fashion week monday

Since the start of Fashion Week last week I have been running around the city constantly, in heels I might add. Like everybody else I kicked off NYFW with "Fashion Night Out", which I thought was really awesome!

I was chatting with Humberto Leon and Erin Wasson at Opening Ceremony, Selima and Larry at Selima Optique and Derek Lam at Derek Lam. Never in my life have I had that much champagne! Free! Vivienne Tam is now following me on Twitter after I twittered about her generous sale that night. Lots and lots of pictures were taken and I will post them as they are being downloaded, once I get a break here!

Yesterday I showed my Spring 2010 Collection to buyers and press at the Tribeca showroom on Franklin Street. We had a blast! Pictures will follow in the next few weeks...

As a fashion designer AND a fashion blogger is is important to me to cover both of the subjects this week, so tonight, I am very thrilled to go to the Dress Up Soiree an event created around independent fashion blogging, which includes a panel discussion about the world of online fashion and where it’s heading. Followed by a party.


There will be today’s most interesting and stylish authorities in online fashion. Susie Bubble is just one of them.

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!

love this stuff

A hand made leather silk screened bag and a cut out collar necklace which I could not believe...! I just adore the internet as it allows me to find these kind of things made by someone creative somewhere in Ireland?? Got to love it! Next week I'll tell you where to get this stuff. Not now. Otherwise it may sell out before I get my hands on it ;-)

recycled t-shirts

That's right! A while ago I have registered the domain RecycledTshirt.com and I am pretty sure that that was a very, very good move as I will soon add another online business to my repertoire... and the name says it: T-shirt Recycling!

The idea is to finally, officially offer my customers to take the chance and hand over their old collection of fabulous T-Shirts and let my design team work them into some pretty amazing "new" pieces. There will be a bunch of styles to choose from, so get ready for some really exiting One-Of-A-Kind fashion!

I started taking this process (recycling) to a complete new level, when in the early 1990's (the age of the Tank Girl and girly fashion) I was searching for tight fitting t-shirts - without success (really, there weren't any fitting t-shirts for woman at all and if you were a trend setter in those same shoes, you know what I am talking about) - and whilst shopping in the children's departments, I decided to just make the XXL t-shirt which I adored, but which looked ridiculously hideous on me, into a fitted garment. Over the years I have become very professional at this craft of patchworking!

I am also taking full credit for inventing the t-skirt, a skirt made from a t-shirt.

This is a recent dress I made for one of my private clients (who saw my surf t-shirt dress, which I published here a while ago) who is currently putting together her collection of old Grateful Dead shirts for an up coming new recycling project.

t-shirt recycling service available soon on T-ShirtRecycling.com

damien hirst got punk'd

Yes, we all don't want punk to be dead and we all wish a time as true to itself as this, will come back soon as we could use a fresh and free movement that has no boundaries, but here's the awful truth my dear readers, you can't fake the real thing, I mean it undermines the whole point of the punk movement NOT to be fake and NOT to be commercial.

So here is this tale I have been hearing about fake punk gear, supposedly from Sex + Seditionaries, the boutique founded by McLaren and Vivienne Westwood, circulating the art market.


I can't help but NOT feel sorry for the dumbish museums and galeries as well as Damien Hirst, who went ahead and bought that fake stuff up for about $200'000.- on the internet. As if someone actually owning the genuine items would get rid of them...?!

Someone greedy with an eye and knowledge of the real thing, created distressed punk clothes and put it on the market. An asshole yes, but the ones that bought it even more. This example is a sign of the time and really shows that punk IS dead, as at this rate it cannot come back even if it wanted. Thanks to dummsies like these...

So let me finish the story, Damien was planning to put the collection on display until Mclaren declared the bounty to be fakes. Thanks goodness, Malcom! Thanks for saving us a punk exhibition, which would have undoubteldly been hard to take in it's commercialism.

Damien you're a punk, but not a geniune one! You miss the point and you put shame on our generation (aren't you one of the most successful artists of our time?) as you wanted to sell us out by exhibiting clothes from a subversive movement a few decades ago that garnered such high prices! Shame on you!

Punk still exists in it's pure form, yes, sometimes it still lives in a personality here and there, but only in a few places, genuine relics? Mostly right at home of a punk, at his home in the cellar.


I for once took a picture of my original (and originally distressed by actually wearing it) The Damned shirt, and I won't sell it to you Damien.

seasons best sellers

Analytics, analytics, analytics!

I have been talking about this handy tool called analytics before: it better be an important keyword in the brain of any e-commerce business owner. Google it! It can spotlight many issues as well as well functioning details on your website, but without going into details - and risking boredom among us fashionistas - here are the worldwide best sellers on idilvicefashionrocks.com, easily pinpointed, thanks to analytics:

The Godzilla Rising Sun, All Over Printed Strapless Cotton Beach Dress! The absolute best seller this season and for good reasons: It's really easy to wear and just so fresh looking! Missed to buy it? Buy it now!



Then, the runner up best seller: The DJ T-Shirt. Well yeah, it rocks! A simple Technics ear phone print around the neckline of this T-shirt did it for many of you, my beloved fashion rocks customers! Are you one of them who missed to buy it? Buy it now!




Last, but of course not least, my favorite: Punk Icon Ian Curtis of Joy Division portrait print on a 100% cotton strapless dress. This dress did so well that I have already designed a version for the Fall Winter 2008 season, an equally comfortable bat sleeve sweater dress... check it out below... wanna be the proud owner of this cool strapless Summer version? Buy it here!


Wanna be ahead of the game? Go this way!


... and come back often ;-)

positive feedback

Anyone who has an online shop, ebay account or generally does business online, knows how important it is to get positive feedback! It's one of the most important factors to determine if a buyer is going to make that purchase.

I have been blessed, with positive feedback that is... knock on wood now, because, as a seller, you are always walking on eggs here. You never know if you hit a buyers bad day and it's important to always remind myself when that dreadful day arrives, to be nice, you know. Ever heard of bad karma? Not that I am a firm believer in it, but when I think about and after doing online business for about 4 years now, it speaks some crumb of truth.

Online business gives you opportunities every day to spread good karma around the world. Really, there has not been a situation that could not be resolved by being a bit humble, to have good intentions, everyone responds to that in a good way.

Now, of course I had to learn that. Become wise. Initially it was a rocky road.

At idilvicefashionrocks.com I have not yet set up a feedback page... but my Ebay and Etsy feedback is 100% positive and reading the comments, I should be the happiest person alive!




It's cool when people dig your craft and I love to hear about it.

It persuades me to be courteous, keep up the best quality, respond in a timely manner in a good manner and ship as soon as possible. It's a good thing, this feedback thing.

Here is one of my most recent feedbacks (check out the strong language in it), which came from an ebay user who never even bought anything from me, so far, I hope ;-)


Dear idilvice,

I must tell you although i have never done any business with you , you are my favorite seller , and sickest hottest best designer i have yet to meet !! Your styles are flawless , noone comes close your a style of your own without looking at what others are doing or saying , I have never seen anything like you or anyone come near your incredible style ... No have no words ! you fucking amaze me every day !!

- marley843