Pink & Mixy

Look at me, mixing patterns again! Crazy, no? But only a little bit, so it's not like I'm really onboard with that little trend (I still think that mixing patterns often looks like someone got dressed in the dark ;-). But when it comes to pink, more is better, imnsho.

What I'm wearing:
Pink print cardigan, Chadwicks
Black corduroy skirt, H&M
Black tights, Calvin Klein
Black & pink pumps, Irregular Choice (closeups here)
Pink & black stripey jersey scarf, Express
Black & pink Victorian-esque earrings, random accessory store
Large black vintage-esque ring, Icing

At the Office in Body, if Not in Spirit

My brain is still back in Kauai, *sigh*. We arrived home late last night, & I had to get up early today for the carpool, so no outfit post. Besides, I'm bundled up in a sweater & jeans because it's cold here, especially compared to the balmy Garden Isle. In fact, snow is predicted for Silicon Valley -- like, flakes might actually touch the valley floor (not just sit on the hills, which happens every couple of winters). This hasn't happened since I was a kid in the 1970s. Omg!

Good thing I'm working from home tomorrow & can bundle up with the kitties. And with my new espresso maker ... I received my 10-year-anniversary gift from the company a month early. Wow. Fabulous timing & a nice way to stave off the "boo hoo, back at work after vacay" feeling. I can't complain too much.

While I dream of brewing my Kauai beans, I'll leave you with a few iPhone pix until I get the full TropiGoth outfit photos of the real camera.

On my birthday at Roy's Grill -
they printed a special menu message!

The view from our condo.

On the beach, last day in paradise.

Thanks for all the comments everyone left while I was gone! I'll be catching up with your posts for a while.

CorpGoth Looks on Non-CorpGoths

We're not the only ones! I've spied some classic CorpGoth fashions on non-goth bloggers in the past months. Of course, their outfits look less gothy without that extra something special we'd add -- like black or candy-colored hair, more eyeliner, darker lipstick, different jewelry. But the clothing combinations practically scream "CorpGoth" to me. Here are some great examples...

E. of AcademiChic wore a stripey top, black skirt, & black lace tights layered over red tights. I'd bet that every goth gal has a top & skirt like that -- but the layered tights are inspiring!

Sal of Already Pretty wore a lavender (reads pink in the photo to me) leather blazer with a black tunic & a polka-dot skirt & tall black leather boots. I would wear every part of this outfit, as-is, in this outfit or mixed into my wardrobe.

Kasmira of What I Wore Today wore a ruffle-shoulder stripey sweater, black skirt, belt, blue booties, & tons of pearls. After seeing her post, I actually went to H&M to find this sweater & had a long debate with myself about whether or not I needed another stripey sweater (I have a couple, so I didn't buy it, & of course, now I wish I had).

Big Beautyful Mess has a number of gothable ensembles, but I particularly like this black & white top paired with a black pencil skirt & the oh-so-chick red gloves. How cool is that? Very!

Audi at Fashion for Nerds wears a lot of goth-friendly outfits (even tho' she doesn't wear a lot of black), so here's just some faves.  This punky skirt by Marc Jacobs is paired with a red top, black cardigan, & tall black boots, very sassy. Her relaxed suit is a stellar example of excellent proportion & subtle color gradations. And then a classic little sweater & print skirt ensemble, which has a retro-'50s feel & is easily doable in goth-style too.

These are just a few of my faves -- let me know if you've seen other great CorpGoth looks on non-goths in the fashion blogosphere!

Fashion Beauty Friend Friday - 02.18.11

FBFF Questions for 02.18.11 - This week, the topic is body image, courtesy of ModlyChic.

1. Since you started blogging has your image of yourself changed?
Yes & no. I think I've become more aware of myself & what styles & shapes work on me, how to play up my best features. I'm no more or less conscious of things like my size, for example, but I do know better how to, say, wear a belt to draw attention to my waist but not my belly.

