It's Just Shoes

There's no other reason for this post except these shoes. I'd always wanted some kind of open-front laced or buckled shoe like this and had considered many varieties, from expensive Fluevogs to the cheapo Pleaser Bordello shoes.

Then these American Duchess ones came along. The sizing of this brand can be off for me; they tend to run narrow, and my foot is wide. But this style compensates. Plus, the curved heel is quite walkable.

What I'm wearing: Black & white stripe knit jacket, Marshalls | Black T-shirt, Target | Black skirt, NY & Company | Hot pink tights, Hue | Black tango boots, American Duchess | Silver skull earrings, random accessory store

Always an Anglophile

Before I was ever goth, I was a HUGE fan of all things British -- British history, British literature, British TV, British science fiction, etc.

British punk, new wave, and gothic music was a natural outgrowth of that. My first favorite band was the Beatles after all.

What I'm wearing: UK flag skull sweater, Torrid | Black skirt, NY & Company | Black tights, Calvin Klein | UK flag pumps, gift from my husband | Silver skull earrings, random accessory store

El Nino, Meh

Winter has been kind of a bust here in Northern California. After several years of dire drought, we were promised an El Nino winter that would fill the reservoirs and replenish the snowpack. Well ... maybe. We've had some rain, but we're nowhere near "normal" levels, plus many communities are backsliding on water conservation thanks to the occasional storms we've had (thanks, guys). Global warming is still in full effect.

So when not dodging raindrops, I can wear a bit of velvet and suede. Just have to keep watching the weather report to see what tomorrow's like...

What I'm wearing: Black velvet jacket, Black House White Market | Black knit top, Old Navy | Purple velvet skirt, NY & Company | Black & burgundy stripe tights, We Love Colors | Purple suede heeled boots, Poetic License | Black skull earrings, local artist

Fashion Frustrations

I've mentioned why I love wearing dresses so much -- they're easy! But they also fit me better. I'm short and curvy, and it's a million times simpler to find a dress or a skirt and top combo that fits my shape and looks good than it is to find pants.

People say "jeans are comfy," to which I say, bull. Only if you're certain special sizes. Jeans are never the right length for me, and the waistband usually gaps if it fits at the hip. Alterations are a huge bother (yes, I sew, but I loathe altering readymade clothing with the fire of 1,000 suns).

There is one fashiony thing I've always wished I could wear though -- jeans tucked into boots. It looks so cool, so chic! It would be goth-able in a Victorian riding habit kind of way, a little steampunk, a little casual-goth, with black jeans, tall black boots, and a nipped-waist velvet or military-style jacket.

But I can't because of the size issue. Not just the jeans, but worse:  There seemingly does not exist the combination of tall leather boots wide enough and skinny jeans skinny enough to make that combo work on me. I love the look, but it will never ever fit on my legs unless I have my legs amputated and get chicken-leg prosthetics. Even at my lowest recorded weight, I had huge calves (of course, to get to my lowest weight, I had to run 10k around my neighborhood regularly, which meant bulging leg muscles). So no jeans tucked into boots for me. EVER. Oh well.

My boots always have to be worn with tights and skirts or dresses, not jeans, not even leggings.

Are there any fashion frustrations you deal with, major or minor?

What I'm wearing: Burgundy peplum sweater, Anthropologie | Black T-shirt, Old Navy | Black corduroy skirt, H&M | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Burgundy boots, DSW | Burgundy & grey pearls, Salamanca Designs | Silver & purple dangly earrings, gift from Lisa

Spiderwebs and a Survey

Just a quick drive-by post for a particularly gothy outfit and a request. I received an email from Kaeli Smith, a fashion sociology student at the University of Delaware. She asked if I would fill out a survey on gothic fashion and its connection to upbringing, which she and her group will use for a case study. She also asked if I would post the survey to my blog.

In the interest of furthering study into the topic, here is the URL. The study is anonymous. I hope Kaeli will share a summary of her report with us later!

What I'm wearing: Black Victorian-style blouse, made by Donna | Black skirt, MetroStyle | Black gear-print tie, CyberOptix | Dangle faux-jet earrings, random accessory store | Black spiderweb tights, unknown brand | Black buckle-top pumps, Kenneth Cole

Friday Five: Yay, Shoes!

