Too Many Tights!

5 Big Bad Misconceptions About The Online Fashion Industry

Another very interesting day. I had a conversation with a woman who mentors young fashion designers. It struck me how many misconceptions there are about online businesses.

A lot of people think they understand how things operate online... very few do. It becomes very obvious very quickly when people speak about the online fashion business, but aren't really involved with it. You have no idea how many times I have been lectured on 'the realities of online fashion' by people who have never even subscribed to a blog!

Here's a few of my (least) favourites:

Misconception #1: The internet is where you sell if you're products aren't quite up to industry standard

This is based on the idea that the internet is where you test your products to see if they're good enough for the 'real' fashion world. Is it not possible that someone would make a conscious choice to focus on the web because it allows you to create a better business model? Ummm... yes.

Misconceptions #2: The most important piece of internet marketing is getting your site featured high on Google searches

Google schmoogle. Do you know how many people get to my blog doing searches on terms such as 'japanese bikini girls', 'hot girls wearing pantyhose' or 'boys wearing tights'? Quite a few. Needless to say, most of them don't become regular customers. Google is only helpful if you've already done the marketing, it's not a marketing tool in itself.

Misconception #3: It's important to get your gear featured on blogs. You don't have to know too much about those blogs (much less subscribe!), just send them a generic email and they'll feature you!

Anytime I get a generic email addressed to 'Hi,' I just delete it. Sending out generic emails to blogs you don't subscribe to is the quickest way to make a blogger feel like a prostitute. However, when people email me because they have been following the blog and have a genuine interest - I'm totally there. 

Misconception #4: Internet stores don't sell a lot.

Well, mine does.

Misconception #5 People won't buy from internet stores because they like try things on

True for some people, not for all. Especially with stretch garments, you'll be amazed with what you can get away with. I always tell people who are concerned about sizing to put it on (even if it's a squeeze) and wear it out for a couple of hours. You'll probably forget you're even wearing them. Except for the fact that people will keep commenting on them...

xx

jL

A Discourse on Recession Economics And Blah Blah Blah

Watched this video the other day. 

Isn't it fantastic to see the fashion world getting together do make a positive difference in the world? Making a real difference. Unselfishly giving back. 

So what is the message? Help the kids? Feed the starving? Stop the wars?

Nope. Try this one - GET OFF YOUR BACKSIDE AND BUY OUR STUFF. That's right peeps, this problem is YOUR fault for being too selfish to buy our stuff. But do not fear, you can make a difference.. grab your plastic and head to the mall!

Check out the video here.

... and for some reason people have the perspective that fashion types are totally self absorbed. I wonder why.

There is a huge irony here. That is, that this type of attitude from the industry is itself one of the primary causes of the recession. That's right, the thinking behind Fashion's Night Out is the same thinking that lead to the recession in the first place. 

Let me explain...

A successful capitalist system needs a balance between supply and demand to function. Bad things happen when there is an imbalance between these two. Luckily, the market itself is structured in such a way that it's own internal systems prevent supply and demand from getting too far out of whack. For example, if there are too many apples (supply) and not many apple shoppers (demand), apples become cheap, apples become less profitable, fewer apple sellers enter the market, and the supply drops. Equilibrium.

Conversely, if there are few apples, and lots of apples buyers, the price of apples will rise and the higher profit margins on apples incentivise fruit sellers to grow more apples. Equilibrium.

Now, some apple growers only grow apples, so if there is a no demand for apples... well, they have a problem. They have three choices; shut up shop, weather the storm, or try to create demand. Of course, the big problem with creating demand is that very often it's not real. 

That's what a bubble is, a facade of demand.

Of course, if they create false demand, and raise the prices of their apples based on this false demand, eventually they will get caught out and the drop in the price of apples will be even steeper. 

Fashion's Night Out is a great example of an industry creating false demand so that they can keep their prices high. The bad news is that you can't hype everyone up every week to 'shop for good'.

I can't wait for the Prawn Importers Association getting together to encourage everyone to "Eat Prawns for Good". Or the Private Investigators Association having an event called "Stalk Your Wife To See If She Is Cheating On You For Good

Saying that the fashion industry depends upon people going out and shopping is certainly true (and tautological). But if people aren't out shopping, that's not the public's fault. It's the industry's fault.Lower your prices, improve your distribution channel, create better clothes. Don't blame the consumer.

And these guys are blaming the consumer. They're basically saying, if you're not willing to shop for value, shop as an act of charity. 