2. Are you self-conscious about any aspect of yourself? If so, do you go out of your way to avoid it or do you post it/talk about it anyway?
I don't mind talking about anything about me -- again, with size, I think it's pretty damn obvious that I'm not tall & willowy, I have big ol' curves & not just in the hotsy-totsy va-va-voom way. I have a big gut & butt & boobs, so I am not like the those teeny little "petite bloggers" even tho' I'm their height. I don't mind, & if you do, that's your problem.

3. Based on how you are feeling now, what do you think the future holds in the evolution of your body image?
I suppose I could get even hotter, but I'm kinda rockin' my own world right now ;-)

Y'know, about five or so years ago, I did lose a bunch of weight thru Weight Watchers & jogging like crazy. I hated it, but I did it because I thought it was the "right thing" to do. But that really screwed up my body & was totally unsustainable. It made me horribly unhappy & kicked off a host of medical problems, even tho' it wasn't a crash diet. I don't think my body wanted to be that thin. My mind sure as hell didn't. I only have one photo from my lowest weight, & I had "lollipop head syndrome," where my head looked too big for my body. It was icky. While I may have a double chin now, I have a more proportional figure again, & I'm a million times happier & I feel far more confident.

4. Do you photograph yourself for your blog? If so, how do you feel about the experience when you're having your picture taken? If you choose not to post pictures of yourself, what prompted that decision?
My blog is definitely an "outfit a day" blog, so photos are crucial. The worst part is the poor lighting around my house. Body image doesn't play into it much, altho' dammit, why can't I smile in front of the camera when it's just me & the tripod? Don't know. I also have a problem posing myself in non-boring ways. Other people can do it for me (a few wonderful costume photographers have in the past), but solo on a timer, I lose all imagination.

5. What would you want every person who struggles with body image to take to heart?
I always come back to RuPaul: If you can't love yourself, how'n hell are you gonna love somebody else? Can I get an amen? Just try it. What's the worst that will happen if you look in the mirror & say "I'm fucking HOT!" If people disagree with you, so what?

People disagree with me on lots of things -- from politics to what's the best book ever written. Does that mean I succumb to their opinions? No. I persist in my belief that climate change is real & that J.R.R.R. Tolkien was a true genius. Likewise, I can have my own opinion about my body & looks, & that matters as more than what anyone else thinks. Keep thinking your own thoughts long enough, & you'll believe.

Tips for Making Fashion Greener

For a change of pace, I thot I'd address the idea of eco-friendly fashion. See, a big part of my job is editing Yahoo! Green (the #1 source for environmental content on the Web, according to ComScore). So environmental concerns are top of mind.

And yet, I have always adored style, clothing, & self-expression through what I wear. This necessitates a certain amount of using resources that are not always that kind to the planet. I was raised by hippies, but I'm not going to live in an off-grid yurt any time soon.

I'm all about balance in my life. I do a lot of very eco-friendly things -- like the fact that I have never had a driver's license despite living in suburban California since I was 5. I get around by foot, public transit, & carpool, & our one household car is a Prius. So right there, my carbon footprint is smaller than most Americans. Thus, I don't feel too bad about buying a bit of lipstick & some cute shoes, especially when I sometimes find the shoes at the thrift store ;-)

With this in mind, here are some of my steps towards making fashion greener, which mostly don't have to do with shopping...

1. Wash your clothes carefully.
Often overlooked in discussions of organic cotton & fair-trade labor is the simple concept of making the clothes already in your closet last longer. Reduce your need for new clothes by taking good care of your wardrobe now.

Learn how to treat your garments right. Start by reading care labels, but also do some research. Many items may say "dry clean only," just because that's easiest for the manufacturer to list. What is the fiber content? Do a web search & find out how to best treat that material. Test how water & gentle detergent react on a small, inconspicuous part of the garment. Dry-cleaning is a chemically intensive process that's pretty nasty on the environment, plus it's expensive! You may be able to hand-wash an item at home.

Consider washing garments less often. If you don't see stains or dirt, do the smell test -- if clothes don't smell like the last person who wore 'em, they don't need to be dunked in water (if you're really concerned, have someone else smell the garment; we get used to our own smell).

