Red & Black Vegas Drag Race Recap

I didn't plan this as a part of Red & Black Week, but it fits! A few weeks ago, I did something kind of crazy: I went by myself to the viewing party for RuPaul's Drag Race Season 6 season finale in Las Vegas, where America's Next Drag Superstar #6 was announced.

I left work early for a 2pm flight, checked in at my hotel by 4pm, changed clothes, walked across the street to the party at 5pm, stood in line for an hour to get in, then stayed at the party (standing around in high heels for another 5 hours, ouch), watched the TV show & the live drag show there, walked back across the street, grabbed a burger & a beer to take back to my room, ate a belated dinner, got to sleep by about 1am, got up & to the taxi stand by 5am for a 6am flight back, got a latte at Starbucks at the airport at home while waiting for my ride to work at 7:45am, & was back at the office by 8:30am the next morning, stashing my little roller-bag luggage under my desk. Nobody knew!

What I'm wearing: Black & red flocked floral halter dress, bought in Camden Market, London | Black spiderweb tights, unknown brand | Black ribbon-tie pumps, Clarks | Giant drag-queen wig, eBay | Tiara, gift from my husband | Red flower hair pin, random accessory store | Black beaded necklace, random accessory store | Rhinestone & faux jet bracelets, random accessory store | Faux diamond rings, random accessory store | Black vinyl bat purse, gift from a former coworker

Bianca Del Rio, the winner!

Red & Black Not-Quite Repeat

Ok, this outfit is mostly a blog repeat but not a Red & Black Week repeat. So it doesn't really count, does it?  This combines my very favorite skirt with a pop of color. And stripes. Gotta love stripes. I've worn a lot of stripes during this Red & Black Week. Hmmm...

What I'm wearing: Black knit military-style jacket, Macy's | Red knit top with bow at neck, Target | Black & white stripe skirt, White House Black Market | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Red ankle boots, Aerosoles | Black & white bead earrings, Kohl's

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

Red & Black & White & a Hidden Bat

I can't get enough of this color combo, true fact. Something about is so pleasing to my eyes, so much so that you'll find a lot of during this year's Red & Black Week, & not just on today's official Red, Black, & White subtheme.

What I'm wearing: Black & white stripe knit double-breasted jacket, Marshall's | Red sheath dress, Target | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Black & white ankle-strap pumps, Ross | Black bat necklace, Walgreens | Red & black beaded earrings, made by a friend

Red & Black Week, the Fourth

Can you believe this is the fourth annual Red & Black Week? Huzzah for Sophistique Noir for starting & hosting this theme! So successful & I'm happy to be able to participate again.

I'm starting off the week with some new pieces, showing just a hint of red. Don't worry, I have plenty more red saved for the rest of the week.

What I'm wearing: Black & dark grey dotted slouchy jacket, H&M | Black T-shirt, Old Navy | Black, off-white, & red stripe knit skirt, Kohl's | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Black high-heeled boots, Aerosoles | Pewter locket necklace, vintage | Gunmetal hoop earrings, random accessory store

Red & Black Week: 18th Century Redingote

Finally, my piece de la resistance for Red & Black Week, my stripey redingote. Properly, a redingote is an 18th-century French woman's gown based on an English man's riding habit. I made this one in a not perfectly historical fashion, but took liberties in the cut & materials to suit my gothic aesthetic.

I found this black & red striped rayon fabric in the L.A. garment district at least 5 years ago & have been plotting something like this costume for quite a while. It's very loosely based on period fashion plates that show this style of single-breasted button-front bodice with a broad collar & buttoned cuffs. I designed the collar & cuffs with a batwing shape in black velvet hand-edged in black silk.

Ideally, I'd be wearing a large, tall hat too, but since this outfit was first worn on my recent France trip, I couldn't make it in time nor carry another item with me!

What I'm wearing (all made by me except where noted):
Black & red striped redingote with velvet collar & cuffs & vintage velvet buttons
Black silk fichu
Black silk petticoat
White satin under-petticoat
White twill bum pad
Black corset, made by Sarah
White cotton shift
Black stockings, Target
Black buckled shoes, Fugawee
"Hedgehog" style hairpiece
Jet earrings, random accessory store
Gunmetal & jet ring, random accessory store
Faux ruby ring, gift from Sarah
Black lace fan, eBayBlack velvet mouche (beauty patch)
Red lipstick, Sephora

More about how I made this outfit on my costume website here.