1. How many pairs of shoes do you own?
I had to count 'em -- 64 pairs. That includes *everything* not just my regular everyday shoes, but also my slippers, several pairs of flip-flops, the rubber boots I wore in Antarctica, shoes that are waiting to go the cobbler for repairs, & over a dozen shoes that only go with costumes. Kind of sad, because that's down from a few years ago when I had at least 80 pairs of shoes *not* counting the costume ones.

2. Why or when do you buy shoes?
I buy shoes for particular needs or when current shoes wear out. For example, my current job is a couple blocks from public transit, so when I started, I needed more office-appropriate flats suitable for walking since I only had one pair. Every summer or so, I buy cheap new sandals because they wear out so easily.

3. What's the most expensive pair of shoes you've ever bought?
Black suede thigh-high flat-soled pirate boots for $100, sometime in the late '80s or early '90s. Sadly didn't wear them too often, so I eventually sold them on eBay for half that. I have one pair of knee-high riding boots now that originally cost that much but I bought them on sale. Most of my  shoes are in the $60 range these days (which is up a bit from the past, see below).

4. Carrie Bradshaw -- whimsical fashion diva or fool who wastes money on shoes?
A bit of both! I used to call myself the Carrie Bradshaw of Payless Shoe Source (since I used to buy SO MANY of their $15 shoes), so I can understand her passion for cute shoes, but I do so on a lower budget. $400 Jimmy Choos? Not my lifestyle!

5. Describe your fantasy perfect pair of shoes & where you'd wear them.
I dream of something like a wacky Irregular Choice pump with an 18th-century curved Louie heel & flared vamp, in a purple damask with a giant black silk satin bow. Gothic & gorgeous for everyday, but just enough historical style for costumes.

Questions culled from The Friday Five on LiveJournal.

What I'm wearing:  White & black pinstripe jacket, Macy's | Red bow-tie top, Target | Black skirt, NY & Company | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Black Union Jack pumps, gift from my husband | Pewter key earrings, made by me

Matched Set

I wouldn't usually wear a matched set of earrings and a necklace. But these aren't perfectly matched, and also BATS! They were made by the same artist, but several years apart, so while they're the same shape and style, they aren't exact (and nothing she makes is ever exactly the same).

My skirt and stockings are a darn near perfect match though. Quite by accident, but I am terribly fond of matching items in my wardrobe, and I don't just mean black + black (saving the topic of 'blacks that don't match' for another day).

Do you have any matched sets, of jewelry or anything else?

What I'm wearing: Black lace jacket, Macy's | Black T-shirt, Old Navy | Plum silk skirt, Newport News via Lisa | Plum lace stockings, Target | Black two-strap pumps, Bandolino | Silver & purple bat necklace & matching earrings, Jewels by Olivia

Friday Five - Nom Nom Nom

1. Do you or someone you live with cook your own meals at home or tend to buy frozen dinners/eat out?
Hah. If you look inside my fridge, you'd think that my husband & I live like two male, possibly gay, bachelors -- we have beer, old condiments, Lean Cuisines, & an air of desperation in there. We eat too much takeout food, punctuated by the aforementioned frozen food. When I remember to, I'll make a meal like pasta or chicken.

2. What is your favorite dish to cook? Or if you don't cook, what do you wish you could cook?
When I bother, I make a pretty lovely wine reduction sauce with chicken & pair it roast veggies. I *wish* I could make one of the delightful 3- or 4-course meals my BFF's sig.other treats us to whenever I'm at their place.

3. The best experience you've ever had at a restaurant?
Hard to say - the best experiences tend to be more about who I'm with & the restaurant being a good backdrop. There aren't any pure food experiences that stand out (hence, I'm no foodie). My very favorite foods are all homemade, usually by mom or her side of the family.

4. The worst experience you've ever had at a restaurant?
Gah, so many. I attract bad service or things like the restaurant being out of whatever it is I've ordered (esp. if I had my heart set on it). But the classically worst would be the restaurant at the SCA 12th Night 2009 hotel out in the middle of nowhere where they would.not.serve anyone. OMG.

5. If you had to give up one of your favorite foods for the rest of your life, which would you choose and why?
UGH. That was chemo. At one point, I couldn't drink coffee because it hurt my stomach, & that made me cry. I already couldn't drink alcohol because it made me feel icky. Thank goodness the only thing that *did* taste OK during chemo was chocolate -- I ate pounds of it. If I couldn't have had that as well, geez, I'd have given up.

Questions culled from The Friday Five on LiveJournal.

