Sponsorship Woes and Wishes

While I currently run Google ads on this site*, I haven't done much in the way of monetization or sponsorships. But I do get contacted by companies every so often asking to do promotions of some kind. The problem I have with this is usually that they're the wrong kind of business. They just don't fit.

Mostly, businesses see the "Goth" part of "CorpGoth" and seem to think that I'd be up promoting the same old, traditional gothic-punk clothing on my blog. Clothes similar to what Hot Topic would sell.  Everything is far too tight, short, and bondage-y for any office I'd ever work in! Hello, have these businesses looked at the photos on my blog? I don't wear spandex skull-printed dresses, ever! Even in my casual weekend wear. Nope, not my thing, not even when I was a lot younger and actually went to nightclubs.

I'd be interested if some high-end, sophisticated gothic businesses selling unique accessories, jewelry, and shoes contacted me, even Etsy artists and designers making custom CorpGoth clothing. But there has to be a corporate edge, not just goth-in-a-box. People can find that anywhere, and that's not what I'm interested in. My blog and my fashion is all about making goth from the ordinary and putting a gothic touch on mainstream office style. Any sponsor has to fit within this aesthetic as well.

That's why the one sponsored post I've done so far worked well. eShakti contacted me and offered a free dress, and that was fantastic because their designs are very goth-able. I'm happy to recommend their products.

One company I really wish would contact me is White House | Black Market -- omg, that store IS CorpGoth! I've mentioned it before because several of my very favourite wardrobe pieces are from there. Everything at White House | Black Market is, as the name implies, white or black, and every season (or more often), another color is added.  Oh, and frequently used patterns include stripes and damask. So it's custom-made for goths. The clothing styles are tailored and a little bit feminine, which makes it an excellent base for going either sleek and sophisticated or extra fancy. Garments are pricey but well made -- they're lined, made of thick fabrics, and have substantial buttons and trims. My only complaint is that sizes stop at 14, and there are no plus sizes. Still, if anyone at White House | Black Market happens to read this, contact me!

(Other brands I'd be happy to sponsor include Calvin Klein for their tights, which I wear almost every freakin' day, and shoes and boots from Aldo, Aerosoles, or Clarks, because I can walk miles in them! Anyone out there listening?)

What I'm wearing: Black velveteen jacket, White House Black Market | White & black damask-print knit sleeveless top, White House Black Market | Burgundy skirt, NY & Company | Black strappy flats, Macy's | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Onyx skull earrings, local artist | Beaded bat necklace, gift from friends

*I'll probably take them down soon. The content is stupid, they don't make any money, they're ugly, it was just a random shot in the dark. But it's almost as much of a PITA to remove them as it was to put them up; that's probably why so many sites have Google ads even tho' they don't earn much.

Clothing Stores I've Loved and Lost

I used to love shopping at real, live brick-and-mortar stores for clothes. Because I used to find things of interest there, unusual garments, quirky fun clothes, fashions I could work into a wacky wonderful wardrobe of my own style somehow. Even without thrift-shopping, there was a time when "going shopping" was a fun hobby in its own right.

I was part of the first-generation of mall rats in the U.S., in the heart of suburban California, I was essentially a Valley Girl -- ok, Silicon Valley, but still, like, totally, omg, gag me with a spoon, it was the '80s, and shopping malls were our native habitat. Most weekends, my girlfriends and I roamed the malls in search of good times and cool clothes.

This continued, off and on, for me through college and the early '90s, as mall culture wore down, stores changed, and the Internet started to take off. My needs changed, but I still wanted new clothes, and for many years, catalogs were a bigger supplement to malls than the Internet itself. Until finally, even that faded away, and now all my favorite brands are gone.

Today, I'm left with just the hodgepodge of big retailers. Sure, they're reliable for sales, their websites are searchable, and I can generally find something. But they don't specialize, they don't cater to my needs the way these long-lost faves did... ah, back when once upon a time there was...

