I'm A Bit Maroon'ed...

After a couple days of punkier outfits, I was ready to return to my more elegant Victorian-Goth roots today. I decided to do it in style!

Black lace long-sleeved top-Salvation Army

Maroon underbust corset-Canal Boat Trading

Black velvet knee-length skirt-Arc

Lace tights-Random mall store

Black wedges-Recycle Boutique

I was honestly really disappointed in these tights-they were too big and kept sagging down around the ankles if I didn't pull them up every two seconds. Sadness! Lace tights and a lace top were probably not the best choice for a cold, rainy/windy day either... I may have been cold, but at least I looked good, though! I cannot get over the weirdness of having to wear warm clothes in June. My body says "June! It's time for warmies and sunshine, yay!" and then is confused when there's cold weather. At least I had my nice velvety skirt and lovely taffeta corset to keep me warm! I really like this corset-it's long-line and the color is a really dark, rich lovely red. Sometimes simplicity is best, and when you have a shimmering iridescent taffeta like the one this corset is made of, letting the fabric speak for itself works. 

Red and Black Week Day Two: Stripes and Jacks

Just a note: Because I'm in NZ and 18 hours ahead of everyone, my posts are going to be a bit wonked timewise, so I apologize for that. But onto the important bit: THE CLOTHES!

Nightmare Before Christmas tie-random Wellington shop

Black t-shirt-Forever21

Black vest-Arc

Black mesh skirt-Paper Bag Princess

Black and red stripe handwarmers-Claire's

Black and red striped socks-London street stall

Black chunky Mary Janes-The Warehouse

I seem to be on a bit of a punky tear this week. It's different, but I like it-it makes me feel insouciant and saucy, rather than my usual elegantly whimsical. The tie has little Jack Skellingtons on it, and the moment I saw it, I knew I had to have it. I don't care if wearing a tie like this is a wee bit Avril Lavigne circa 2005, it's so cool. And because it's a Tim Burton reference, I had to bring along ye olde stripes as well. I bought these socks in a street stall in London when I was there five years ago, and they are starting to show their age a little, alas. I'll be very sad when they (and the rainbow and black/rainbow striped pairs I bought at the same time) finally go-I feel like they were some of my first pieces of Goth style clothing, before I really identified as Goth but when I knew I liked black and darkly elegant, macabre, and enchanting things. They're also a memento of the first time I left the United States, for a two-week trip to England the summer after my freshman year of high school. If you'd told me then that I would be wearing them five years later in Wellington, New Zealand, to go to film classes in my final week at Victoria University, I never would have believed you. It's funny how much memory and significance can be wrapped up in two simple pieces of yarn and spandex! These socks are one of my favorite items of red and black clothing, and I'm happy to be able to feature them. :)

Corset-y Long-Skirt-Y Goodness, Two-For-One Edition

Sorry for my absence, I've been a busy bee lately! I didn't really have a specific theme in mind for this week, but by pure coincidence (and probably because the fall weather is finally showing its face here in Wellington and it's been chilly) my outfits yesterday and today both had a long skirt/corset in them, so I'm taking it and running:

Kimono-sleeved top-Paper Bag Princess

Red overbust corset-Punk69

Pleated chiffon skirt-Arc

Black boots-The Warehoue

Black arrow necklace-Arc

Black shrug-Paper Bag Princess

White tank top-Wal-Mart

Striped arm warmers-Artsmyths

Black corset-Punk69

Fishnet and satin skirt-Paper Bag Princess

Black boots-Ross

I've found that these make really good rainy-weather outfits-they look elegant and put together while allowing me to hide a multitude of tights and thermal leggings under them! I still can't get over the fact that May means I need to start dressing warmer-this reversed seasons thing is going to take me a while to get used to, that's for sure. And to think, when I go home (2 months and 5 days, time has flown!) I'll go from winter to dead summer...too strange. Good thing my vast wardrobe can accommodate all seasons with careful layering. :) Also, it's my Un-Birthday-6 months until the big 2-1! 

All My Cards On The Table

Or on my legs, as the case may be...I felt today was very much a black, white, and red kinda day. And this was the outfit that resulted:

Red lace blouse-Fiji flea market

Black and white polka-dot cami-Savers

Black vest corsetlet-Fusion Federation

Black ruffled skirt-Recycle Boutique

Playing card socks-Hot Topic

Black chunky Mary Janes-The Warehouse

I know I've worn this skirt a kajillion and two times in the past month, but I seriously love it more than words can express. It's subtly sexy (long in the back, but the folded-over front ruffle exposes more leg when I walk), comfortable, easy to wear, looks good, and adds an automatic steampunk/neo-Victorian touch to every outfit. When I saw it in the store I believe I ran over to it shouting "My precious! MY PRECIOUS! YOU WILL BE MINE!" Ok, nothing so dramatic, but I did snatch that puppy up pretty quick. About the only downside is that all those lovely pleated ruffles take about 20 minutes to iron every time I wear it and wash it...but I consider it time well-spent. 

