CONSUMERISM: Backpacks

Sorry for the brief hiatus, followers - I was working on a dissertation, which I'm really proud to say is now finished! It was a joy to write (except for the bits where I wanted to pull my hair out), but I really needed time off once it was completed; we should be back to normal now.

It wasn't until February when I was dragging a heavy tote across Edinburgh that I realized how much difference backpacks make; asymmetrical weight distribution, such as when you're carrying a handbag, is a nightmare for generating shoulder and back tension - the last thing I want when I'm heading to a three day dance workshop.

There's still a perception that rucksacks don't look good, to which I say - bullshit. There's plenty dedicated minds in fashion out there designing things that made me totally renounce the satchel cause. From cheap as chips drawstring bags like this hologram one - an easy DIY if you're in the mood - to the premium but absolutely stunning Solid Gray architectural pack, there's something for every style and budget.

Breezing around hands-free looks far better than uncomfortably wedging a tote under my armpit anyway.

Hologram drawstring bag - [x]  |  Asos Clean Boxy Backpack - [x]

Asos Leather Backpack - [x]  |  Solid Gray Backpack - [x]

Do you have any favourite bag style? Any recent style revelations? Let me know below!

     

CONSUMERISM: Pin Me Up

Inner Decay: Ecstasy of St Teresa pin - [link]  Punky Pins: Black Moon pin - [link]
Little Whip: Trois pins - [link] Wasted Effort: Mystical Pyramid pin - [link]

God knows I've been sticking patches on my jackets since I first knew what punk was, but pins? I could make my own badges. Why on earth would I go buy pins?

Turns out lots of reasons. It feels almost silly to do a shopping feature on such a tiny accessory, but they have a very charming retro vibe, and I've been noticing a lot more cute and covetable pins popping up on my radar of late. And where there's cute there's weird, and where there's weird there's all black versions for the chromatically challenged. A lot of these shops also have other great accessories, and honorable mentions go out to Inner Decay's Medusa and Wormhole patches, as well as Little Whip's very NSFW Try Me Shirt and Punky Pin's Death's Head Moth pin,which I sadly didn't have space for up there.


Are there any pins you want out there? Any other unusual accessories you like? Let me know below!





Fiona C.

Christmas Wishlist: Bare Essentials

Playful Promises Cage Bra - Sandman Omnibus II - Black Knit Legwarmers

Lavender Tea - Xenolux Hydrogen Flight Cap - Hopeless Lingerie Eva Harness

Although it's now December, between exams and dissertation work I haven't had the mental space to start feeling festive (or post on here, oops). Nonetheless, I've been listening to some appropriate music, stressing about present shopping, and searching for gift suggestions.

I feel like the older I get the less I actually want, but I always need some basics and investments. I've been interested in adding more foundation pieces to my wardrobe since finally getting Kiss Me Deadly's Van Doren Suspender Belt (which has exceeded all expectations as an everyday piece, and comes with the An Honest Drug recommendation for sure), though not all of them are 100% purely practical. And who doesn't ask for something woolly and cable knit at Christmas? Add a cup of tea and a good book, and I'm all set.

What's everyone else secretly looking at for themselves this holiday? Any festive music suggestions for the perpetually noel-phobic? Let me know below!




Fiona C.

Osteology Wishlist

Top - Scottish Ram Skull, Roe buck mount. Bottom - mole skull, Harbour seal skull.
Product images from The Weird & Wonderful and The Fox Den Shop; products no longer available. 

My birthday is swiftly approaching and, though everyone I know who is nice enough to spoil me has already organised themselves, If I could afford to be decadent I'd get something from the above list and treat myself.

Taxidermy, though I can appreciate it, has never really been my thing; it's always been bones. Skull are so stripped and matter-of-fact - there's no room for the fripperies of decoration that taxidermy delights in. Only the bare essentials are visible. (I'd perhaps make an exception for a muntjac mount, however.)

