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! 

Read and Black

I'm very sorry about the pun, you guys. I just can't ever pass up the chance to make one, no matter how groan-inducingly bad they are. Here, have the pretty Red and Black week logo to make you feel better:

And here's the actual outfit, which is only moderately pun-worthy:

Red headscarf-inherited

Playing card necklace-Gift from a friend

Black wrap dress-Recycle Boutique

Newsprint corset-Punk69

Black fingerless net gloves-Claire's

Black patterned fishnets-The Warehouse

Red fishnets-God only knows

Black slides-Recycle Boutique

I actually was wearing two pairs of fishnets, but for some reason the picture came out looking like I was wearing black fishnets over solid red tights. Oh well-take my word for it, it looked really cool! This dress is really lovely and super-comfortable-it's a black cotton jersey that's the simplest thing in the world to wear. I love wrap dresses, but it's hard to find one that's appropriately elegant and Gothic! I lucked out in this one, because it has little buttoned cuffs and puff sleeves that are vaguely Victorian-esque. 

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. 

Black and Red For A Rainy Day

Today the weather was rather bleah in Wellington-not entirely unexpected, as it is almost officially winter here, but not fun to go out in nonetheless. In an attempt to ward off the wet-n-windy blues, I decided to go with a more cheerful variation of black and red, and throw some white into the mix:

Skull hands necklace-Claire's

Black tank-The Warehouse

Red lace blouse-Fiji flea market

Black and white handwarmer-Claire's

Red fishnet handwarmer-CoinMax

Black and white print skirt-Arc

Black boots-The Warehouse

My biggest fear with this was that the combination of the prints in the skirt and the lace in the top would be too busy, but I think it actually ended up working pretty well. Black, white, and red is one of my favorite color combinations, and you can see why-it's graphic, bold, and clean-looking while still having that Gothic air of elegance about it. In fact, the descriptions of the clothes were part of why I loved Erin Morganstern's The Night Circus so very much-all the black, white, and red dresses sounded lovely! This is a great book, and I just have to pop in a plug for it. The prose is beautiful, the characters dynamic, and the story very well-crafted. 

And, Victorian setting? Legitimately star-crossed lovers? Ancient magics at play? Pretty clothes described in loving detail? And a largely red, white, and black themed circus that only comes out at night? This book couldn't be any more Goth if it tried! Plus the cover is pretty and fits in well with this week's theme. If you haven't read it yet, it's totally worth it. I seldom espouse or even read popular books*, not out of some annoying hipster-esque compulsion to avoid mainstream things but because books that sell well with the Oprah set rarely appeal to me (see Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood and The Help); however, The Night Circus is deservedly popular, with its intoxicating blend of romance, magic, and imagination. And its pretty, pretty dresses.

*Harry Potter and The Hunger Games excepted, of course. :)

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! 

Red and Black Stripes and Boots!

For the last day of my Red and Black outfits, I wanted to go all out-and it just so happened to coincide with VictorianKitty's monthly theme day on boots, so I took the opportunity to look as Gothy as possible, stompy boots and all!

 

Bat necklace: Twin Dragon Asian Gifts

Black and red stripe shirt-Wal-Mart

Black lace skirt-Savers

Black and red striped handwarmers-Claire's

Black and red tights-Wal-mart

Chunky black boots-DAV thrift 

Here's a close-up of the necklace-I just thought it was so lovely, and I had to get it! Bats? Yes please! :)

 And, for the theme, a close-up of the boots-you can see where they're a bit scuffed, because I love them so much that I'm starting to wear them out. I probably have seven or eight pairs of boots, but these are my favorites-chunky enough to add height, but comfortable enough to wear all day when I have to do a lot of walking. And, of course, the perfect height to wear with cool skirts and funky tights! What more could a little Goth girl's heart desire? 

