Too Many Tights!

Women Were a Curse, So Men Built Paramount Studios.

1. A friend showed this to me today:

Señor Cobrasnake thinks he has the best job in the world. He obviously hasn't heard about mine. :)

2. Is it just me or is this girl, like, everywhere?

It seems you can't swing a cat in the fashion world these days without getting it wedged in the space between Abbey Lee Kershaw's front teeth.

How does she get to so many photo shoots? Maybe... she's has clones? 

 

I weep. The beautiful Abbey Lee decides to wear printed leggings and she chooses... The Grandma's Curtains print by American Apparel.

There is truly no justice in this world.

"Hey you arrogant punk, how dare you insult those floral AA leggings - can you do any better?!"

I'll try. Just let me say this - I hope you like cupcakes....

I'll be releasing another print range after the designer range. And the printed bodysuits are HOOOOOT! (That word is 'hot, by the way, not hoot. You just say the 'o' a bit longer, yeah?)

3. It's a strange feeling when you have hardly any income and lots of people are begging to buy of stuff off you ... and you say no. Over and over again. Girls, trust me, you won't die just because you don't own a pair of Liquids and Lace Spartans. And don't worry, the new collection will contain some great floral prints like the AA one above so you won't need Lace Spartans. Cool? (Okay, sorry, I'll stop now.)

Seriously though, don't worry, when you see the new collection you will definitely see that good old fashioned Black Milk attitude. 

4. "I have a confession - I'm not wearing undies."

"Ummmmm... No kidding."

 

5. Nay o' the Day... Dakota Fanning. I say "Nay!"

  

I like the Tiara. 

I might try to sew a ripped sheer pair of leggings tomorrow. I'll use that super sheer fabric that you have on the Sheer Spartans. Shred that sucker. I'll keep you posted with the results. :)

QUESTIONS:

a.) High waisted gold disco pants... yay or nay?

b.) Shocking pink flouro leggings... yay or nay?

xx

jL

Heaven Beside You, Hell Within

Hello peeps

1. Update on the new collection: I want to set fire to all my clothes while repeatedly banging my head against a wall.

I'm having a tough day - can you tell?

It's gotten so bad I'm listening to mid-nineties grunge. I'm half way through the entire Alice in Chains catalogue, so... it's gotten pretty bad.

I'll be fine. Breathe in, and out.

A lot of the pieces I'm working on just aren't doing what I want them to at the moment.

Still working on the ultra low back bodysuits. They're 95% done... still need a few little touches to make them awesome.

I'm going to make the straps at the top thinner, tighten the waist a little, and give a little more length on the shoulders. And yes, they are low. Think of the lowest back you have worn, and drop that sucker till it won't drop no more.

2. I'm filthy at my Stay Ups which still won't. Maybe I could just pull a Wang and not make the bottom section fitted...?

If you giggled at the phrase 'pull a wang' I think you're immature and juvenile.

  

3. Found this... Zeb Damen for So Chic. Printed muscle fibre top - epic win!

 

Battle gear - epic win!

Dude in purple undies, epic ... WOAH THERE! I think we just took a wrong turn, because we ain't in Kansas no more, Toto. We are in the land of purple man-undies and lycra leg warmers. Can we go back now, pleeeeease? 

 

It's hard to keep secrets when you're getting photographed in shiny purple sluggos. Definitely too much man-detail. Yeah, I'd cover my face too.

4. Leotards will be the end of me. I like this cut though. Mine will be a little more interesting...

 

I have one bodysuit I am still working on which I have tried on maybe 10 fit models. And at the end of it every single one has tried to sneak off with it ("Ummmm... so when will these be finished? Do you need this one?"). They are really cool.

Here's a little tip for you - they're completely made of sheer fabric... but with a little twist. Of course. :)

5. I need to go to bed... another big fitting session tomorrow... we're trialling the very first Black Milk PVC Jackets!!! Oooops, cat's out of the bag. Of course, I have more cats in bags (Speaking metaphorically there. I mean, seriously, why the hell would I have a bag of cats?! That's crazy talk.)

6. Now that it's festival/concert time in Australia, EVERYONE wants the shredded bodysuits. But only a few have them... 

7. Lots of you guys need to send me pics. Do you not own iPhones?! I know you do...

Loving this one of the beautiful Y wearing the Black Wet Look leggings.

