Wardrobe Feature: DIY Vintage Winks

What do you know? I managed to pull together a wardrobe feature. Apologies that it's five days late, but writing and photographing for a post in two days was more than I could take.

Some time during the past academic year, I picked up some winklepickers from a charity shop - true winks, unlike my others (which I love regardless). Being favoured for donation by women who got them in the eighties, Dundonian charity shops have a lot of them, and though most aren't to my tastes I knew that if I waited patiently a pair in my size would show up. As predicted, after a year of keeping an eye out a pair eventually did - and, as charity shop winklepickers go, they were rather ugly.

Still, given the difficulty I have finding shoes that actually fit (and these do!), how long I'd waited and the £5 price tag, in the bag they went. The only true winklepickers I've seen new online are sold by RetroShu on ebay (no returns), Demonia (reportedly terrible quality) and Underground (expensive to the point of ridicule), so these were a golden ticket fluttering from the sky. Like a resourceful make-doer, I planned on cutting them down to ankle height and adding straps to make them them more to my taste. They then promptly sat stagnating for several months at the back of my wardrobe, because for all my optimism, am I really going to be proactive enough to do all that?

I finally pulled them out of their incubation this week and considered them. The length isn't a particularly easy one to work with, but they've surprisingly grown on me; if I could add something to form a visual break to the zip they would look far better. Two skinny belts later and I'm actually excited to wear them out now.

I sometimes wonder about people complaining that they never see anything in charity shops. It's a different state of mind from normal shopping; most are overpicked nowadays, but for all the charity shop tips on adapting and repairing and reconsidering, the most valuable tool you can have is patience.

Has anyone else found any gems in second hand shops recently? Revived something that's been lurking in the back of your wardrobe?



Fee

Wardrobe Feature: DIY Spiderweb Leggings

I haven't even had a chance to edit my photos, as my internet is at rural speeds. Updated versions forthcoming.

First things first - apologies for not having this post up quite on time. I spent the weekend helping a friend move into their new flat, and had neither the Wi-Fi nor time nor energy to get it up sharp. On the plus side, I had a very pleasant few days, and discovered that Dundee charity shops produce far better finds when not being picked clean by students (haul post potentially forthcoming).

Several of you mentioned wanting to see more of my finished DIYs for my craft challenge, which I'm quite happy to acquiesce to - hopefully it will keep me motivated to continue finishing them! If you want real time updates on my progress, I regularly post projects on instagram and facebook as I complete them.

There is always one craft which outstays its welcome, and these leggings were it. I started these in first year of university, only finishing them at the start of this summer. This was mainly due to the pointillist style (though I'll admit there was an element of laziness there too); finish a line, let it dry. Repeat. There were still a lot of accidental smudges.

Included - everyday outfit for myself. 

I originally saw leggings like these in topshop, but couldn't afford the £30 price tag at the time. They're a good example of why you shouldn't always DIY everything - though they were theoretically easy, the time put into them probably negated that. Similarly, I've been bankrupting myself buying fabric for other future wardrobe additions, so whilst it's easy to say, 'I could make that', you may be forced to eat those words. On the other hand, I decided that the design stood out more when it only covered one leg, so DIY does have its advantages.

Is anyone else undertaking craft projects this summer? When do you DIY over buying?




Fee


P.S. Welcome to Night Vale is doing a European Tour! More info on their website.

Wardrobe Feature: Leather satchel

I don't usually follow most fashion 'rules' - they tend to apply to a more conservative style than my own, and I'm mystified by the reasoning behind most. Why do I need a certain list of wardrobe essentials? Why should I listen to a rule as subjective as 'don't wear hosiery with heels'?

The one rule I have always stood by is mixing brown and black leather. Yet, paradoxically, it's also the rule which I break on a daily basis. What gives?