Red & Black Week: With Queen Elizabeth in France

A casual outfit featuring a quote from the indomitable Queen Elizabeth I. Also, bonus French chateau cannon & the Pyrenees in the background...

What I'm wearing:
Red T-shirt printed "There shall be but one mistress here and no master," bought at the National Portrait Gallery U.K | Black linen skirt, H&M | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Black riding boots, Clark's | Gunmetal hoop earrings, random accessory store | Red lipstick, Sephora

 

Red & Black Week: With White

I can't help it, I love adding a splash of white in with red & black. It just pops. I did it the last few times for the theme week here & here too.

And how cool of Victorian Kitty to add this combo as a theme-within-a-theme this time! Thanks :)

What I'm wearing:
Black & white floral-print sweater, White House Black Market | Black knit top with bow at neck, Target | Cherry red pleated cotton skirt, Newport News | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Black pointy pumps with buckles, Payless Shoe Source | Dangly crystal earrings, random accessory store

Red & Black Week: Time for Tea, Part Two

Coincidentally to the bon voyage tea I attended, I went to another tea party early this year. For my birthday, my mom had asked what I'd like to do, if I wanted to go to dinner or something. One thing she suggested was high tea at a local tea parlor (a sister restaurant to the one chosen for my friend's party).

I liked the idea since, at the time my mom mentioned it, I hadn't been to high tea in ages. Well, it turned out that I went to two teas within a month of each other! Not complaining :)

Again, a proper tea requires a fancy outfit & a hat. But I had to wear a different outfit for this tea. This hat was custom-made for me by a friend, inspired by a piece of red & black fabric I provided for her. Everything else was her design, & the vintage trims came from her collection.

And by another coincidence, this outfit works quite well for Sophistique Noir's Red & Black Week!

What I'm wearing:
Black knit dress, Target
Black velveteen jacket, White House Black Market
Black tights, Calvin Klein
Red Chinese-silk flats, ShoeMetro
Garnet & silver necklace, gift from my mom
Red & black straw hat, custom-made by La Bricoleuse
Red lipstick, Sephora

 

Red & Black Week Flashback

This is my last post for Red & Black Week 2012, & I don't have a new outfit because I'm working from home. So I thought I'd recap *last* year's outfits, since I tried hard this year to not repeat major elements from then. Let's see how I did!

In June 2011, I wore three red & black outfits, & this year I increased that by one. Seems about right since I tend to go into the office three or four days a week. You can see the full outfit details by clicking on the captions below.

Red pussy-bow & black pinstripes - 06/06/11

Black jeans & red boots - 06/07/11

Black & white stripes with red - 06/09/1

I managed to not repeat any of the red items this year, tho' I did consider it. I don't have the red dress from June 9 anymore -- it always felt too short for work, & I didn't get enough weekend wear out of it to justify keeping it. I think I got more creative this year, probably because I planned in advance! And buying more red items (the dress worn this June 4 & the shoes on June 6) inspired me.

How was your Red & Black Week? Did you wear new things or old faves? Did you plan outfits in advance or wing it? How did this year compare to last year? Hope you had as much fun as I did!

Black With a Touch of Chinese Red

The shoes I based today's outfit around are another thing I've been saving for months to wear during Red & Black Week. I felt the need for more colorful shoes, & these ones leaped out at me from the website. The Chinese fabric was a bonus because I'm part Chinese & enjoy a little shout-out to my heritage sometimes.

My maternal grandfather was born near Canton, China, & immigrated to the U.S. in the early 20th century. He met my grandmother in California, & that's where they started a family. But they soon separated, & Grandmom took my mom & her siblings back to my great-grandmother's farm in Alabama.

