August Round Up

Hello all! August is coming to an end, and with it summer. I'm posting this summary a few days earlier than usual to take part in Sophistique Noir's Monthly Theme Challenge, so keep an eye out for that happening over the next few days.

Until then, check out what's been happening recently -

Life

• I spent a lovely two weekends at the Edinburgh Fringe, watching cabaret, burlesque, comedy and dancing to big band. I also got to go up St. Giles Cathedral's clock tower and onto the roof, which you can see pictures of here. 
• I've now moved back to Dundee and started university again (boo), so I'm going to be pretty busy until next summer - I will endeavour to keep up with the blog, though!
• My room is so much nicer than last year, but was unfortunately not even remotely ready to move into; my shower has a bad leak, the floor and couches need replaced, the cooker isn't working, and the place was filthy. Nonetheless, the management have been very helpful, and I'm hoping to feature pictures here soon.

My blog

• I'm considering changing the aesthetics of this blog, as it's feeling a little spartan; the navigation also needs to be improved. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what they'd like to see in future?
• The plus side of returning to study is that I have boy wonder back on hand, and I can take outfit photos once again! I've bought a lot of gorgeous clothes over summer, which I'm keen to showcase. Watch this space. 
• I've been making progress in my DIYs (though I've not been posting them, derp), and recently published a pentacle hoop earring DIY, which can be found here.

Blogging

• Dr. Marten's Bernadette sandal... boot... thing has been making waves, but not necessarily for the right reason; I'm not a big fan, but I also hated creepers when I first saw them, so I'm withholding judgement. What's your thoughts?
• My current favourite blog is Fatshion Peep Show, which is run by plus sized gothic and retro fan Stina. She looks gorgeous enough to be intimidating in her Pentagram harness outfit post.  
• Appropriate for returning to university, The Everyday Goth has advice for a reader who is just about to move to university and is sharing with someone who may not share her aesthetic tastes.
• Stacey of Aesthetic Contradiction is forever my style inspiration, looking great in a floating dress and a harness. 

I'll be publishing my make up post for Sophistique Noir's monthly challenge soon, so keep an eye out for that! Until then, let me know what you've been up to and leave a comment.



Fee

June Round Up

It's weird to me that June is nearly over; with university finishing and Sophistique Noir's Red and Black Week, it's the busiest blogging month.

On An Honest Drug this month, I moved to a four day blogging schedule, which has proved more difficult than expected, but not impossible. I've also added a new social network in the form of Instagram to my Facebook, Twitter and Google+, increasing the number of places you can see selfies, dog photos and snapshots of my life which you don't get on this blog. Something else that you can find on my Instagram and Facebook is my progress towards my One Summer, One Hundred Crafts challenge, which everyone is gleefully reminding me is an insurmountable task - something that makes me want to do it even more, as much as I agree with them.

Elsewhere on the web -

• Something I've not talked about on the blog before; I am very interested in stage make up, and was part of the make up team for stage productions in school. Haute Macabre recently posted images from "A Complete Guide to Special Effects Make Up' that reminds me of why I love it so.
• Gothic Charm School celebrates its five years publishing anniversary, still in print and still one of the best resources for an introduction to goth out there.
• Though I remain steadfastly interested in equality and feminist discourse, this article on A Thousand Flowers highlights very well some of the problems within feminism; for the record, I am vehemently against transphobic sentiments, and this blog will reflect that.
• On the lighter side of things, I love Good Morning, Angel's instagram round up - particularly her pearl make up and her PVC skirt. If someone can tell me where to get a skirt like that, I will be a very happy camper.
•  Whether you're still suffering withdrawal from the demise of Flappy Bird or have a deep affection for all things Lovecraftian, The Pop Culture Cynic offers something for all in the form of Flapthulhu.
• Finally, though 'job' to me currently means shorts, old t shirts and getting a fright when frogs hop out of plants unexpectedly, Victorian Kitty of Sophistique Noir remains my number one favourite for darkly elegant work wear.

Next post is on the first of next month, when An Honest Drug will be back with the monthly wardrobe feature!





