ny fashion week

The iron statue of a factory worker manufacturing clothing in the midst of the ever so busy fashion district, reminding us of the humble beginnings and the hard work fashion really is.

You know you don't get the usual fashion coverage here and I hope you like my personal first days round up, as it reads a bit different than many other blogs that tell you the same old BS you may or may not wanna hear.

So, yes - I am convinced you know by now - the beast has come out and you see an immense and quiet perplexing amount of fur. Why in the world...?? It's beyond me. Fur, fur fur, the most ugliest of which. I started taking pictures to report it to you, but I prematurely deleted most of them because I really don't want to cramp up my posts with this stuff. As if someone would have money to buy fur next season...??

Of the commercial shows I saw the Barbie Runway Show and Erin Fetherston, which I loved both. Yesterday I went to Tibi and Narciso Rodriquez, which only really were so so...

I also visited the Digital Moda event, which was held at the top of the 110 building on 40th Street. Gazing out the windows you could see the ever so promising fashion week tents below...


..but in all - I really wanted to say something positive about Yuli Ziv's event - this event was nothing special and it seamed a waist of time talking to the, only somewhat fashionable, crowd. Plus the drinks were really cheap.

...there were animals and fur there too...

So, I quickly made my way downstairs again and headed over to the tents. Where I was greeted by friends and colleagues who were all chatting away waiting in line to see Tibi. I liked the Barbie display:


I mentioned Tibi was not interesting, so I really could not wait to see Narciso. I went to the bar and ordered a Vodka Martini with 3 olives and mixed in with the waiting crowd. One young fashionista had this bag which I thought was fun and fitting for the Obama Zeitgeist:


And I had a quick opportunity to chat with Simon Donovan, the Creative Director of Barneys New York. I told him I was sending him my new catalog next week.

simon donovan of barneys new york waiting to see narciso rodriquez

Then finally after more than 1 hour in line, I snatched my seat at Narciso's.


The photographers are ready too, so let's get on with this show!



My attention span was beginning to stagnate and so I was just looking for a cab! Ah, there is one!


A last look uptown in direction of the ever so lit up Times Square.


And so I survived another day of NY Fashion Week!

pop art

It's just the weirdest thing that while I am focusing on finishing the Dark Glamour Gothic post, there is color all around me... day-glow at that! How am I supposed to think straight?? Anyway, this is a daily debacle for a fashion designer and I am used to think about things that are not here to think about at that time. But as it is, a good press article never comes at the wrong time and I always in particular look forward to Olivier Rohrbach's selections of "IT-things" of the moment.

This seasons picks of Pop Art pieces do clearly speak for themselves... and I am so proud to be featured among such great timeless designs of my long time favorite Jean-Charles de Castelbajac as well as Stephen Sprouse (who sadly died only a few years ago due to lung cancer. It's the reason I finally stopped smoking 2 years ago...)

On a much happier note: Thanks Olivier for the eternally funky selections, as always!

...stephen sprouse in 1997 looking iggyisch (photo: rainer hosch) and below as a punk rocker in the 80's (photo: patrick mcmullen)

...jean-charles de catelbajac's lady diana tribute...

To buy the Nico, The Velvet Underground Shift Dress, featured in the Pop Art article click here!

fashion rocks rockstar magazine

Yeap, just came hot off the press! Fashion Rocks collection featured in Rockstar Magazin! Thanks to my all time top photographer Carl Posey and Swiss connection PR genius Arnold Meyer.

sylvie fleury was on time

...it is me that is behind with the posts. So here is, on yet another note before the long awaited dark posts (I am working on them, they are altogether a way bigger story than I initially anticipated), Sylvie Fleury's New Years card, which is so "Fleury" that I wanted to share it with you all...

From the caves of Switzerland...

xxx

Read my post about Sylvie's work in the Chanel Mobil art exhibit.

poison yellow!

I know you were expecting more black, after I just announced that the last post "black" would lead into something darker... but I take a turn right here in the name of actuality for a second or "a post" and talk about The First Lady Michelle Obama's choice of color.


I took a good look and I saw a yellow with a tad of green in it, which led me to my declaration of The First Lady's deux piece (although I could see some additional layers underneath the coat) being a sort of poison-isch yellow. The choice of green gloves may have supported the fact that there was indeed green in that yellow, it may even have brought that shade out more in the midst of all the yellow.

It's really hard to criticize that wonderful Fist Lady of ours and I am not doing that, besides having been accused of doing exactly that. But hello, I can't believe the inability of people to admit that she chose a uncanny green-isch yellow for her day dress. Why can't everybody just admit it and be comfortable with the fact that she did choose one of those colors with a bad rap (I'm not even saying that, but that is what all the commotion is about).

Surely she can wear it - it looked great - everybody agrees! Why is everybody still tip toe-ing around not being able to admit that they were a bit shocked with the choice (BTW, it also was not a traditional lace - in the contrary to wide believe - but a so called acid-cut or Giupure 100% woll fabric, which looks like lace and was also used by Miuccia Prada in her 2008 collections).

miuccia prada giupure 2008

Now, I really loved the unconventional choice, as I always do. But most people say: Oh no, this is yellow, not green, a very nice pastel color, very beautiful, no poison in it, noooo! Oh please...!