Also, when loading clothes in a washing machine, button up buttons, zip up zippers, and turn inside-out anything with decorative trim or beading or a screen-print. All of these tricks will help clothes last longer. Cold-water washing saves energy (& money, if you own the washer itself) & helps dye colors from fading, so black garments stay dark & brights stay bright.

Don't over-dry clothes in the dryer because heat is damaging. Use the lowest heat setting for the shortest time possible. Take clothes out immediately & hang up items (this prevents wrinkles & saves your time from ironing). Line-dry anything delicate, such as lingerie, silks, anything that can snag, & non-synthetic sweaters.

Here are more laundry day tips from Yahoo! Green.

2. Repair the clothes you already have.
Learn to make small repairs at home. Sewing on buttons, mending small tears, fixing zippers -- these are relatively easy fixes that anyone with fingers & eyesight can learn to do. If you don't have someone nearby to teach you, search YouTube for a video tutorial. The tools are far less expensive than buying a new shirt! I'm not into patching up truly tattered garments (& I won't socks), but many little repairs can extend the life of clothes.

Don't forget about shoes either. Clean & polish those babies every so often. And if the soles are worn down to almost nothing, take the shoes to a cobbler. New heels cost the fraction of a new pair of shoes -- especially for high heels which often have the tiny end heel worn away. That's a fast, cheap fix. I've already written about the joys of cobblers!

3. Organize your closet.
Knowing what you have & where to find it can keep you from buying more stuff. Admit it, you've bought the same type of garment over & over again. Or worse, you've stood in front of the mirror on a workday & felt like you have nothing to wear even tho' your closet & dressers are stuffed.

Take a weekend to go through what you own, edit out what you're not really using, & organize the pieces you love. When you can find everything, you won't buy repeats & you won't feel like your clothes are fighting you.

Go a step further and plan a few staple outfits. If necessary, write these down. Or just put the items together in one place. This top + that bottom + those shoes + one awesome accessory = perfect outfit for a manic Monday. Done.

Check out these excellent posts on organizing your clothes from Already Pretty: Grouping items in your closet,  accessory organization, shopping in your own closet, & effective wardrobe inventories.

4. Update your current wardrobe with stylish makeovers.
This is an advanced extension of #2 -- replace all the buttons on a top (which I do all the time, best seen on this sweater), and it will look like a whole new blouse / jacket / sweater. Sew trim on a skirt hem for a different look (like I did here). Belt a sweater that you've never worn belted. Trim trousers into walking shorts (as shown on Academichic, among other places). Cut a long jacket into a cropped jacket. Sew old jeans into a jeans skirt. Overdye a pale shirt to a dark color (or tie-dye!).

If there are items in your closet you're dissatisfied with, adding trim or cutting them up can only improve them. You may have to learn some new skills, but making over garments can be very satisfying & provide a creative outlet. You might get hooked!

Check out this article I wrote for Yahoo! Green about refashioning clothes (the article also has links for clothing repair how-tos).

6. Shop thrift stores.
Everyone knows this by now, but it's worth repeating. Scour Savers, Goodwill, Salvation Army, & whatever local thrift stores you can find. You do have to hunt, & there's no guarantee you'll find something for you or in your size. But keep going back.

Look for upmarket labels because you'll get longer life out of them. Avoid Wal-Mart & Target brands at the thrift -- if it originally cost $8, why pay $5 for it used? I don't see the point, unless it is literally new with tags. But Gap, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, & the like are good deals at thrift stores because the styles tend to be classic & the quality is more dependable. These are also styles that lend themselves to making over (see #4).

That's just my top six. I'm open to more ideas. Whatcha got?

Out With a Bang

I am so lucky to have fabulously skilled friends who I can barter things with. Like this dress -- I had the pattern but knew I'd never get around to sewing it for myself. Donna found the fabric & offered to sew it because she had the time. I received the result on Saturday. Thanks, hon!

What I'm wearing:
Pink, grey, & white retro print dress, made by Donna of Original Sin Designs
Black wool ruffled bolero sweater, Kohl's
Black tights, Calvin Klein
Black pumps with silver buckle accent, Kenneth Cole
Silver chunky bead choker, Target
Sparkly dangle earrings, random accessory store
Giant faux-diamond cocktail ring, Icing
Pink & black flower hair pin, Icing

I've got a couple non-outfit posts scheduled for while I'm on vacay. And then, at some point, I hope to go nuts with a bunch of TropiGoth photos...

