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

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

 

Last Chemo Dance & Happy Halloween

Halloween Day was my last chemo treatment -- of course I was going to dress up! But I had some constraints, in that I couldn't wear long sleeves or tight upper sleeves because of the blood draw, blood pressure check, & the infusion itself. So I scoured my costume closet & realized I had this great big ballgown with a halter-style top. Luckily, it's pink & went with the pink ribbon "breast cancer" tiara I'd bought a few months earlier.

Many of the nurses at the clinic were dressed in costume, & everyone loved my "Drag Queen Cancer Princess" outfit. They even took a picture for their breakroom photo wall. And my husband documented the day & posted on Facebook.

Now, it's just a few weeks of side effects & recover, then I start radiation, which is much more targeted & supposed to have far more mild side effects -- so I can go back to work & hopefully have a more normal life again! Really looking forward to that.

What I'm wearing:
Pink silk dupioni 1950s-style ballgown, made by Donna | Full petticoat underneath, thriftstore | Black drag-queen wig, eBay | Pink ribbon tiara, Etsy | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Black ribbon-tie pumps, Clark's | Black lace, pearl, & chain choker, bought at Convergence | Black with pink crystal earrings, random accessory store | 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 | Black gloves, vintage | Black faux-fur cape (worn in treatment chair), vintage

Selfie on the ride to the clinic

Checking in at the office

Waiting with my sweetie, he's been there every step of the way!

Super cool medical assistant Jordan checking my vitals

My excellent oncologist Dr. Mann checks my progress

Sitting in the chair before getting the last infusion

Back to the Office

After a month away, I'm back to work in the office. *sigh* It was fun while it lasted! Check out my photos from the U.K. and France on Flickr, while I get down to business...


What I'm wearing:
Burgundy peplum sweater, Anthropologie | Black ruffled-front sleeveless knit top, Macy's | Black pencil skirt, Banana Republic, thrifted, embellished by me | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Burgundy suede cutout pumps, Shoe Metro | Garnet & pearl earrings, bought at the National Portrait Gallery U.K. | Silver & garnet poison ring, eBay

Spiderwebs, Purple, Stripes

Not sure why, but I seem to wear spiderweb tights with these purple shoes. Maybe it's how the spiderwebs show thru the strappy tops of the shoes. I just seem to reach for these pumps when I've put on these tights. The stripes, however, were an afterthot because I figured I'd need a sweater in case of office air-conditioning.

What I'm wearing:
Black & white stripe sweater, Chadwicks | Purple knit top, NY & Company | Black cotton tiered skirt, thrift store | Black elastic belt, NY & Company | Black spiderweb tights, Leg Avenue | Purple cross-strap pumps, Aldo | Silver medallion necklace, vintage Avon via eBay | Purple bat-painted pearl-drop earrings, local artist | Black & gunmetal cocktail ring, Icing | Purple lipstick, Make Up For Ever

 

Pink With Ruffles & Stripes

Because that's how I roll. This is Springtime With CorpGoth (which somehow makes me think of a highly inappropriate, yet, funny song). I like a pop of color mixed with classic goth elements like stripes & black ruffles.

What I'm wearing:
Grey & white striped hoodie sweater, Forever 21 | Black ruffled tank top, Newport News | Dark pink skirt, NY & Company | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Black patent square-toe pumps, unknown brand, thrifted or swapped | Black & pink thrift-store necklace with black rose added by me | Black & pink crystal Victorian-esque earrings, random accessory store

Do you seasons inspire you to wear colors? Are there any inappropriate songs you can't help but love?

Back at It

Trying to get back to the swing of blogging, after a week's absence plus a holiday weekend (which I spent sewing, sewing, sewing like a madwoman to get ready for the first renaissance faire of the season this coming weekend!).

Summer is somewhat here, & I did the ritual change from the black velvet down comforter on our bed to the lighter-weight purple matelasse bedspread. But I'm still wearing cardigans & light jackets to the office, just taking them off around lunchtime.

What I'm wearing:
Black knit military-style jacket, Macy's | Black three-quarter sleeve knit top, NY & Company | Black & white stripe skirt, White House Black Market | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Black wedge mary janes, Kenneth Cole Reaction (thrifted) | Black & white skull-print scarf, gift from my husband | Black & white stripe dangly earrings, Kohl's | Black & gunmetal cocktail ring, Icing | Black & white flower hair pin, random accessory store

Do you make any changes around the house for summer?

Simply Red (& Black & Lace)

Nothing fancy today, especially since it was looking like rain. Wanted to keep warm & cozy.

What I'm wearing:
Black knit dress, Target | Black leggings with lace panel, NY & Company | Black cardigan, Macy's | Red wool scarf, thrifted | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Red ankle boots, Aerosoles | Silver & garnet poison ring, eBay |  Gunmetal hoop earrings, random accessory store

DIY Fashion Projects on My Mind

There are a bunch of fashiony sewing projects I've been wanting to do. Not quite sure when I'll get to them, but I have this week off from work, so perhaps I can make one or two of these...

As soon as I saw this lace-trimmed T-shirt on the Ann Taylor LOFT website, I thot, "I can do that." Maybe in grey, like the original or in black with white lace or in white or dark pink with black lace. A black shirt with black lace would make a nice, tonal look too. Will look first at the thrift store for shirts, & if I don't find anything, I'll just grab a tee at Target or Old Navy. Plenty of black lace in my fabric stash.

I'd like to make a pieced skirt using a bunch of the fancy fabric scraps I have laying around. Last week, a coworker was wearing a gorgeous black pencil skirt with silver & blue patterned fabric piecing on the front. Very stylish, sleek, & elegant. I immediately thought I could do that in my colors.

Should have asked her if I could take a picture because now I just have hazy memory to go on for inspiration. I can't find anything like it online. This Etsy wool skirt has the vague concept & this Etsy jean skirt has more of the small piecing that I like (& that rocked on my coworker's skirt). Of course, neither are the right shape or materials. Gotta use your imagination!

Then there's this cropped jacket with lace by INC Concepts (a Macy's brand that often has goth-friendly pieces). It was an eBay auction that I didn't win -- I didn't want to bid too high because I had a feeling I could make something like this from a thrift-store velvet blazer & a bunch of lace.

I recently made a narrow black belt with a velvet bow in the front. The main part of the belt was a leather strap that I removed from the new purse I bought (it had an extra shoulder strap, even tho' the double straps are perfectly long enough for shoulder-wearing, weird!). I made a little bow from velvet ribbon & tried to glue it to the bow with the usually stick-to-everything E6000 craft glue. No dice! Had to sew the bow on using a leather needle. Haven't worn it yet tho'.

I've also been making a lot of necklaces & a couple pairs of earrings. Love making jewelry! It's so fast & easy, once you have a collection of shiny bits.

Do you like to make clothes or accessories or refashion items? Got any success stories or amusing attempts?