Black & White Monday

This week is supposed to be hot. Ugh. No autumn for me!

What I'm wearing:
Black cotton dress, ModCloth | Black & white cardigan, Black House White Market | Black studded leather belt, Macy's |  Black slingback heels, Payless Shoe Source | Black & white bead necklace, made by me | Black & white stripe bead earrings, Kohls | Black & white flower hair pin, Icing

For all my weekday picture-taking, I totally forgot to bring my camera when I worked at a renfaire this weekend. But I found a couple photos from other folks that I added to the report over on my costume blog.

Feeling Plummy, Plus a Rant

Half a day foggy, half a day sunny. That's Northern California for ya. I kept taking this jacket on and off, which I suspected would happen, and that's why I wore my favourite sleeveless top. Not generally a fan of sleeveless in the office (even tho' this is the most casual office ever), but when it has ruffles and looks this sharp, I'll accept it.

What I'm wearing:
Plum velvet jacket, gift from Lisa | Black sleeveless ruffled top, Michael by Michael Kors | Black gauze peasant skirt, Rampage
Black tights, unknown brand | Burgundy faux suede boots, DSW
Pink & gold earrings, Ruche.com | Burgundy flower hair pin, random accessory store

While it's not quite the weather for a full day of velvet, I was a bit surprised that one of my favourite sewing bloggers, Peter of Male Pattern Boldness, decried velvet entirely in his post today.

He recounted the tale of fabric shopping with one of his blog's fans, where she wanted to sew something out of velvet. First, he was horrified that she'd go against the pattern's recommended fabrics (which is silly, imo, those are just recommendations, not the gospel or something!). Next, he was horrified by the suggestion of velvet, and I quote: "Seriously, though: who wears velvet these days other than Goths and Gothic Lolitas?  (And yet fabric stores are full of the stuff.)   So Phantom of the Opera."

Obviously, us goths do wear velvet, but surely other people are too. The vast majority of my velvet clothing is from mainstream U.S. stores like Macy's, Newport News, Coldwater Creek, and NY & Company (as a rule, I do not shop from gothic brands because I find the quality low or I just don't like the designs). The places I buy velvet are making velvet garments for average American women, and velvet tends to come back in fashion most fall/winter seasons. Amirite? Yeah.

And here's just a tiny bit of proof that goths aren't the only ones who wear velvet -- two of my favorite fashion bloggers, last fall, wearing smart, sassy velvet items in their ensembles:  Sal of Already Pretty in October 2010, and Audi of Fashion for Nerds in December 2010. Not a hint of Phantom of the Opera there.

While goths may love it, we're not the only ones. I'm a little irked at Mr. Pattern Boldness for being a bit stereotyped in his fabric associations.

Fall, Please to Be Coming Soon

September is still Indian summer around here, but how I long for a proper autumn! I'm sneaking in a lot of transitional clothes more as a bit of wishful wardrobing than anything else. This works fine for the air-conditioned office, but I usually strip down to shorts & tees when I get home. Soon, soon...

What I'm wearing:
Black handkerchief-hem tunic, made by Donna | Black leggings, Newport News | Black lace-up spool-heel boots, Target | Black & grey skull-print scarf, gift from my husband | Big silver filigree earrings, random accessory store | Skull bead bracelet, gift from my mom

For those of you in the northern hemisphere, are you experiencing fall weather yet? Or does it still feel like summer?

Case of the Mondays

Blah blah blah. Making the best of it!

What I'm wearing:
Black T-shirt embellished with fabric roses, NY & Company | Cherry red cotton pleated skirt, Newport News | Black & white striped cardigan, Chadwicks | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Black & white ankle-strap pumps, American Eagle | Red flower hair pin, made by me | Black & white dangly bead earrings, Kohl's

I spent the weekend sewing in preparation for a renfaire friends & I are performing at next weekend. So all Monday, my neck and shoulders were sore whilst working at the computer. Sewing & typing don't mix, but such is my life. I foresee a heating pad in my evening plans.

How was your weekend? Have any good ideas for next weekend yet?

White After Labor Day

Fact: The old "don't wear white after Labor Day" rule only applied to shoes, not clothing. It probably dates to the turn of the last century (meaning the early 1900s), and, like most etiquette rules (and even sumptuary laws, much earlier), it was aimed at the nouveau riche who were trying to ape old-money fashions but, presumably, without the "taste" acquired from long-standing wealth.

I researched and wrote about the "white after Labor Day" rule many years ago for Ask Yahoo!, and while the links inside that article are mostly dead, the content is still accurate.

All that said, I did want to style this dress a little less summery. Even tho' the temps are still in the 80s-90s by the afternoon here...

What I'm wearing:
White cotton dress, gift from Lisa
Grey herringbone tights, Calvin Klein
Purple velvet pumps, Rocket Dog
Black corset-style belt, Torrid
Purple floral scarf, Old Navy
Silver disk earrings, random accessory store

Short Week, Pink Stripes

Yesterday was Labor Day in the U.S., thus this is a four-day workweek, and I'm only in the office twice. So not much blogging.

What I'm wearing:
Pink & black stripey cardigan, Macy's | Black camisole, Old Navy | Black pinstripe skirt, gift from Lisa | Pink fishnets, unknown brand | Pink & black ankle-strap pumps, Payless Shoe Source | Pink cabochon necklace, vintage | Black & pink crystal Victorian-ish earrings, random accessory store

Almost Time for Boots

Well, it's not actually cool enough for boots-wearing here in Silicon Valley. But September 1 is time for Sophistique Noir's Monthly Theme, which is Boots!

It took me a while this week to decide what pair of boots to wear. I love them all, but, being still pretty summery outside, I wanted to craft an appropriate outfit that wasn't super autumnal. There's my short red Aerosoles (would have been comfy for walking to/from the bus),  my classic gothy bat-buckle boots (most appropriate to the theme), simple black buckled ankle boots (also good for walking), fuschia crushed velvet boots (hmm... maybe not until later in the year), my beloved Clarks riding boots (a bit too fall, but so super comfy!), & the tall burgundy suede boots (couldn't remember how walkable those were). There's probably a few others in the back of the closet that haven't seen the light of this blog yet too. But I finally I settled on this purple pair (which sadly need a trip to the cobbler -- the soles are about to come off!).

What I'm wearing:
Black silk sheath dress, Target
Black & white print cardigan, Black House White Market
Black tights, Calvin Klein
Purple faux-suede boots, Roman's
Black, silver, & pearl necklace, Aldo Accessories
Purple & pearl dangly earrings painted w/tiny bats, made by a local artist
Gunmetal cocktail ring, gift from Kendra
Purple lipstick, Makeup Forever

Oh how I long for actual autumn so I can properly wear boots & tights! But this is a nice little taste. Thanks for the theme, Victorian Kitty :-)