A Rainbow of Ruffles

Continuing with my ruffle theme from yesterday, one of my favorite items from NZ:

Hello, Derp Face. Boy, I haven't missed you. Ah well, that aside:

Mini top hat-Ebay

Apache tear necklace-Inherited

Black peasant blouse-Arc

Black pinstriped vest-Goodwill

Ruffled multi-colored skirt-Paper Bag Princess

Tights-Hot Topic

Black slides-Recycle Boutique

You can't see it in the picture (silly flash washout) but the vest has a fine silver pinstripe on it. I love it. I really like this skirt-it's so bright and colorful, and the ruffles give it a lot of motion. Basically, this outfit makes me really happy for no discernable reason except FUN! I want to make several skirts like this with some pretty taffetas I have. Can't wait to start sewing on them! 

The Gallery Serpentine Grand Return!

Hello, my duckies! Sorry for the long absence, but I was busy packing, going to Australia, flying home, and recovering from jet lag and sewing and doing many fabulous-yet-sad things as I said goodbye to NZ. BUT, I have a treat for you, based on my treat for myself. Since I knew I was going to be in Australia, I decided in early June to order a corset from Gallery Serpentine as a memento of my Study Abroad and a gift to myself. I picked it up on the 6th of July when I was in Sydney, and at $260 it is the most expensive piece of clothing I've ever owned-but so comfortable and flattering and beautiful that I find it worth every penny! It's a good thing I was already full up on luggage and limited on money, or I quite possibly would have bought the entire stock of the store, it was that beautiful! If you are ever in Sydney, you simply MUST go there. It's like Willy Wonka's factory for Goths and fans of beautiful clothing alike.

Black jersey dress-Ross

Ruby Dead Tech underbust-Gallery Serpentine

Fishnets-K-mart

Chunky black shoes-Repeat Boutique

Something great about this corset is that it's unique and distinctive, but also easy to dress up or down. I can't wait to put it into a full steampunk ensemble complete with ruffled blouse, top hat, and layers and layers of skirts-but it works just as well here as the centerpiece of an otherwise simple outfit. And this isn't the only exciting corset-based thing I have in the offing-coming soon, my how-to on how to make a new corset out of an old one that's too big. I'm glad to be back, lovelies, and can't wait to be blogging regularly again!

Mega-Super Post of Awesomesauce

I've been a terrible blogger lately. Don't really have an excuse except that I've been busy enjoying some of my last days in New Zealand, but I've still been recording my outfits and want to share them, so I thought I would do that today with pithy comments! Nine days until I'm back in the States, I can hardly believe it. Time has really flown! And speaking of things that fly, look at these neat tights:

(See what I did there? :P)

Black sparkly sheer blouse-Paper Bag Princess

Black cami (underneath)-Arc

Black sparkly net skirt-Salvation Army

Feather print tights-Evolve

Black boots-The Warehouse

Loved this outfit, and really enjoyed wearing it. The beads on the skirt and blouse livened up the solid black, and I'm a sucker for a good feather print.  In fact, judging by my outfits (and my irregular blogging), one might say I've been a little bird-brained lately:

Black peacock-print dress-Fiji specialty shop

Black boots-The Warehouse

This dress makes me preen like a peacock. Ok, ok, I'll stop with the bad puns. (For now.) It is super-comfy and very easy to wear yet elegant, though. Like a nightgown for public consumption. But my love of wacky prints continues unabated:

Black lace shirt-Salvation Army

Japanese doll-print skirt-Salvation Army

Black tights-Wal-Mart

Flower wedges-Recycle Boutique

Here's a close-up of the print on the skirt, because it is unbelievably adorable:

If that doesn't make you want to smile, you have no soul. And speaking of soullessness, here was my attempt at a sexy, black-clad creature of the night look:

