Do you remember Biba?

We were in Brighton this week and visited the Biba exhibition, it's there till April so well worth a look especially if, like me, you remember Biba "back in the day". I only had one genuine garment, and that was second-hand from another girl at my boarding school. I remember it well though - it was a muted dusky aubergine skinny rib top with elbow length sleeves and a square neckline.

I confess I don't always read captions at exhibitions, but these interested me. The crop-top trouser suit in the middle of the photo above was worn by a bride at her wedding! I remember those reallllly wide legged trousers.

The caption here reminded me of something I'd totally forgotten. You can't tell from the photo, but at that time we all had chunky 3" heels and big platforms on our shoes - so trouser hems had to be much longer at the front than the back, so that the front would just touch your shoe while the back dragged on the ground.
Why? Who knows!
I was never very tall so usually ended up cutting off most of the wide part of the trouser legs.

The only Biba attribute I achieved in my teens was the flat chest LOL and I wasn't too pleased about that!

I remember going to the Biba store in London, must have been around 1973. 

I bought a nail varnish I think,  that was the only thing my pocket-money would stretch to.

I wish I could have watched this instructional video on the "Biba eyes" back then. 

I could manage to make up one eye but could never get the other to look the same. 

We all loved the Biba packaging.

I hadn't realised it all started with a newspaper competition - this is 1955, the year before I was born.

I absolutely love the coat in the middle of the photo below, I'd wear that right now if I could. 

I did have a brown coat in the 70s with "frog fastenings" like this one, but nowhere near as stylish.

Biba and Twiggy are linked in my memory. 

She was (and still is) so very beautiful. It's fake fur of course.

I said to the exhibition curator how I wished I'd kept some of my 70s clothes - she said most of the visitors in my age group had said the same. So hang on to those fashions, people! One day they'll be worth a mint!

This is ... Neomi

of NoWonder



Favourite smell?

Vanilla!

Favourite place?

I love London for the atmosphere, New York for diversity, Jerusalem for the History and Venice for the beauty.

Favourite sound?

I'm not sure about sound but I do love the Beatles!



How did you get started?

It started as a school (uni, graphic design) project. I always loved the book "Alice in Wonderland" as I feel that you can interpret it in so many ways and as such do a lot with it. I loved the original illustrations and started playing with that adding some of the original text from the book. I was very happy with the result and wanted to do something more with it. I started taking some sewing, and textile printing courses and created "No Wonder"

Favourite item in your shop of all time?

My Feminine Alice dress


Why?

It's very feminine and design to flatter almost every woman. I initially designed it for a friend - she's a size 46 (US 14). She wore it to a banquet with our (Israel) president and many ambassadors, she got a lot of compliments that day. I wear it often, I'm a size 38 (US 6) and I too get complimented on it.

What is your best seller on Etsy?

My woollen scarves.



Why do you think they're so popular?

They are unique as they are made from very soft 100% woollen fabric and have my prints on them.

Favourite shop that isn’t yours?

I can't really name just one as I love shopping especially for accessories - Bags, Jewelry etc. If I didn't stop myself I'd be shopping on Etsy all day. There are so many talented designers on Etsy.



What has been the most useful lesson you’ve learnt so far that you’d like to pass on to our readers?

Don't be afraid to just go for it, but be prepared to work hard on marketing! It's very important to have great pictures. If you do than you can just give it a go and see what happens. It takes time and a lot of work. You need to learn how to work the net.

Niftyknits: Very true! Neomi has offered to giveaway one of these fabulous scarves to a lucky reader!
UPDATE 12th MARCH this giveaway is now CLOSED



All you have to do is to become a Twitter follower http://twitter.com/nowonder1 and come back and leave your twitter name in a comment so we can check. We'll then use random.org to pick a winner and tell you next week!

Find NoWonder on facebook here

NoWonder.etsy.com

This is ... Nora of

norakaren.etsy.com and HerenciaVintage.etsy.com



Favourite colour?

I'm torn between black,my faithful partner in clothing and shoes and the two other good friends: green (in all the color palette) and hot pink,a true loyal pal for a blonde gal.



Favourite smell?

Another difficult question because there are too many but I'm going to stick with Vera Wang for Women,the bakery smell and the gas station smell.

Favourite place?

The Beach. Being close to the ocean makes me feel closer to God.



Favourite sound?

Music,in many shapes and forms. I guess 80's music is my favorite because I'm an 80's girl.

Favourite way to spend your time?

Painting and designing. Even in dreams I get ideas and my night sleep comes filled with creations. Followed by spending time with my hubby,kids and friends.

Favourite item in your shop of all time?

My peacock painting in any form or outfit. I'm in love with that gorgeous peacock.