Fee

February Blog Round Up

I'm convinced that February has conspired against me to be shorter than ever. Partially because the month has flown by, and partially because I realised how close it is to exams (one month, it turns out). Auuurghhh. Here to distract you all from my impending break down is my pick of the best posts from this month -

• Retro Rack featured three beaded black gowns in a recent 'then and now' post, and oh my. I want all of them.
• Nebel Violet suggests a cheap way to decorate your notebooks with industrial tape and flyers on her blog, Deus Ex Machina - she also put a really good post up about her experience with henna hair, which I would suggest to hair dye fiends and natural hair advocates alike.
• Haute Macabre, purveyor of catwalk couture to the dark masses, wrote about the Chinese dragon inspired XuMing Couture designs at the Chinese Fashion week, and they are gorgeous.
•  Ben of The Pop Culture Cynic blogged earlier on in the month about one of his favourite films, About Time - I'm not really a Richard Curtis fan, but after watching it I couldn't stop breaking into tears at unexpected intervals for the next two days and had to call my rather bewildered dad. Apparently this is pretty standard.
• For those of you who love their tattooed men (by which I mean me), Style Bizarre recently featured their favourite inked male models. I call dibs on Johnny Q.
• Also published on Style Bizarre recently was an excellent piece on dealing with your feelings - somewhat offbeat for them, but very good advice nonetheless.
• Finally, to finish the month off, why don't you do a bit of research into the (her)story of Riot Grrl? Sary Walrus published a documentary on this politically driven music genre, which is one that personally inspires me a lot.

I might be taking the next month easy as I prepare for the nightmare of my exams, but I will hopefully be publishing ready written posts for this, and will let you know should I decide to take a break. Until the first, when I publish my monthly wardrobe feature!






Fee

January Blog Round Up

Well, January certainly hasn't come in quietly! I knew it was too good to be true when the weather was mild and my classes weren't too taxing; I now have loads of deadlines springing out of nowhere and the sky is grey and pouring out. I also have to start searching for a place to live next year soon, which is tricky as around this time of year so is half of Dundee.

I've been hiding from the world by reading blogs, and everyone has been publishing loads of interesting things, from outfits and knickers (oh my!) to furniture and declarations of engagement.

• N. Finsternis and her partner Boris dress to the nines for a local alternative fashion and culture event, proving that you can be male in alternative subcultures and look fabulous.
• Cody of Dark Stalker Girl announced that she and her boy friend were getting married (congrats!), and oh my god their engagement tattoos. I adore the idea.
• Sary Walrus posted about the roles of epistemes and trends in fashion and subcultures - I'm nuts about the sociological study of subculture movements, so I found this really interesting.
• Haute Macabre, reporter on things beautiful and expensive, featured the lingerie brand Hopeless, and if I was the type of person who lined their wallet with £50 notes I would already own these.
• Haute Macabre also recently posted about this etsy pentacle bookcase - for all you wiccans and pagans out there needing somewhere to store your book of shadows, take note.

Fee

November Blog Round Up

Hello, all - it's time for the monthly blog round up! I missed this last month because of how busy the end of the month was, but I'm up and ready for this one.

• A Thrifty Mrs wrote about how to set a Christmas budget - ever more important in the current recession (and especially for students like me) - and points out things most people wouldn't even consider including in their budget.
• Sary Walrus at The Walrus Room collated useful advice for goths from comments (including one from myself), which is useful to both new and old goths.
• My favourite blogger Halloween costume was probably Coffin Kitsch's Steampunk Punk - it reminds me a little of that punk Victorian Sherlock Holmes adaptation (fyi: coolest thing ever).
•  On a more fashion academic point, the application of the uncanny valley hypothesis was used in dissecting alternative fashion and trends at The Mutant Stomp Friends. I find this really interesting, as it analyses the heart and theory of fashion in a way that we often don't consider.
• Also from The Mutant Stomp Friends, 1666 x 30 also listed her favourite tumblrs - I usually hate inspiration posts and things like this, but I love some of the ones she's included; Polyvore Gore is an old favourite, but I'm still going through the archives of some of the others.

There were also lots of interesting fashion posts too, but I've been feeling the need to mix it up recently and try new blogs (still looking). Anyway, that's all for this month - see you when the tinsel is out and robins are wearing santa hats.





