I must “Thank You” Darling Darklings,
I had not realized that I have some serious followers, and am glad to make you happy by my return.
I do agree if one is going for furs, vintage is always best; it is the ultimate in recycling.
But I also have to give a caveat, that there will be things I’ll say that you may not agree with or find offensive, but it is only my own opinion and my personal choice based upon my living experience. Not an apology or anything like that, just a fact of my personality.
Now Darklings, how about a mystery? And just in time for the Oscars.
Last night I was up late, watching a positively juvenile but knowledgeable horror host, Svengoolie. He presents on his program mostly the horror films from the Universal vaults although it seems Universal may have purchased films from other studios as well and is part of the “package” as it were. Last night I was treated to a comedic film titled “The Invisible Woman” its more comedy than horror, but I watched it anyway---why??
VERA WEST----that is why.
When I was a little darkling I remember my parents buying their first Back and White T.V. set. I was 4 years old and fortunately they chose an R.C.A. with a good size screen which came in its own wooden cabinet. A sizable piece of furniture, I’ll never forget the excitement when it was being installed, the men on the roof carefully bolting the Antenna to the brick chimney and strapping it to make sure it did not wiggled so we could pull in a good signal. It must have set my parents back a goodly amount of money because every two weeks, on Friday my Mother marched to the bank, deposited Dad’s check (with little me in tow), she put some in savings and then we marched all over our Main Street paying our bills, the Utilities, the Druggist, the Grocer, the Gas Station (we had what was called a ‘station charge’ for repairs on Dad’s 1936 Chevy) and we marched to Franks Music Store, the only place to buy quality records, sheet music, radios, phonographs, pianos and Televisions. For a year we went to Franks to pay off the T.V.
I was entranced by the magic of those black and white images, and on Saturdays they would show various old films as filler, as I was growing up I was in love with the clothing on the female leads in the Horror films, all those smart suits, dresses and elegant gowns that were designed by Vera West.
Everyone remembers the gowns designed by Edith Head, and Adrian, but true elder Goths remember and adored the designs of Vera West, she was the head designer for Universal Pictures from 1927 right up to the early part of 1947.
She designed gowns specifically for the principal female leads; she never won an Oscar for her efforts and had a strange past as well as a mysterious death.
I am going to quote here a portion of an article that I came across about her.
“Vera West was born in New York City on June 28, 1900. She attended the
Philadelphia Institute of Design, studying dressmaking with Lucile, Lady
Duff-Gordon, a couturière with clienteles in London, Paris, and New York. Around
the turn of the century, Lucile had made history by staging a live runway show
in London. The first fashion show anywhere. A “mannequin parade,” she called it.
After graduation, Vera West designed dresses for a salon on Fifth Avenue in New
York City, where, in the words of costume historian W. Robert Lavine, “she
learned how to get along with rich, often spoiled women who demanded special
attention.” West’s stint at the salon was cut short. She committed a crime. She
had an illicit affair. She had an illegitimate child.
This is speculation. What’s known: in the mid-1920s, she became involved in some
sordid, secret scenario that would haunt her late in life. She fled to
Hollywood. In 1927, Universal Pictures named her head costume designer.
According to Dr. Deborah Landis, current president of the Costume Designers
Guild in Hollywood, Vera West “only designed the principal women’s clothes in
the horror films.” A mad scientist’s fiancee, a mummy’s long-lost love, a
zombie’s crush—these were the roles most principal women played. Virginal
victims whom monsters menaced. How did West dress damsels in distress?
For day, she favored smart suits in tweed or wool, fringed with furbelows. The
Carpathians could be cold. For evening, evening gowns in the style of
Schiaparelli and Chanel. Almost all of West’s women wound up wearing something
white at night. A negligée. Or a wedding dress.”
