What I learned from Fashion Week
February 28, 2008 by elaineb · Leave a Comment
John Gilliano is bringing back the Jackie O.
Dior Line 08/09
How I would design a website based on this-Mod is back. Black is always classic. Having a nice pattern frame out the actual content, will frame the goods well. In this case, her face and hair.
Bruno Pieters makes ties trendy again.-YEAH!!
Fall Winter 2008/2009
How I would design a website based on this-Feminine design can be serious too! Gray is the best neutral, but it`s drab alone. A touch of red accentuating the main areas creates an attention point, highlighting what matters. Tone on tone also makes the piece visually interesting. A girl can play like a boy and look good too!
I love this one! Designer Rajesh Pratap Singh sets up a white stage, a bright color and a neutral.
Fall Winter 2008/2009
How I would design a website based on this-If you are going to use bright colors in the main content area frame them with white and/or black. Neutral colors offer the eyes a resting place when the colors are bright. Bright colors should be used lightly!
That to pull this Martin Margiela look you need to be 6 foot 3 inches and 90 pounds.
Fall Winter 2008/2009
How I would design a website based on this-Well… I love earthy neutrals. They will always and forever be chic!
What is out for fall winter 2008/2009- prints, crazy backgrounds, over embellished pieces.
It`s really easy to keep your designs fresh. Although it is easy to look to peers for inspiration, the best anyone can do is just to look around! If you can draw inspiration from a rock, you got a gift. If what your inspiration produces is beautiful, you got a classic.
Love,
Elaine
Photo credit Associated Press| Yahoo.com
We have a Winner!!!
February 27, 2008 by elaineb · 2 Comments
And thank goodness! I was starting to think I asked hard questions. The Makeup Diva will get a new three column template! Yeah!
Her answers were
1. Michael Kors
2. Isabella Fiore
3. Givenchy
Audrey Hepburn
The answers are
1. Michael Kors
2. Isabella Fiore
3. Louis Vuitton
Audrey Hepburn
3 out of 4 close enough!! Email me through Divapreneur!!
Ashley Peldon Chat and Kudos to Me
February 26, 2008 by elaineb · 2 Comments
Okay so I don`t sound like a snob, Paulette Kinney, a dear friend of mine and fellow designer remembered little me in her article where she was featured as a paper artist. I introduced her to the basics of Adobe and Corel. I have to admit, I think she knows more than I do now.
I often describe her paper goods as “sweet candy with none of the guilt and zero calories.” Her work is absolutely amazing! You can visit her etsy store at papernosh.etsy.com and her site, pinkparisdesign.com.
I recently had the privilege to chat with Ashley Peldon, the fabulous actress who has starred in tv shows such as “The Mommies”, “The Pretender”, and “That 70’s Show” and movies such as “Drop Dead Fred”, alongside Winona Ryder in “The Crucible”, and with Scarlet Johansson in the Oscar nominated “Ghost World”.
Drop Dead Fred happens to be one of my favorite movies. She is very sweet, and I had the chance to talk about her career, her new line Starring…! and she even dispenses some sage advise to entrepreneurs! The perfume line is a collaboration of both her and her sister Courtney, who is a very actress talented as well.
You can find Ashley and Courtney`s Starring…! at www.starringfragrances.com. To know more about their upcoming projects, visit their fan site visit www.peldon.com.
Three Column Blogger Template Giveaway!
February 25, 2008 by elaineb · 3 Comments
Happy Monday! I am feeling generous and I would like to give away a three column template for blogger.com.
These are the rules:
- There are three pictures below, 2 are purses, one is an actress and her purse.
- You need to guess the designer of the purses on each picture.
- As a bonus if you guess who she is, I will throw in a background!
- Post the answers as comments and I will reply!
- I will provide hints if you guys are stuck!!
- If no one guesses all three I will take two out of three.
Who designed this purse??
Who designed this art deco styled purse?
One of my favorite designers!! Who designed that purse?
Marketing Tools That Work
February 24, 2008 by elaineb · 4 Comments
I was reading this blog, and I absolutely enjoyed reading how positive she is!
Not only does she assert her success prior to receiving it, but she enlist the help of others. The community that she belongs to totally embraced her. Networking is a great venue to market yourself, as long as your network let`s you do that freely.