I spent all my childhood summers on the bleak and windy north-east coast, where if I was careful and kept my eyes open I could find tern skulls and sheep bones. My current collection features a variety of bones (sheep, deer, seagull and cow) and some fantastic skulls (deer, rabbit, seagull, tern), but I'd love to add some more unusual pre-cleaned pieces - possibly carved skulls, a jacob's ram skull or perhaps some reptilian pieces, but these are the bare bones (pun unfortunately intended) of what I'd like. How cool are mole skulls? A full skeleton would be amazing, but let's start small.




Fee

Improbable longing: Silver leotard

Source.

First on my list of 'items so ridiculous I shouldn't want them, but really, really do'. Hell, if body suits are a thing, then why can't I wear a dance leotard out?

I've been planning my halloween costume recently (more on this come the end of October), and found this in my search for something I could modify. I take aesthetic delight in it beyond its role as a costume piece, and dream of using it as an actual part of my wardrobe in the way (IN)DECOROUS TASTE found that nude body suits are an absurdly practical staple. Polo necks have been surging through my wardrobe over the past half year and conquering ground as they go, and silver has been my go to accent for some time now. Though really, I would get it in black as well.

I'd probably wear this on a night out with big hair, a cropped jacket and obnoxious heels, because even if I wear it seriously doing so is still a crazy performance. Spaceman inspiration? I can't get enough.




Fee

Consumerist Wants: Pay Day Dreams

We always want what we can't have, and right now that means clothes. I'm currently working full time doing manual labour, so wearing anything other than old t shirts and shorts is a far off dream. The plus side to this, however, is that I now have cash to buy all the impractical PVC pencil skirts and hats that I could possibly want, and considering everyone seems to be posting their summer wish lists I thought that I might share mine.

Large brimmed sun hat

This one is from Topshop, but quite honestly it's not big enough. I need a brim that looks more like an umbrella. It feels like I can't find a plain black sun hat in this style anywhere, which coupled with my rather sizeable head circumference means this seems far more difficult than it needs to be. Suggestions are definitely welcome!

 

Restyle leather harness

I'm currently on the fence about whether or not I should just make this, but as I don't have the tools or skills necessary to work with leather I'm a little unsure. It's a really nice style, however, and I could clip/pin chiffon panels to it to make a DIY version of this Gypsy Warrior skirt. Also on the buckled front, I desperately need a few new black belts (I'd particularly like one with O rings on it), but I haven't seen anything like what I'm looking for.

 

Missguided Mircia PVC Pencil Skirt in Black

That's a lie. I also want it in silver, so I can do space goth. And maybe baby pink. Basically I will take all of the colours they make.

Kimono

Man, this is an original one. I'm not really regarding this as top of my list right now, but I'm after a few more drapey kimonos now that they're being stocked. Sadly, most of the kimonos I've seen don't have sleeves to my taste; I'm awfully picky about this, and would prefer a larger sleeve more like a traditional kimono (though my knowledge of Japanese traditional clothing is very basic, so correct me if wrong).


The list is actually smaller than I thought it was going to be, as with my summer 100 DIY challenge (which sadly hasn't been seeing much action recently) I've been really evaluating about what I should be buying and what I really don't need to (plus, I should really be using my wages to foot the bill for so many projects). Some of the DIY projects I'm keen to do are a clear PVC skater skirt, a decorated backpack and finishing my hand muff, as well as several sigil type artworks based on scots faerytales. So whilst I may not get to wear all of my fancy clothes yet, my sewing machine will be whirring away and my pencils worn to stubs by September.


All images from sites linked to above. Are you saving up for anything currently? Are there any craft projects you'd really like to see? Let me know below!





Fee

Brand: House of Widow

So Lip Service makes some pretty sweet clothing under its spin off label, House of Widow. Who knew?