 

What is it with Japanese girls and cute pink bears? So, Y, does he have a name?  :)

xx

jL

 

I Dream About A Cloudy Sky...

Everyone seems to pick up on my title references! Just as I suspected - people with irrational leggings fetishes are among the most cultured in society.

That's my theory and I'm sticking with it.

1. Some people have just got too much time on their hands. Like the person who made these pants. Those spikes have screws on the other side...

 

That is the indecisive bra I have ever seen - just make a decision already! Kinda freaky how the bra shape looks like a pair of glasses... It's like it's saying "How do you like that, sucker - now we're looking at you! Can you DEAL WITH THAT!" 

It's a little unnerving.

2. Okay, this illustrates a little issue I have (one among the multitude). People in fashion often just don't think a lot about the leggings.

I see this pic below and I think:

• Leggings cut too short
• Ugly ankle section on the left leg
• Wrinkly at the knees and calves because the fabric lacks the vertical stretch

The stylist at Brazilian Vogue thought "Isabeli Fontana with fake money - hot!!!"

Yeah, I agree, Isabeli Fontana with fake money is hot. Good point.

3. Marchesa doing some amazing stuff with pantyhose. Screen prints with embellishments.

 

Got a bit of a Bebaroque vibe going on there.

4. I showed you guys these a little while ago and peeps were generally positive. They're part of a little collab I'm looking at doing at the moment ('collab' is short for collaboration, although having to explain the abbreviation really nullifies any benefits in terms of actual time saved by the initial abbreviation... so what a complete waste of time that was.)

5. A few people have been trying to get their mits (grubby mits?) on the sheer zipper leggings. (They got snapped up a while ago...) I did a black version, which never saw the light of day. I though it was pretty biker... 

The consensus was a little negative on this one... so it was consigned to a tight stretchy grave.  :(
 

6. Well, it was a big day today. I spent all day doing fittings for all the garments which will be the new Black Milk collection. It's a challenge. Some sucked. Some rocked. Some were just plain smoking hot. 

I can tell you a few things about the new ideas...

Firstly, there will be leggings. Yeah, really. Also, amongst all the pieces (and there are a lot!) you can expect - 

• There will be 1 spartan cut.
• There will be 1 skirt.
• There will be 1 jacket.

And I've got a month to get these things all finished, tested, photographed, marketed, manufactured and on the floor ready to ship.

Pass me a couple of kilos of those little brown beans and I'm going for it.

xx

jL

 
 

 
 

You Wise Men Don't Know How It Feels To Be Thick As A Brick

Hello peeps!

Again a big sorry to everyone asking for gear - I would love to make you some stuff... but then my new collection would never get done and I would have a lot of very disappointed girls. Can't have that.

Designing new stuff is a challenge - it's not like being Karl Lagerfeld where you draw something and give the picture to a gaggle of french seamstresses who magically turn it into clothes. 

Still... it's looking good. I have some gear which is so rock n roll that you will pick up groupies just by wearing them. You'll go home a after a night out and there will be this little horde following you like lost puppies.

;)

1. There are some designers absolutely killing it at the moment with the legs... Three As Four:

 

Damn - look at how flat those seams are. I'm jealous! 

2. How good?! Ohne Titel:

 

3. Loving the styling here - great wedges, great top. Good old Black Wetlook... essential, and very reasonable priced IMHO!

 

4. The photo below confirms everything I believe about Swedes.

a.) They're all cute and blonde

b.) They're cold

c.) They wear far too much H&M and not enough Black Milk

Hey - I call 'em as I see 'em. 

 

Sweden, we need to have a talk - girls in Finland, Denmark and Norway buy waaaaaay more Black Milk leggings than you. I hope to see a vast improvement in the next few months ... you've been warned - don't make me come over there and give you a stern talking to. Yes, all of you.

Actually, I would probably die of pneumonia upon exiting the plane, so you're safe (for now).

5. Wildfox - reoaaaoow! Needs more florals in this shot I think... c'mon girls I want to smell it. I want to feel like I've got petals clogging my arteries.

 

6. My mother always told me that if you can't say anything positive, don't say anything at all. 

 

On the positive side at least you can't see her... OH MY GOODNESS WOMAN WHAT ARE YOU THINKING...!!!