Judy's -- This California-based chain had about 70 women's clothing stores in Western U.S. states at its peak in the mid-'80s. This was the first store that I really clicked with. It sold cutting-edge clothes and accessories, very hip styles, things like you'd see in new wave music videos. The prices were just at the edge of my allowance, I always saved up for a month before buying anything there. The chain had an annual blow-out sale, early on a Sunday morning, at a large, regional mall that my best friend and I went to (begging whoever's mom could stand taking us), and we'd buy a HUGE bag of really crazy stuff.

Contempo Casuals -- The last 200-some-odd stores were acquired by Wet Seal in 1995, but before that, this mall store was the supplier of A LOT of my wardrobe from 1984 to 1992. Every pair of leggings I wore (in every color!), all the big button-down shirts, a ton of broomstick skirts, scads of brocade and lace New Romantic stuff, piles of accessories, you name it. The brand gets some anti-nostalgic flack for being the home of neon, baggy '80s weirdness, but damn, those sale racks was where I built a fabulous RomantiGoth wardrobe on a reasonable budget! You can still find some of the labels turning up on eBay, but the really good stuff seems lost to history.

Newport News -- This was my one, great, mail-order love. I bought from Newport News using actual paper catalogs long before it ever had a website (snail-mail, how novel!). The brand has been subsumed into Spiegel's catalog, and all the unique clothes are gone. Back in the day, us goth girls online would alert each other to the latest Newport News offerings. Did you see the velvet duster coat? It comes in black *or* burgundy! And the faux riding jacket, I wonder if the buttons are functional? Yay, more silk poet blouses -- and there's a sale, stock up. We joked that it's a good thing we didn't all live in the same city, or we'd have to worry about showing up wearing the same Newport News dress or coat. Sadly, I only have a few items left from those days that are still in good condition and that fit. I have an eBay search saved for this brand and occasionally find classics. But alas, no retailer has really filled the void for this or any of the others.

What I'm wearing: Black & white stripe knit jacket, Marshalls | Black T-shirt, Target | Black jeans, Eddie Bauer | Red heeled ankle boots, Aerosoles | Black bat necklace, Walgreens | Pewter key earrings, made by me

CorpGoth Status Report: Office-Friendly Skulls

When I think of how one an incorporate a touch of goth into a corporate-friendly wardrobe, I automatically think about this skull-print scarf. Yep, that's right, skulls. Now this may seem contradictory to some of my advice like "minimize references to death & religion" in your outfits. But this specific style of scarf is an exception.

See, it's an interpretation of the iconic Alexander McQueen skull-motif scarf. Not an exact knock-off, but it's close enough to pass as "fashionable" or even "trendy" instead of "morbid" or "creepy" to mainstream eyes. If you work at an office where you have to keep your gothic style on the down-low, this sort of accessory could be a nice way to save some of your personal aesthetic while blending in just a little.

I don't have to worry too much, even though I work at a more conservative employer right now. Still, I paired the skulls with a purple dress for a little contrast.

How are you wearing skulls at the office for this report? Is your workplace OK with it?

What I'm wearing: Purple knit dress, Land's End | White & black skull scarf, Amazon.com | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Black & white T-strap flats, Zappos | Black & white stripe bead earrings, Kohl's

CorpGoth Mid-Month Status Report: Summer With eShakti

This month's "Summer in the Office" theme is the perfect opportunity to showcase this dress I got from eShakti. Full disclosure: The company actually offered me a freebie here & gave me a choice of products from its site, but I was not required to say anything specific about the product. I received the dress back in May & didn't get to blogging it now from a combination of my schedule & the right weather for this summer-y dress.

I've heard of eShakti long before -- in fact, one of my best friends is a big fan & always sends me links & coupons. I've pinned dresses to my CorpGoth board, but just hadn't bought yet. Well, I'm glad I got this dress, & I'm sure I'll buy a few on my own now! I went for the custom-fit option, which is quite nice because that means the bust, waist, & length are precisely my petite-plus size, something I struggle to find in stores.

For summer, this is a classic little black dress. It's a cotton poplin fabric with a touch of stretch, very comfortable & easy to wear (& hopefully easy to care for too). Garment construction appears well done with good finishes & a smooth working zipper. I found the wide neckline of this dress quite flattering. Being a PerkyGoth, I had to go for that touch of pink. Oh & the dress has pockets in the full skirt, super convenient!