Rain & Romance

The sunny NorCal spring has come to a (temporary?) end -- today I awoke to grey drizzle, meaning I could only use the porch for a morning photo. The outfit I planned for Valentine's Day has just a touch of old-school (read: 1980s) romance. Nothing too obvious, no red or pink or hearts. Just a bit of RomantiGoth around the edges, plus it's comfy enough that I can wear it for the dinner at home my sweet hubby is making tonight.

What I'm wearing:
Floral print knit top, H&M
Black gauzey skirt, Rampage
Black elastic faux-corset belt, Torrid
Dark grey denim bell-sleeved blazer, Newport News
Black tights, Calvin Klein
Burgundy faux-suede boots, DSW
Chunky gunmetal & rhinestone choker, random accessory stor
Gunmetal hoop earrings, Icing
Sparkly gunmetal cocktail ring, Icing
Dark burgundy lipstick, Chanel "Vamp"

Do you dress for holidays?  Did you do anything specific for Valentine's Day?

notice that tablecloth? yep, it's the same type as the
cloth that I made a skirt out of!

Tales of the TropiGoth

two print sundresses

Next week, my husband & I are going to the island of Kauai in Hawaii to celebrate my 42nd birthday. This will be at least our fourth time there. We've also been to Jamaica three times (for our honeymoon & two anniversaries). Yes, you heard this right: I'm a gothic girl who vacations in the tropics.

Now, that's not the only kind of vacation I enjoy -- most of our trips are to Europe or somewhere exotic (we've set foot on every continent including Antarctica). But I have no fear of losing goth cred by admitting that I enjoy surf & sun & fruity rum drinks. Besides, I know I'm not the only one anymore. Maybe I started a trend...

Anyway, I have to plan my packing list this weekend, as there's lots to do during the short work week before we leave. So I thought I'd share some of my packing strategies, since it's fashiony & kind of on-topic.

black tribal-tropical choker

First, because I travel a lot, I have a standard packing list saved on my iPhone in a notes app. I reuse this list over & over again, changing the details to fit each trip (& I save every version to refer back to). The stuff that never changes are the toileteries, makeup, purse, & carry-on bag items.

gotta put a flower in your hair

Oh, I should mention, I am NOT one of those people who believes in only packing what you carry onto the plane. Madness, I say! Sure, pack light, but you gain very little by taking only what you can shove into the overhead compartment & lose a lot. Take with you on the plane only the things you actually need to amuse & comfort you while you are on the plane. This will make the boarding, flying, & off-loading experience faster, easier, & more pleasant for you & those around you. Honestly, you'll save more time there than you might "waste" in baggage claim. Flying can be a very stressful experience, & I prefer to make the part on the airplane simple & smooth. The part in the airport is usually the least stressful -- after all, you can get up & move away from all those screaming kids ;-)

Liberty of London for Target
print sundress

Enough of my rant. Back to packing. I keep an Eagle Creek Wallaby toiletries bag permanently packed with everything I need, year-round. Just refill shampoo & conditioner bottles after each trip. Btw, if you haven't tried the no-poo or low-poo method for treating your hair, give it a whirl at least a month before traveling. I find it works pretty well for my wavy hair & oily scalp, plus it cuts down on resources needed. I only have to thoroughly shampoo every 3-4 days because I use a lot of styling products (because I like fancy 'dos; but I do less of that when traveling).

For makeup, I bring 3 lipsticks, 2 eyeshadows, black eyeliner, & mascara, plus a travel-size, refillable container of baby wipes for removing makeup. I have yet to find a makeup remover that works as well as generic baby wipes, particularly for eye makeup. It's probably not the most eco-friendly (real cotton balls & some kind of cleanser would be), but when it works...

necklace from Jamaica

For jewelry, I tend to bring just one pair of earrings & one necklace, other than what I wear on the plane (e.g., my everyday stuff). I may also add one or two hair thingies, like a flower pin or headband, plus clips to vary my hairstyle a bit. Now, on this trip, I *am* bringing my collection of tropical jewelry, mostly purchased on past Hawaiian/Jamaican visits. Plus tropical hair flowers!