Black ruffled shrug-Love Culture

Black cami-Arc

Black-black striped underbust corset-The Crypt

Red velvet/black mesh skirt-Recycle Boutique

Black patterned fishnets-The Warehouse

Black satin heels-H&H New Zealand Clothing

Ok, this wasn't really an attempt at vampire cosplay. It just came out looking like one. Oops. Or not. I HAVE NO REGRETS! I also have no regrets about this skirt:

Black pinstripe jacket-H&H New Zealand Clothing

Gargoyle necklace-Repeat Boutique

Black tank-Forever 21

Silver underbust corset-Punk69

Black handwarmers-Forever 21

Ruffled multi-colored skirt-Paper Bag Princess

Black and green striped socks-New Zealand Sock Company

Black flower wedges-Recycle Boutique

This skirt, man. I saw it, I was drawn to it, but then I was like "It's too loud." But I kept thinking about it, so I went back and bought it. It was gloriously spinny and fun and perfect to wear swing dancing. One of my friends told me "It reminds me of when we used to do parachute in elementary school!" I think that's one of the most unique comments I've ever gotten on my clothing. It made me smile! 

Red and Black Week: The Finale

This is it, folks: The grand finale! I can't believe it's already been six days. I've been introduced to so many great blogs through this event, and gained a few new followers too. Thanks, guys! And welcome! I thought since this is the last day, I'd do a two-fer, day to night. I had this red and black "day" outfit from a couple weeks ago, when I was photographing my outfits but didn't have the chance to blog a lot of them:

Bat necklace-Asian Gifts

Black long-sleeved top-Salvation Army

Maroon underbust corset-Canal Boat Trading

Long red skirt-Recycle Boutique

Fishnet gloves-CoinMax

Black boots-The Warehouse

Pretty simple look-I like to think my boots and fishnet gloves give it a little "edge" but I like the elegant Victorian air of it!

And here we have the "night" outfit, for a friend's birthday party:

(Excuse the derpy expression on my face; I really don't know why I look like that! Also excuse my bangs; don't trim your bangs with safety scissors yourself because you got annoyed with them being in your eyes, kiddos.)

Caduceus necklace-Salvation Army

Red and black corset-Punk69

Black lace dress-Buffalo Exchange

Black and red stripe tights-Wal-Mart

Chunky Mary Janes-The Warehouse

A little less sedate and reserved, a little punk mixed with elegance. I feel like this is really "me"-a little whimsical and childlike mixed with a little elegant and sexy. Best of both worlds! Do any of the rest of you like to blend your favorite Goth looks for something that's uniquely you?

And many thanks to the amazing VictorianKitty for putting this whole thing together. We all love you and your awesome blog! 

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. :)

Red and Black Week: I'm Back!

Hello, lovely readers! Sorry I've been largely absent for May-school has just been crazy! But I'm back in time for the lovely Sophistique Noir's Red and Black Week, and very excited indeed for it. When my blog was just a wee fledgling last year, this event introduced me to a lot of great Goth bloggers and got me some of my first followers. As such, I'm very grateful to VictorianKitty for hosting it, and very fond of it!

So, without further ado, here's my first outfit for Red and Black week:

Black skull t-shirt-Buffalo Exchange

Red pleated skirt-Paper Bag Princess

Black printed fishnets-The Warehouse

Strappy Mary Jane flats-Ross

Fairly simple and straightforward. I think the red is a little more orange-y and a little less jewel-toned than the reds traditionally used in Goth clothing, but the skirt was so darn cute I couldn't resist it. I'm just a sucker for short pleated skirts! It's a little more casual/punky than my typical style, but considering we have the day off today and I'm just writing papers and possibly running to the grocery store later, I didn't feel like getting all dressed up with no place to go. I'm glad to be back, and glad to be wearing red and black! 