Anyway, what's the point? It does not really matter. As long as I knew what color it was. Hey, I did not go to art and graphic school for 5 years for nothing! When I got the letter from my mother, containing all the relevant Swiss news paper clips (they mostly contain imminent news about fashion, views from Europe about the USA or family related news) of the recent month, I was surprised - well then again, not so much - that the lace fabric of Mrs. Obamas dress was from Forster Rohner Textile, the world renowned, famous lace producer out of my hometown St. Gallen. Yes, that's right!

Needless to say, I was very fond to read how it's Creative Director Hans Schreiber described the shade: A mix of mustard yellow, yellow daffodils, lemon grass green and gold. I knew it! There IS green in it! I must have felt it, coming from my home, where Forster Rohner stands for: always special, unconventional and fast forward quality.

Good choice, Isabel Toledo (the designer of the outfit)!

Mrs. Toledo reportedly went to St. Gallen herself, last year and bought 12 meters for the price of 190 CHF (Swiss Francs) each. My mother told me on the phone today that by now the famous wool Giupure is selling for CHF 500.-/meter (a meter is just a bit more than a yard), cheez!

black

Black. Yes, black. As a nail polish to be exact. While this is not one of those commercial shopping blogs which points out new things to buy daily, it may seam odd that I show you girls this item here... but just keep reading my posts and you will soon see that this leads up to something.... it's the start of something, you will see...


So, in case you are unaware: it is time to store the day glow colors and shimmering glosses and trade them in for this: Black matte (flatte) nail polish.


From Knock Out Cosmetics, the creation of celebrity makeup artist Mike Potter. Flatte black nail polish. Starts flatte, wears into satin.


You can get a head-turning long-lasting, no-shine look by painting on just one coat of polish. Once dry, if you prefer, buff to a luscious satin. Do not use a top coat. You'll lose the whole flatte effect if you do. This polish is such a refreshing departure from the high-gloss look you've grown up with; it's soft quiet, subtle and oh so stylish.

fashion rocks catalog 2009

It should have been done by the end of 2008 but I am glad to announce that our catalog is finished!! Just came hot off the press and it frankly smells like it: Fresh. Thumbing through it makes me happy. All the work that went into it seams worth it.

That colorful accumulation of pictures will be sent out to wholesale customers as well as anyone who is interested in having it.

Here is an exclusive preview...

shoebamania

Hey, I just designed this shoe...



...made from my pictures taken during the day of the election November 4th, 2008 and you can be sure: more will follow! Especially the ones matching all of the Fashion Rocks clothing pieces... exciting isn't it?

copyright idil vice fashion rocks, 2009.

obamania

While the country/world finds itself in disarray and in a huge financial downturn, I thought it would be nice to remind everybody that in less than 2 weeks, on January 20th, Barack Obama will finally be sworn in as the new president of the United States.



My Ron English art piece (Abraham Obama) is finally framed and posted up on the wall in my office and I am impatiently awaiting this sticker pack to go on sale again:




A truly astonishing amount of art has been created since Obama has started to conquer more and more hearts and votes and then a decisive win. Someone even created a new alphabet in order to spell change. There are times when I feel I have an Obama overdose, but there is no way that one can ignore what is happening and so I wanted to take this opportunity to show you some of the art created and uploaded to a website that my hubs discovered... have fun!



Amazing! Which one is your favorite?

incentives? interviews.

So yes, I am sure I am not the only one in this situation of having to come up with ways to put a new spin on the business. Besides other things, I am working towards making my products more affordable.

The first things NOT to do is becoming cheap on the materials or loose the nice packaging, or - heck no! - start to deliver staggering quality. NO!!

I get irritated when I hear how companies try to swindle a couple of cents on their customers by sneaking smaller packaging with less content for the same old price or put padding between meat patties to make it look like there is more...

I am trying to do something that may also help the very dry job market and by the responses to my ads for seamstresses, I can say for sure that there is a lot of demand for jobs right now. You may say: "But if there is no business why add jobs?" By adding more work force, I produce more in less time and the cost goes down. Plus, if well done, I have more time to invest into equally important and sales driving strategies such as ideas for marketing etc.

You read this, are an exceptional seamstress and looking for a job? Apply for an interview now!

It's just great to be able to pick and choose the absolute best person for the task. Employees are in addition more careful of how they work and don't allow themselves to be late or otherwise inefficient. That all will result in lower prices of Idil Vice clothing.

I am going to have a few interviews in the next few days... we'll see how it goes!

ebay home page

What??** !??
On sites like Etsy, whilest you can purchase spots to be featured on a page advertised on their home page, you cannot pay to be ON the home page, nor can you easily or cheaply pay your way for a guaranteed spot onto Ebay's opening screen - needless to say - but recently I have been, or rather my Fashion Rocks collection has been featured on exactly that Ebay home page...

Albert Einstein Skirt, Superman Skirt, Madonna Skirt and Marilyn Monroe Tunic Dress on Ebay's home page.

To my bedazzling, this has happened a staggering 4-5 times within the past 2 weeks... and only counting the times I actually saw it myself by chance.... what in the world is going on?? It is not enough that there is a picture or 2 showing but no, 4 pictures at once at times!! I hope it does not mean I am the only one left listing on Ebay...

Superman Skirt, Albert Einstein Skirt and Roy Orbison Skirt on Ebay's home page.

Banana Warhol Velvet Underground Strapless Dress on Ebay's home page.

One thing is for sure, IT'S GOOD FOR BUSINESS! Thanks Ebay!