I was saddened on my last trip back to Glasgow to see that Bag & Baggage, a family run business selling quality leather goods, luggage and footwear, had retired after over forty years in business. Normally such a shop would be out of my price range, but to congratulate me on getting into university my godmother had promised to get me a quality bag to last me my five year degree.

Two years later and despite near constant use, the bag I got then barely displays its age, and has more than proven worth the investment. I don't want to preach that people should always pay more for quality, as although it's worth it in the long run many people can't afford to do so (as stated in 'Vime's Theory of Socioeconomic Unfairness' by Terry Pratchett), and price doesn't always equal quality (Topshop springs to mind).

I was featured in the Dundee Courier's street style section last month (I was misquoted and compared to one of the Olsen twins, so not too well inclined to them), and one of the aspects of the encounter was what got me thinking about this. I'd always been worried since getting my satchel about how the brown bag looks next to my very black outfits and shoes, and motioned to move it out of sight when the photographer was going to take the photo. She stopped me, however. "Leave it in." she said, "it looks good."

And on reflection, it does. Another example of arbitrary rules being pointless in real life.





Fee

Wardrobe Feature: Round Sunglasses

Sunglasses are not something I have much luck with. Not in terms of style; I'm a firm believer in the philosophy that if you try on enough pairs, you'll find one that suits you. My problem is that they are so easily lost or broken. Expensive or prescription sunglasses are completely wasted on someone who can't keep them around for longer than several months.

I misplaced my wayfarer/blues brothers style shades last month (thankfully found last night), and with spring imminent it was essential that I get a new set. Though I like the style of my old pair, I decided to break from the norm in my recent shopping trip and get these round frames (from Primark, I hate to say, but I had no luck elsewhere). Round frames have been rather popular in the mainstream recently, but I don't see that as a reason not to like them; I've avoided the style previously due to a belief that they make me look like John Lennon, but these are big enough that that's not a problem.

They're rapidly becoming one of my favourite daily accessories, which I didn't think that I would ever say about sunglasses. My first impulse was to wear them with a severe tight bun and black lipstick for a nu-goth/dark couture look, but I've tentatively started branching out into wearing them with other looks. Whilst they're more of a statement piece than my old pair, it goes to show that statement doesn't always mean unworkable.

What's your opinion on sunglasses? Do you prefer something that don't draw the attention away from the rest of your look, or something that really stands out?





Fee

Wardrobe Feature: Coffin Bag

I'm not really a bag person - I'm somewhat baffled by how some people can obsess over relatively plain, expensive bags, and I don't always even carry one. My work horse for the past two years has been my brown leather satchel - not very goth, but it's the only bag that can cope with the amount I lug to and fro from uni. I have lots of plain black bags for going out, which are sufficient for money, my phone and keys, but none of them are particularly exciting.

Not actually a great photo (I was having major problems with my hair that day, and Ben is still struggling dealing with my camera), but it was too cute to resist.

My one true goth bag has always been my coffin bag, which I finally procured last summer off eBay; it's a good size, with a removable internal pocket (strange, I know, but useful) and a cross body strap - though irritatingly doesn't come with back straps to allow for use as a back pack - and instantly makes any outfit Goth As Fuck.

Sadly, it's not so appropriate for taking to lectures at the hospital, so it tends to be reserved for out of hours use.

One of the interesting things about owning an wardrobe item that is so ubiquitous it has become a cliché is the different ways of styling it. I actually really enjoy seeing them on fashion blogs, just to view the wildly different looks they get incorporated into. I'm still playing with what to wear it with, but maybe you'll see it more on the blog.



Fee

Wardrobe Feature: Studded leather cuff

"Don't buy clothes from costume shops."

This is the mantra we're told when Halloween comes round and vampire costumes start appearing in fancy dress shops. And usually, it holds true; Halloween costumes tend to be badly fitted and badly made, and don't have a place in anyone's wardrobe.