Pretty Colors-Double Post

Hi, all! Sorry to have been absent for so long, but I've had two papers and a presentation over the past week and caught a bad cold, so I haven't had the time or the energy to blog. I have been recording my outfits faithfully, though-so I'll try and do double outfit posts for the next couple of days to make up for it. Because I like doing things out of chronological order (Memento and Kill Bill are two of my favorite films, after all), I'll start with my outfit from yesterday:

Heart necklace-Arc Thrift

Ruffled chiffon shrug-Paper Bag Princess

Black microfiber tank-Wal-Mart

Black corset-Punk69

Handwarmers-Claires

Pink skirt-Paper Bag Princess

Patterned fishnets-The Warehouse

Chunky Mary Janes-The Warehouse

Terribly girly, isn't it? I must admit, I felt quite Goth Barbie-in the best possible way! I told myself when I came to NZ that I could make it on black, white, and red for three months, but dang it, the colors just keep a sneakin' in. I can't resist 'em! This skirt is actually so much more awesome than in the photo-it is a vivid, hot Barbie pink with a shimmery over-layer and a taffeta underskirt. It rustles when I walk. Words can't express how happy it makes me! 

Today, I did color a little more subdued:

Sword pendant-Asian Gifts

Black lace blouse-DAV Thrift

Underbust corset-vest-Fusion Federation

Green satin dress-Recycle Boutique

Black lace handwarmers-Forever 21

Black tights-Wal-Mart

Round-toed wedges-Recycle Boutique

Far more subdued than yesterday, but still elegant and fun! Again, the color of the dress just didn't photograph as nicely; in real life it is a much richer soft olive than the weird blue-y green that's showing here. It's a little big, hence my wearing it with the corset-when I get home and have my sewing machine again, I'll take it in to fit perfectly. It's a really nice heavy satin, and cut on the bias, so it moves beautifully. I really like this style of dress: multiple panels and gores, fitted in the bodice and full through the skirt. Plus, it was $4.50 (the $4.50 rack at Recycle Boutique will be the death of me in overweight baggage fees when I fly home), so I figured it was totally worth it. I missed you guys, and it's good to be back-tune in tomorrow for another double post!

Lacy Last Days of Summer

It's fall here in Wellington, but it doesn't always feel that way. Some days, if I close my eyes, it feels just like Colorado in May-warm sunshine with a hint of chill in the air, but in a bracing way. Funny, the crossover between fall and spring! Today was one of those days; warm enough that I felt like I should take advantage of the weather while I could to wear some of my lighter clothes before it officially winterizes over here.

Beaded choker-Salvation Army

Black and white lace tank-Paper Bag Princess

Black ruffled vest-Recycle Boutique

Layered chiffon skirt-Salvation Army

Black tights-The Warehouse

Black wedges with silver flowers-Recycle Boutique

I wish the photo showed more detail on the skirt-it's totally gorgeous, black chiffon in three layers, and I love the way it moves when I walk. I may have to post a video of it someday, that's how gorgeous it is! I felt very elegant and sophisticated in this outfit-so of course I'll have to wear something fun and flippy tomorrow, because I don't want to turn entirely into a grown-up! At least not yet... :) 

A Bit O' Boyish Style...

With little prelude, I present this outfit, because I know you'll be very surprised by it:

Grey hat-Scarf Co. 

Sword necklace-Asian Gifts

Black lace blouse-Arc

Grey tweed vest-Arc

Grey tweed pants-Salvation Army

Black trouser socks-TJ Maxx

Black ankle boots-The Warehouse

Yes, I actually wore pants today. I know, I know-I'll give you all a few moments to recover from your shock. I actually now own three pairs of pants-the ones in this pic, a similar pair of grey knickers, and one pair of black jeans. I haven't made any blog-worthy outfits with the others, but I really liked this outfit. I actually only bought these because they matched the vest so well-the fabrics are almost exact matches! I actually really like the vaguely "Newsies" vibe of this outfit-I'm normally the girliest of girly girls, but if I'm gonna do tomboy, dammit, I'm gonna do sassy, Victorian-urchin tomboy! I also like these pants because they're wide-legged and therefore much more comfortable than normal pants-I will never for the life of me understand the insistence that jeans are the most comfy things ever, because with all the thick seams, buttons, zippers, and snaps, I've never found them comfortable at all! Give me a good flowy silk peasant skirt any day-or in lieu of that, some sweet wool tweed trouser-style pants. :)