~~~~~~~~~~ I am going to digress here but say that she did design the dresses for almost all the Universal Monster movies, including the wedding dress in the First Boris Karloff ‘Frankenstein’ as well as the dresses for both the English speaking ‘Dracula’ with Bela Lugosi and the Spanish Language version that was filmed at the same time, she sexed up Lupita Tovar’s night gown to the point of being very risqué. ~~~~~~
“ According to some sources it appears that she became tired of designing clothing for monster movies and in early 1947, she resigned her role at Universal. She designed a
couture collection for a dress shop at the Beverly-Wilshire Hotel. She would no
longer serve monsters and their maidens. She would clothe actresses. Wives of
studio heads.”
~~~~But things took a serious, and mysterious turn during the middle of the year, one day after her 47th birthday she was found dead in her pool…read on Darklings.~~~~
“This is the only way. I am tired of being blackmailed.” A suicide note. Vera
West wrote it. Police found her floating in the pool behind her home on June 29,
1947. Her husband, a businessman, was away. From her note: “The fortune teller
told me there was only one way to duck the blackmail I’ve paid for twenty-three
years…death.”
~~~~Something right out of a Val Lewton movie one would think, but there is more~~~
“Who was blackmailing her? Why was she being blackmailed? The New York Times
reported that police detectives were investigating West’s case. The Times
reported nothing more about it. She was buried in the Great Mausoleum at Forest
Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. Her blackmailer was never found. Nor
was her fortune teller. Presuming they were two different people. Who knows?”
~~~~That is how the article ends, there was more but it talked mostly about her designs in the movies, in researching more I discovered further references to the situation regarding her death, based upon the police and her husband’s statements.
The question of who was blackmailing her, why was she being blackmailed, was never answered. The New York Times reported that police detectives were investigating West’s case and then there was nothing more about it. She was buried in the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. Her blackmailer was never found. Nor was her fortune teller. Presuming they were two different people. Or were they?
According to her husband, Jack C. West, he stated that at the time acknowledged no case of blackmail ever having taken place with Vera!
The question that comes up was Vera suffering from delusional paranoia? Police found her floating in the pool behind her home on June 29, 1947. Had she done what director James Whale did some nearly 10 years later, having grown weary of life's woes, did Vera West feel the same way? One is reminded of the fast paced way of life in Hollywood. It's sink or swim, and in this case two very talented individuals may made their unfortunate decisions all too clear.
But in Vera West’s case was it all that clear?
I found an brief article that talks of her death, which gives rises to more questions than answers, it is from the NY Times.
[[ June 30, 1947
San Fernando Valley
Film costumer Vera West died in her swimming pool at 5119 Bluebell Ave.
over the weekend. She suffered from marital difficulties, but the
blackmail to which she alluded in her suicide note was, according to
husband Jack C. West, a figment of her imagination. Mr. West claims he was
staying at the Beverly Hills Hotel when his wife took her unfortunate dip,
following a bad argument, and in anticipation of Mrs. West’s consultation
with a divorce attorney.
Assistant county autopsy surgeon Dr. Marvin Goodwin’s initial report was
of asphyxia, probably due to drowning, but Dr. Frederick Newbarr, his
superior, is refusing to sign a death certificate until additional tests
are performed. ]]
And then nothing----Why did Dr. Newbarr refuse to sign the death certificate and request additional tests? Why was there never another mention of Vera’s death? Why was it swept ‘under the rug’?
In another brief news clip from the L.A. Times on June 29, 1947 (must be the afternoon edition) it said that her death was being handled by Detective Sargent R.P. Kealy and the reference into blackmail was being investigated. According to that source her husband was out of town on a business trip with no reference that he was staying at the Beverly Hill’s Hotel
At the time that she left, Universal was experiencing a regime change, and Vera, being ‘old’, may have been threatened with termination. She was involved in designing costumes at Universal since 1927, and was involved with designing the women’s costumes in the James Whale pictures. Including that fluffy little one worn by a very pretty Elsa Lancaster in the opening scenes of “Bride of Frankenstein”.
Besides the films what did she and James Whale share? Whales career years later was almost over, he suffered from several small strokes, for many years people thought his drowning was an accident until after the death of his live in lover did a suicide note allegedly written by him appeared, but did Whale commit suicide? Or was it made to look that way with his last lover in collusion, remember Whales' lover replaced the live in male nurse with a female non live in nurse, so no one would be there when Whale died.