I was originally thinking about featuring my studded collar for this post and discussing the role of key wardrobe features for goths and what it means to accessorise the same item differently, but I decided that something equally innocuous but with a different history behind it would be more interesting.

This cuff was pinched borrowed from my brother, who originally got it as an accessory for a Halloween outfit (he went as a punk). It's probably the oldest thing of mine in my daily wardrobe, actually. I wore it nearly every day in my later years at high school as my tiny rebellion, and it's held fast. I wear it with another cuff (pictured with it) I've had since I was small and don't remember getting, and while it's not as good quality as a proper studded cuff designed for wearing outside of fancy dress, I don't particularly want to swap it for another, as it makes me smile.






Fee

Wardrobe Feature: Buckled Winklepickers

I'm well overdue to do a piece of jewellery in my wardrobe feature, but I'm that happy with my new boots that I can't even express it.

A friend of mine swears by a rule for expensive purchases; if it's not in the sale, it's not meant to be. That logic actually applied for this purchase; I saw these boots in Office back in November, but as they were over £80 I decided to wait and see. Then, lo and behold, they were in the sale at the end of the year for half price.

I decided to include these as my first wardrobe feature of the year for a few reasons - as stated, I absolutely love them, and as my first purchase for the new year they represent my wish to fill my wardrobe with things I've fallen head over heels for. They also hark back to the trad goth style I love and want to infuse my wardrobe with, so you'll certainly be seeing a few outfits featuring these.



Fee



P.s. I just got 5,000 views, you guys! Thanks a bunch!

Wardrobe Feature: Ghost (of Christmas Past) Jumper

Now that it's genuinely the winter season, I feel like I should be posting something more appropriate for the weather that Scotland's been having (i.e. cold and rainy with frostbite imminent).

It seems every goth and their dog bought this at Halloween whilst it was in stock at Newlook, and to be honest I don't blame them - it's adorable and incredibly cosy. I'm passing this off as my Christmas jumper of the year because ghosts are totally Christmas.



Derp photo for the lulz.

When I was going through a depressive slump in late October/early November, one of the first things that went was the effort that I put into how I looked. I stopped wearing make up, and I gradually couldn't be arsed with making the effort to look goth every day. And whilst that was a symptom of my increasing anhedonia, it actually is a good thing in many ways; I was spending too much time worrying about what to wear and putting on make up, and my appearance was in many ways impractical for my lifestyle. Currently, I'm sticking more to wardrobe staples, with outfits based on jeans, vest tops and shorts featuring prominently, which is more practical and gives more structure to my wardrobe (and avoids the fretting over what to wear in the morning that was becoming my life). There's no reason for that not to look gothy, however, and spooky jumpers fit right in there. And how could I say no to a woolly ghost that feels like being wrapped in a hug?



<3

How does your mood and your lifestyle affect your fashion? Do you prioritise when it comes to comfort versus appearance, or do you think that a healthy balance can be struck? Let me know in the comments!


Fee

Wardrobe Feature: Bat Leggings

Now, I shouldn't really fill the stereotypes. But I do love bats. As well as having several bat boxes outside my house (unfortunately not yet filled), my wardrobe is stuffed full of the only mammal that can truly fly.

And it's back to my horrifying phone photos. :( I'll update this when I get a proper photograph of them.

These leggings were my first recognisably goth item; I bought them in the Glasgow alternative shop Cyber, and though I don't wear them as much as I used to, they've remained loyally in my wardrobe as my love letter to all things small, furry and flying.

Are you guilty for sticking bats on everything you own? Can you remember the first goth item you purchased? Let me know in the comments!





Fee

Wardrobe Feature: Cthulhu necklace

Hello once again - it's the first of the new month, and that means two things; one I have my first day back at uni tomorrow (boo!), and two, it's wardrobe feature time.

Strictly speaking, it's just an octopus necklace, but he looks so gloweringly evil that he has to be Cthulhu. I purchased him at Dundee's DoJ-Con, which I attended last year with Ben of The Pop Culture Cynic. He was made by an independent craft business called Sands Engravers and Ironmongers, which specialises in laser cutting.