But what about the clothes? That's pretty darn simple. For a trip of a week or more, I pack 3 bottoms (a mix of pants & skirts, depending on climate & what I currently have) & 4 tops, plus one or two jacket/cardigans & one dress. Colors are predominately black + one accent. And I bring just two pairs of shoes, one boots, one flats. Every top has to coordinate with at least two bottoms, if not all of them (which is easy since the bottoms tend to all be black). The dress must go with the jacket/cardigans, & the shoes go with everything.

bracelet from Kauai

For Kauai, I'm bringing black shorts, black cargo capris, & black leggings, & then a black & white stripey T-shirt, a black jeweled T-shirt, a grey T-shirt with a bats print, a pink T-shirt with an 18th-century furniture print, & a black lace-trimmed cami, plus a black boyfriend cardigan & a red knit dress. Shoes will be jeweled flat sandals for walking around & rubber flip-flops for the beach/pool. And, of course, I'll bring this adorable hot-pink retro swimsuit.

Tropical trips are a little different than others, since all the clothing items are a bit, uh, small, & that gives me some leeway to pack a few more. Especially since we'll be going out to dinner most every night, & I'll want to wear a cute tropical sundress with snazzy sandals. And I don't have many other places to wear such things, so I'm bringing 'em all! So I'm bringing four sundresses & as many of my wacky wedge sandals as will fit in the one suitcase my husband & I are sharing.

necklace from Waikiki

Yep, we're sharing a bag. We only do that on tropical vacations because (a) we don't bring as big & heavy of gear, & (b) that means one less baggage fee. It's even easier since I started making him use we started using packing cubes. I also use shoe bags rather obsessively -- I've collected & made soft bags to transport shoes in. They're important!

Couple more things I always pack: some ChicoBags (expandable, reusable bags that I can tuck into a purse; perfect for shopping trips!) & a KleenKanteen (stainless-steel reusable water bottle; fill with tap water after security check in the airport for easily accessible water on the plane & use when out walking around town during the trip). I use both of these alllllllll the time at home, & they are insanely useful on the road & abroad.

I plan to take lots of pix on the trip, but we'll have minimal Internet access (just on our iPhones). So no blogging. But I've got a couple more work days before I leave...

Hilo Hattie's print sheath dress

necklace from Florida

Fashion Beauty Friend Friday - 02.11.11

FBFF Questions for 02.11.11 - This week, it's the color wars, courtesy of ModlyChic and sponsored by We Love Colors.

1. What color dominates your closet?
Black, duh! Accent colors are purple, burgundy, grey, & white.

2. If money weren't an issue how would you change the color emphasis in your closet?
Hell no. I'd just buy better quality black. Richer, darker black. Black as my soul. Black as my heart. Black as my hair (oh, & I'd dye my hair more often -- no more greys showing!).

3. What is your mantra about mixing colors?
This is kind of old hat: Gothic Color Theory. Black + one color is pretty much my everyday stance. Black + two colors is, like, whoa, edgy, crazy, out on a limb, someone's making a real effort here.

4. For you, how do you incorporate color into your outfits?
Start with a black piece (say, a skirt) & add a color around it. Accessorize with color & maybe pattern. Colored accessories, especially jewelry, sometimes tights (not as often because it's hard to find colorful tights that fit this petite-plus-size gal; sorry, We Love Colors, your sizing for me is just "meh"). I love colorful shoes & want more. 

5. Which blogger(s) do you think do a good job of incorporating color into their wardrobe?
Many people, no, most people wear more colors than I do. But bloggers whose sense of color jives best with what I would wear include Audi of Fashion for Nerds & Vanessa of Big Girl. Small Town. Tiny Budget.

Goth Not Goth

I fully admit this outfit is not very goth, other than me wearing it. But, as we ElderGoths are fond of saying, goth is more than just black clothes or liking certain bands or books or movies -- it's a state of mind & an attitude. That's my story & I'm sticking to it.

