CorpGoth's Basic Shopping Tips

This post is inspired by some friends discussing online how much they hate shopping because they can't find anything they like in stores right now. Which I understand to some extent, but then I also think, "but hey, there's so much *choice* out there, I bet you can find something you'd like, you just have to hunt for it!"

Shopping for clothes isn't easy, & if you've ever watched "What Not to Wear" or other makeover shows, you realize that immediately. It's not just difficult for "hard to fit" women -- let's face it, we're all hard to fit because clothing is manufactured in arbitrary sizes that vary from one brand to another, & that is simply not going to correspond to the myriad of shapes that actual human beings come in! No, no, shopping is difficult for everyone because we have a huge variety of needs, wishes, desires, budgets, time available, *and* sizes to deal with, not to mention we have to take the current trends into account since that will affect what's available in many stores or online (& may or may not affect how we wish to present ourselves to the world).

Still, with all those caveats, it's possible to find clothing pieces that will suit you at many shopping venues, in a range of prices, most of the year. You have to keep an open mind & be willing to work at it, however.

Here are some of my tips, specifically for ladies interested in gothic/alternative styles & needing office-appropriate fashions...

Start with the basics. Every woman needs items like straight skirts, simple blouses, layering pieces (like long-sleeve & short-sleeves tees & camisoles), classic trousers, a good jacket, cardigans, & maybe some jeans & leggings. These are wardrobe building blocks. A goth gal might have them primarily in black, with a few in grey, white, & jewel tones.

Look for the structured pieces like skirts, jackets, & pants at department stores & higher quality boutiques & chains. This is where you shop very mainstream -- think Talbots, Loft, NY & Company, Express, Macy's, Dillards, Nordstrom. You want simple, classic garments that will last for 5-10 years & will go with anything. You can pair a black pencil skirt or A-line skirt with a million different tops, it could go from the office to a nightclub, from lunch with your parents to cocktails with your pals, it will be a true wardrobe workhorse. Don't skimp on price or quality!

On the other hand, you can go cheaper with tops, especially layering pieces. Buy a half-dozen T-shirts & camis at Old Navy or Target -- black, white, every dark shade, & any dark stripe. You can wear these under sweaters, jackets, & dresses or wear them alone with skirts & pants. They'll go with work outfits & with weekend gear.


Get creative with the top layer.  Sweaters, blouses, & jackets are a good place to add fun to your outfit. Look for patterns, prints, & details like ruffles & pleating, even sequins or metallic threads. Go for unusual or rich fabrics such as velvet, velveteen, silk, & leather, either in whole garments or in accents. Dark, rich colors will be more common in the stores during fall & winter, & they'll be on clearance after Christmas / New Years.

Consider all styles of dresses. While skirts & pants are wardrobe workhorses, dresses can be lifesavers on busy mornings. Just throw on a dress, & you're essentially done. So it pays to find out what dress styles suit your body shape & personal preferences. Unfortunately, this means trying on a ton of different dresses!

You may think that you're not the "dress" type or that only certain dresses work for you. But maybe the real issue is that you haven't tried on enough dresses, pure & simple. A-line skirts, empire waists, sheath dresses, tunics, V necks, scoop necks, different sleeve shapes, etc., etc. -- all of these details look different on different bodies.

Don't forget to accessorize. Interesting belts, scarves, hair do-dads, jewelry, & shoes can really complete an outfit & make it personal. Plus, you can draw attention towards the best parts of you & away from whatever you might not be as interested in. For example, a belt can define an hourglass figure, a statement necklace can point towards fabulous cleavage, earrings can show off a delicate neck, scarves can elongate a short frame.

Don't forget that different types of accessories work differently -- wide vs. skinny belts, belts placed at different spots on your waist, long vs. short scarves, scarves tied in various ways, etc.

Bonus point: Accessories can be cheaper than clothing pieces! Buy wacky, fun accessories at Forever 21, Hot Topic, & Claire's, or find unique stuff on Etsy or ArtFire, or make your own from craft-store parts. For a few bucks, you can change an outfit from plain & simple to snazzy & wild.

