Dear Readers, First and foremost she was known as Mick Jagger's girlfriend. That particular title immediately catapulted her to international fame, if not fortune. I always got a kick out of the fact that L'Wren Scott was probably a good foot taller than Mick (she was 6'3"), yet she was clearly comfortable with that. We all know Mick was a mega rock star, but she was a successful model and wardrobe stylist in her own right when they met. She was also gorgeous, glamorous and in photographs, almost always smiling. Tragically, turns out her smile was not indicative of her inner life.  At age 47, in March of this year, the beautiful and talented designer L'Wren Scott committed suicide. The fashion world was stunned and saddened. I became enamored with her not as a celebrity, model, or stylist but rather as a designer. She debuted her first collection in 2005, and her clothes put me in the OMG fashion zone. Always figure flattering and lady like, her pieces are meticulously constructed and made of rich, quality fabrics with great body (NPI). Her wool blends are especially sumptuous . . . soft, sturdy and so beautifully draped. Michelle Obama loves Scott's designs too and she owns many. In 2010 she was featured in a Harper's Bazaar photo shoot wearing one of her very own Scott dresses. When news of Scott's death became public, the First Lady sent a handwritten note to Harper's editor Glenda Bailey saying how much she enjoyed that photo shoot and how much she loved Scott's work. Photo by Jason Schmidt for Harper's Bazaar I discovered the L'Wren Scott designs in a fabulous Chicago boutique called Ikram and I've been window shopping there ever since. But I never actually buy anything. Not that I wouldn't love to . . . Scott's pieces tempt me every time I'm there. They are amazing examples of what clothing items can be if done right. Not long ago in Ikram, I spotted a gorgeous wool blend pencil skirt that took my breath away. I looked at the label and it was L'Wren Scott. I thought of course it is. This skirt could be the centerpiece of my wardrobe. It was the length I love, just below the knee. It was shaped with darts and tailoring such that anyone would look good in it. I wanted to try it on when thankfully the friend I was with said "Really, Nancy? It's $995." Well, perhaps if I considered the price per wearing . . . and on and on with the paltry rationalizations for losing my mind. Pin a rose on me as I displayed great restraint and passed. But I will never forget what a pencil skirt looks like when it's perfect. Never. So, when I read the homage to L'Wren Scott in the June issue of Harper's Bazaar, it made me weep. And it inspired me to share just a bit of her story with you. Perhaps this calls for another look at that pencil skirt. After all, summer is a great time to window shop the Gold Coast boutiques . . . Care to join me? Nancy    | 
