Broken Camera

Well now I'm screwed -- I dropped my camera & completely broke it. All I have is my iPhone for photos, & I can't put that on the tripod for decent full-outfit shots. Mirror photos are complicated by all the junk in my sewing room that blocks easy access to the mirror. *sigh*

So here are the lame pix I got of today's outfit, cobbled together from my phone & PhotoShop. Don't know when I can afford a new camera, so proper photos for blogging are on hold for a while...

What I'm wearing:
Grey sheath dress, Target | Purple & black striped cardigan, Old Navy | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Purple crossed-strap pumps, Aldo | Silver & hematite fish necklace, Ann D'Aboise | Pewter key earrings, made by me

 

Tiki Night

Since winter has been dry & warm here, how about a touch of TropiGoth? Might seem early to break out the tropical prints, but while visiting DisneyLand, my friends & I had to check out the Trader Sam's tiki bar at the DisneyLand hotel. And I dressed appropriately, natch.

What I'm wearing:
Black & pink Hawaiian-print dress, Hilo Hattie | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Black flats, Aerosoles | Black shell necklace, bought in Florida | "F@$k Cancer" earrings, made by me | Skull bracelets, gift from Mom | Pink flower hair pin, random accessory store

zombie cup from Trader Sam's

Tigger Goes Goth

On one day of my recent trip to DisneyLand, I wore this subtly Tigger-inspired outfit. The idea came from DisneyBound, a Tumblr with lots of outfit ideas that are inspired by or reminiscent of Disney characters without actually being costumes. This is ideal for adults because the theme park discourages adults from attending in actual costumes (they let little kids do it), & of course I love dressing up.

While Tiger is far & away my favorite Disney character, the several DisneyBound suggested outfits were all too, um, bright for me. I gave it a gothic twist. Too bad I didn't get a picture that day with Tigger himself!

What I'm wearing:
Black T-shirt, Old Navy | Black knit military-style jacket, Macy's | Brown, black, & white Ikat/tiger-print knit skirt, Kohl's | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Black suede ankle boots, Walking Company | Animal-print infinity scarf, random accessory store

The Professor's Homework Assignment: What Makes Your Heart Sing

I fully admit, I was not going to do this assignment. I'm in a dark place right now -- while I finally finished cancer treatment, a bunch of other crap has piled up in my life, & nothing is really making me "sing." I hear it's not uncommon for there to be a bit of a reaction after all the fighting to get through treatment, you can suddenly feel more easily overwhelmed by problems & unable to deal with stressors. Something about the fight or flight response finally letting up. Anyway.

But precisely because I'm feeling so down, I'm forcing myself to write about something that (usually) makes my heart sing. I've mentioned costuming plenty of times before, but what I enjoy most about it isn't the sewing (ugh, I kind of hate that!) or the research & design (which I do love) -- I adore being dressed up in costume with my friends. That's what it's all about. I don't make art in a vacuum. My costumes are a means to an end. They're part of what transforms me & the modern setting into the past or a fantasy where my friends & I can let loose & have a fabulous time. The so-called real world melts away, & everything is right, if only for a few hours. It's no coincidence that my husband & I met working renaissance faires. That's the kind of atmosphere where my heart sings & I feel closest to my higher, better self, the me I want other people to see & love.

Even during chemo, I had to go out to a few costumed events, & they were more energizing than exhausting. While sometimes creating a new costume can be daunting, the prospect of a costumed event with friends always perks me up.

me & my husband at Venetian carnevale

me & my best friends at an SCA event

me & my best friends at Colonial Williamsburg

Night Out With Bonus Crazy Nails

I wore this simple little sweater dress out to dinner with my husband & his mother recently. It was cozy yet a little dressy, thus well suited to a winter evening. But hidden in the outfit are some wacky nails. I used Sally Hansen's Salon Effects Nail Strips -- I've used them a couple times before & quite like them. They're basically plastic stickers that look like nail polish, except they're available in all kinds of crazy patterns. Of course, I had to get these with skulls.

What I'm wearing:
Grey sweater dress, Macy's
Black tights, Calvin Klein
Black flats, Aerosoles
Silver bat necklace, Plasticland
Gunmetal hoop earrings, random accessory store