Consider alterations. Yeah, it's expensive to have a garment tailored. But it's not crazy-stupid expensive. It's not like buying-a-designer-handbag-or-shoes expensive. You can pay $10 to $20 to get pants or skirts or jacket sleeves shortened or $50 for more major alterations. Add that to the price of the original clothing item, & sure, you've paid more, but then you'll have something that fits well & flatters your unique shape.

Did you know that most everything celebs wear & all the stuff on those makeover shows is altered to fit? It's true, & Clinton Kelly admits it. For that matter, all the clothes worn before about 1920 were custom-made or at least finished to fit -- mass-produced sizing is a pretty new concept. So if you want a truly good fit, no matter your size, the best bet is to make changes to the garment. If you're petite, have hemlines & sleeves taken up & waistlines snugged up. If you're tall or busty, buy a larger size & have the garment fitted to you by a pro.

Obviously, this is a better investment on higher quality garments, not cheap stuff from Target. But tailoring a few good dresses, jackets, & skirts, will give you some awesome go-to outfits for any day of the week.

All of these basics will give your wardrobe a grounded place to start from for an artsy, creative, yet office-appropriate look. It's not simple or fast, of course, because it does require a lot of shopping & trying many things on, including things you may not think will work for you. But experimentation, looking at items & in stores you might never have looked before, is how you'll discover what really works & where you can shop in the future.

Related Links:

• Styling a Single Piece Multiple Ways -- Sal of Already Pretty shows how a basic black skirt can look totally different just by combing it with other wardrobe items.
  
• How to Find a Blazer Jacket That Fits -- Excellent tips from Alterations Needed on what to look for in a great jacket, plus ideas of what reasonable alterations might be needed in even the best of them.
• How to Buy Good Trousers -- Super-detailed analysis of the construction details that separate high-quality pants from poor quality ones, from No Signposts in the Sea. Once you recognize good trousers, those are ones worth alterations too.

What I'm wearing: Black piped jacket, Spiegel | Black T-shirt, Target | Black & white print skirt, White House Black Market | Black tights, Hue | Black kitten-heel pointy shoes, Aldo | Black & white beaded necklace, made by me

Basic Sewing Skills

Because I sew enormous historical and fantasy costumes, people always ask if I sew my own clothes. I immediately answer: HELL NO. I have a job, I have a life! Sewing is a hobby, sure, but it's also a huge time-suck, and when I want something to wear every day to work, I get a lot better return-on-investment from just buying a dress or top from Target or Macy's. Ain't nobody got time for that.

However, having basic sewing skills is a great help for minor alterations that can make off-the-rack clothes fit and look better or be more personalized. This dress is a great example. I saw it on eBay and figured it'd fit, but it was originally about floor-length for 5'2" me. Chopping off a straight hem is super-simple, and hemming by hand gives it a professional look. The alteration took maybe 30 minutes. That's a good ROI!


What I'm wearing: Black pinstripe linen dress, eBay | Black belt, NY & Company | Black tights, Hue | Black heeled lace-up boots, Aerosoles | Black & silver beaded necklace, random accessory store | Black skull earrings, local artisan

I Love Lipstick

I freakin' love lipstick. It can be pretty, sexy, exotic, refined, hardcore, mysterious, elegant, outrageous, all kinds of things, and just with a couple of easy swipes.

Whether $5 at the drugstore or $30 at Sephora, it's a bargain considering how much bang it packs.

So many colors and effects, all drawing attention to the part of you through which your brain is most obvious: your mouth. I make my words carry extra weight by underlining them and giving them an exclamation point with lipstick.

Do you wear lipstick?

What I'm wearing: Red turtleneck sweater, Macy's | Black & white stripe sweater, White House Black Market | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Black patent pumps, unknown brand | Black & white beaded necklace & matching earrigns, made by me | Red lipstick, Makeup Forever

The Professor's Homework: Sewing Projects

My current to-do list in the sewing room.