One thing that I loved about her approach was that she is giving her buying customers deals. Notice the difference. Some people create deals in order to generate more revenue. What you end up doing is giving it away cheaper.
But, when you create an actual buying relationship with a client, you can offer them more to keep them coming back. She also offers teaser sales in order to attract new buyers. That way, you do not discount all of your inventory and still make a profit.
Can you do this to a website? Of course!
- Pick 3 of your best selling items and make offers like:”Buy this, get 50% off!” or “Buy two and get one free.”
- Set a money goal ahead of time. Know how much you want to make, crunch the numbers to figure out how many clients it will take and go get them.
- Don`t be afraid of a little self promotion! Seems if a woman promotes herself, we seem to go “Ewwww!” Well there is a way to do it without provoking a gag reflex. Show vulnerability-You are human, not superwoman. Show value-What in it for them as much as you. Be gracious-Thank people ahead, during and after. Thank yous are a wonderful commodity most people don`t use. Send a card with a coupon or free samples! Send an ecard with a gift certificate code to your store! Ask yourself, if I got one of those, would I use it? I know the answer is yes!
- Positive people get ahead. Show you have drive and that having this business is as important to you as you getting more customers. Show you are looking ahead and not looking back. You are on the verge of a great breakthrough and you are sharing the spot light with all of those who care!
- Be thankful. Thank them and always remember that they had other choices, but came to you. Thank them for coming to your site by offering a $5 gift certificate when they joining your mailing list(Kim did just that!).
My favorite saying in the world is by the wonderful Dr. Seus who said:“Say what you feel, and mean what you say, because those that mind, don’t matter, and those that matter, don’t mind.” In other words, claim your spot in the sun! Because those who love you will support you, and those who don`t care, won`t matter. Use these tips to market yourself and cash in on the benefits!!
I love Fridays!!
February 21, 2008 by elaineb · 3 Comments
© 2008 Elaine Biss. All Rights Reserved.
I love Fridays!! It`s the only day of the week when I can count on all of our family to be together the following day. As much as I love my job, spending time with my family is something I look forward to on the weekends.
I have really been drilling myself when it comes to drawing fashion illustrations.
I love sketching, but after almost 5 years of drawing on a computer, I realized how much I rely on the undo button. So, every night before I go to bed, I sketch.
Girl with Umbrella, Charcoal and paper.
Holly Golightly, Painter X and Photoshop CS2.
I have to say I love my rough croquis more than my computer sketches. Although I hate the charcoal mess, they are probably the most fun. My Wacom tablet has been quite a companion. But for anyone who really wants to know how to draw on a pc, you need to start on paper.
The trial and error process is so crucial, because you are able to see starting point and if there is any measurable improvement. So many programs are made to behave as real pencil on paper, if you have something funky happen on the program, you must have likely experienced it on paper.
Enjoy!
Love,
Elaine
Girl with Umbrella, Painter X.
In the heart of Paris
February 19, 2008 by elaineb · 2 Comments
Le Cravatier is a company dear to my heart. Right in the heart of Paris, Steven makes high quality silk ties. His web site is full of very interesting tidbits about how to tie a tie, to actual quotes about ties. This skill is very much treated as an art.
A few years ago, Steven hired me to make him a logo to represent his company. At the time I was very excited he had chosen me. The logo he has now on the site is the logo I made him. It`s pretty cool to see how my style has changed.
I remember how Janet Jackson made wearing ties fashionable. So, I used to wear them in high school cause I thought they were cool. I still remember how to tie them! If you would like to learn how to do this visit Le Cravatier for more information.
Adventures in Couture Land
February 15, 2008 by elaineb · 5 Comments
Today I take you back years ago. When Whitney Houston had nothing to do with Bobby. When House of Style was hosted by Cindy Crawford. When Rap was underground making its way into mainstream and into MTV.
Yep, it was the early 90`s and I was given the opportunity to graduate with a certificate on anything I wanted. (Look, I was a nerd, I had been pushed up one year because I was too smart 
and school was boring to me!!)
