mint/peach - Cotton, lycra & spandex. (left) Leopard print chiffon dress with ruffled straps - black/brown polyester.

04.02 — Harper's Bazaar
Dress Code Hell
How do you pick the perfect party outfit when an invitation doesn't offer clear-cut fashion guidelines?

The invitation received, "black-tie optional," was the worst. Clearly, there was a correct way to dress(I'm am absolutist), but the hosts were not giving hints. I decided to do what I do whenever I'm invited to a party and I don't know what to wear - that is, call every single woman I know and find out what she is wearing. If I am going to be wrong, I want to be wrong in good company. And so I polled a great many people and, as might be expected, heard a great deal of contradictory counsel:

"All the guys will wear tuxes because they have them and want to amortize the cost. So wear something that you'll look good in when you're dancing with someone in a tux."

"Whatever you do, don't wear black. Everyone always wears black."

"Always better to be understated than overdressed"

"Wear a strapless black dress. That's the uniform these days."

"Wear whatever you look best in, unless it's a dead swan."

"Just don't get something people might describe as 'fun' or 'witty.'"

"Whatever makes you look thinnest."

"Cheap clothes with expensive shoes and evening bag."

"Wear something short and put on jewelry that goes with long."

"Black-tie optional? So wear an optional dress."

"As Gianni Versace, I think, once said to me: Don't try to be in style. You should either be behind sty le or in front of it. If you try to be on the style, it will never work."

"Ignore the instructions and wear what you want to wear. When Paul Simon used to give those all-white parties, a few wise people didn't listen, and they were better off got it. Remember: No one's going to kick you out."

"I once wasn't allowed in the Rainbow Room because I was wearing Keds. I had a fancy dress on, too. So don't wear Keds."

Spring 02 — Lord & Taylor Catalog

Featured TRIO New York’s (left) empire slip dress in white polyester, (middle) lace slip dress with scallop detail in champagne cotton/nylon, (right) eyelet U-back sleeveless sheath dress in black polyester.

04.02 — WWD No. 63
Suits Answer Career Call

”As the fashion pendulum swings back to a more formal, tailor period, suit firms are poised to reap the benfits for fall...For Steven Garfield, president of TRIO New York, which was acquired by the Leslie Fay Co. last year, structured suits are selling well since the consumer has started to dress more formally.

"People want to dress more seriously, and a suit gives automatic polish, " he said.

Garfield said jacket driven items have experienced double-digit selling in spring, which he also said translates into strong jacket sales for fall.

For suits, Garfield said added feminine touches, such as ties instead of buttons or draped lapels and ruffled sleeves, have booked well. He also cited mismatched tops, bottoms and three piece ensembles as key sellers.

This month TRIO will launch its first evening collection set for July delivery, incorporating dresses, suits and tuxedo looks.

It's kind of an extension into evening and dinner suits," he said. "We have produced tuxedo and satin groups every year, we're just expanding on those categories."

04.02 — Rosie
Feel the Beat: The Rhythm is Going to Get You...in Sexy, Sizzling Miami-hot Summer Clothes
”BARE TOPS AND FULL, SWINGY SKIRTS are cool when temperatures get steamy.For maximum imact, pick a hot color to wear head to toe or go for a graphic black-and-white print. And make sure the skirts have some swing in case you (and your partner!) want to move.”

04.02 — Lord & Taylor
The Rights of Spring 2002
Cowl neck top with self belt in tomato-red silk over a strawberry-print ruffle skirt in silk. Lord & Taylor, 1.800.223.7440.

04.02 — Lucky.
Party Dresses: Dress Up
”This look is all about flounce-and flirtation. Right now it's showing up in all kinds of lengths and patterns...A baby-V neckline is epecially office-appropriate (middle below).

Suits Dressy Enough to Get Married In, But Versatile Enough to Wear Again
A side-tie soften the jacket. Silk Shantung coat with matching sheath dress (right below). Lord & Taylor, 1.800.223.7440.

02.02 — WWD
Comeback at Coterie

The Fashion Coterie was back at its home at the Show Piers on teh Hudson last week-after a one-season departure-and the return was accompanied by some brisk buying...Steven Garfield, president at TRIO New York, stopped in to his booth to check what were the big sellers for the season. Silk jacket dresses for spring booked well for immediate delivery, as well as a short lace dress, avaliable in black, white, and tan.

"So many retailers are looking for immediate deliveries," Garfield said. "They need to fill their stores right away. I know that our business plan was conservative, considering the economy, so I can imagine tht retailers did the same last season."

02.02 — WWD
TRIO's New Life at Leslie Fay

“After two years of negotitations, The Leslie Fay Co. has completed its purchase of TRIO New York, a nine-year-old contemporary dress resource.

John Pomerantz, chairman and chief executive officer of Leslie Fay, said he was impressed by the creative talent at teh company, but also noticed the financial difficulties it was facing.