I freakin' LOVE The Professor's latest homework assignment of On the Cutting Table. As she says:  "Show your crafting / art / sewing / knitting / crochet works in progress and the projects that you want to tackle in the next few months. What's on your cutting table? What's in your knitting basket? Did you just buy four new skeins of yarn for that shawl you've been meaning to make? Is there a canvas in the corner of your room just begging for some paint? Show us what you've been up to and what you are planning."

Except I can't tell you what I'm working on. Not the stuff right now because it's SEEKRIT!!!

But here's some hints...

The local costumer's guild is having a Game of Thrones themed event at a winery that has a perfect recreation of a 14th-century castle. A bunch of friends and I are going, obviously, and some of us are making specific characters from the TV show (or book, though admittedly, I read the first book and hated it, but I love the show). Other friends are making "inspired by" costumes.

My planned costume is of a TV show character. A main character. And I can't tell you any more because I want to show up at the event and make people say "wow!"

I can say it's a very popular character, and almost all the materials are from my fabric stash, so the costume won't be perfectly screen-accurate, but it should be recognizable.

In the meantime, take a look around my sewing room -- I totally reorganized and painted it over the summer. And I have a post on my costume blog about a longer-term project for this summer where I want to recreate a gown worn by Charlotte Bronte. I've only started the research, not the sewing for that one yet.

What creative stuff are you working on these days?

Something Different

This was a special-occasion outfit, so more gothic than average or every day. Sometimes, it's just required. I wore a mix of things I've made and purchased with a little vintage vibe.

I've been a little absent from blogging here because I've been working very hard over on FrockFlicks.com, where we're starting #SnarkWeek today. If you've ever watched a historical costume movie and wondered WTF are they wearing, come on over and check out a whole week of non-stop snarky fun! We're also on Facebook and Twitter.

What I'm wearing:
Nightmare Before Christmas themed mini top hat, bought in Disneyland | Black lace jacket, Macy's | Black T-shirt, Old Navy | Black & white spiderweb skirt, made by me | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Black heeled granny boots, Aerosoles | Black lace choker, bought at Convergence | Dangly faux-jet earrings, random accessory store | Black lipstick, Make Up For Ever

Do you enjoy costume dramas on TV or the big screen?

Missed Red & Black Week

I looked at this outfit in the mirror and thought, dang, why haven't I worn this for Red and Black Week? Really, I've had this sweater for years.

But then, that's the problem, the sweater. Red and Black Week tends to happen in the late spring, and this long-sleeve, mock-turtleneck sweater is just too warm to wear except for a few months of the year in temperate Northern California. Thus, it always misses out.

So consider this a one-off Red and Black.

What I'm wearing: Red sweater, Macy's | Black, white, & red stripe skirt, Kohl's | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Black flats, Aerosoles | Black glass bead necklace with red Murano heart, made by me

One Size Fits None

I can't believe there are whole stores selling "one size fits all" garments. Because, as that article rather hilariously proves, one size fits none. While they're talking about garments like shirts and skirts, which is pretty hard to believe one size could fit any kind of range, a place where "one size" has been standard for ages and doesn't look to change any time soon is hosiery.

Tights, in particular, and the more unusual the style -- like stripes, fishnets, spiderwebs, etc. -- are more likely to come in that dreaded "one size." And for a garment that is intended to be, well, TIGHT, being available in only one size is horrible. As a short woman with curves, one-size tights are my absolute nemesis. All tights are too long, so they bunch at the ankles, but one-sizers have the added problem of being uncomfortably tight at the waist. They'll sometimes ride down too. Ugh.

Which is why I love the heck out of the Calvin Klein black tights I wear most every day: They come in four sizes, as do all CK hosiery. That's more than most brands. Some only have two sizes, regular and plus, others might have three (adding a tall), but Calvin Klein actually has some diversity. It's not much, but it's just enough for me. Pity they're not in stock year-round!

Related: This is what happens when you buy cheap clothing from Singapore online. Hilarious yet sad revelation of the misleading size labels and shoddy quality of many of those super-cheap clothing retailers you see on the web. eBay and Etsy are particularly full of them, but any web search for clothes can turn up these too-good-to-be-true businesses. Yeah, not shopping there!