6. How do these young girls manage to afford D&G and McQueen? This poor girl must be broke by now...

 

Or not.

7. Mark Fast with his double whammy spidermans-y thing...

8. The very belle et chic Adeline Rapon, drawing her outfits. I approve!

 She was wearing these leggings for a shoot for French Grazia, I should try to track down the pics. 

 

I'm doing some stuff with some magazines at the moment. It's funny they're all like :

"Can we speak to your PR department?" 

 - and I'm like:

"Ummmm... yes, this is James, I'm the head of the PR department."

"I thought James was the designer?"

"Yes, he's James as well. It can get confusing."

"Okay, well can we speak to your marketing department?"

"Sure, let me just get James for you..."

*sigh*

xx

jL

 
 
 
 
 

I've Fallen For You Like A Blind Roofer

Last post I asked the question:

"Can you guess which designer I will be collaborating this year who is the master of chains?"

And the answer is..... Bliss Lau.

The very awesome Aleisha got it right (hey A - how about some Cheetah pics for me?) So she gets.... um... I'll give you something next time you stop in at the Black Milk store. Promise.

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1. X and Y magazine have good taste... especially the amazing Amber Renae.

  

These James Lillis Chain Leggings are a total rip off of the Black Milk Cages! 

Shameless.

2. I was feeling a little lowly this morning. Until I received this from the wonderful SS:

THANKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU!! just received my sheer spartans, lace bike pants, AND black wetlooks! xxxx ps. last time i wore my slicks I got a free train ride because the ticket guy was so impressed with them!! haha!

That, my friends, is cool.

3. Speaking of PVC... there is only one person I know who would think to mix these elements into an outfit. 

 

Luv, of course.

4. Crisis! Abbey Lee's boob is escaping - someone stop it!

  

Okay... this picture has prompted me to reveal one of the key pieces of my next collection....

The Ultra Low Back Bodysuit. 

Girls kept saying to me "I like low back. Can you make the back lower?" And I'm like "No I can't make the back lower..." Until I finally get to the point where I'm like "YOU WANT LOW?! FINE - THIS IS GOING DOWN TO WHERE THE SUN DON"T SHINE LADY - SEE HOW YOU LIKE IT THEN!!!

And they did.

When you wear it the back actually dips all the way down to your boo-tay.

PROBLEM! When you do that the structure of the garment in the middle goes to hell and swivels around so that your boobs fall out (see above).

I have a couple of ideas about how to make it work which I'm testing at the moment. They will be soooo sweet.

So there's an early tip for you... if you're planning on going to any festivals, concerts, parties, whatever over the next few months, you need this. Trust, peeps. 

xx

jL

You Is Talking Loco and I Like It!

FINISHED ALL MY ORDERS TODAY!!!

Except the printed ones (hey, I'm trying to focus on the positive side here...)

So I've started designing my next collection. Much more fun :)

Although I did have a fairly major setback today, in the form of forty garments which I got made for a possible Black Milk collection, all of which were deemed unworthy of the name... and went straight in the bin.

Forty garments. Damn.

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*** A big sorry to all those asking for gear (there are a lot) I hate having to say no... I really do. :(   I'm not deliberately ignoring you, just really trying to get focussed on my next collection (big kiss [girls only]) ***

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1. I tell you this, forget Paris - when we do a runway show in Australia we spare no expense; that carpet costs like $2.50 a metre!!!

 

2. A pride of lions, a school of fish, a flock of sheep....so what is the collective noun that best describes this bizarre collection?

 

I'm not saying anything. My lips are sealed.

Okay, I have to say something. I get a lot of photos from Black Milk customers. Despite the fact that my clothes are tight and possibly a little more edgy than most - I have never received a photo with girls looking like this.

It's kind of like girls who wear Black Milk just... respect themselves.

Which I find super encouraging.

I rue the day when girls email me saying "Thanks so much for your leggings and bodysuits - because of your clothing I have been able to be whore myself out more effectively than ever! You're helping me achieve my goal of exposing my body for my 15 minutes of fame!"

Time to move on before I get myself in (more) trouble. 

3. Some pics from the beautiful NH:

   

Liquids and Cages. You can't get them anymore (cue booing and fruit throwing).

4. Another pic from my friend KT. Is it just me or there something very Darth Vader about this top? Not that there's anything wrong with that... I'm always up for a little Sith Lord chic.