I don't actually wear this one as a necklace all to often, but I do like wearing him under a shirt collar, as above. In recent years, I've seen a massive upsurge in the awareness of and attention the Lovecraft Mythos, and specifically Cthulhu, is paid; I think it's a good thing, though it's a shame that the other elder gods and old ones don't get the same screen time as the monster of R'lyeh. :P

Are you a H.P. Lovecraft fan, or are you guilty of buying nerdy jewellery and clothing too? Let me know in the comments!





Fee

Wardrobe Feature: Vintage Skirt

It's wardrobe feature time! Since I did a piece of jewellery very dear to me last time around, I figured this time around I should do some clothing.

This skirt is, probably, my all time favourite. I picked it up several years ago in Armstrong's in Edinburgh (From the label I'm guessing it's not true vintage, but it's certainly second hand), and whilst I was initially dubious about whether it would be worth the £15 investment, but it definitely was.

Look at the beautiful fabric!

It's fantastically versatile, and the real work horse of my wardrobe - I wear it for work, when I'm feeling old school goth (as here), inspired by 'hippie goth' (what is the correct term for that?), or with a petticoat underneath. I'm hopeful that it would look good with an underbust corset, should I ever save up enough for one.

One of the most useful things about it is how I can wear it down, as above...

... Or wear it up with a belt. Definitely one of my best purchases. :)


Just out the shower, and enjoying herself far too much taking photos.

I'm always worried that these posts are a little narcissistic, like I'm boasting about my wardrobe, so I'm opening up the floor; do you have a favourite vintage or charity shop purchase, or is there one item of clothing that you've really got some use out of?





Fee

Wardrobe Feature: Birthday Bat Necklace

It's wardrobe feature time! I've not been keeping up with this at all, but I've been given so many pieces of jewellery and clothing, and have many more with personal associations that I do want to share them (and say thanks, I suppose).

This piece was a gift for my eighteenth birthday from one of my best friends Elena, and was my first genuinely gothic piece of jewellery (homemade stuff not included). As is probably obvious I am rather obsessed with bats, so this was absolutely perfect. Bats tend to be popular with goth because of their association with witchcraft, vampires and the night in European mythology, but for me their connection is through their duality; as well as being associated with death, decay, deceit and destruction, they are considered lucky in Poland, a symbol of happiness in China (I've been meaning to get some china with bats on it), and are sacred in Tonga. I tend to see bats at dusk, the turning point of twilight into the night. For me, goth is all about the interplay of beauty and ugliness, which I suppose you can see in the graceful flight of what is culturally regarded as an ugly creature.

Oh hai chin.

Mine is from local Glasgow goth shop Osiris, but a quick internet search reveals lots of these. The chain on mine is slightly too long, but every time I mean to fix it I always forget. Ah well.

BONUS: this is what I wear around the house when I actually remember that I'm supposed to be an eyeliner clad mistress of the night -

Oooh yeah, hiking socks and too small footless tights. So rock and roll.

See you all soon!




Fee

Sophistique Noir's Monthly Theme: Early blunderings through vintage hair

A.k.a Fiona's collection of extremely vain selfies

So - my first time participating in Sophistique Noir's monthly theme post, and my blog deletes half the post after I write it. Nonetheless, I shall persevere.

I should hate vintage hair. And I do - it's designed for a time when women were not eighteen year old medical students who are already running late to lectures without trying to learn how to put in a faux fringe. I am not skilled in the dark arts of coiffure; it's a fuss, difficult to get perfect, and a nightmare with layers.

But love it I do. I think everyone has cast an envious glance to the vintage crowd at some point in our lives. Whilst we're well used to painting perfect eyeliner flicks, for many in the alternative fashion community (traditionally famed for it's attempts to make hair look more like bird's nests than actual birds nests), the perfect coif is not something that necessarily comes naturally.