As a designer/marketer/retailer, there is a huge temptation to blame people for not buying your clothes. I've been there. When something I make doesn't do as well as I expect, it's very easy to feel like "What the hell is their problem?!" Especially when people are buying similar items from other labels at three times the price.

But it's not their fault. It's my fault. People will buy clothes when given sufficient reason to do so. As clothing marketers, that's our job. Give people good reasons. I certainly can't expect people to buy my clothes because it's for the 'greater good'. I expect them to buy my clothes because the money they put down is less valuable to them than the clothes they take home.

Savvy?

My most expensive item is the Lace Ups. They cost $250. The involve putting in (by hand) 100 metal eyelets. They are the only garment I know of that has eyelets in them which actually stretch apart. I searched high and low to find someone making stretch eyelet tape... but alas in vain. So instead I had to sew in a length of elastic along the length of the leg, then put the eyelets through the fabric, through the elastic, and finally clamp it together at the back with a washer. A hundred times. And then thread those suckers.

I guess my point is... my conscience is clear.

They look hot. Obviously.

Anyway... good night. :) 

jL

p.s. Australia Post is saying that they are giving no guarantees about delivery times over December, so if you want stuff from the Black Milk Store by Christmas, please (pretty please) order as early as possible.

Shred Head

Well, seeing as none have dared defy my statement that this is the hottest bodysuit in the world - I officially crown the Shredded Bodysuit as the hottest bodysuit on planet earth.

Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

And to answer your question - yes, I really am that full of myself.

Shredded Bodysuit: $120

What a day. It ain't all glamour in the fashion industry peeps.

Bleh.

jL

p.s. Thanks to the wonderful A.G. for an idea.... Black Milk hot pants with chained garters hanging from them. Sweet.

I DARE You To Find A Hotter Bodysuit

Don't even bother trying to find a hotter bodysuit than this one peeps. I'll be releasing it tomorrow... 

 jL

p.s. Are you guys fans of prints... ? Just curious.

Sheer + Zips... First Attempt!

Christmas is approaching peeps!!!

Please please please don't everyone buy their presents two weeks out from Christmas - they will not get there in time. :(  Get in early...

Here is a sideways video.

That's my first attempt. Not bad, huh?

I think I'll stick those zips on the back.

xx

jL

Burn, Babylon, Burn.

Refinery 29 did a little thing on leggings yesterday. I got a mention. :)

 

 

I'm sure you can spot the Black Milk in the mix there! (

I've got to say this... not to be narky... but are one or two of these kinda lacking the wow factor? Maybe it's just me...

Anyway, as a consequence of this (I assume) quite a few people have been buying the sheer spartans. They're really hard to make. In fact I was reduced to a blathering mess when I first released them because quite a few girls bought them and I just couldn't get them right. There were some very wretched scenes of a grown man spitting the metaphorical dummy.

You're basically sewing pantyhose material. Very hard.

Shockingly underrated IMHO... get 'em here. I should have a regular segment in my blog - Stuff That Deserves A Lot More Love Than It Is Currently Getting.

My french friend is at it again. Stepping on my paws:

 

Her majesty, showing the girls how it's done.

 

Rhianna... all strappy. With bullet/lipstick features. Never a great look when it appears your backside is consuming your garment, starting with the middle strap (RiRi - if you ever shop at the Black Milk store I totally didn't write that last comment, okay?)

 

My friend Myra asked to borrow a bodysuit or two for a shoot last week and sent me a couple of pics (yay!). This is the very hot Lace Bodysuit:

 

Photographer: Paul Chistey, MUA: June Escobar

Hasta la vista, peeps. 

jL

p.s. If you have a blog and you want to do some link loving (and I know you do...) Drop me a line. :) 

 

   
 

To Them You're Just A Freak... Like Me.

Last week my internet died and it felt like losing a limb. Just got it working again, so I'm blogging. A big SORRY to all those who emailed and commented and whatever else using the interwebz. I'm not ignoring you (well, not all of you!)

Currently I'm using a friend's modem which drops pout every thirty seconds. It's taken my five attempts to get to this point. You have no idea how frustrating this is. So this post will be quick...

So much has happened in the last week. Maybe some big things in the pipeline for the good ole Black Milk. Of course, whatever happens, you guys will hear about it first. (Do you feel that love? Do ya?)

Alright - quite a few people seem to want the PVC stuff back up... so I guess I'll put it back up. Full Slicks, Front Slicks, and Slick Bodysuits. (And for all those who ordered the first time - they are all being posted tomorrow).