I tend to associate the brand - perhaps unfairly, as they've improved a lot - with the worst of nineties goth, predisposed to an overabundance of corset lacing, chains, zips and straps (usually poorly placed), and I've slagged them off - not directed at their account, I should stress - a few times on twitter. Nonetheless, this line has me intrigued. The inspirations and styles are very current, with lots of draped black and occult symbols, and not unattractively priced for those who can't afford the designer versions.

I realize that I'm about a year behind on this, but I've not seen any of this stuff in my local Glasgow goth shops - why, I don't know, as it would be devoured (by me, mainly). Maybe because it doesn't look obviously goth enough? I'd like the Glaswegian alternative shops to stock more current goth fashions, as love it though I may Cyber has had the same horrendous pin-striped trenches for as long as I can remember.

Though I do understand them moving away from the goth aesthetic and towards fashion more attractive to metal and hipster lovers (got to go where the money goes), and that they have an onus to provide fashion that you can't get on the high street - which, to be fair, House of Widow wouldn't be out of place in - but personally I'm getting a little fatigued with sifting through the same old Hellbunny dresses. Maybe moving with the times would be a good thing.

All images sourced from the House of Widow website. Do you own anything from House of Widow? Do you find it frustrating not seeing more up to date trends in your alternative shops? 



Fee

Design: Zoetica Ebb and Alien Botany

Hortus Scarf.

I wouldn't normally re-share content I first saw on another blog, but I'm such distress that I simply have to. Haute Macabre recently published an article on Zoetica Ebb's (formerly of Coilhouse and many other beautiful projects) new foray into design, Alien Botany. And readers, these items are the most beautiful items of clothing I've ever seen.

Desiderium Leggings.

The exquisite agony I'm experiencing is only heightened by the fact that they're USA (not checked shipping) and my need to wait before buying anything new. And whilst I love the colour scheme she's chosen (combined with the subject matter, I can definitely get behind these pastels), I'm not certain how well it would fit into my all black wardrobe. Oh, and I can't own all of them.

Ah well. Beauty before sense, I suppose.




Fee



Shopping: Urban Outfitters Picks



Skull Box - Palmistry Hand

Urban Outfitters is the ex I just can't get away from. I hate them for reasons above the normal hipster-phobia of most; the company ethics are terrible, with art theft and cultural appropriation everyday occurrences, and their CEO is nuts. I can't think of a place where the irony of their 'stick it to the man' merchandise is more apparent.

Nonetheless, I keep coming back to their homewear selection. It's like an indie (or pseudo-indie) version of Firebox. Despite some desperate intentionally offensive pieces, they do sometimes have an eye for pretty things, and I fell in love with this jewellery box when I was in shopping for my brother's birthday (desperate times call for desperate measures). The palmistry hand I've seen around elsewhere recently, so I'm hoping to find another place to purchase one - I may not have such luck for the box, though. How depressing that the art can't always be separate from the creator.

Does anyone else have an intense love-hate relationship with a brand? I can't be the only one who can't resist the allure despite reasons I shouldn't. Let me know in the comments!





Fee

Highstreet Halloween: Skulls and Skeletons

Claire's Filigree Skull Drop Earrings  |  ASOS CURVE Skeleton Print Skater Dress  |  Claires skeleton studs

ASOS Cheap Monday Skull T Shirt  |  Topshop X Ray Ankle Socks  | NewLook Skeleton Dress

Is it bad that I half intend on buying most of the items I feature here? I love the filigree earrings, and the Aztec style skull on the Cheap Mondays t shirt, and I've been looking for a skeleton dress as above for ages. It makes me sad how little skeleton hosiery there is right now, though - I would have thought it would be the obvious design choice.

I'm also fond of ASOS' skeleton hand print top and Urban Outfitters' skeleton tank top (I know, I know, but they have some nice things in now), but if you're looking for inspiration for your DIY efforts, ASOS' Skeleton back tee and this 'stay spooky' tank are my pick of the shops right now (though a lot of the other ones I've mentioned look pretty easy to make). Halloween should be celebrated, regardless of one's clothing ethic.