The scarf is one of the things I picked up last weekend, & I had no idea it would coordinate so perfectly with things in my closet. It was a whim that worked out fantastically, imnsho. And this is another try at belting a scarf, which seems to work better with a more normal-sized scarf than the giganto shawl I attempted earlier.

What I'm wearing:
Purple-pink ruched-shoulder sweater, H&M
Grey corduroy skirt, Newport News
Black tights, Calvin Klein
Black boots, Clarks
Floral scarf, Old Navy
Studded belt, Macy's
Gunmetal hoops, New York & Co.
Pink pyramid ring, Icing

First Time Mixing Patterns

Maybe it's the gothic aesthetic, maybe it's that I'm a closet preppy-traditionalist, maybe I'm an old fuddy-duddy, but I've never mixed patterned garments in one outfit before. At least not on purpose or while sober / awake. I know it's very trendy among the fashion blogosphere, & Miss Vinyl Ahoy even wrote a detailed tutorial on how to mix patterns judiciously.

But most of the time, those outfits look, to me, like someone forgot to take their meds. I just don't get it. Too much going on at one time! Remember, goths have trouble wearing more than one color + black. A big floral print mixed with plaid & micro-checks or something is going to be freaky for this goth gal.

And yet, when I had the top half of today's outfit on & reached for the black skirt I'd planned to wear with it, I suddenly paused at the spiderweb-print skirt. Hmm... pinstripe top, solid vest, with spiderwebs? Would it work or would I look like a bad accident? I tried it, looked in the mirror, & didn't throw up. In fact, when I went for accessories, necklaces didn't want to go with the neckline of this vest & I remembered the new scarf I bought. With polka dots. Omg, what has happened to me???

What I'm wearing today:
Black & grey pinstripe knit top, Old Navy
Black vest, bought from a friend
Black & white spiderweb-print skirt, made by me (first worn here)
Black & white polka-dot scarf, Old Navy
Black tights, unknown brand
Black lace-up spool-heel boots, Target
Large silver filigree earrings, Target
Giant black roses ring, Icing
Silver-grey flower hair pin, Icing

Unfortunately, the stripes in the top don't show up much in these photos, but I swear it looks like there's more print going on in real life.

Have you mixed patterns in an outfit? What do you think about the idea?

Broke My Fast

As I mentioned, I didn't make it very long without shopping for clothes. I lasted through all of January, but then, bam, February came & there I went. Even before I hit the mall, I had done some online shopping.

I was thinking about casual clothes, as one does, specifically, how sloppy I dress when I'm not going into the office. Working from home, ok, sure, yoga pants & a black T-shirt, that's fine every so often. But my weekend wear is pretty sorry.

About five years ago, I did make the break from jeans & teenager-style T-shirts (mostly). I weeded out all the gothy band tees & cutesy saying tees. I even ditched most of the old travel T-shirts I'd collected. And out went of the freebie tech T-shirts from work & conferences, 'cept for one or two to sleep in ONLY.  I replaced all those with simple "grown-up" solid-color knit tops in short & long-sleeve varieties.

Of course, that felt boring. And the cutesy T-shirts crept back in, along with me just generally not giving a crap on weekends.

So, I'm on a renewed mission to stop looking like a slob on weekends, but also not look like a teenager, & that means I need a few things. Not a lot of stuff, just a few tops-that-aren't-T-shirts-but-aren't-dull. Because I can always wear leggings or the cute black jeans I stocked up on already. Plus, I wanted to do so on a budget -- can't go crazy given the attempt to not buy stuff in the first place.

Luckily, my faves Newport News & Target both had some deals. I found two white & black knit tops (pictured here) with a little romanti-goth flair in the clearance section of Newport News' site. These should go well with black jeans, maybe a cardigan (could be dressed up for work too).

Target had quite a few little knit dresses (similar to the black one I already have), so I got one in red. Good for layering with black, 'natch. Also picked up a black cotton tunic that should be spiffy with a belt & leggings &/or a skirt.