Fee

September blog round up

The first month of university has passed quicker than ever, and it was a shock to realise that my birthday is in two weeks. It's been a difficult September, but also rewarding; although I'm still stressed and harried as ever, I do feel more prepared and organised, and have a stronger support group than I did when I started university.

September hasn't been quiet on the blogging front either; there's been plenty of good posts this month -

• The Green Fairy of 'If Only I Were a Goth' posted about her trip to a taxidermy art exhibit, which looked amazing; I really want to see more of a revival in the art, as it can be used to such great effect.
• Stuck for blog post ideas? Fear no more, as The Everyday Goth has compiled a list of 50 gothic blog post prompts, some of which have given me ideas (though lord knows I have too many ideas to post about already).  
• I only recently discovered Haute Macabre, which has made me wonder where I've been all my life, as this blog is gorgeous. They posted a nail art collection inspired by the evil eye of Turkish origin, which I want to try.
• Also by Haute Macabre, they have a feature about the work of artist Choi Xoo Ang (TRIGGER WARNING: artwork featuring body parts), whose macabre yet beautiful sculpture pieces look at the human body and human rights abuses in Korea. Haute Macabre also published an article on the work of Fuyuko Matsui  you should read, because I cannot recommend this blog enough.
• The Mutant Stomp Friends recently posted about the harness trend that went crazy after the 2011 Alexander McQueen fall show (love that designer), and reminded me that I very badly want a harness of my own to wear over dresses and stuff. Excellent craft project to give a go.

As for me? I will remain busy this month as I'm starting a new block of teaching, but in the future keep an eye out for my Halloween plans, a review of Body Jewellery Shop's products and plenty more. I am so excited for October!




Fee



P.s. - If you're looking for something for my birthday, I'm loving the jewellery by Arthlin, who Coffin Kitsch featured a bit ago. Just saying.

P.p.s - Fiftieth post!

August Blog Round Up

It's time for the monthly blog round up! As ever, there were plenty of interesting posts on my feed this month, so here's some of the best -

•  Ra posted her latest custom corset acquisition, of which I am intensely jealous. It's so stunning that it makes me wonder why we don't use sari fabrics and embroidery more in corsetry.
• I feel like every time I do one of these things I end up including something from Meagan at Coffin Kitch, but LOOK AT HOW CUTE SHE LOOKS. Here's hoping her move goes well!
• Frannie of the Curious Professor Z has recently restarted BatFit, and recently posted on her opinions on dieting, and how she want to stay healthy rather than focus on losing weight - something I support far more.
• Tarot is an interesting art whether you believe in fortune telling or not, and 1666 x 30 at The Mutant Stomp Friends discusses her feelings on the artwork of cards and what makes a good deck.
• Bane, known for her blog GIY: Goth It Yourself has taken a break from the internet, but her etsy store The Batty Crafter has recently been launched! If you're over state side, it's worth buying some of her stuff for the beautiful fabric.

This is a little shorter than normal as I need to get some packing done, but I hope you enjoy anyway; until next time!






Fee

July Blog Round Up

Bleh, this blog round up was a chore. No idea why, as there was plenty of excellent posts to feature this month, but I really couldn't be arsed this time around (even the post image was a pain to do - I eventually gave up and settled for this, but I plan on changing it in future). I'll see how I feel about doing it next month, and see if I want to continue doing the round ups (seeing as I'm blogging as a hobby, I'd rather not make it a chore).

Anyway, onto the summary of the month!