But my office is freezing in summer due to the massive air-conditioning. Thus, I have to wear jackets & sweaters every day. With this dress, I added a lacey jacket that echos the vintage style.

What I'm wearing: Black summer dress with pink piping, eShakti | Black lace jacket, Macy's | Black lace tights, Target | Black two-strap pumps, Bandolino | Black bat necklace, Walgreens | Black with pink crystal Victorian-style earrings, random accessory store


How do you deal with summer in the office? Share your posts in the comments below!

 

New Shoes, New Glasses

After a long delay on my part, I finally got new glasses. I love the frames, they're more of the cat-eye shape that had for years (before my last frames broke *sniff*). The optometrist I see is in the mall, where I had a little time to kill...

And I found these shoes. Oh my, it was love at first sight! I had to buy them. The shoes are by one of my favorite brands -- Aerosoles makes "comfort shoes," so some of their designs are boring & conservative, but don't throw out the baby with the bathwater, as the saying goes. If you look closely, you'll find some classic styles, some shoes with a retro vibe, & then gorgeous designs like these. Plus, they're all made in long-lasting materials with comfort as a high priority. Clark's is a similar brand that I love for the same reasons.

What I'm wearing: Black three-quarter sleeve jacket with piped seams, Speigel | Purple T-shirt, Limited | Grey striped skirt, Nordstrom | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Purple suede pumps, Aerosoles | Purple chunky crystal necklace, gift from a friend | Purple & pearl bat earrings, Jewels by Olivia

Again With the Sweater

Yep, my favorite sweater & again White House | Black Market. Apparently, it's a theme this week. The sweater works well in this almost-summer season because it's lightweight & has three-quarter-length sleeves but is still warm enough to fight the air-conditioned chill of the office.

What I'm wearing:
Black & white print sweater, White House Black Market | Black T-shirt, Old Navy | Burgundy skirt, NY & Company | Black kitten-heel pumps, Aldo | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Silver "Bon Jour" necklace, Claire's | Silver filigree earrings, Target

Pink House | Black Market

I've mentioned before how much I love the few items I've bought at White House | Black Market. That store is *so* totally CorpGoth! The theme is black & white, & they rotate in one additional color every few months. The styles often include stripes, & in winter, you'll find plenty of velvety garments. The cuts tend to be fitted & elegant, & the quality is pretty good, which makes the prices worth it, in my opinion. [Note: I'm in no way affiliated with the company, this is an unbiased review!]

Yet I haven't worn any of my WHBM pieces together, until today. Well, I only have three items, this jacket & skirt plus one cardigan. But it was only a matter of time. And it felt very appropriate to add a spot of pink.

What's your favorite store to buy clothes from? Is there a boutique you love to splurge at?

What I'm wearing:
Black velveteen jacket, White House Black Market | Black embellished T-shirt, Calvin Klein | Black & white stripe skirt, White House Black Market | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Pink & black pumps, Irregular Choice | Black & silver skull bead necklace, DisneyLand | Pink filigree earrings, Etsy

The Most Expensive Jacket

As a companion to the Most Expensive Sweater, this jacket stands as the most I've spent on a jacket ever, at least one that isn't leather (& I don't count full coats; I mean jackets here). But isn't it gorgeous??? I couldn't help but pay full price for it in the store. And it fits beautifully, aside from the sleeves being a little long -- I should take it for alterations, but it's wearable right now, & I couldn't wait.

Like the sweater, this is also from White House Black Market. It's a stretch velveteen with princess seams, making the fit perfectly snug without being tight. It has beautiful details like a notched collar & tiny inset ruffles that add subtle texture (which were impossible to photograph). And I shockingly did not have a black velvet/een jacket in my closet anymore (after having gotten rid of ones that didn't fit or were an unappealing style). I foresee a low cost-per-wear for this beauty.

What I'm wearing:
Black velveteen jacket, White House Black Market
Black & blue print knit dress, Target
Black tights, Calvin Klein
Black ribbon-tie pumps, Clarks
Black & gold disk earrings, Forever 21

Sophistique Noir November Theme: Hosiery

This month's theme is a great one: Hosiery! From fishnets to stripeys to spiderweb tights, every goth gal loves some legwear. I have one & a half drawers full of different kinds of stockings, & I couldn't pick just one to feature, so here's a rundown of my faves.