 
  

5. After the death of Alexander McQueen - which affected me more than I thought - I have been watching a few of his shows. I won't add my voice to the extensive chorus of those who never knew the man giving their opinion (suffice to say, it's a very high opinion).

As a result I have become quite familiar with the 'refracted' style of prints he often used. Many of them found their way onto leggings.

I have thought about doing a personal little McQueen tribute. Maybe one or two prints in the style of McQueen. Not for anyone but myself, really. 

I don't know if that would be in bad taste. I'm open.

6. A little while ago I tried my hand at leg garters. 

 

Not very successful. But never mind, because I will be doing a collaboration sometime this year with a certain designer who is very (VERY) good with creating beautiful chained pieces.

Can you guess who?

xx

jL

 

I Digest and Then Vomit Back Into Society

Okay, okay, I get the point - April is too far away. 

Here's the deal - how about we do a smaller collection and do it much earlier so you won't have to wait so long for the next fix?

Filthy junkies!

:)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

1. Today I couldn't stop thinking about the death of Alexander McQueen. Had a (very) little cry. Partly for him, mostly for myself.

2. The name Zippora Seven has to be the coolest name in the world of fashion today. She looks pretty choice eh bro?

 

Zipporah was the name of Moses' mother in the Exodus account.

(cue crickets...)

Let's talk Stay Ups. I'm working on some Stay Ups at the moment (in theory). Of course my problem has been that my Stay Ups, well ... don't. Perhaps I could just call them Fall Downs?

A couple of days ago I worked out the COOLEST way to make they stay up. If you like buckles and straps... you'll love what I'm going to do with these puppies. :)

3. Some people look so stylish and classy that you cannot help but feel like a total bogan in their presence. You stand next to this woman, it's going to be hard to not look homeless:

 

I look like a bogan anyway. I really need to go and get myself some decent clothes. Although, you can get quite far looking like a bogan... I noticed that there's this homeless french guy who always manages to sneak into all the Balmain shows.

4. Not going to mention the Nazi inspired hat, or the 'dermatologically challenged' appearance of Miss Gaga. Suffice to say, if you plan on wearing undies with no pants, maybe get some undies that aren't wrinkly in the crotch, yeah?

 

Yes... I have been thinking about the best way to cut underwear, for the record.

5. Catsuits are pretty cool. Catsuits with prints are also cool. Hmmmmm... hang on a minute - are you thinking what I'm thinking?!!!

I was thinking about noodles, for the record.

6. Got these lovelies in my inbox today from the very talented Kat ...

 

I think the take home message here is that wearing Spidermans either turns you into a giant, or a futuristic warrior princess with supple hamstrings. Both good in my books.

7. For all those asking where they can get full PVC leggings now that I'm no longer making them (like 10 people a day), you could try Les Chiffoniers, they cost around $280. I have no idea what they're like, but they have a very nice website.

xx

jL

Answers To Bizarre Questions Part 1

Got this comment on a post I did last week:

HEY EVERYONE, I'm doing a an essay of the dark knight. And i need to know what this quote means when the joker says: " Its not about the Money, its about sending a message". Plzzzz i neeed to know what does he mean by that!!!!

Not what I've come to expect from my wonderful blog subs, but let's give it a go...

The money referred to in this quote is the money that the mob accountant Lau moved to a secure location in order to protect it from the Joker, who had robbed a mob bank in the opening scene of the movie. However, he is unsuccessful in protecting the mob's money from the Joker, who sets fire to it with Lau on top. 

One mob boss - the Chechen - can't understand why the Joker would destroy the money he had worked so hard to locate, at which point the Joker tells him "It's not about the money, it's about sending a message"

The message referred to here is that of social and moral nihilism, philosophies embodied by the Joker. 

The popular origins of these ideas in western thought can be found in the writings of 20th century French existentialists such as Satre and Camus (who preferred to be known as an absurdist thinker rather than an existentialist). The existentialists maintained that no meaning or substance could be adduced from reality other than the fact and phenomena of one's own existence.