At the mall, I found a few more basics at Old Navy (one can never have enough black tees & camis), plus a couple scarves that could work for casual or work. New York & Co. had a few more solid-colored knit tops & these have froofy embellishments (buy one, get the other 50% off), so that's something less-than-boring.

But Express was where I got the gem -- this black & white stripey tee, which seems so simple, but is really an ideal CasualGoth look. On petite moi, it's rather long, almost a tunic, which instead of being a design flaw, makes it more flexible. I immediately wore it layered over a cami & with jeans, but I could see wearing it with leggings & belt & a maybe even a cardigan too.

And then I went kinda nuts on accessories. Perhaps it's because I've been catching up on the first few episodes of the latest "Ru-Paul's Drag Race" -- I bought a bunch of giant cocktail rings & flashy bib necklaces & flower hair pins. Plus a wide black corset belt. My inner diva is happy.

Got any casualwear style tips to share? What do you wear on the weekends?

PerkyGoth Goes Shopping

I had hoped to make it until March without buying more clothes. See, I have a couple trips coming up, so I wanted to save my pennies for those. After all, I did plenty of fashion shopping back around Black Friday & a little bit during Xmas sales. Not like I *needed* anything new...

But on Saturday, I went to the mall to buy a new cable at the Apple Store, & well, I ended up buying a ton of clothes & accessories. Fashion Math struck again! This is a theory that Sarah & I came up with -- small amounts spent on fashion don't seem to cost too much. You spend $30 on a belt & a necklace here, $40 on a couple tops there, lather, rinse, repeat throughout the mall, & while no single purchase was that big, by the end of the day, you've spent $300 on your wardrobe. But it's not like I bought one designer handbag! Fashion Math. Ugh.

More about the other stuff I bought later, since it was mostly casual wear & a ton of accessories. The one splurge was this totally PerkyGoth sweater that I could not resist. The necklace & ring are also new.

What I'm wearing today:
Black & pink stripey cardigan, INC for Macy's
Black T-shirt, Old Navy
Black straight skirt with button detail, Chadwicks
Black tights, Calvin Klein
Black pumps with silver buckles, Kenneth Cole
Black beaded bib necklace, Torrid
Giant black roses ring, Icing

So how often do you shop for clothes? Do you tend to buy lots of little things or one big thing?

 

Fashion Beauty Friend Friday - 02.03.11

FBFF Questions for 02.03.11 - This week, we are talking about creating a unique blog, courtesy of ModlyChic.

The launch this week of the 30 for 30 challenge, as well as the rise of EBEW and even the Going Red for Women month, got people thinking how do we decide what content works for our blog and what doesn't? How do we maintain our voice while being part of the larger blogger community?

So bloggers commented that some of these 'blogging events' are full of people just interested in jumping on the bandwagon and trying to garner a little more fame out of it, while others are authentic. All interesting and valid points, which of course had them thinking what makes a blog unique and how do we are bloggers differentiate ourselves and our blogs from the thousands out there. 

1. With all the blogging events out there how do you determine which ones to participate in and which ones to avoid?
So far, I haven't participated in any of them -- just FBFF, & even then, only when the questions appeal to me or I have time or I'm a little bored on a Friday working from home! Honestly, those events don't fit with my personal style. 30 for 30 is a boring concept to me, even if it's what most normal (aka non-fashion-obsessed) people do all the time. I don't know what EBEW is (tried to find a link, couldn't!), & I kinda think that wearing a color for a cause isn't as powerful as actively donating or working for it.

Maybe I should start an event of my own ... Black Thursdays, where everyone wears head-to-toe black on Thursday! Pointy-Toe Tuesdays, must wear pointy-toed boots or shoes on Tuesdays! Hair Flower Week, we all wear flowers in our hair, every day for a whole week. Eight '80s, dress with some kind of retro 1980s element in your outfit for eight days straight. Super Stripe Days, wear something striped on every day that has an "S" in it for a whole month.

Yeah, now you see why I'm not in charge here.

2. Be honest, have you ever jumped on the bandwagon of some blogging movement/event for the wrong reasons? How did that turn out?
I do wonder about these FBFFs a little -- am I just doing it for a link elsewhere? But at the same time, I don't dress up on Fridays when I work from home, so this seems pretty harmless.