What I'm wearing: Black knit dress, Target | Black & white stripe knit jacket, Neiman-Marcus | Black leggings, American Apparel | Black socks, unknown brand | Black & white cat-print wedge sneakers, PlasticLand | Black glass bead necklace with Murano glass heart medallion, made by me | Silver hoop earrings, random accessory store

CorpGoth Mid-Month Status Report: A Suitable Jacket

This month's status report is about suits, including blazers and suit jackets. Since I work in perpetually casual Silicon Valley, I don't actually own a suit -- check out The Oatmeal's hilariously accurate depiction of the differences between wearing a suit to work on the East Coast of the U.S. and the West Coast.

However, being a fancy-pants goth gal, I tend to dress a little more formally than my coworkers, and I have lots of suit jackets. Today, I wanted to feature one with a few twists on the ordinary.

First, this blazer is made of stretch denim, so it has a more casual vibe. Second, it has romantic belled sleeves. While I'm sure this was intended as a casual, weekend-wear piece, I love pairing this jacket with work-wear, dressing it up for a "suit" that fits in with both the Valley's mellow attitude and my own aesthetic.

Do you wear suits or suit jackets to work? Share your status report in the comments!

What I'm wearing: Dark grey jacket, Newport News | Black sheath dress, Target | Black stripe lace stockings, unknown brand | Purple suede pumps, Aerosoles | Black bat necklace, Walgreens | Black & purple crystal dangly earrings, random accessory store

Friday Five: Random!

1. Name one place you volunteer? Why?
Can't limit it to one -- I have (& in some cases, continue to) volunteered with the Greater Bay Area Costumers Guild, Costume College, BayCon, CostumeCon, & the Society for Creative Anachronism bec. I'm a geek. Also I volunteered with the Yahoo! Employee Foundation, which is my former employer's nonprofit arm to raise money for the environment, education, & community projects. And during election years, I volunteer for the Democratic Party because that aligns most closely with my beliefs.

2. Name one book you'd like to see made into a movie? Why?
Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey, the first of the Dragonriders of Pern books. Movie special effects are finally good enough for realistic dragons (for example, Ramoth, the queen dragon, should be about the size of a jet plane & yet have a friendship with a human). I want to see it done like Lord of the Rings & for the same reasons. Supposedly there's a film option on it right now, but books get optioned all the time and it takes decades before anything comes of it.

3. Name one creature (living, extinct, or mythical) you'd like for a pet? Why?
A unicorn because, hi, I'm a 12-year-old girl!

4. Name one place on Earth you'd like to visit? Why?
That I haven't already? That's hard ;-) Maybe Easter Island because I read Collapse by Jared Diamond & that made me curious about fallen societies.

5. Name one talent or skill you'd like to develop? Why?
Singing. I admire it in others so much, but I can't carry a tune if it had a handle.

Questions culled from The Friday Five on LiveJournal.

What I'm wearing: Black knit top with fabric roses, Newport News | Hot pink skirt, NY & Company | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Black & pink pumps, Irregular Choice | Black & pink crystal dangly earrings, random accessory store

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

Stripey Obsession

With August's Mid-Month Status Report, I could have just said "stripes," but I wanted to mix it up & give myself a real challenge. Stripes would have been too easy. I have a lot of stripey items of clothing. In fact, I made a little inventory. As of this moment, I own:

• 1 pair black & white striped leggings
• 4 striped long-sleeve knit shirts (black & white, black & purple, black & red, black & pink)
• 1 black & white striped blouse
• 1 black & white striped knit maxi skirt
• 1 black & red striped knit maxi dress
• 2 striped non-knit skirts (black & white, black & grey)
• 2 black & white striped dresses
• 4 striped cardigan sweaters (black & white, black & purple, black & pink, grey & white)
• 2 black & white striped knit jackets
• 1 black & white striped non-knit jacket
• 2 pair striped flat shoes (black & white, black & pink)
• 2 pair striped tights (black & purple, black & burgundy)
• 1 black & white pair striped earrings
• 3 striped scarves (black & white, black & purple, black & pink)

I also have a bunch of stripey knee-high cotton socks I only wear with historical costumes, & I've made four 18th-century costumes in striped fabric (black & purple, black & white, pink & white, black & red). I've also owned a couple black & white Victorian bustle costumes in the past, made by others.

Addiction maybe? If it's wrong, I don't want to be right.