1. Black tights by Calvin Klein -- These are my absolute favorite everyday hose. I buy a dozen, & they last two or three years before any pairs get holes, stretch out, or anything. Nearly indestructible. Plus, they come in a slightly wider range of sizes than most brands, meaning they fit my petite-plus self quite well. Call me one satisfied customer!

2. Colored tights -- I really like soft colors for tights. The purple & grey get worn most often because I think they add a sophisticated touch to an otherwise dark outfit. These ones are also a great contrast to an occasional pop of color.

 

3. Fishnets, especially colorful ones -- Black fishnets are classic & are even acceptable in many not-super-conservative workplaces now. But color fishnets are even better for work, imo, because they read less "sexy" & more "fun" & "hip." They're a little unexpected, yet they can blend in at the same time, if you choose shoes & skirt carefully.

4. Stripes -- Of course, I have stripey tights, tho' I don't tend to wear them to the office that much. I mostly save them for weekends & party time. But if I can tone them down in an outfit, the stripeys come to the office. I like 'em in lots of colors (sensing a theme here?) & even vertical.

5. Spiderweb tights -- Oh yes, the spiderwebs can work at work! They're subtly spooky.

6. Lace stockings -- I love lacy tights! But these seem to be the most prone to snagging, tearing, & generally not lasting very long. So I never have more than one pair available at a time, foo. But I'm always on the lookout for more, & they can't be very expensive because I know they'll rip up (even the pricey brands). Ah well, they are so pretty.

What is your favorite kind of hosiery? Best brands? Where do you shop? Let me know in the comments!

LPG Homework: Things I Can't Live Without

July's homework from the Professor aka the Dancing Maenad is to feature the piece of clothing, accessory, or beauty product that you can't live without. I have a few things that qualify...

1. Dark lipstick. I rotate through specific colors & brands, I have long-time favourites like Chanel's Vamp (which they keep saying will be or has been discontinued, & that just makes me stock up more; currently I have 3 tubes tucked away in a cool, dark place), but the real "must have" is just something dark, rich, & in a berry tone.

I'm no longer so obsessed that I have to be wearing lipstick when I'm running errands like going to the grocery store or doctor's office. But if I'll be seen in public for an extended period of time, I must have my dark lipstick. I even wear it with historical costumes, despite lipstick, especially dark colors, not being historically accurate. I can't help it!

And I wear so many different shades to work that my purse is full of the tubes by the end of the week. I loves me some lippie!

2. Black tights, specifically by Calvin Klein. A couple years ago, I discovered that these CK babies are the best quality black tights around. They don't snag or sag, they last through repeated machine-washings (but always air-dry), & they come in three sizes instead of the somewhat-more-standard two or the horrible "one size" that fits few.

I wear black tights with most every outfit from September until June, with only a short break from them during the warmest two months of the year.

3. Black leather studded cockring. I've mentioned this a few times on my blog because, well, I wear it every single day & have worn one like it since about age 16. I replace them when they wear out. The first one was nicked from my gay boyfriend in high school (I was his beard because his parents were ultra-religious).

I *do* wear this if I'm just running to the grocery store or something similar, just like I wear my wedding & engagement rings. The only times I don't wear the cockring are with historical costumes.

What I'm wearing:
Black T-shirt, Target
Grey striped skirt, Nordstroms
Black skull-print scarf, gift from my husband
Black tights, Calvin Klein
Black embellished flats, Classifieds
Silver filigree earrings, random accessory store
Black & gunmetal cocktail ring, Icing
Chanel "Vamp" lipstick

On Designer Brands, Fakes, & Inspirations

I am not wearing an Alexander McQueen skull scarf. Nor is it a fake McQueen scarf. I consider it a skull scarf that is perhaps inspired by the iconic skull scarf. The print is similar but the shape is much bigger (a long, exaggerated rectangle), and it's not silk. My husband bought it off my Amazon wishlist for me for Xmas this last year.

