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

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

Life Is a Drag

Last week kinda sucked for me, but I know this week will be better. For one thing, tonight is the finale of "RuPaul's Drag Race"! And the first gothic-punk drag queen on the show, Sharon Needles, has made it to the top three! Huzzah! She has been so much fun to watch, not just for her spooky style but because she has a great sense of humor & greets every challenge with a wicked smile & creepy yet "can do" attitude. I hope she wins tonight, but even if not, her making it this far is a victory for queer weirdos everywhere.

Today, I'm trying to serve up a little Sharon realness in a corporate-friendly fashion, but not too fishy, I hope ;-)

What I'm wearing:
Black & white stripe silk blouse, made by Donna | Black gear-print tie, Cyberoptix on Etsy | Black velveteen skirt, J.Jill | Black tone-on-tone stripe tights, Calvin Klein | Black patent square-toe pumps, unknown brand, possibly thrifted | Silver medallion earrings, random accessory store | Gunmetal cocktail ring, gift from Kendra | Chanel "Vamp" lipstick

What's your favorite TV show this year? Are there any celebs you particularly follow or admire?