Black and Red Week Day 2

Look! Look! I'm actually posting two days in a row, aren't you pleasantly surprised? Continuing the red and black, here's today's outfit:

 

Black stretchy peasant top: Ross

Red lace handkerchief-hemmed skirt: Arc

Black and silver tights-Forever 21

Black Mary Jane wedges-Repeat Boutique

I saw this skirt when buying part of my Halloween costume at Arc on Saturday and just had to have it, despite my resolution to not buy clothes as much this year. Red lace over black, an asymmetrical fairy hem, and pencil-style without being too fitted? Sign me up! There was some light damage on one side of the skirt (holes in the lace, like it had caught on something) that you can't see in the photo, but I liked it too much to care-and I can always repair later. The skirt I wore yesterday was another casualty of my weakness for lace skirt-my friend found it while we were shopping, and showed it to me, and I couldn't resist the combination of good, non-stretch black lace and just-below-the-knee length. It was so classic and perfect! If I keep it up at this rate, one of these days they're going to find my body covered in a huge heap of lace skirts that fell out of my closet. Ah, well, at least I'll die stylishly. 

Red and Black Week Finale: Hypothetical Outfits Ahoy!

Hi! I was feeling under the weather the past couple of days, and was very sad to miss two days of the lovely VictorianKitty's Red and Black week, so as compensation and as a celebration of the last day, I put together a bunch of hypothetical red and black outfits-kind of like a Polyvore set, only with items from my own wardrobe! Apologies for the rumpled state of several items-I am right in the middle of sorting through my wardrobe right now, and it's not in the best state as a result. Here they are:

 Here's a more formal-ish-I might wear it if I ever went somewhere more dressy!
Black brocade corset-Punk69
Red and black satin skirt-Savers

 POLKA DOTS YAY!
Black and red polka dot dress-Hot Topic
Red fishnets-Wal-Mart
Black, red, and white polka dot shoes-Wal-Mart

 If I was wearing this in real life, I would wear a black tank under the sheer blouse, but I was too lazy to dig one out for the purpose of imaginary outfit photos.
Sheer batwing flower-print top-Inherited from my mom
Black underbust corset-Punk69
Black and red brocade skirt-Savers
Black mary jane heels-Hot Topic

 This is actually a full-on 1980s taffeta formal dress. I don't know what it says about me that one day I wore it to class with a sweater and no one even batted an eye. I love it-it's so fun and swirly, and it has a built-in petticoat underneath for fluffiness.
Black pinstriped blazer-Goodwill
Red taffeta formal dress-ARC
Black kitten heels-Ross

You can't really see the detail of this top, but it's one of my favorites-solid black stretch bottom with a fishnet top and sleeves. As for the vest, I love it-it's double-sided, red and black, and equally pretty on both sides. I was rather proud of myself for how much of a steal I got it at-I paid $10 at Buffalo Exchange, and the similar ones they sell at the Renaissance Faire usually run about $60, so yay me!
Fishnet top-Thrifted ages ago, dunno where
Vest/corsetlet-Buffalo Exchange
Lace skirt-ARC
Red tights-Target
Black sneakers-Savers

I know these would show better on me, but trust me, you do not want to see what I look like today-it's not too pretty. Y'all know what I look like from my past posts, so just imagine 'em on me! And many many thanks to VictorianKitty for this awesome week-I'm already plotting a couple of my own blogging challenges, thanks to her! *insert evil laugh here* These are all either outfits I've worn in the past or plan to wear in the future, so it was fun putting them together. Also, you do not see half of a stuffed frog in the right side of each picture. I don't at all have an enormous collection of stuffed frogs. These are not the droids you are looking for. Carry on. 

P.S. I'll finish modifying the dress I posted earlier at some point when I get feeling a little better. Pics forthcoming!

Black and Red Week Day 3

Sorry, no continue on the DIY on account of some things unexpectedly coming up today, but I do have an outfit post!