Commercial art encompasses many branches of art. From graphic design, to fashion design. From charcoal to airbrush. It`s basically the art of communicating with art. In 4 years, I was able to explore and bask in art and the cutting edge technology of the time. Which pretty much involved Corel Draw 6 and Vega airbrushes. The smell acrylic paint still takes me back!
I am very lucky to have had that experience. As times and styles change, I hate to be stuck on a particular style. I recently tried different approaches to rendering drawings and I am happy with the results. Hope you like my new template!
Love,
Elaine
Copyrighted Dag Nab It!!
After exhausting the flying power of my broom stick- A phrase coined by Paul, “You can`t go flying around on your broom stick watching the web to see who is copying you!”- I am finally letting Sir Ol` Dirty A.K.A. My Lawyer, Michael Fiffik, handle my biz.
However, in the mean time I asked him a couple of questions about copyright infringement. Well more like 9 or 10 questions. Here is how it went…
Moi: So what is a copyright? What is copyright infringement?
Sir O.D.: A copyright is a property right in an original work of authorship that is fixed in any tangible medium of expression. Works of authorship include, but are not limited to literary works (including computer programs), musical works (including accompanying words), dramatic works, pantomimes and choreographic works, pictorial, graphic and sculptural works, motion pictures and other audiovisual works, architectural works and sound recordings.
Moi: 2.How many words in a row would have to be copied, in an article, in order to fall under copyright infringement?
Sir O.D.: I wouldn’t concentrate on the number of words. An infringement occurs when someone violates any of the exclusive rights of a copyright owner. Infringement takes the form of unauthorized copying or adaptation of a work or its public distribution, performance or display. For example, an acting troupe that publicly performs a dramatic work without permission infringes the copyright owner’s rights. Proving infringement requires the plaintiff to prove ownership of the copyright, the copying or other violation of the rights by the defendant, and that the defendant’s work bears a substantial similarity to the protected portion of the plaintiff’s works. The copying doesn’t have to be intentional. You can prevail even if the copying was by accident or unintentional.
Moi: How many elements in an illustration to be copyright infringement? E.G. Lamps, awnings, patterns etc.
Sir O.D.: Usually you have to prove infringement through “indirect” evidence. Direct evidence would mean that someone witnessed the actual act of copying (like burning a CD to sell commercially). Indirect evidence usually consists of two parts: access and substantial similarity. The plaintiff must show that the defendant had access to the copyrighted work. If the work had been widely disseminated, the defendant may sometimes be presumed to have had access even though he or she may deny any memory of it. In order to show similarity, the works need not be identical, but the similarities between them must be more than trivial. For example, a work may be substantially similar to another if its overall structure mirrors that of the first work, or if a portion of it is identical to the other work, even though only a portion is identical, not the entire work. So there’s no metric that you can use to determine infringement, like copying some % of the work automatically equals infringement.
Moi: What about color combinations, ideas and concepts? Do those fall under Patents? Are those hard to get?
Sir O.D.:Patents is a whole different subject. In short, they could be.
Moi: Is photoshopping -or drawing over - someone else`s work infringing on anyone? See picture.
Sir O.D.:I suppose it could be if the product of the activity is substantially similar to a protected work.
Moi: What is derivate works?
Sir O.D.: Like dirty pictures (haha).
Moi: Alright I can`t spell!
Sir O.D.: I think you’re referring to derivative works.
Moi: You mean inferring? Haha!!
Sir O.D.: Basing a new work on a preexisting work is a derivative work. A derivative work is defined as a work based upon one or more preexisting works, such as a translation, musical arrangement, dramatization, fictionalization, motion picture version, sound recording, art reproduction or other form in which a work may be recast, transformed or adapted. Such works borrow substantially from the preexisting work. The person wanting to do a derivative work still needs permission from the preexisting work owner to use the work. However, if the derivative work has sufficient originality, i.e. makes more than a trivial contribution to the preexisting work, then the derivative work itself can qualify for copyright protection but only in those elements contributed by the new author and only to the extent the preexisting work was used lawfully. There are also “compilations” which are works formed by the collection and assembling of preexisting materials or of data that are selected, coordinated or arranged in such a way that the resulting work as a whole constitutes an original work of authorship. A compilation is different from derivative work in that the preexisting works are not change in any way.