Also, how fun are these socks? I would wear them a lot more often, except the Hot Topic sock designers  apparently used a drainpipe as the model for the leg, as they actually get SMALLER at the top and thus aren't terribly comfortable. Now I don't know about you, my lovelies, but my thighs are actually bigger than my calves, and thus ideally socks would be bigger at the top to accommodate that. But maybe I'm just a freak of nature, and most girls are going around with Bratz-doll toothpick legs. What do I know? :)

Vampire Time!

So I don't normally like to break from my chosen color scheme for the week, but when I remembered we were watching both the original 1931 Dracula and the 1957 Dracula with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee in my horror film class today, I had to break out the vampire socks, and with 'em, an immaculately co-ordinated red and black outfit:

Bat necklace-Asian Gifts

Red and black corset-Punk69

Black Shrug-Valley Girl

Red fishnet glove-99 Cent store

Black lace glove-Claire's

Ruffled black skirt-Paper Bag Princess

Patterned fishnets-The Warehouse

Vampire socks-The Crypt

Black Mary Jane slip-ons-Ross

I honestly don't think the original Dracula is very good, but it's still nice from an historic perspective. And the Christopher Lee one was lovely, in that deliciously cheesy Hammer-Film way. One of these days, I'm gonna write a post about vampires and my geekery about them (hint: Buffy and Black Dagger Brotherhood=love and fantasticness, Twilight=...do I even have to say anything about its awfulness?), but there is seriously enough material there for a post just on its own and I have homework so I'll leave it for later. This outfit was fun; I went to the Salvation Army today and the clerk asked about my corset and wearing them, and a random woman on the street wanted to know where I got the outfit, so I'm counting it a success. That's the second time I've gotten a compliment while wearing this skirt, so look to see it a lot, because it is fabulously fun to wear and very Steampunk/Goth without being GAWTHY. Rows of pleated ruffles FTW! I'm still working on the mis-matched fingerless gloves thing-I personally like it, but I know some people don't. What are your thoughts?

Christmas-Goth, Day 1...4...Heck, Who Knows?

Hi, gentle readers! Deepest apologies for my absence from the blog-o-sphere for the past week, I've been prepping for finals and things have gotten pretty crazy. I have been faithfully recording my outfits, though-I've gone red and green this week, to celebrate the coming Christmas (for me, at least) holidays. I'll just go ahead and post today's outfit for today, and keep the rest in reserve for when I'm at home (in less than a week, yay!) and generally wearing nothing more fascinating than leggings and big t-shirts. :) 

Heart necklace-Arc 

Pinstriped blazer-Plato's Closet

Green peacock feather corset-Punk69

Black and red brocade skirt-Savers

Black suede pirate boots-Shoe Carnival

I love this skirt-it's so elegant and classic, it makes me feel like a princess! And no one could tell I was wearing fleece-lined leggings underneath to protect my legs from the cold, so score one for deceptively comfy elegance. I was quite happy with this outfit, actually-I think it really managed to be festive without being too "Christmas-y" and I just felt super-classy all day long. It was the combination of the pretty corset (this is one of my favorites), the "professional" blazer, and the wonderful, wonderful skirt. I'm actually fairly certain, given the fact that the hem of this skirt was obviously put in by hand and the fabric is an extremely high quality silk brocade, that this skirt was once the bottom half of someone's prom dress. I'm very glad they decided to pass it on so I could throw a little princess into my everyday look! 

Catching Up To Do Or, Leftovers Week, Day 1

Hello, readers! Since I'm on Thanksgiving break and not wearing anything more impressive than sweats and old T-shirts, I thought I would use this week to catch up on outfits that I wore but didn't have a chance to blog. I wanted to go ahead and finish off my Goth (Stereo)Types from last week today, followed by the undone outfits from my Black and Green Week tomorrow and a couple of other assorted randoms for the rest of the week. So you'll have the great privilege of two (or more) outfits per post for the next few days, you lucky dogs! I really do promise to try and be more regular about updating-it's just my teachers seem to looove to give more homework on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and as much as I love blogging and all of you, my schoolwork does take slight precedence. But seeing as I don't have any this week, I've got no excuses, so here are the outfits! This was Wednesday's; I was going to a Cherie Priest  booksigning, so it seemed only appropriate I should wear Steampunk Goth.