• Fly, Songbird compiles her selection of plus sized fashion bloggers, and these ladies look amazing. Look Sharp, Sconnie posts on a similar body positive note, addressing size and human bodies in fashion, and how she plans on dressing to make herself happy.
• Sary Walrus at The Walrus Room wrote about the lessons the be learnt from awesome alternative characters. The quote from Elvira, in particular, is one I've always loved.
• VictorianKitty of Sophistique Noir posted her club outfit for a dark eighties night, and dat corset. Unf. (I also seem to have a thing for boat necklines? Hmm.)
• Madam Noire of Make Up Artist Madam Noire posted this night sky lip design, which - as someone who loves night skies - I really want to try. She also did this Twin Peaks inspired eye make up design, which I'm equally fond of. 
• My friend Ben (from IRL, shock horror) reviews the video game Alan Wake at his blog I should be paying attention to this lecture in what is probably his best post yet. He's only recently started blogging, so be nice to him. (Or don't. He wouldn't be nice to you.)
• Juliet's Lace has an article on the basics of 50s women's wear and where to buy here.
• Ms. Lou of the Neo-Victorian Parlour writes about the Victorian fascination with 'fasting girls', and relates this to current diet and body image trends.  
• A Thrifty Mrs compiles the best summer DIY projects, which can be edited as pleased to match your own aesthetic preferences.
• I love Victorian Mourning traditions. Gothic Tea Society has written about some of the weirdest ones here, including post mortem photographs, hair jewellery and coffin alarms.

Aaaaand that's all for this month!


Fee

June Blog Round Up

As you've probably noticed, I am terrible at sticking to my blogging guns during term time. I was planning a relatively strict blogging schedule of monthly wardrobe features, link posts and other things, but it rather fell by the way side in the face of, you know, passing my exams.

None the less I intend to prepare early for next semester by queuing up plenty of posts, and getting back into the habit of blogging by schedule. So without further ado, here's my round up of June links!

• Meagan over at Coffin Kitsch posted about the amazing Etsy Shop Carousel Ink, which I could almost kill her for, as despite being absolutely skint, I know that I'm going to buy something from there, very soon. :P
• My favourite post of Sophistique Noir's Red and Black Week was surprisingly the most unexpected; The Curious Professor Z blogged on the last day of the week about the cicadas which spring up every 17 years in Staten Island to mate and die off (link not for the bug phobic).
• Mary Rose of The Everyday Goth posted this month about one of my favourite artistic movements, Art Nouveau, and how you can incorporate it into your outfits. 
• Sary Walrus at The Walrus Room is starting a series of interviews with plus size goth bloggers about their experience within the scene - I'm really excited for this, as it's a topic that has only recently started to be addressed and like she says, you can never have too much body positivity. 
• On a related note, Natalie at Gothy Two Shoes posted a list of plus size online clothing stores and her experiences there of. One to add to if you have your own experiences of buying plus size fashion. :)

Until the next post!




Fee


P.S. If you're feeling like film and video game reviews with more snark than there is in a Lewis Carrol poem, my fluffy haired compatriot Ben (mentioned briefly in this post) has started up his own blog, I should be paying attention to this lecture. Just don't listen to a word he says about me.

February Blog Round Up

This is just going to be a quick link round up, as I have work in the morning and haven't really been keeping on top of the blogging!

• If you follow my tumblr you will know that I am very fond of the Everyday Goth's feed (read: I reblog pretty much everything she posts), but you have no idea how much I love her writing - she manages to surmise the problems associated with fatphobia in the gothic subculture in her post Fat Goths magnificently, addressing many of the problems with beauty standards and the hypocrisy of some goths.
• Multiculturalism for Steampunk's Art Challenge: Japan. Okay, so this was last february, but I'm ignoring that because I think multiculturalism is such a key concept to steampunk that often gets overlooked in favour of the traditional cogs and victorian inspired fashion. I especially love Miss Kagashi's Bat Brigade design. 
• While not a member of the Kink culture myself, I love the ideals of consent and negotiation that lies at the heart of the community, and Cliff Pervocracy's post on Getting Negotiation Going is excellent, for both established relationships and those just setting out. Cliff recently spoke at the University of Chicago Sex Week on sex and relationships, which is also surmised on her blog and is well worth a read.
• Ra's post Porphyrogennetoi on the recent trend of the Byzantine on the catwalk is dear to my heart, being a lover of the near east myself (I never did get the classics out my system). I'd wear the hell out of this trend, if only I suited gold. Sigh. 

And finally, since I didn't do one of these for January, my featured post for last month is Coffin Kitsch's very trad goth club outfit post - I love the original eighties look, and damn she looks awesome here.



More tomorrow, hopefully, with my wardrobe feature post!





Fiona