As with many designer items, there are plenty of "exact" copies of the McQueen scarf for sale, especially on eBay. I have one friend in New York with a legit scarf, & while it's lovely, I just can't see spending that much money on a very small square of fabric. I admire the designer's work -- many of his couture designs were fantastically gothic! -- but ultimately, genuine designer goods are not in my price range & not my priority. And fakes don't interest me because they're trying too hard to be designer as well. Either pony up for the real goods or admit that it's not for you.

I much prefer knock-offs & inspirations. Forever 21, ModCloth, aw heck, most every clothing store around does some type of knock-off of the latest designer collection each spring & fall. As soon as the models leave the catwalk of NY's fashion week later this month, we'll start seeing the couture trends interpreted for various ready-to-wear price points at every store imaginable. This is normal & expected.

Similarly, certain classic, iconic styles are commonly repeatedly knocked-off by others. Think of the Chanel jacket. Here's the latest couture version, a vintage suit, Newport News has one, Spiegel has one, & ModCloth has a cardigan interpretation. All of the ones not made by the House of Chanel still exude that essential "Chanel jacket-ness," without seeming fake. They're an homage, inspired by, in the feeling of. A fake would be if they had logos or almost-logos & tried to emulate the precise effect of the real thing in order to fool viewers (or worse, the wearer).

I don't think there's anything wrong with admiring designer style or brands. But faking it just feels weird. Draw inspiration from everywhere, yes. That's part of life, I believe. But be honest & upfront about how & where you do it.

What I'm wearing:
Black knit top, NY & Company
Burgundy velveteen jacket with vintage jet buttons added by me, Kohl's
Black pinstripe skirt, Newport News, gift from Lisa
Black tights, unknown brand
White & black skull-print scarf, gift from my husband
Burgundy faux-suede boots, DSW
Jet beaded hoop earrings, random accessory store
Silver cocktail ring, gift from Kendra

 

Do you wear designer brands, fakes, or knock-offs? Do you care?

This CorpGoth's Skin & Hair Care Routines

I missed out on Le Professeur Gothique's Naked November Homework Assignment & didn't show you my bare face. However, I don't wear a ton of makeup on a daily basis, so my naked face isn't that different from the face I regularly post here!

For work, I only wear lipstick, black eyeliner, & sometimes a touch of eyeshadow. I rarely wear foundation/concealer/powder unless I want to really impress someone (say, I'm doing a training session) or I'm feeling awfully fancy that day. I try to limit the face makeup to costume events because, no matter what I use & how diligent I am about removing all the makeup as soon as the day is done, I get nasty pimples.

"All Is Vanity" by
C. Allan Gilbert, 1892

In my 20s, I wore foundation a lot more often, & my skin was horrible. So I'd wear more makeup to cover up the blemishes! I became a vicious cycle. I tried all kinds of products to clean my skin & supposedly fix the acne. I asked my doctor for help. Nothing worked until I just stopped wearing so much makeup. Limiting how often I wear foundation to just special events means I mostly just get breakouts in the week after that event (like right now, after last weekend's vampire ball!) and occasionally due to hormonal issues, but not the constant bad skin I had for so long.

Also, my skin care is dramatically stripped down, making my life easier & skin happier. I remove my eye & lip makeup with baby wipes -- plain ol' generic, supermarket-brand baby wipes. I've tried organic, natural ones, but the cloth was rougher & the cleanser stung my eyes. Yuck. And all the makeup remover products I've tried don't work as simply & cleanly. After that, I usually rinse my face with tap water. Done!

When I wake up in the morning, I rinse my face with tap water again & put on a light Olay moisturizer.  About once a week, I lightly scrub my face in the shower with a puff to exfoliate. Otherwise, I try not to mess with my skin or it will go crazy.

My hair needs a bit more work. I use a modified 'no-poo routine,' shampooing about once a week & using just conditioner & water the rest of the week. I learned about this from the Curly Girl book & related websites, as a way to help de-frizz naturally curly & wavy hair. Most shampoos are too harsh & full of detergents that cause frizz, plus, in stripping away natural oils, they encourage your scalp to overproduce oil. A lot of environmental/natural-living types are eschewing shampoo because of all the unnecessary chemicals in it -- you can whip up natural, cheap alternatives that work better (but that smacks of effort to me).