3. How do you give your own flair to a blog event while still maintaining the general mission and purpose?
I blather in my own special way ;-)

4. When determining the best content for your blog what criterion do you keep in mind?
Is it at least a little bit goth & can I wear it to my admittedly casual office? Everything on this blog has to meet those qualifications. It's really that simple. I have other websites, LiveJournal, FaceBook, Flickr, etc., for tangents & personal BS. Some of the blogging events fall quickly fall into the category of "tangents" as far as CorpGoth is concerned.

For example, I was going to participate in a Petite Style Challenge on Alternations Needed for something like "perk up your winter wardrobe blahs" which required an outfit with no black in it (other than shoes or accessories). At first, I thought that would be a fun example of stretching my wings. But then I realized it was actually impossible with my wardrobe. I have a few summertime things that could work, but nothing for a full winter outfit. I couldn't fulfill that challenge in a genuinely CorpGoth or Trystan fashion. So there was no point.

5. While everything will not suit your blog, how do you try and support your fellow bloggers who are participating in something worthwhile but not your style?
I watch & comment, if I appreciate something.

Black & White & Fuchsia

When I planned this outfit the night before, I was thinking of either mid-high lace-up boots or flat, pointy bat-buckle boots. But when I went into the closet to grab my shoes, I saw these fuchsia velvet babies & thought, whoa, where have you been all my life? I've probably worn them twice in two years. Sad!

And I was reminded of Sal's recent post on Already Pretty about incorporating colorful shoes into an outfit, so I threw the ol' burgundy hair flower into the mix. It's not an exact match, but shockingly I don't have any fuchsia accessories. I looked around for some jewelry, & while I have a lot of hot pink, nothing fit the neckline of this top & sweater. Oh well, I hope the look still works.

What I'm wearing:
Black boyfriend cardigan, Chadwicks
Black & white damask-print knit top, Spiegel
Black velvet & satin swirl skirt, unknown brand
Black elastic belt with ruffle accent, NY & Co.
Black tights, Calvin Klein
Fuchsia crushed-velvet lace-up boots, bought from a friend
Hand-painted skull pendant on velvet ribbon, made by a local artist
Silver cameo earrings, vintage
Dark burgundy lipstick, Chanel "Vamp"
Burgundy satin flower hair pin, Forever 21

One Dress Two Ways

Call me lazy, but I decided to wear the same dress within three days. Hey, I only wore it for the afternoon on Saturday, & then I wore it layered today -- where's the crime? Besides, it shows diversity ;-) Let's start reverse-chronologically...

What I wore today:
Black knit dress, Target
Purple long-sleeve T-shirt, Target
Black tights, Calvin Klein
Purple lace-up boots, Roman's
Black elastic belt with silver flower, NY & Co.
Purple & hematite beaded choker, gift from a friend
Purple dangly earrings hand-painted with bats, made by a local artist
Silver & clear bead bracelet with ribbons, NY & Co.
Purple-brown shimmery lipstick, Victoria's Secret

Cozy outfit for a foggy & cool morning. I don't do a lot of layering under -- I tend to add sweaters & jackets over dresses. So this felt new for me. Also, as you might notice, this simple dress can be awfully cleavage-y for work, so it can't really go alone.

What I wore Sunday:
Black knit dress, Target
Black knit military-style jacket, Macy's
Black & white stripey leggings, American Apparel
Black socks, unknown brand
Black T-strap flats, Aldo
Elizabethan-style choker in faux gold, ruby, & pearls, eBay seller
Huge pearl-drop earrings, Forever 21
Huge red cut-glass ring, Forever 21

This was what I threw on after taking off my 1570s gown that I wore in a fashion show that afternoon. I left on the jewelry that went with the gown, just for the heck of it (& because, when I grabbed clothes that morning, I didn't pack anything else!). I'm wearing my less-obviously-modern eyeglasses, which I use with costumes. And my hair is randomly thrown atop my head, having just come out of an elaborate period 'do. Not the best look, but this is how my CasualGoth fashion ends up.

Last photo thanks to Sarah (of yet another fashion blog).