(Genie the Tailor got her first break when she designed the new Raider costumes, and now she designs for all the top stars.)
It was a beautiful day and I was crossing the street when an MG stopped to let me pass. I looked inside and there was PETER TORK smiling broadly at me. He waved and winked as I passed, and I noticed he was wearing an orange shirt I had made for him about a year ago!
It was a Thursday afternoon and there was going to be one of those big Hollywood parties that night. A little blonde girl came rushing in and wanted to see everything in the store. “Let’s see now,” she said, her finger on her cheek. “I would like to see this, this and that,” pointing to the things she liked. She tried on so many dresses and when she came out of the fitting room she said, “I’d like this one for me and this one for my mother.”
She was so cute and when I asked her name she said, “D-E-A-N-A M-A-R-T-I-N.” When she realized I was Genie The Tailor she said, “Oh, you’re the girl Davy Jones talks about. He comes in here all the time doesn’t he? He said you were making some coats for him.” I modestly accepted this praise and gazed at the ground. I was so embarrassed that I didn’t even notice Deana with her new hair color.
“Well, actually,” I said, and Deana interrupted, “Oh, I’m so glad I know who you are now. Thanks so much for the dresses. I’ll be back for sure!” And she seized the gowns and ran off into the sunlight.
Such a day! A little while later a familiar face walked in and said, “You have the loveliest clothes!” “Aren’t you Phyllis?” I asked and she looked unbelievingly at me. I could see she was thinking how did I know her name? “I’m Genie The Tailor,” I said by way of explanation and we hugged each other in appreciation.
“I must get something for the party tonight for me and maybe a present for Mike—what do you think would fit him? You probably know his size better than I.” We looked and looked through all the shirts and I had to confess I had no idea what size Mike Nesmith is, since I have never measured him. “But I think he’s about Peter’s size around the chest only with longer arms.” “Probably,” Phyllis replied.
We looked up just then to find a tall blond boy with a cheerful face standing in front of us—he was really beautiful, I thought. Phyllis and I got the same idea at once would he act as a model for us? We measured him and Phyllis said he was built pretty much the same as Mike, only taller.
He sure was cute! He couldn’t believe what was happening as we tried on shirt after shirt on him. Finally, we all three of us chose one that was the same print as the dress Phyllis chose. She was SO happy.
She promised to call and let me know what the reaction was to the new clothes. She was just such a beautiful person and so full of love I couldn’t believe it! I thought how lucky Mike is to have her for a wife!
Then I was left completely alone with our mystery model and it turned out that Mark Lindsay had recommended him to me and he wanted a red velvet robe! No easier said than done. I measured him and told him it would take two weeks to make. He was so cute I didn’t want him to leave so I kept forgetting what to do and I had to measure him a few times. Finally, he left and I was so sad. I’ll have to have a fitting really soon so he’ll be back again.
This month has been so exciting and I’d like to tell you about some of the projects I’ve been working on:
- A long Indian coat made out of pink metallic cloth, all encrusted with jewels and beads. It weighs about 30 pounds and I made it for a famous star to wear on a TV show. After he wore it once, I returned it to my shop window for display and another famous star came in and borrowed it to wear at a sell-out concert of 5,000 persons in Santa Barbara. Now it turns out that my mystery model may borrow it to wear for photographs! Can you guess the name of the star it was originally made for?
- I made two tuxedos for two very well-known boys who have a duo act. You always see them together everywhere. One tuxedo was blue wool with a diagonal rib open coat with braid on the coat and trousers and a purple-lilac ruffled silk shirt to show down the front of the coat which closed with a rhinestone buckle. The other was white silk and wool brocade trousers and coat which had a high collar and buttoned to the neck. This coat had a double center vent pleat in the back with white braid and white silk buttons. No shirt was worn with this outfit and both coats were fitted at the waist and fairly longish. Can you tell what duo I made these tuxedos for? (Hint—they wrote “Last Train To Clarksville.”)
- We were making a blue velvet shirt with a high collar and satin buttons and a certain star of a certain band came in and saw it. He always wears a scarf around his neck and says “far out.” The shirt is very simple, but extremely flattered by the wonderful shape of this boy’s body. (Hint—there is a girl singer in his band.)
Do you know who Genie’s talking about? To find out turn to page 52 for the answers.
Picture answers to Genie’s column Permalink
Mark Lindsay is Genie’s first mystery man and Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart are the owners of the tuxedos!
Below, is Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane, answer number three in Genie’s mini-quiz. If you’d like an exclusive mail-order catalogue from Genie, just sent a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Genie The Tailor, 9091 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, California.