What I'm wearing: Black puff-sleeve sweater, H&M | Black corduroy skirt, H&M | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Burgundy faux suede boots, DSW | Burgundy pearl & cameo necklace, made by me | Silver cameo earrings, vintage

Friday Five: Sleepy Time

1. How many hours of sleep do you like to get in a night?

I want to get 8 or 9 hours of sleep, but that just doesn't seem to happen regularly, alas.

2. How many hours of sleep can you survive on indefinitely?

I seem to be existi on 6 or 7 many nights in a row. It sucks, but I can make it.

3. Do you enjoy napping?

Actually no. Naps just make me sleepy, not refreshed.

4. The average amount of time it takes a person to fall asleep is seven minutes -- do you tend to need more or less time than that?

It used to take me hours to fall asleep, but now I have meds that help me fall asleep in about 20 to 30 minutes. However I usually wake up for an hour or so in the middle of the night.

5. If you were offered a pill that would enable you to sleep only 2 hours out of every 24 and remain fully functional, but you could never sleep more than that, would you take it?

If I felt satisfied and rested? Sure, I'd do it. I only crave sleep because I feel so crappy without it. Sleep is a sometimes pleasant but often frustrating means to an end for me.


Questions culled from The Friday Five on LiveJournal.

What I'm wearing: Black ruffled sleeveless top, Macy's | Black skirt, thriftstore, embellished by me | Burgundy peplum sweater, Anthropologie | Burgundy fishnet tights, unknown brand | Black patent block-heel pumps, unknown brand | Dangly faux-jet earrings, random accessory store

The Professor's Homework Assignment: Halloween!

This month's assignment is specifically about Halloween at home -- how you decorate, treats you make, how you spend the holiday with family and friends. So I thought I'd show some scenes from the Halloween party my husband and I have hosted, off and on for the entire time we've known each other. We call it the Famous Dead Person's Ball -- where everyone comes dressed as someone at least marginally famous and at least temporarily dead. I've collected and crafted decorations for decades, and we put things all over the front yard and porch, and all throughout the house. It's a huge production, so we don't do it every year (the last one was in 2012 -- we're due to hold another one soon!).

Here are some views of the decor we've done...

Welcome to the FDPB in 2005

Frank the Skeleton promises a good time!

Our spooky walkway from 2008.

A deadly buffet is laid in 2005.

Candles, cobwebs, & roses on the living room mantle.

In 2010, we didn't have a full party, but we had another couple over for a spooky dinner. I set the table with our best gothic linens and china and made a fall-themed menu.

 

Statement Earrings

With my new short hair, I'm trying to look for bigger earrings to wear. It feels like a way to dress up my face and distract from the severe style of this unpleasant-to-me fashion. I have a few pairs of larger, flashy earrings, and I've been searching for more.

I picked up these earrings at the vendor room at Costume College, the annual costume conference I attend and teach at in Southern California. The earrings are made from metal sewing-machine bobbins, so a little crafty-nerdy and relevant to my interests.

What I'm wearing: Black lace-topped T-shirt, H&M | Black skirt with lace, velvet & stripe embellishment added by me, thrift-store | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Black & grey pumps, Target | Beaded bobbin earrings, Costume College

Gothic Martha Stewart decoupages a table

A fun way to liven up your home decor is to decoupage wood furniture. Second-hand and thrift-store items can be great candidates for redecorating as long as they have some flat surfaces, which are easier to add designs too (if you're ambitious & have more time, go wild with more elaborately curved furniture).

In my Gothic Martha Stewart tutorial, I take a small table, paint it burgundy & black, then decoupage tarot cards on the top & shelf of the table. This makes for a quirky little end table in my living room. Read the step-by-step instructions, & get inspired to take on your own project. What will you transform? Share your ideas in the comments.

What I'm wearing: Grey sheath dress, Target | Purple & black striped cardigan, Old Navy | Grey tights, Calvin Klein | Purple suede pumps, Aerosoles | Purple crystal necklace, random accessory store | Purple crystal earrings, random accessory store

Sewing Your Own Gothic Clothing

Because I sew big, crazy historical costumes, people often think I sew my own clothing. Sure, I can, but I don't like to. I have in the past, but these days, I prefer to save my minimal sewing time, energy, & budget for only those costumes. That said, I have some tips for those who want to get started sewing their own gothic clothes or just adding goth details to clothing.