I'm OK with a simple rinse-&-condition, leaving the shampoo for when I get a buildup of hairspray & other products (I'm just not that natural ;-). I also add this fantastic leave-in conditioner from Beauty Without Cruelty. Really makes my hair silky soft, plus enhances the waves.

Moar Shoes!

Hi, my name is Trystan, & I'm a shoe whore.

This is nothing new, of course. I've had this little addiction for years now, decades even. I'm just getting a bit more upscale in my choice of drug. Tho' I still have a nose for bargains.

When my black knee-high boots bit the dust, I wanted to replace them with real boots. The old ones were cheap, poorly made, all synthetic materials, & the uppers were stretchy fake leather. My calves are wide, but I held out hope that I could find real leather to encase them elegantly.

I'd been reading reviews online, especially at Barking Dog Shoes, & bookmarking possible boots. Then today, I happened to be at the mall (yeah, a few days before xmas, it's a long story & I'm nuts). I walked by the Clarks store & saw "25% off when you buy two pairs." I walked in, as one does. There I saw several pairs of boots I'd been stalking online. Dun-dun-dun!

A latte later, bolstered by my compatriot in love of shoes, Sarah, I tried on a few boots & some shoes, & bought the Wyld Polka knee-high boots & the Indigo heels, together costing about what one pair of the boots usually costs. They were both so comfortable, such a great fit, & perfectly awesome looking. I suspect I will wear out before those shoes do!

I haven't owned a pair of Clarks in ages, & I miss them. Such a great, reliable brand. Not always the most fashionable, but if you find something classic like these two, well, you can literally wear them forever.

Oh & I totally want to swap out the laces in the Indigos with different ribbons to match my outfits. How cute would that be???

Cyber Black Friday Spoils, Part III

Didn't intend to post twice today, but *whee* got a big box from Kohl's with goodies bought during their Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales!

Even tho' I live in the 'burbs, I don't shop at Kohl's very often. The nearest stores aren't on any of the most convenient bus lines or next to any other shops I regularly visit. But the few times I have been in one, it reminded me of the Mervyn's chain store of my youth (West Coast folks may know what I'm talking about). Basically, it's a mid-priced, smallish department store that has not too trendy clothes but decent quality, lots of classic styles, good range of sizes (e.g., good for petites & especially for plus sizes), & modest prices on everything. Not as "fast fashion" as a big-box store like Target or as specialized as mall boutiques like Forever 21, but a reliable place you can find a black pencil skirt or a pair of tall boots that won't fall apart.

But I digress. I bought more shoes (yay!), stepping a little out of my comfort zone this time (boo, bad pun!).

High-heel red ankle boots, & the fit is excellent, including with leggings, so I foresee a variety of outfits with these.

Then these buckled peep-toe wedges. OMG, the sexeh! Seriously, these are amazing shoes, & I'm very glad I bought them. Great fit as well.

I've been needing some new jackets, so how about a little color? This corduroy blazer is a lovely deep wine. I'll swap out the fake-wood buttons with some vintage black glass ones that better match my aesthetic. Otherwise, this jacket's a winner.

This little sweater bolero is adorable. Sweet ruffles. It's a bit lighter than I'd expect for something described as "boiled wool" but it's not tissue-weight, & I live in California so I don't need heavy sweaters anyway.

I think there' s just one more package yet to arrive (have to check my email). I ordered a bunch of blingy accessories from NY&Company, all half price. The biggies are all here tho'.

Cyber Black Friday Spoils, Part II

Two packages in the mail today, again shoes & tights! The final pair from my Aldo order, which I *big puffy heart.* They're not always perfect, but they're closer to ideal than most any other brand I've found. The sizing is very consistent for my inconsistent feet, so I'm pleased. And the quality is awfully good for an average of $40 a pair (I buy them mostly on sale). A few specific styles haven't worked on me due to where a vamp hits on my foot (especially my right foot, which is the bigger, wider one), but in general, if Aldo has a 39 in stock, it'll work out fine. Except for tall boots -- alas, my calf is too wide for them as with most places, unless the boot has an elastic gusset.