Moi: What is the punishment for copyright infringement?
Sir O.D.:The copyright owner can recover actual damages (what the owner has lost as a result of the infringement) and, in addition, owner may recover any profits of the infringer that are attributable to the infringement and are not taken into account when calculating actual damages. Alternatively, if there are no significant damages, the owner can claim statutory damages ranging from a minimum of $750 to as much as $30,000 for each work infringed. The maximum damages can be raised to $150,000 for willful infringement and a minimum of $200 if the infringement is innocent. The amount is at the discretion of the court. The court can also award attorneys fees and costs. There is also the possibility of criminal penalties for willful infringement for purposes of commercial advantage or private financial gain.
Moi: Once again in girly terms I can understand, Please explain to me the copyright law passed on 1978?
Sir O.D.:This is the most recent version of our copyright law, which was originally enacted in 1790. However, even the 1978 act has been amended several times.
Moi: What about The Digital Millennium Copyright Act?
Sir O.D.:Enacted in 1998, it addresses issue that have emerged in the digital age. 1) it restores copyright protection to foreign works that may have fallen into the public domain in the U.S. ; 2) it exempts foreign works from having to be registered in the U.S. in order to receive copyright protection in the states; 3) it prohibits the act of circumventing a technological measure preventing unauthorized access to a copyrighted work. It makes illegal making or selling such devices or programs.
Moi: Last but not least, is Tiffany Blue copyrighted? Gap Blue? Cadbury Lavender?
Sir O.D.: I’m not sure what this refers to.
Moi: Don`t you mean inferring? Just kidding! Wikipedia says they are, I tend to believe.But these are colors. Isn`t it counterproductive to copyright or trademark a color. Isn`t like saying ‘okay I am trademarking air, no one breathe!!’ And after the copyright/trademark is granted on something like that how do you enforce it?
Sir O.D.:I don’t think a color, by itself, would be considered an original work, thus it’s not subject to copyright. You might be able to trademark a name that is associated with a color, like “burnt umber”. You also would trademark a color as used in association with a product or service. For example, if you had a business name or logo that you sought to trademark, and the letters in the logo would be colored blue, the blue would be trademarked only as that color is used in association with that logo. It would not be possible to simply copyright or trademark a color by itself.
Moi: What about this? http://www.boingboing.net/2005/03/25/cadbury-trademarks-t.html and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiffany_Blue
Sir O.D.:Copyright protection arises under the common law so there’s no need for any type of registration with the US Copyright office for that type of protection. If you want to take advantage of the statutory protections and damages offered by the Copyright act, then you do have to register. If an owner has registered the work, the would generally provide notice as follows: 1) the word “copyright”, the symbol © or the abbreviation “copr.”, 2) the designation of the copyright owner, and 3) the year of first publication. You can use that guide to determine if any work has been registered with the U.S. Copyright Office.
Moi:Okay I think I get it, colors can be trademarked if a company identity is attached to it. Anyway, the girls and I have lovingly dubbed you Sir Ol` Dirty -like the rapper-, because you are nice to have by our side, not so nice to have on the opposite end. Well mostly me.
Sir O.D.: I’ll take that as a compliment!
Top 100 Sites
We have all heard of the benefits of reciprocal linking. Besides giving you great SEO-Search Engine Optimization- ranking, you will also find other great business, thus creating a great resource list.
- One key point most people don`t know is that the linkers on your list must have the same “theme” in common. Per example, if you have a boutique, link only with boutiques, if you are a jewelry boutique, link to other jewelry boutiques.
- Another point would be making sure your people on your list are actually putting up the reciprocal link provided by the link list service. If they don`t do this, they may bring down their SEO ranking and yours too.
- One great upside of having a top 100 link list is that you can sell you advertising space and make a monthly income. For this you will need to create a table in html and have working knowledge of these lists. I highly recommend Chic Consulting. She is very knowledgeable and can help you get set up for a fee.
- You can dress it up with your current site`s graphics or license some from a stock photo company.
- If you are ready to do your list, you may visit top-site-list.com or gotop100.com.
- Lastly don`t forget to invite everyone in your category, including your perceived competition. This will help you both gain a healthy amount of traffic and ranking.