What I'm wearing: Black jeweled-neck T-shirt, Macy's | Burgundy tiered skirt, bought in London | Black & burgundy stripey tights, WeLoveColors | Black patent pumps, thriftstore | Black & silver skull bead necklace, DisneyLand | Pewter key earrings, made by me

Friday Five: I Wanna Rock & Roll All Night

1. What band has made the biggest impact in your life, and why?
Yes -- I can't explain it now, but growing up, the whole prog-rock artsy thing of their early music really gelled with me. It's the closest I've come to having a spiritual side, as otherwise I'm entirely atheist & find zero connection to gods, goddesses, yada yada yada in the sky. I even read Paramahansa Yogananda's "Autobiography of a Yogi" because a footnote in it inspired Yes' gatefold double-album "Tales From Topographic Oceans," & that totally inspired my desire to visit India (which I did, decades later). I hardly ever listen to Yes now, in fact, I almost can't listen to it because it kind of hurts. I have to be in the right mindset to open my brain to that. It's weird, & like I said, hard to explain.

2. What album is the first you can remember purchasing yourself?
"Yellow Submarine" by the Beatles. Because it was my first "favorite" movie & I wanted the LP.

3. What concert stands out in your mind as the best you've ever seen?
Best full concert? Hmmm ... the "Sound & Vision" tour by David Bowie at Shoreline, 1990-91-ish, was pretty damn spectacular in every way. Full package. Also, Green Day performing the full "American Idiot" album at the Warfield, being filmed for something, a show that was announced 2 days before, was really kick-ass.

4. What concert stands out in your mind as the worst you've ever seen?
James. We went based on their one hit "Laid" & that was the only good song. Spent most of the show loitering at the bar until they played said song & then went home. Snoozy.

5. If you could create your dream band, what musicians would you choose? (they can be live or dead, it's a dream band)
Duh, I'd reunite the Beatles. A private concert for me, my Mom (who introduced to them, natch), & select friends. "Sgt. Pepper" era all the way.

Questions culled from The Friday Five on LiveJournal.

What I'm wearing: Black pinstripe dress, made by Donna | Burgundy peplum sweater, Anthropologie | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Black lace & burgundy satin pumps, Rampage | Burgundy & bronze shield necklace, made by a local artist | Burgundy pearl earrings, Designs by Victoria

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

I'm not goth, but I play one on the Internet

I'm not goth because...

• I like being happy.
• I prefer to take meds for my depression instead of wallowing.
• I'm 45, & I'm tired of battling thru the tons of teenyboppers & college kids to make a connection with the rare fellow ElderGoth.
• I'm happily, monogamously married, & I'm bored with a club scene that revolves around around finding new sex partners.
• I haven't listened to a new goth band since 1990, & I have not interest in starting up now.
• I like pink, & no, it's not the new black.
• I go to bed around 10pm. And wake up at 6:50am.
• I don't get drunk, I just have a beer while watching football.
• I try to be active in politics. Apathy is not cool.
• I like florals.
• I'm tired of being overdressed.
• I don't like wearing foundation makeup.
• All those bangles & bracelets got too heavy.
• I don't want to piss ppl off anymore.
• I don't need to stand out in a crowd to know I'm special.
• Velvet in summer is just dumb.
• I got tired of carrying a parasol everywhere.
• Lunchbox purses don't hold enough of my gear.
• Platforms make my feet look big & clunky.
• Long skirts always got tangled in the rollers of my office chair.
• Smokey clubs suck.

(Tongue inserted firmly in cheek!)

What I'm wearing: Black silk dress with pleated top, Target | Grey & white striped hooded sweater, Forever 21 | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Black & grey striped silk flats, RocketDog | Pink skull & crossbones necklace, gift from Elisa | Pewter key earrings, made by me

Monday MemeDay: Makeup & Fashion Fun

01. Do you have on a lot of make-up?
Just my usual, lipstick & eyeliner.

02. How much do you put on?
I usually wear Nars black eyeliner & some kind of dark red-brown or burgundy lipstick (tho' today it's pink to match my skirt & also my hair).

03. How long does it take you to get ready?
30 minutes most workdays. I hate to get up early, so I've streamlined my process. I also tend to lay out, or at least plan, my day's wardrobe the night before.

04. Do you put on a lot of lipgloss?
Eww, no. I hate lipgloss. Feels icky. I'm a matte lippie gal.

05. Can you apply mascara without opening your mouth?
Dunno, I don't wear mascara very often. My lashes are naturally long.