Never sewn a stitch? Instructables to the rescue. Start with this step-by-step how to sew tutorial. This page guides you through the basics of hand-sewing. CraftStylish also has a useful primer to get to know your hand-sewing needles.

Sewing Projects to Get You Started
With basic sewing skills, you can start gothing up your wardrobe making over existing garments, either old things in your wardrobe or garments you find at thrift stores. Some projects to star with:

• Sew unusual buttons on a jacket or shirt.
• Shorten a long skirt or dress.
• Sew a band of trim near the hem of a straight or A-line skirt.
• Turn a long-sleeve shirt into a short-sleeve one.
• Dye a white or pale garment a new color.
• Make a baggy button-down shirt more fitted.
• Turn an big old T-shirt into a girly dolman tee.
• Retrofit a boxy blazer into one of three different styles of jacket.

Some of these updates will be easier with a sewing machine. If you've never bought one, read through this detailed sewing machine shopper's guide written by a very experienced friend of mine. That should help you ask the right questions at the store.

If you want to learn to sew clothes from scratch, SewMarm's YouTube channel has some handy tips on everything from inserting the bobbin on a sewing machine to making a 1920s-inspired dress in one hour. The ThreadBanger YouTube channel has lots of fun & relatively easy tutorials for clothes, costumes, & craft projects to inspire you.

Sewing Goth Clothes on a Budget
Sewing doesn't require a huge, up-front investment, although it's easy to go nuts at a fabric store. One way to save your budget is by looking for fabric at thrift-stores. I love using sheets, tablecloths, and curtains as material because you get a huge piece of great yardage on the cheap. You may find lush, heavy fabrics this way.

At the fabric store, always wait for sales. And make sure to go to every fabric store in your area and get on their mailing list. Really, this is the number one way to get fancy fabric less expensively. You'll get flyers in the mail or get emails notifying you of sales early, and usually you'll get coupons. Some stores even have special 'early bird' or 'preferred customer' sales. For example, Jo-Ann Fabrics (in the U.S.) sends out sale coupons by print & email most every week for 40% off. Local, non-chain stores may also have sale lists & coupons, so don't ignore them.

Likewise, stores frequently put commercial patterns on sale for 99 cents each (especially at Jo-Anns). That's when you buy patterns! Look through the costume sections for ruffled blouses & corseted garments, especially if those styles aren't currently "in" & that's what you want to sew.

Basic garment shapes like straight or full skirts, simple dresses, tunics, and shirts can be made in exotic fabrics like velvet and silk or in Halloween-print cottons (those printed quilting cottons are super easy to sew and very durable to wear). Or make them in dark colors and add fancy trims like lace, velvet ribbons, and vintage buttons. Just a tiny bit of design can go a long way to creating a custom wardrobe.  Search thrift stores, Michaels, eBay, and Etsy for crafty and vintage supplies to jazz up your garments.

Give it a shot, and share your project ideas in the comments!

What I'm wearing: Black T-shirt, Old Navy | Black & white spiderweb-print skirt, made by me from a Halloween tablecloth | Black elastic belt, NY & Company | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Black kitten-heel pumps, Aldo | Silver, black, & rhinestone choker, random accessory store | Silver  hoop earrings, random accessory store

Gothic Martha Stewart Explains Curtains

The easiest way to customize your living space, whether it's a rental apartment or your own home, is to make curtains. I describe several types of curtain projects on my Gothic Martha Stewart site.

Not all curtains require sewing. Get long, long lengths of cheap fabric -- muslin looks nice and is frequently 99 cents a yard (don't overlook sheets and thrift-shop fabrics too). Go super goth & use lace or tulle. Wind it around your old curtain rods, leaving long lengths at each end. Allow the fabric to 'puddle' on the floor, tucking the ends under, no hemming necessary.