Also, I bought this hat on my trip because we were only showering about every other day, and I have the kind of scalp oil production that could resolve the Mid-East Crisis and I needed something to cover my Professor Snape-esque locks, but wearing it has made me realize how much I miss hats. There's a couple shops in Wellington that sell cheapie costume-style hats, and I might have to buy a few just to tide me over until I get back home! It's crazy to think that it's only a little over two months now...but I'm going to enjoy every minute of it. :)

A Steamy Return!

No, not that way! Apologies for my absence, best beloved readers, but I've spent the last 12 days traipsing around the South Island of New Zealand on my spring break, living out of a suitcase and a van and having limited access to both showers and the Internet-not exactly conditions highly conducive to blogging! But I'm back, and in honor of AnomalyCon back home (which I couldn't go to for obvious reasons, being 8,000 miles away and all) I decided to go with a steampunk-influenced theme for this week's outfits. Apologies for the cockeyed picture-my tripod broke just as I was setting up to take the picture and I need to get another one, so bear with me!

Heart necklace-Arc

Sheer black blouse-NZ Clothing Company

Black lace cami-Arc

Fingerless gloves-Claire's

Purple satin skirt-Fiji flea market

Black chiffon skirt-Salvation Army

Black buckled boots-Ross

You can't really see it in the pic, but this skirt is a lovely deep plum color. I came to NZ with only black, white, red and a bit of grey in my wardrobe, and told myself that I'd live with that, but darned if I don't keep finding pretty items of other colors that I just can't resist! And really, a Goth girl can never have enough purple in her wardrobe, so...

Anyway, that's today's outfit. Stay tuned for more steamy and Victorian-influenced goodness as the week progresses-I'm glad to be back! 

Two-For-One, Textural Edition

I didn't really know what to do for a theme this week, and then I realized that I have acquired some really cool clothes with really interesting textures and fabrics, so I'd do outfits focused on them this week:

Key necklace-Made by me

Cream and black lace dress-Suva flea market

Black corded tights-Wal-Mart

Black chunky Mary Janes-The Warehouse

Faux pearl necklace-Inherited

Black shrug-Rainbow

White tank top-Savers

Newsprint corset-Punk69

Black and white striped handwarmers-Claire's

Black fishnet over white satin skirt-Paper Bag Princess

Black boots-Target

The first dress, I love. It is short but not too short, playful, and it has pockets. Yay pockets! I also love the combination of cream and black lace. In the second outfit, the newsprint corset and the skirt are battling it out for my favorite item-the corset is an old favorite, but the skirt is a new acquisition. It was $20, which is more than I usually spend on one item, but it was SO. GORGEOUS. that I didn't even hesitate. The white satin lining is bias-cut, so it has a wonderful swinging fullness to it. I feel very much a punk princess in it, between the full, elegant cut and the fishnet outer layer. It's seriously amazing, and totally worth the extra money! Do any of you have a piece that cost a little more but you *had* to have?

What's Black and White And Striped All Over?

Answer: Me. Duh. I'll just let today's outfit speak for itself:

Faux pearl necklace-inherited

Black t-shirt (under blouse)-Forever21

Black and white striped blouse-Arc

Black taffeta underbust corset-Punk69

Black and white handwarmers-Hot topic

Black and white striped skirt-Salvation Army

Leggings-Wal-Mart

Buckle boots-Ross

Yes, I am very aware that this is A LOT of stripes. But when I saw the skirt at the Salvation Army in Wellington and remembered the blouse, I knew I had to have it! Several people complimented me on my "dress", so I think they matched very closely-it's hard to see in the picture, but the black stripes in the blouse are just a bit wider, and the white stripes in the skirt are the same, so they don't match exactly-but the corset broke up the patterns enough so people didn't notice, much like my red corset did for the polka dot blouse and skirt in this outfit. For some reason, almost-matching skirts and blouses from different places make me absurdly happy. Go figure. Do any of you have weird fashion tics that give you large amounts of joy for no particular reason?