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Drum roll for the Eyelets! These are cool, and available now. :)

Hundreds of little eyelets wrapping around your legs. Not sure if it's obvious from these pictures, but the eyelets can go either way. I default them to one front, one back, etc, but you can configure them however you want. 

For this week, US$120, after that $150. Get them here.

Made some reverse Cheetahs. Can't really put them up in the store because I haven't taken a proper picture of them in the studio (can you tell!?). My amazing photography here.

 

I'm releasing a couple of sweet new  Cheetah looks soon, but If you want one of these a little earlier, drop me a line. I've got a couple done up already... :)

Going to bed before I have a fit at my modem.

Modem, you suck.

jL

I Used To Be Shy, But You Have Turned Me Into An Introvert

1. PVC collection - all sold out. Sorry peeps. For all you guys who got in early... they'll all be posted next week. For those who missed out, forgive me. :(

Although, I've got some more love for you next Monday - the Eyelet Collection. It's got eyelets. Sure does.

2. New stuff from Stolen Girlfriends Club. Including these leggings:

  

I have been thinking about something similar for a while. Guess I'd better hurry up! I'll do one today, but with a little more of the Black Milk aesthetic. Stay tuned... (UPDATE: Done it...! Going out tonite to a fashion party, I'll see if I can find a girl to try them on and I'll take pics...)

3. I don't want to go on about crotches (okay, maybe just a little bit) but again we have a print that says "Down here - look at me!"  Nothing says 'I spilt my coffee while driving" quite like a big brown patch on the crotch.

 

4. Bejeweled undies. Again, just a little too much 'following the lines' in the middle here. Girls, we know what lies beneath, no need for signposts.

 

Some amazing grrrls. The wonderful GT, spending her time in clean living and Silver Spartans.

 

Which were in a fashion show recently (I just turned up for the show and had no idea they were going to featured!):

 

7. Made some Reverse Cheetahs today! Might try and get a pic tonite for you as well. :)

8. Sneak peak of what is to come...

(Special thanks to J for the suggestion with the shoulder straps!)

Have an awesome weekend!!!

Internet kiss.

jL

Where the Wild Things Are....

I tried doing this crazy PVC zipped bodysuit. However, I felt this effort was a little too much 'Amsterdam 3am' if you know what I'm saying...!

And the zips are adjustable too! Don't beg, my mind is made up, I won't be making these!

Okay, maybe in nylon

jL

p.s. I'll talk about OTHER PEOPLE tomorrow. Serious. Look out SGC!

Collection#3: The Slicks Collection

It's hot, sticky, sweaty, and downright trashy. Yes, legpeeps, welcome to my PVC dominated collection. I wasn't going to do it... but comments like this changed my mind:

"I choose style over function. Bring on the sticky, the sweaty, the heat"

Very well, let's bring it.

Collection:

1. Front Slicks - $99

2. Full Slicks - $99

3. Slicks Bodysuit - $80

4. Entire Collection - $250

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Item #1 The FRONT SLICKS

PVC at the front, nylon at the back. That means they fit to your body really well and you only get sweaty at the front!!! It also creates a freaky two tone effect when you walk. People can't quite figure out what's going on...

Comfy and awesome. They will go for US$120 (... but of course this week they'll be on sale US$99. :)

Item #2 The FULL SLICKS

For the fashionable, funky, and freaky. Full PVC. I warn you, you will be a hot sticky mess of fashion forward goo if you wear these in Australia during summer. However, if you live in Canada ... actually, scratch that, I don't think I have many Canadian customers (what the hell is up with that Canada!?). If you live in the UK (lots of customers there - woot, woot!) these may save your life if you can't catch a cab home and have to sleep on the streets. Of course, if people see you sleeping on the streets wearing PVC pants they may jump to conclusions. Appearances be damned. 

I present to you - full PVC leggings.

I repeat again - these are not flimsy little leggings you get for cheap at the local teeny store. They are hardcore tubes of liquid fabric that will FREAK people out. Again, on sale for US$99.

 Cmon, you crazy phreak. You know you want them.

Item #3 SLICKS BODYSUIT

And.. the Black Spartan inspired bodysuit. Now your journey to the dark side is complete!

On sale for US$80.

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And a little preview of what is to come:

jL

p.s. Just so you don't think I'm completely self obsessed... a picture of Julia Roitfeld with clothes that can speak Chinese!!!

 

I thought Chanel clothes spoke French with a German accent?