Fee

Highstreet Halloween: Bats

NewLook 'Let's Hang Out' Sweater  |  ASOS Bat Novelty Sunglasses  |  Topshop Bat Patterned Treggings (print available in skirt)

ASOS Bat Print Unitard  |  Topshop Bat Socks  |  ASOS LUPO slippers



When I posted a feature on my bat patterned leggings, a few people commented saying that they were struggling to find anything batty other than online - whilst goth shops tend to have the odd item, they're all but impossible to find elsewhere. Halloween, however, is the one time of the year that more spooky motifs creep into the mainstream shops, and to celebrate this I'll be posting my pick of the high street's take on our everyday wear.

Happy shopping!



Fiona

Red and Black Week 2013, day 5: Walk Into The Sun

Amazingly, I've reached day five of Sophistique Noir's Red and Black week, with not a day missed! I thought I would lapse somewhere, and there have been aborted posts that didn't work out, but all in all I have managed to get entries up with some fore-planning involved. Still, there's one day left to go so I probably shouldn't be too hasty in my celebrations.

Miraculously, the weather has cooled down somewhat, but I've been left hypervigilant for the next heatwave (forgetting, of course, that the Scottish summer consists of a week of glorious weather, after which it's hideous until the following year). I'm terrible for remembering to reapply suncream, and dislike covering up because surprisingly I do actually like to feel the sun sometimes (recently, however, it's also been too warm to wear more than the bare minimum of layers).

Parasols have been used in Egypt, Greece, China and in India since the BC years, and make a fantastically effective barrier against the sun. They first came into popular use in Britain and France around the mid 17th century from China, and became particularly popular in the enthusiasm for Japanese culture and art in the 1800s.

They remain popular in various countries and subcultures, notably in Goth and Lolita fashion, but still can be immensely practical. To tie in with R&B week, I've collected my favourite red and black parasols from around the web so you photophobic goths can survive the summer months. For those of you in the southern half of the globe, fear not; many of the parasols included double as umbrellas.


£5.85, here.

This square umbrella is more modern and unusual in it's design, and would be great with a casual short and vest top look, or perhaps an elegant three piece suit.

£23.95, from here.

This Battenburg lace parasol has an unlined portion to show off the pattern of the lace, but still protects you from the sun. I'm considering getting this one!

£11.99, from here.

I've always been fond of this paper design, and I'm swithering over this one myself. Many of these on the web are decorated with cherry blossom or other designs, but this one is plain for your own decoration, if you so choose.

£36.00, from here.

This is one for the gothic lolitas out there! There's a few too many ruffles for me, but there's something charming in it's frivolity. This one also has the advantage of doubling up as an umbrella.

£14.95 from here.

I own the black version of this, and it's an excellent umbrella as well as a parasol; the classic shape works well with victorian outfits as well as providing full coverage from the bright hurty thing. I should say that the Edwardian style umbrellas don't fare in wind as well as their normal counterparts, so beware of what weather you take them out in.



See you for the last post tomorrow!






Fee



Reference - A brief history of parasols & umbrellas (now defunct, but I'll find another source).

P.S. apologies for the cheesy title. I just couldn't let pass the opportunity to reference a song from one of my favourite bands.

High street sale recommendations

Just a quick post for UK goths on recent developments on the high street - 

• Office have got rid of most of their sale stuff (I bagged a pair of real leather knee high combat boots for £50, which I am mighty pleased about), but their stock recently has been surprisingly goth friendly. They even had platform boots in - not incredibly attractive ones, but the fact remains I never thought I would see a pair in a high street shop. I'd highly recommend a look, anyway, as some of it is lovely.
•  Claire's Accessories, though mocked and loved in equal measure for being an integral part of the 'goth in a box' kit, is useful for basics, and to clear out last year's stock they have started a '£10 for ten items' deal - pretty good, and I'd definitely consider it if I weren't on a strict shopping allowance.