Pinstripes Are People, Too! Or Stripes Week, Day 2

I love my big, bold Goth stripes. Really, (obviously), I do. But sometimes, I feel like the humble, simple pinstripe gets lost. And I do love my pinstripes. One of my goals in life is to find an appropriately girly but still accurate-ish navy pinstripe suit, so I can cosplay girl!10th Doctor. Because seriously, how snazzy is this?

One great-looking outfit (and one great-looking man), no? Love! But for now, all I have with me are my trusty pinstriped corsets, one of which I wore today:

Gargoyle necklace-Repeat Boutique

Lace necked t-shirt-Arc

Cropped cardigan-Salvation Army

Pinstriped underbust corset-Punk69

Black velvet circle skirt-Arc

Silver crinkle skirt-Paper Bag Princess

Grey tights-Wal-Mart

Grey and black stripe socks-Target

Black buckled boots-Ross

Lots of layers today, but it is very cold, windy and rainy in La Wellington this week. I snuck some conventional stripes in there along with my pinstripes, through my mostly-hidden socks, but I still love pinstripes the most. Alas, most of my beloved pinstriped jackets are at home and shipping is obscenely expensive, or I would have worn one of them, too! I just need to find a good pinstriped skirt; I'm sure in my thrift-store wanderings, I'm bound to come across one eventually! Do you like pinstripes or find them too boring? I like their subtlety, personally-and this is coming from the chick who regularly plasters herself with skulls, plaids, and neon-colored stripes. Because sometimes, a girl just needs to feel classy and elegant. :)

STRIPES Week, Day 1-Red and Black

I miss doing my theme weeks, I really do. I mean, I can still do color ones, but I kinda like the more exotic, imaginative ones better-like my fictional characters-inspired week, or my Goth-themed symbols. But with a more limited (by my admittedly exaggerated standards) wardrobe here in Wellington, I just haven't felt like I have enough play. But by gum, I want to make it work! So I'm trying to work with what I have to make interesting themes, and I thought this week I would fall back on the ol' standard of my best-beloved stripes. Today, I was feeling very red and black-ish about the whole thing:

Black heart necklace-Savers

Black shrug-Paper Bag Princess

Skull dress-Hot Topic

Leggings-Forever21

Striped handwarmers-Claire's

Striped socks-London street stall

Silver-embellished slides-Wellington thrift store

It was really windy today, so let's just say I was quite glad I wore leggings with this light, ruffly little chiffon-skirted dress! I don;t normally mix patterns, but something about this dress just makes me want to pair it with stripes; last time I wore it, I wore it with stripey tights as well! Wow, I've actually gotten good about linking back to my previous posts...I'm coming up on 100 posts soon, so keep all of your eyes peeled for that one, because I've got some special stuff planned. :)

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?

I *Heart* Black And White Stripes

A bit of a change of pace today; I don't usually go all sleekly modern, loving my Victorian fripperies as I do, but this dress was so cute I was willing to make an exception for it!

Black and white striped dress-Fijian flea market

White and black fishnet armwarmers-2-dollar store

Black leggings-Forever 21

Black buckled combat boots-Ross

Here's the back of the dress-I love the little heart-shaped cutout, it is so cute and sassy! I was a little hestitant at first because it is quite body-concious, but darnit, I have curves and I'm proud of 'em, so in the end I went for it. Sorry for the tilted camera angles, I'm still working out the photo sitch in my new room. I really like this dress, and I think it's a really useful, versatile, but unique piece- I can't wait to find more ways to wear it! :)

Shades of Grey

Who says that grey has to be dreary and dull? Certainly not me! This outfit is, granted, a bit understated by my standards, but it was fun to wear, so I may have to try this "Dressing Like A Grown-Up (Ish)" thing more often. You will still have to pry my neon-colored striped socks from my cold, dead fingers, but today I learned that simple heather-grey tights can work too.