I can't wait to figure this shoe into some outfits. It's adorable. It's a gothic elf shoe. I have another pair of Aldo flats with a skinny T-strap that I wear allllllll the time, they're insanely comfy, I walked all over London in them last May, I've worn them with costumes, they're the best, & yes, I was inspired to get them after seeing Sarah's & how cute they looked on her. It's a testament to shoes if they can look great on a itty size 5 or whatever minuscule wee foot she has & a big ol' honkin' wide 8 (9 European) foot too. I'm hoping these ones with the bigger buckles will be BFFs to the other Aldo flats.

The other box was full of Calvin Klein tights. A ton of plain black, plus a few textured tights in black, one in grey, & one black lacy pair. So much tights goodness that my hosiery drawer is stuffed to overflowing now!

Attention CorpGoth Shoppers!

Calvin Klein has those faaaaaaabulous tights on sale -- a 2-pack for $15 instead of $20. So a mere $10 each for the most comfy, durable black tights I've found. Also comes in grey, teal, berry, & a few knit patterns. But stock up on the ever-classic black & you won't be sorry.

Day to Evening

My husband & I were going to dinner at a fancy restaurant after work, so I planned an outfit I could wear pretty much as-is from the office to dinner (we were stopping briefly at home first to feed the cats, so I might change shoes, but not enough time for a complete change of clothes; besides, what PITA).

What I'm wearing today:
Black & grey knit dress, Style & Co. from Macy's
Black cardigan, Macys
Black tights, Calvin Klein
Black round-toe pumps, Payless Shoe Source
Red leather purse, Liz Clairborne from DSW
Black beaded necklace, Target
Silver hoop earrings, random accessory store
Red-brown lipstick, Lorac

A word about these faaaaaaaabulous tights. I really must buy a bajillion more pairs because I only have two right now & these are, hands down, the most comfortable tights I've ever worn. I wear black tights all the time, year round, so I'm always buying them, but I'm a cheapskate & tend to grab ones from Target or whatever is on sale. There was some huge sale at Macy's, which is how these designer hose ended up in my house.

OMG, best tights evar! So comfy, such a perfect fit, even on my short 'n curvy bod. The medium size (I think it's called "B/C") is just right for my weight without being insanely too long for my little legs. The waistband is wide, smooth, stays put, & does not pinch or pull. The ankles don't sag. I've had these tights for maybe 6 months, worn & washed them dozens of times, & they're holding up great. Highly recommended!

On Brands & Labels

'Nother work-from-home day, so no outfit (wearing bat-print leggings & a black T, aka PJs ;-). Thus, some rambling thots...

My wardrobe contains a lot of pretty mainstream labels & less pricey ones at that. Target, Old Navy, & thrift stores figure prominently into my shopping patterns. The Gap is one of the more expensive places I shop, & then it's primarily for pants because, wow, they fit my curvy shortness. I occasionally buy expensive shoes -- & I tend to love the hell out of them -- but even so, a lot of my shoes are from DSW-type sales racks or from swaps with friends.

The one thing that I really don't have much are clothes from typically gothic brands. Partly, this is because I don't dress wildly over-the-top on a regular basis. But more often, this is because I'm not thrilled with the quality & fit of labels like Lip Service or Tripp. If I spend $30 on a blazer from Target, I won't cry if it falls apart in a year (tho' they tend not to). But the goth brands tend to sell a jacket for $60, of a quality that is likely to fall apart in a year. Not great.

I'll pay more for well-constructed pieces. I've sewn clothing since I was a kid, so I understand how things are made & how different materials wear & last. But I like to pick my battles -- not every single garment or accessory needs to be top-notch. Structured, tailored items can look crappy if they're made poorly or of cheap materials, so those are worth a few more bucks. Less fitted garments & stretchy clothes don't show their own flaws (or yours) quite as dramatically.

I don't pay much for summer sandals & plan to replace them every year or two. An occasional pair of ridiculous heels should be cheap because I won't wear them often or for very long. Boots are always worth shelling out money for in my book.

Your mileage may vary, of course.