Why?

Because the Peacock is the King of Birds. I love birds.In the spanish language we call it Pavo Real( something like Royal Turkey). We really call it royalty. It is so powerful,so glamorous,the colors of royalty and the way it displays its wings,tells you that you can't avoid looking or stop staring at it.
It is an object on inspiration and see it in so many possibilities makes me happy and proud.(In a good way)



Favourite shop that isn't yours?
My favorite shops are very different but all related through Fashion
www.DaintycrochetbyAly.etsy.com Incredible crocheted pieces
www.eclettica.etsy.com Haute Glamour in Jewelry
www.attiladesign.etsy.com Out of this world!

Why?

Pretty much I added a description of the 3 of them. But basically they are proffesionals in the way they work with detail,excelence and glamour.
They have very different styles but they are the best in their kind (in my point of view)

What has been the most useful lesson you've learnt so far that you'd like to pass on to our readers?

I could say with total honesty that selling online like in many other phases of life requires time,patience,devotion,sacrifice,being constant and working with excellence, from answering a convo,to shipping and compromising with your job.



Thanks Nora!
norakaren.etsy.com
HerenciaVintage.etsy.com
Norakaren on facebook
http://twitter.com/norakaren
nora-handpainted.blogspot.com

Let's meet...Kitschycoo!

Amanda, owner of Kitschycoo, designs and makes the most amazing children's clothes and writes one of the funniest blogs I've come across. It's enough to make me hunger for grandchildren!

Cats or dogs?

Dogs a million times over. My parents used to breed Himalayan cats when I was growing up and they were more or less evil. Especially in comparison to our lovely dopey golden retriever.

Star Wars or Star Trek?

Neither. I am dorky in many, many ways but not in a Star Wars or Star Trek way. I like sci-fi books though!

Fruit or chocolate?

Fruit during the day, chocolate at night. Fruit during the summer, chocolate during the winter.



Favourite colour?

Hmmm, it changes all the time! If I had to put them in order, I like bright jewel tones the most, then earth tones, and pastels the least. I'm quite into orange at the moment.

Favourite meal?

I could quite happily eat pizza every single day.



City break or weekend in the country?

I grew up in the woods (well, in a house in the woods, not wild!) so I really like city breaks now that I'm older. I'm also an American living in Europe, so your cities are unlike anything we have back home!

Soaps or documentaries?

Definitely documentaries, I can get engrossed in programmes on almost any subject. I just need to know.

Bath or shower?

Having two toddlers, I'll take what I can get! Which means very quick showers with a lot of interruptions...



Now we’ve got you warmed up…

What brought you to Etsy? Tell us about your shop (or shops) Do you sell anywhere else?

I think it was my sister in law that told me about Etsy and encouraged me to open www.kitschycookids.etsy.com. I was initially overwhelmed by the size and scale of it but I bit the bullet and started listing some of my clothes in Aug 2008. Sales started trickling in so I increased my shop size, but it didn't really take off until Jan 2009 when I started selling the patterns I had designed to make the clothes. I've been a bit shocked by how well my patterns are selling and definitely see this as the direction my business might take.

Etsy works the best for me, but I also have my own website www.kitschycoo.co.uk and a shop on Folksy www.kitschycoo.folksy.com

What’s the favourite item you’ve made so far?

Probably the orange bird print double breasted coat. It was the first one that I was ridiculously proud of!



What has been the most useful lesson you’ve learnt (about Etsy) so far?

Find a niche. Because Etsy is so big, the only way to set yourself apart and get sales is to have a differentiator. I knew from posting my coats on forums than people liked them and by researching listings on Etsy that there weren't any other independant (non-vintage) patterns available for toddler coats. So my first coat pattern filled a gap in the market and sold well, and now I have a considerable base of repeat customers buying my other patterns!

If you could start again, is there anything you’d do differently?

I don't think so. I think it was good for me personally and as a businesswoman to learn the hard / long way rather than get it 'right' from the start. All the information and knowledge I've picked up along the way will stand me in better stead going forward. I hope.

How do you see your store developing?

I'm definitely considering moving predominantly into pattern making. I need the clothes a little bit though to support my obsession for fabric!

What have you been doing today that I’ve interrupted?

Breaking up fisticuffs between my kids *sigh*.



What’s your top marketing tip for today?

Post in forums, blog, twitter, facebook, myspace...
get yourself out there!

Oh so very true Amanda - thank you for sharing your stunning clothes and even more gorgeous models with us!

Let's have another look at those all important links:

kitschycoo.blogspot.com
www.kitschycoo.co.uk
www.kitschycoo.folksy.com
www.kitschycookids.etsy.com