I was born in Florida, but after my father died young, my mother & I moved to California where we were able to frequently visit her father & the extended Chinese family who had come to the States. I grew up in touch with both my Chinese & American sides, which I really appreciate. I even learned to speak & understand some Cantonese as a kid, but in the intervening years, I've forgotten everything other than "thank you" & how to count from 1 to 10 :-)

What I'm wearing:
Black silk dress with pleating detail at neck, Target
Black cardigan with puffed sleeves, H&M
Black studded belt, Macy's
Black tights, Calvin Klein
Red Chinese silk kitten-heel, ankle-strap shoes, ShoeMetro.com
Black & gold medallion earrings, Forever 21
Red flower pin in hair, made by me

Do you wear things that remind you of your family history or heritage?

Red & Black With Boots

I wouldn't have thought I could wear tall leather boots in June, but here I am. Yesterday saw sudden showers, & today dawned windy & cool, if sunny. So I decided on an outfit to bridge seasons. Light, floaty cotton with tall boots & a sweater.

What I'm wearing:
Black ruffled wool bolero sweater, Kohl's | Black & white damask print knit top, Spiegel | Cherry red pleated cotton skirt, Newport News | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Tall black leather boots, Clarks | Black & white silhouette pendant on silk ribbon, gift from Kendra | Jet hoop earrings, gift for being a bridesmaid at Heather's wedding | Jet stud earrings, random accessory store | Single garnet stud earring, Berkeley street stall | Silver & garnet ring, bought in Jaipur, India

Btw, I mentioned yesterday that I spent last weekend performing at a renaissance faire. I posted photos of my friends & I at the faire on Flickr, & here are a few of my new silk Venetian courtesan gown.

Red & Black on the Road

It's the second-annual Red & Black Week started by Sophistique Noir! But I knew I wouldn't be able to start this week's theme properly, meaning for me, at the office. See, last weekend I was performing at a renaissance faire and returned home very late Sunday night, so I was scheduled to work from home on Monday. And my usual wfh uniform of PJs & T-shirts isn't suitable for blogging. Besides, I don't have anything red to throw in the usual black mix ;-)

Thus, I planned a casual weekend outfit in the theme colors & got some pix when we went for dinner after the faire. This ensemble features a red dress I've been saving a couple months to wear for Red & Black Week. I'd bought it & was about to wear it right when Victorian Kitty announced the theme was returning. The dress is multi-seasonal, a lightweight knit that will be good for layering. Of course, since this was after a long day at a hot, dusty faire, I didn't have much energy to style the outfit extensively. I'd just jumped out of the shower & slapped on some lipstick. But expect to see this dress in fancier outfits in the future.

What I'm wearing:
Red knit dress with high-low hem, Macy's
Black elastic belt, NY & Company
Black leggings, American Apparel
Black suede ankle boots, The Walking Company
Black & silver skull bead necklace, DisneyLand
Gunmetal hoop earrings, random accessory store
Black leather purse, Jessica Simpson

Red, Black, Stripes, Lace, Oh My!

Went all out on the Red & Black Week yesterday, when I remembered I do have a red dress (ok, I have another one, but it's a cocktail dress & despite lots of great advice about dressing down fancy attire, that particular one has shoulder decoration that can't be made work-friendly; but I digress).

What I'm wearing:
Red knit dress, Target
Black elastic belt, NY & Company
Black cami, NY & Company
Black leggings with lace insert, NY & Company
Black & white stripe sweater, Chadwicks
Black buckle ankle boots, Aldo
Painted-black shell necklace, bought in Florida
Black & white bead earrings, Kohl's
Bright red lipstick, Sephora

Admittedly, I took the sweater off at work because it did get warm. California's summer has been much delayed, & I haven't been sure when to drop the jackets & sweaters.

Quickie Red & Black Outfit

Slept horrrrrrrribly last night & woke up late, so I just grabbed a quick outfit & made some time to snap pix before rushing off to work. So here's just a touch of red in the black.

What I'm wearing:
Black knit military-style jacket, INC Concepts
Black T-shirt, Old Navy
Dark grey jeans, Calvin Klein
Red ankle boots, Aerosoles
Red & black Venetian glass heart pendant on black glass beads necklace, made by me (closeups here)
Square pewter dangle earrings, local artisan
Silver & garnet ring, bought in Jaipur, India
Red-brown lipstick, Lorac

I do like that this outfit combines things I've bought on my travels around the world. I got to see the artist making the glass heart pendant in a tiny shop in Venice, & I picked out the garnet ring from the artist who made it too. They're very special to me.