eBay Holiday Capsule Collection Designers: Tibi

In our continuing series of eBay Holiday Designers, we’ve interviewed four out of the seven designers so far — Ruffian, Billy Reid, Steven Alan, and Chris Benz — to be sold exclusively on eBay this November. Today we’d like to introduce our first female Q&A from this series, a designer named Amy Smilovic. Amy is the visionary behind the brand, Tibi. This year, her Lobster dress is turning heads. We recently visited Amy at the Tibi Showroom.

Jauretsi: If you had to describe a day in the life of your customer, how would they spend the day ideally?

Amy Smilovic: Our Tibi customer is a woman who is on-the-go. She wakes up, rolls out of bed, spends 15 minutes getting ready and walks out the door looking effortlessly chic. She has brunch at The Dutch, heads cross-town to Chelsea for… [MORE] some gallery hopping, breaks with an artisanal treat at Terroir’s outpost on the HighLine, and then heads back downtown for some designer shopping in Nolita and SoHo. In the evening, she’s dining alfresco on the Lower East Side.

Q: When did you first realize you wanted to become a designer?

I come from a family of artists so I knew early on that art and design would be an important part of my life. In my mid-teens/early 20’s, I started to develop my own sense of style and viewpoint. Early on, I learned that inspiration is all around you —- paying attention to details is key. Over time, I became increasingly intrigued with starting my own business. When my husband and I moved to Hong Kong in 1997, I had all of these amazing fabric, design and factory resources right at my fingertips. The stars were aligned.

Q: Do you have a specific “aha find” on eBay? What was the item? 

I waited too long to buy the most amazing pair of Alaia’s that I was coveting, so by the time I got around to it they were sold out. I scoured eBay for months, literally, and was so beyond excited when I found them for sale in my size. It was a big moment.

Q: What are your top 3 fav holiday movies?

Miracle on 34th Street is a classic. And I never get tired of Elf and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, both hilarious.

Q: In terms of online searches, what do you recommend is the most savvy thing or genre to search for on eBay?

I love looking for unique furniture pieces on eBay. Since this is such a broad category, it is very important to know the keywords for each era or style. So, for example, if you’re looking for mid-century modern pieces, “MCM” or “Eames” are very useful to know. The more specific you can be, the more successful the search will be.

Q: What is your favorite thing about 2012 so far?

Tibi’s Resort collection. BUT, if we’re taking work out of it, I just got back from the most amazing family vacation in Capri, Italy, that probably takes the cake.

Q: What is your “go to” get away spot for the holidays? What essential items do you pack in your bags on that escape end of year?

My husband and I take our sons down to Sea Island, Georgia, every year to be with my parents. It’s not unbearably cold, but cool enough that you feel like you’re experiencing the holiday season. My packing essentials are oversize chunky sweaters, R13 jeans, a cashmere throw, wool angora socks and Bobbi Brown hydrating cream.

(Photo Credit: Jauretsi. Amy photographed at the Tibi Showroom, NYC)