06. Do you wear a lot of eyeliner?
Define "a lot." I do loves me some eyeliner.

07. Do you like to wear nail polish?
Yes, & toenail polish in summer. But I'm too sloppy to do it myself anymore.

08. How often do you get your nails done?
Maybe a couple times a year. I'm too lazy to make an appointment.

09. Do you like manicures?
Yes, LOVE them, but see above re: lazy.

10. What about pedicures?
Ditto. Love them even more than manicures! I can never clip my own toenails as nicely as someone else can.

11. Do you have a usual nail salon you go to?
No. See above.

12. Do you get your eyebrows done?
Ye gods yes. So glad a friend mentioned that this was an option for me because my brows are naturally HUGE yet I always sucked at trying to shape them myself.

13. Where do you get your hair cut?
I only get my hair cut about once a year, last time (pre-chemo) was at a salon in Campbell by a guy I went to high school with.

14. Do you dye your hair?
Yes. Hasn't been its natural color since I was 14.

15. Do you straighten your hair?
No, why would I? The damn stuff is too straight already.

16. Do you carry a purse?
Yes. I'm a cliche girl like that.

17. What color is it?
Black as my soul.

18. How many purses do you have?
About 5? Not sure. I only use one bag for long stretches at a time.

19. Do you have lots of pairs of shoes?
Um, yes. Last count was around 80.

20. What are your favorite shoes?
Currently, I love my American Duchess Stratfords most!

21. Do you wear heels everywhere?
Not everywhere. But lots of places.

22. Can you walk in heels and not fall over?
Yes. Tho' nothing over 3".

23. Do you have a pair of huge sunglasses?
Not huge ones, but my sunglasses are somewhat large.

24. How many pairs of earrings do you have?
Dozens. Not enough.

25. Do you wear hoop earrings?
Yes, of various types. Mid-sized hoops are probably my default style.

26. Do you have a lot of skirts?
Yes. I wear skirts (& dresses) about 5 days out of 7.

27. Where do you buy your clothes?
Everywhere! Macys, Target, Old Navy, the Gap, Forever 21, Hot Topic, Khols, Express, Amazon, thrift stores, eBay, Etsy, I could go on & on.

28. Do you go shopping every week?
There have been times in my life when I did. But not right now.

29. What's your favorite store?
Hard to choose just one. But Amazon is probably my most frequently shopped place.

30. Do you follow fashion trends?
I watch them a little bit. It's entertaining. Sometimes a trend will come along that coincides nicely with what looks good on me. Then I'll snap the stuff up before it goes away again.


What I'm wearing: Black & white floral-print sweater, White House Black Market | Black lace-top T-shirt, H&M | Dark pink skirt, NY & Company | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Black perforated D'Orsay flats, Target | Gunmetal skull earrings, random accessory store | Pink & grey pearl necklace, Salamanca Designs

Friday Five: Travel, My Drug of Choice

1. What is your favorite mode of travel? (Car, train, plane, etc).
None of the above! I am sick & tired of the actual 'getting there' part of travel. I guess I do like walking around a big city tho. A good pair of boots, like the ones I'm wearing, are perfect for that.

2. Where is the northernmost place you've traveled? The southernmost?
North: Dunrobin, Scotland, latitude 57° 58′ north
South: Port Lockroy, Antarctica, latitude 64° 49′ south

3. What is the last place you visited for the first time?
Andorra -- a wee day-trip while we were in France last summer, but it counts!

4. Of all the places you've traveled, which is your favorite?
This & #5 are what my husband & I get asked by everyone all the time. It's like asking parents of multiple children, "Which is your favorite kid?" So, if you go by number of times visited, England wins, no question. Seven trips & no plans to stop. Especially London -- in the words of Samuel Johnson, when you are tired of London, you are tired of life. But Venice is incredibly near & dear to my heart, & I could go back there any time, well, except summer. And I fully admit I adore Jamaica, specifically Sandals Negril, it is my Happy Place, the ultimate "vacation" vacation, the cliche of paradise, ultimate relaxation & pampering, nothing culturally stimulating or enlightening, just pure lazy enjoyment. Which I don't have enough of in my life (who does?).

5) Where would you most like to travel to next?
I'd love to see Venice during Carnevale again. For a new place, I'd like to go to China someday.

Questions culled from The Friday Five on LiveJournal.

What I'm wearing: Grey sheath dress, Target | Burgundy corduroy jacket, Kohl's | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Burgundy suede pumps, Soffit | Silver bat necklace, PlasticLand | Silver & onyx earrings, bought in India

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