Black 3/4 sleeve sweater: Arc

Underbust vest-style corset-Fusion Federation

Grey/pink tweed skirt-Repeat Boutique

Heather-grey tights-Wal-Mart

Two-strap Mary Janes-Hot Topic

I love this skirt and I think the only reason I don't wear it more often is it's hard to match because of the pink. But I love the asymmetrical cut and jagged hem-that with the pink gives the tweed fabric a punky aspect that's really fun to wear. Tweed is good, but can sometimes run a bit on the staid-ish side, and grey is similar-so I like this skirt because it gives an edge to both. Do any of the rest of you like to wear traditional fabrics in unusual cuts and colors? 

Running Away To Join The Circus

Ok, I didn't actually run away to join the circus. I just looked like I was going to. Outfit from community band last Tuesday, complete with elephants, dancing ladies, and a mini top-hat:

Red mini top hat-Gift from a friend

Bronze medallion necklace-Downtown Duds

Red flowered blazer-Goodwill

Black ruffled camisole-Goodwill

Circus-print vintage skirt-Arc

Black lace handwarmers-Claire's

Red and black vertical striped tights-Hot Topic

Victorian heeled ankle boots-Ross

When I bought this skirt, I was a little worried that it might be a bit of a one-trick pony, so to speak-the print is so wild and distinctive that I thought I wouldn't really be able to wear it in a lot of ways. $4 for a vintage (I'd guess 1950s-1960s) skirt in near-perfect condition that actually fit me was too good to pass up, but I didn't know how often I would be able to wear it. However, I think I managed to make an appreciably different outfit with it this time than I did the last time I wore it, here. I think it has depths of versatility yet to be explored-who knows, maybe I'll end up wearing it all the time and end up being the crazy girl with the circus skirt! I think the problem is, in my mind versatility has pretty much always equaled plain, unadorned black. It isn't until recently that I have been able to see something patterned, printed, striped, or colored and go "Hey! That'll make a great basic, versatile piece!" I've been fighting with my fashion preconceptions lately, and I'm proud to say I'm winning. 

Slightly Dirty Victorian

Well, typical of my usual New Year's Resolutions, I seem to have promised to become a better, more frequent blogger only to promptly disappear from the Internet for a week due to a soul-sucking flu/cold combination. But never fear, lovely readers-I'm back with a vengance today. I was inspired by Kitty Lovett's Year of the Filthy Victorians but didn't entirely meet her requirements, and thus don't really feel I've earned full Filthy Victorian status. Instead, here's my idea of a slightly dirty Victorian:

Black and silver striped button-down-Goodwill

Butterfly pin-Arc

Grey wool vest-Arc

Black-black striped underbust corset-The Crypt

Black silky skirt with ruffle-Arc

Black laced-up handwarmers-Claire's

Zippered boots-Ross

Because the pin is so lovely, I had to do a close-up of it:

Apologies for the low-ish quality of the picture; I was trying out the cameras on my new tablet, and I'm still getting used to them! Overall, I was quite pleased with the outfit; I liked how the swirliness of the skirt contrasted with the more menswear-inspired button-down and vest, and I felt rather rakish with just the bottom buckle on my corset poking out from underneath my vest. I haven't really done much with wearing corsets under, rather than over, other clothing-I know, I know, they were actually underwear and such, but I just love the look of them so much that I try not to hide them away! Now that I've done it, though, I'm actually rather enamored of the notion of a corset under a vest, so keep your eyes peeled in the future for more such outfits.