These ideas found traction in the vacuum left by atheistic thinkers such as Nietzsche, who in pronouncing the 'Death of God' rendered all ethical structures as mere social facades. The Joker takes the rational (though not intuitive) step from existentialist facts to extreme nihilism i.e a complete denial of the validity and value of any thought systems involving meaning and morality. Not only does the Joker personally embrace this nihilism, he also wants to expose the weak foundations of social/moral structures built on such ephemeral conventions and reveal that everyone will act in a manner consistent with the Joker's own nihilism given certain conditions ("when the chips are down, these, uh ... these civilised people, they'll eat each other.")

In burning the money the Joker publicly affirms his commitment to a wholly nihilistic worldview in which even the capitalist/consumerist system itself is explicitly negated and thereby rendered meaningless. This is significant because it shows that the Joker's worldview doesn't simply involve the denial of the validity of objective meaning, but also of subjective meaning. Through this demonstration the Joker wants the citizens of Gotham city to come to understand that not only are the moral codes they live by illusory and dispensable, but that any value system is an exercise in self deception and can be freely rejected.

That's the message.

xx

jL

 

p.s. Maybe April is too long to wait for another Black Milk collection...?
 
 

All Hail The New Flesh!

(Not many people spotted my reference in the title last time... slipping peeps!)

UPDATE: Making some progress in hacking away at the mountain of orders we have at Black Milk HQ - your patience is appreciated!!! Note to self... how about we DON"T do this again?

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Next collection drop date:

APRIL 1st

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No joke, peeps. Tentatively, I say April the 1st.

This will be a designer collection, and then after that we will have some more prints... which will totally blow you away.

1. Asymmetry from the very awesome Annie Spandex:

 

... who tipped me off to the fact that David Bowie popularised the asymmetric unitard:

 

You can even make your own by following these simple instructions!

 
2. Must do. I'm thinking of a PVC catsuit type thing that goes all the way up. It's a work in progress...

 

3. Fishnets are so hot right now! I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. 

 

4. Spotted this from Elle France...

 

5. As a designer, getting returns sucks. I probably get 1 in 30 returned, which I have no idea how that compares to the industry. However, today was the first time I got a pair of Silver Spartans returned because they were too shiny. I kid you not.

xx

jL

p.s. If you're not yet my FaceBook friend... show some love.

I love Art School Girls

1. Yeah, I make zines...

 

2. Courtney Love... looking like, well, Courtney Love.

  

3. Rihanna, looking like Rihanna. A garment that goes from one leg, across the body and over one shoulder... I'm tempted, peeps, seriously tempted.

 

 

Gotta say that I feel like these looks aren't doing the concept justice. I mean,big fluffy white fringes? Who tries to get a 'Father Christmas vibe' going in a full length unitard?

One more, bear with me. I can't bear to watch this video through (a blog reader sent it to me). Call me a prude, but nude catsuit crotch thrusting makes me feel a little... embarrassed. For her.

I think I know why Justin Timberlake had to bring sexy back - this Columbian chick flushed it down the metaphorical toilet (like a kilo of coke when la policia come a knocking). 

This woman makes American Apparel adverts look subtle. 

Shakira... I barely know you, shouldn't we, like, maybe, get to know each other first?

4. Sheers with zippers. Sweet! 

 

5. Isabel Lucas. She's pretty and in the movies, which fairly much puts her at the pinnacle of western civilisation at the moment. 

 

6. Eagle beak crotch alert!

 

Yes I love the look, no I'm not apologising. Okay, perhaps the codpiece could have been left in the 16th century, but apart from that, I'm a fan.

Oh, and the perspex bra... weird.

7. This is a rare occasion where I have just nothing to say about a pic. ...

 

Touche...

8. I have got sooooo many cool ideas from the next collection. I can't wait to get started... as soon as I get through the ridiculous amount of gear that got ordered last week.

I still get like 5 emails a day of people wanting stuff that is gone... but I like the idea staying lean and fresh. So expect a lot more 'pump and dump' in the future.

And yes - I'm serious when I say that I want you guys to help. This is web 2.0 peeps, all about collaboration and synergy. 

9. Diesel recently ran a marketing campaign telling us all to 'be stupid'. Looks like they practise what they preach.
 
  

Not sexy, not clever.

10. Let me leave you with this awesome video.

What I love is that Batgirl is not wearing this outfit in an ironic hipster kind of way. She's totally sincere. She genuinely thinks it looks hot so she just rocks it out. Respect!!!

 
xx

jL