It was really only on coming to Uni that I began doing stupid things to my hair, armed with bobby pins, freeze hold hairspray and stubborn determination. YouTube was a great help, and
I teased and sprayed and stuck rats in, ending up with a fairly shoddy set of victory curls. I suppose we all have to start somewhere.

Eyebrow shaping was also I skill I would go on to develop.

Victory rolls are the most famous vintage style - from the forties, they were supposedly named for the manouvres performed by WWII planes, and were worn as a practical up do for working during the war. Worn up, down, high, low, with hairnets or curls - there's hundreds of variations. As with a lot of vintage styles I found it very difficult with layers, but if you're struggling they're much easier to do with furious teasing and hair rats. This site has some excellent photos of the trend done properly.

Next attempt bandana and pin curl - I don't have a photo of me doing it, so this blurry one where I'm wearing a pseudo curl will have to do. Although not worn in the poster, it's best known as a result of the 'Rosie the Riveter' poster produced by the American War Production Coordinating Committee (a copy of which is hanging on my door). I like this one because it's easier for everyday wear than victory rolls, and awesome for bad hair days.

Bathroom shot! (The best light is in there. I shall not be judged.)

 

My most recent attempt is my favourite right now - faux bangs! Designed to mimic the curled fringe of Bettie Page, these aren't something I've had a lot of practice at (as you can see from the horribly squint placement of the attempt pictured), but I love them too much to care. These too can be changed in styling and placement; Dita Von Teese, queen of vintage hair, wears them up high and glamorous here.

The added bonus of this style is that I get an awesome curly fringe afterwards.

While the above styles have been mostly forties in origin or inspiration, I do also love the loose curls of the fifties, and have attempted this now. I have no photos to show for it, however, as the first time I didn't bother and the second oh god I never want to see them again how many cocktails did I have so instead I will link you to Dita rocking them for me.
 
My advice for those wanting to try hair more elaborate than 'I think I brushed it this morning?'* is short and sweet - tutorials, bobby pins, freeze hold hairspray and hair rats. I would also recommend having a basic knowledge of vintage hair; while it's not necessary to match up the decade of your do to the outfit, it's certainly a good thing to know your stuff.


Because I'm a lazy bum who hasn't done her wardrobe feature for this month (or, indeed, last month), I'm going to include it in here! Plus, the tights I'm featuring are moderately vintage inspired -

Yup, I took the last three photos on the same day. I like the dress, okay?

I got these at newlook a couple of years ago, but have struggled to include them in outfits as the blue doesn't really match the rest of my wardrobe. If you have any suggestions, please comment, as I really want to use them!




Tutorials -

• Fleur's Victory Rolls in a Jiffy Tutorial at Diary of a Vintage Girl
• Fleur's 1940s Faux Bangs Tutorial at Diary of a Vintage Girl (favourite vintage blogger, obviously)
• CherryDollFace's 1950's Curly Hair Tutorial on Youtube

Fee




*Not that this is me, six days a week. Oh no.

Wardrobe feature: Alien Sex Fiend top

Greetings again - it's been a while, hasn't it? Medicine decided that, no, I wasn't allowed to stay in the eye of the storm any longer, and back to graft it was. Anyway, I decided to start a wardrobe feature post, given I've accumulated a few awesome pieces of clothing over the past half year and might as well put them on the internet. 

As the (belated) second half of my christmas present, the boyfiend had me over to his for dinner and together we made this awesome t shirt -

A new web cam is on my birthday list, trust me.

Personally, I adore it and think making t shirts together was an awesome idea (I'm not so sure about the combination of the necklaces now I see it again, but ho hum). This one was done with bleach and a homemade stencil, for anyone interested - results vary with different fabrics, and I recommend doing  a test blotch on the inside fabric.

If you try your own, do show me the results!



Fee