Image copyright Megan Balanck

I do love her outfit-it is quite nice. But I not having my browns at school with me, this was my take on Steampunk Goth:

Pearl choker-Inherited

Cream-colored mini top hat-eBay

Black lacy blouse-Goodwill

Cream t-shirt (underneath)-Goodwill

Black and cream ruffled underbust corset-Punk69

Layered black knee-length skirt-Arc

Cream-colored petticoat-Buffalo Exchange

Lace leggings-Claires

Combat boots-Ross

I had bustled both sides of the black skirt initially, but lost one of the pins holding it up before I took the picture and didn't realize. I got a lot of nice comments on this outfit-one of my friends at work said I looked like a little Victorian china doll, a classmate told me it was "so far beyond adorable", and my boss said she never tires of seeing my inventive new combinations of clothes. I like to think the boots kept it from being too precious or girly, but even if it was, who says being girly is a bad thing? I thought about doing Victorian Goth, but that requires a modicum of historical accuracy, which requires wearing your corset UNDER your clothes, and I just can't do that-my corsets are so pretty, they deserve to be shown off! Fortunately, steampunk, bless its anachronistic little heart, has no such compunctions.  

I did change a little bit before going to the book signing, swapping out the skirt for a long one (because it was COLD!) and wearing the cream-colored blouse with a black lace shrug instead. Here's me with the amazing Ms. Priest at the signing-she was so nice and fun to listen to!

Thursday seemed almost kind of anti-climactic after the fun of Wednesday's book signing, but I decided to take a little risk and do a SFS (safe for school!) version of Fetish Goth.

Now, that probably sounds fairly contradictory, but I like to think I accomplished it! Apologies for the slightly blurry pic, my mom took it when we were in somewhat of a hurry:

Black sweater-Goodwill

Red PVC corset-The Crypt

Red lace skirt-Arc

Bow-patterned fishnets-TJ Maxx

Demonia heels-The Crypt

The heels were my 20th birthday present to myself-they were $44, which is A LOT (like, anywhere from 4-10 times as much) more than I usually spend on one pair of shoes, but they were so pretty, I couldn't resist. I wore the sweater because the corset is EXTREMELY fetish-y, with the side buckles, front lacing, and PVC materials, and gives pretty deep cleavage, considering my rather modest bust. For someone who is basically pretty shy when it comes to matters of sex (I have a close girlfriend who likes to tease me by going into stories of her sexual exploits, just so I'll turn bright red and mutter about smelling dinner burning before running off), I do often find myself strangely drawn to the fetish-y side of Goth. I love the look and feel of PVC and latex, and find a lot of the shapes/structures associated with fetishwear aesthetically pleasing. I guess my corsets make me more dominatrix-y than I knew-when I dressed as a hippie for a walk-on role in a classmate's movie, another classmate on the shoot commented "Wow, you look really un-dominatrix-y today!" It must be the corsets. Oh well-it adds to a sense of mystery, I guess, and lord knows I could always use more of that!

Feliz Cumpleanos y Dia De Las Muertas

Goodness, but won't tomorrow be a letdown after three special themed posts in a row! Monday was Halloween, yesterday was the Monthly Theme Post, and today was a twofer: my 20th birthday and Dia De Las Muertas! I wanted to celebrate by wearing one of my favorite color combos, wine and black. I normally would have gone with something a little slinkier/sexier (I always like to feel a year prettier!), but it was freezing and blizzarding today, so I compromised with a worm but elegant outfit:

Square-necked black peasant blouse-Goodwill
Maroon underbust corset-Canal Boat Trading
Double layered black chiffon/wine satin skirt-Goodwill
Black broom skirt (underneath)-Arc
Fake Doc Martens-Wal-Mart

I bustled the chiffon portion of the skirt with pretty pins, then wore this lovely heavy black microfiber broom skirt I scored for $3.50 at Arc underneath it for warmth. I was wearing two pears of sweater tights, too, so I was nice and toasty even in the blizzard weather!

I originally wanted to do a Goth retrospective on my style evolution today, but I need to get some pictures from other sources I don't have with me in order to do that, so instead I'll leave that for later and talk about my fantastic birthday instead. One of my classes got out early today, so I went to the Dia De Las Muertas celebration they had on my college campus today with one of my best friends. She bought me a cute skull necklace (which I'll post pics of tomorrow), and painted my face:

Afterwards, I went out to dinner at Noodles and Company with my other two best friends, still wearing the makeup. It was fun! I've always said that being born on All Soul's Day meant I was fated to be a Goth, so I loved being able to properly celebrate what I think is a beautiful holiday. A celebration of the souls of those passed on, with cheeky nods at death and the inevitability of our own mortality? Sounds pretty Gothic to me! I had a lovely birthday, and I hope that next year's 21 will be as nice!