This is admittedly a decorative look, not functional. But you could add mini-blinds or shades (which, if you have average size windows, can be cheap) or second-hand sheers.

Feeling slightly more ambitious? Try no-sew gathered curtains, made with iron-on fusible tape or fabric glue. See full instructions. A variation is tab-top style curtains. If you do sew or are just learning, both these style of curtains are great beginner's projects because they only involve straight lines & only a few seams.

What I'm wearing: Dark floral knit top, H&M | Black elastic belt, NY & Company | Black crochet skirt, Coldwater Creek | Black flats, Aerosoles | Black beaded cameo necklace, random accessory store | Silver cameo earrings, vintage

Five Things a CorpGoth Should Keep in the Desk

You spend a lot of time at your office, so you're going to need a few things, little backups, necessities, just-in-case items that will make life easier. Here's my list of must-haves for every CorpGoth to stash in a desk drawer for emergencies & everyday problems:

Lint roller -- We're goths, we have cats. Even if they're dark-furred cats, it shows up on our clothes. And inevitably, the one morning you're too busy to do a lint-brushing as you leave the house, that's the day you have a big meeting with your boss. Slip a travel-size lint roller in you desk drawer, & you'll never be caught unawares (if you have multiple cats or a dog, keep a normal-size lint brush at work!).

Black eyeliner &/or dark lipstick -- For the harried mornings when you don't have time for makeup or the long workdays when your makeup fades & you can't find anything in your purse. Keep a little something basic in your desk to freshen up.

Band-aids or moleskin -- For foot blisters. You know you're going to wear impractical shoes to work at some point, admit it. They're so cool! But they're not broken in yet, & man, are they killing you. Stock some bandages or moleskin to pad your heels & toes until you get home.

Safety pins & a small sewing kit -- For the blouse that didn't seem quite so revealing at home or the hem that ripped out on the subway. Especially if you wear vintage garments to work, but even new clothes can have a loose button fall off at inopportune moments.

Ear buds -- Tiny earphones are ideal for most any office. You can listen to music or podcasts or simply block out the phone calls from the next cubicle. Sometimes, wearing ear buds is a good sign that you don't want to be bothered.

More ideas from Corporette on what to keep at your desk, plus toiletries to keep at your desk.

What do you find essential to keep in your desk? Anything you'd add or subtract from my list?

What I'm wearing:  Black Victorian-style blouse, made by Donna  | Black skirt with trim added by me, Gap, thrift-store | Black Cyberoptix tie, Etsy | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Black & silver pumps, Target | Silver & purple Victorian-style earrings, random accessory store

That Red & Black Week Dress

This might be the first thing I bought specifically thinking of wearing for Red & Black Week. And I even had to go out of my way to get a blog picture for it (read the linked entry for deets).

Yeah, that's what this blogging can do to your brain! But I knew I'd love the dress anyway, & I've gotten good use out of. Cost-per-wear is maybe a buck at this point.

What I'm wearing: Red knit dress with high-low hem, Macy's | Black elastic belt, NY & Company | Black pothole stockings, unknown brand | Black & grey wedge heels, Anne Klein | Black skull-print scarf, gift from my husband | Black & white African bead earrings, made by me

Gothic Martha Stewart explains slipcovering furniture

Do you have a second-hand couch or chair that came with unpleasantly pale upholstery? When you can't afford a new piece of furniture and ripping off the current upholstery feels like too daunting of a task, slipcovering can be the solution to a more elegantly dark decor.

In my Gothic Martha Stewart tutorial, I discuss several methods of slipcovering, from simple to complicated. You can start by just throwing a piece of fabric over the offending furniture. This has pros and cons. It's cheap, fast, & easy. But it's messy because this kind of slipcover doesn't stay put on the furniture very firmly.

For a more fitted slipcover, you'll want to sew. Most commercial pattern books have patterns for slightly fitted slipcovers. These are a good start, & they're usually fitted over part of the back &/or arms of a sofa or chair.

For the ultimate slipcover, you'll need to custom-fit one to your specific piece of furniture. While that make seem daunting, it's less tedious than re-upholstery & will give a totally new look. Read more about slipcovering furniture, & see my burgundy velveteen slipcovered couch.