"Now they don't have to worry about the financial aspect of the business and they can concentrate on the design." Pomerantz said of the acquisition.

Pomerantz, whose company purchased the Cynthia Steffe brand about a year ago, said TRIO New York will run the same way that Cynthia Steffe now runs. Leslie Fay will control financial matters and TRIO president Steven Garfield will oversee sales, while his wife, Judy, will handle the overall design of the collection.

Although the sale was complete in November, TRIO New York just moved into its new showroom at 530 Seventh Avenue from its smaller quarters at 214 West 39th Street. With the stronger foundation, TRIO is set to open a new eveningwear division next month called TRIO Black Label. The line will feature one and two-piece special-occasion looks, using higher-end fabrics than the main line.

TRIO New York is porjected to have sales of about $12 million this year, while sales for the Black Label line are planned at $3 million.

We want to be the best in the dress market," Pomerantz said. "We have a great base to build on, but in so many ways this is a new business."

Although TRIO is known for its extensive dress collection, Judy Garfield said coordinated separates, such as evening pants, have become more important and are booking well for fall in that line.

"Women want to wear pants at night," she said. "The are comfortable and warm. I really think this is where the dress business is going."

So far, Pomerantz said, the company has been successful in opening a variety of new accounts, but he would like to see the brand in even more stores and possibly grown into more categories.

Steven Garfield said that since Leslie Fay purchased the company, the distribution process has become more efficient and sourcing abilities have enabled the collection to use more expensive fabrics without increasing prices.

"We now have items that would be great for upscale stores like Saks and Neiman's," he said. "These are all opportunities that were not possible before."

Leslie Fay, which went private last year, also produces David Warren dresses, in addition to its signature dress and sportswear division.

Coordinated separates have become important at TRIO New York:

03.02 — Real Simple
Best Dress
”THIS FLIRTY SLEEVELESS PRETENDER from T R I O New York is cut just like a wrap but sewn along the waist at the side—the string belt is just for show. It pulls on like a t-shirt, fits through the bodice, and eases into a made-for-dancing flare, thanks to the touch of spandex in the rayon blend.

Practical, cool, sexy, classic. The wrap dress-urban descendent of the sarong. kissing cousin to the sari, and the fashion world's sweetest gift to grown up women—plays well with others, packs like a sweater, sits gracefully when you do, and doesn't ride up. It makes the most of your assets and the least of everything else, since the V neck draws the focus to your face and the diagonal cut slims your silhouette. Play it up or down, wear it day or night. THE PERFECT DRESS.

T R I O New York dress, available in red and black, machine wash on the delicate cycle, lay flat to dry. Available at Lord & Taylor, 1.800.223.7440 .

03.02 — Marie Claire
The Dress
”HOW TO WEAR IT? What to try, what to avoid: Tips to flatter your shape...Try a T R I O New York high-neck sheath that accomodates a large bust and skims curves.”

12.01 — Oprah
Have Dress, Will Party
“Little and black still goes anywhere, but this year you can also find an evening dress of a different color...A demure pleated and darted Jackie O-style dress turns absolutely luscious when it's done in fushia satin. The bow calls attention to your waist.”
T R I O New York satin dress— pink sold out, but still available in turq. & black:

12.01 — Rosie
Holiday on Ice- "On the ice, we try to dress like we're going out on the town"
Weather or not you're in the spotlight, you'll definately need a few showstopping outfits this month. Check out some of the best...
T R I O New York Dress:

11.01 — InStyle
Instant Style: Full Bust
“Spice it up with a flounce...”
T R I O New York georgette dress:

09.01 — Oprah
Best of Fall Fashion: The Look of Success
“Executive Material. How to look seriously powerful without dropping serious cash: Invest in these surprisingly well-priced work clothes...A tweed shift is boss material when worn with it’s own skinny belt and tall leather boots.”
T R I O New York tweed belted dress:

09.01 — Ladies' Home Journal
Getting Real: How Old are These Legs?
T R I O New York tweed dress:

09.01 — Marie Claire
Best Pieces at Every Price
Featured TRIO New York’s sheath dress:

08.01 — The Look: InStyle — A Special Guide to Fall's Best Fashion Special
10 Classic Pieces: These Stylish Staples will Serve You Well Now and Forever
Featured TRIO New York’s tweed belted dress:

03.01 — E-mail from Lorraine
I am so excited I had to find your company immediately and let you know that I had purchased a silk dress with a jacket at Bloomingdale's in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania and it fit so perfectly. I just bought another one of your dresses at the Lord & Taylor store in King of Prussia, PA. Again it was a perfect fit. I just got engaged, and I wanted to know if you would do my wedding dress. Your size 6 seems like it was tailor made to my measurements. I am absolutely in love with the way you cut these dresses, and I cannot believe they fit like a glove. I have NEVER bought any article of clothing that ever fit this way, unless I had it custom tailored.