 Mini top hat-eBay
Necklace-Repeat Boutique
Sparkly black dress-Thrifted
Red and black corset-Punk69
Fishnets-Walmart
Black sling-back patent shoes-Savers

 Here's a better picture of the main part of the outfit-I apologize for looking so sulky in both these pictures, I have no idea why I have that expression on my face-I'm really quite a cheerful person, generally! And I know some people hate tiny top hats for whatever reason, but I love them, and they make me happy, so I continue to wear them.

 Sorry for the blurry pic, I'll try to get a better one later on-you'll be seeing this necklace A LOT, since I adore it and wear it all the time. it's a little goblin with the most mischievous expression on his face. Plus, some of the old fuddy-duddies in my hometown think it's a demon, and this upsets them, so I carry on wearing it with my most cheerful smile. (Yes, I can be somewhat evil at times. But only to people who make snide and totally unwarranted comments about my outfits.)

Here's my attempt at a detail shot on the dress-it really doesn't do it justice. It has these great sparkly sequin patterns, and tons of little mesh flowers, and I adore it-along with my two ruffly black jersey dresses it is one of the essentials of my wardrobe. It's cute, fun, unique, and flirty-and super comfy, always a plus.
Hope this makes for a sufficient red and black outfit-I wore it to band, and got one snide "What are you supposed to be?" and three "You look really good"s, so overall, I think I'm doing pretty well, considering I live in Redneckville, USA, where anything other than jeans and a t-shirt gets you tons of funny looks, if not outright verbal abuse. I'm actually not really going anywhere for the rest of the week, but I kind of want to put together some other cool red and black outfits, just because I enjoy doing it. I love the idea of theme weeks personally, since I kind of do it unofficially myself during the school year-on Sunday I decide what color I'm going to wear (well, what color and black!), paint my nails to match, and then have my outfits all set up in a general-ish fashion. You'll all see this if you have the patience with me to read through to the middle of next August-the only reason I didn't do it in May was because I had really limited space (living somewhat illegally in a friend's campus housing makes for fun adventures!), so it was basically whatever stuff I could fit into a suitcase + whatever stuff I picked up while thrifting. It worked out, though- I am very bad at "packing light", so to speak, and it was definitely an interesting exercise for me!

Red and Black Week Day 1, and an apology

Hey, guys-sorry for my absence, but I've been crazy busy moving back home from Denver, so I haven't had either spectacular outfits or the time to blog about them today. Here's my (late, but still there!) post for day 1 of the lovely VictorianKitty's Red and Black week-a blogging challenge I accepted with gusto, those of course being two of my fave colors. This is also my first Churchgoing Goth post-i.e., what a Goth girl wears to church, being true to both her respect for her faith and the people in it and her dark and spooky self. It's really not as hard as you might think!

Black lace blouse-Fusion Federation

Red camisole-Somewhere in New York

Black and red patchwork skirt-Savers

Sandals-Demonia via Goodwill

I love this skirt-it is so fun, gorgeous, and unique, and never fails to get compliments every time I wear it.

Here's a close-up of some of the different fabrics in it-it's three tiered bands of patches. In other words, awesome!

One of the last things I did with my best girlfriends before leaving Denver (sniffle) was redo my nails, specifically for Red and Black week:

Both these polishes were filched from my friend Kira-the under is just a drugstore red, and the black is the OPI crackle polish, which I'd wanted to try but didn't want to spring for. I like the effect, but I don't know if I like it enough to spend $8 on a bottle of polish for it. I tend to pick up the $2.00 store brand polish at Walgreens-when you have my job (costumer for the university theater program), polish chips and flakes off so fast -even when I've picked up nicer polish on sale, it still gets scratched off by pins or chips when I pick up bins of fabric. It just seems silly to spend a lot on something that'll only look good for a couple days. I enjoy painting my nails, I just don't spend a lot on it because it's hard for me to maintain. Do any of you have beauty habits that you enjoy but don't particularly indulge in financially for whatever reason?