What I'm wearing: Pink patterned cardigan, Chadwicks | Black sleeveless knit top with ruffled neckline, Michael Kors | Black skirt, NY & Company | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Black flats, Aerosoles | Dark grey & pink pearl necklace, Salamanca Designs | Gunmetal hoop earrings, random accessory store

Gothic Martha Stewart stamps velvet

Did you know I've run a little site called Gothic Martha Stewart since about 1997? It's predicated on the idea of 'what if Martha Stewart did projects in goth themes & colors.' For a change of pace, I thought I'd share some of my favorite GMS projects over here. Such as...

Stamping Velvet
This is an easy technique you can use to decorate fabric for garments or home decor items. You can even stamp ready-made clothing, just as long as the item is loose enough to get an iron at & there aren't many seams in the way.

The only special item you'll need is a rubber stamp with a large, chunky design. Everything else you probably have around the house, such as an iron, a spray bottle, and a heavy hard-back book.

Follow the instructions in the complete tutorial, & get creative! This is easy to do for a scarf or bag, but stamped designs would be a lovely accent on a straight skirt or a flat portion of a jacket (think lapels, pockets, or center back).

What I'm wearing: Black velveteen jacket, White House Black Market | Black & white damask knit top, Speigel | Burgundy skirt, NY & Company | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Black & white T-strap flats, Nine West | Garnet drop earrings, London National Museum

Grey Day

Rainy morning -- we need more of those here in drought-stricken California. Unfortunately, this is normally the end of the rainy season, & we haven't had much rain at all. I dread how hot & dry summer will be. Gotta wear sweaters now, any chance I can.

How has your winter been? Snow, rain, dry? How does this effect what you wear?

What I'm wearing:
Black & grey stripe sweater, Target | Black skirt with striped & lace trims, Gap, thrifted, modified by me | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Black & grey pumps, Target | Silver skull necklace, random accessory store | Silver hoop earrings, random accessory store

 

Scarf Time

Originally, I thought scarves & turbans were too "cancer patient" looking for me. Well, they are, but I now see the value of wearing them anyway. This style of head covering is easy to wear once it's on (tho' it can be fussy to adjust to look good), & they can be comfortable. Besides, scarves/turbans mix up the look. Sometimes, I don't care if I look like a cancer patient -- it's the truth, I own it.

I made this one from a fabric scrap a friend gave me. I was trying to copy a fitted scarf that I got on Etsy, since I liked the style & just wanted variety. Sewing stretch fabrics isn't my favorite thing to do, but the project only had a few darts to give the cap shape. I'm going to make more since other friends have donated stretch fabrics, & I'll be bald for quite a while longer.

What I'm Wearing:

Black & white knit scarf, made by me

Black & white stripe "Paris" T-shirt, bought in Paris, France

Silver filigree earrings, Target

Red lipstick, Sephora house brand

Pirate With a Touch of Cancer

My second of four chemo treatments fell on Talk Like a Pirate Day, so I decided to wear a cute little pink tricorn (that went quite well with my black & pink wig), plus a pirate-y hitched-up skirt & a lot of skull jewelry. Gotta look good to feel good!

Now I have to plan themes for the next two treatments. The last one falls on Halloween day, so of course I have to go extra spooky & outrageous. But no idea what to do for the middle one. Hopefully I'll get inspired in the next few weeks.

What I'm wearing:
Black crinkle skirt, Rampage | Black ruffled tank top, Newport News | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Pink & black stripe shoes, Sugar | Black & pink wig, Miss Violet Lace | Pink silk tricorn, The Ruby Raven | Painted skull pendant on black velvet ribbon, Jewels by Olivia | Dangly "F#@K CANCER" earrings, made by me | Pewter woman symbol stud earring, bought on the street in Berkeley | Ying/yang stud earring, bought on the street in Berkeley | Pewter peace symbol earring, bought on the street in Berkeley | Skull bracelets, gift from my mom | Black & gunmetal cocktail ring, random accessory store