Was there something that they knew?
And who was this alleged ‘fortune teller, that is strange, because considering that Vera also designed the costumes for the Wolf Man pictures she would have come into contact with Maria Ouspenskaya who played the Gypsy Maleva.
Before Ouspenskaya worked for Universal, she was a celebrated stage actress (Moscow Art Theater, student of Stanislavski), and a highly-respected, twice-Oscar-nominated film performer for all or most of the majors. She was also one of the tremendously influential acting teachers who introduced "the method" style of acting in America, whose students included John Garfield, Lee Strasberg and Stella Adler. In my research into her and others with Universal it was reputed that she would have been very difficult to please, sharply critical and highly opinionated. That must have made things interesting between her and Lon Chaney.
She would have been a very commanding presence on the set and behind the
scenes of any of the Universal films she was involved in, attracting by her very knowledge of acting, a small circle of intimates that she would have had any respect for and this could have included such an accomplished designer like Vera West.
Maria could have learned of Vera's alleged marital troubles, about her many years earlier scandal and offered advice either as an older friend... or as a detached, cynical meddler. She may have had some interest in the occult, most actors do, and as a private joke between them, when Vera designed Maria's gypsy costumes, ‘read’ Vera's grim future with tea leaves, or Tarot cards. The idea of the "fortune teller" persona might even have been created, one has to remember for such a tiny woman Ouspenskaya had a very powerful personality which could have been hypnotic on the troubled Vera and took have a dangerous turn as Vera's mental fears progressed.
Considering that Vera was also 47 years old she may have developed a form of depression or paranoia brought upon by menopause, at that time not much was discussed about it, which accounts for many wives and older women being confined to mental institutions or committing suicide. But did she? Could she have had something on one of the studio heads at Universal that was dangerous, did James Whale also know this secret as well and kept his mouth shut especially after her death? Was her husband tired of his marriage and in fear of paying out alimony since she was no longer contracted to a major studio? Was it murder for hire?
You also have to remember that Ouspenskaya allegedly died from strokes and burns in a fire while smoking a cigarette in bed. But did she have a stroke? Not impossible to believe since she was 73 years old at the time. She was getting old, but was she planning to reveal something?
And James Whale, after his strokes was he also a danger to reveal something?
These 3 people were all connected in some way at Universal Studios? They all knew each other, what was it that they shared?
If anything it is a plot worthy of a better written Stuart Kaminsky ‘Toby Peters’ mystery. Or something by Ellroy in the “Black Dahlia” vein; and speaking of the Black Dahlia, the poor dear is buried not far from where I live and not in Los Angeles as one would think.
And that is your Dark Oscar story for this special occasion Darklings.
Until Later.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Spring time for the elderly Goth~~~
Hello again Darklings,
The weather here cannot make up it’s mind if it’s winter or spring, it’s cold and yet fruit trees are blooming, winds have picked up which is Mother Nature’s way of pruning off too many blossoms so that the fruit is not overwhelming the branches by its weight.
But because of that, once again our thoughts turn to Spring…Ahhh yes, the time of renewal and re-birth and income taxes and property taxes….no matter what Darklings you can always find a down side to things.
But what is an elder Goth to do when things turn to Spring Time---I say ENJOY IT!
Take a page from the Catholic Church which seems to enjoy suffering and guilt, this is the time of Lent, of depravations, wearing sack cloth and ashes, I went to church on Ash Wednesday, (a day full of woe) to receive the ashes on my forehead, for me as an elderly Goth it is not so much for the man who will die on the cross as it is remembering all those of my family and friends who have gone before me and to rejoice knowing that where they are it’s much better than this earthly existence of wars, cruelty, selfish and self-centeredness and extreme consumption. And so for 40 days I will enjoy my period of mourning and remembering.
Then go to church for Good Friday services, enjoy the aspect of the suffering and death of the Man and remember that we all suffer.
Then on Easter Sunday get out your Dark Purples and enjoy the fact that we can celebrate being Goth.
Yes dark ones, enjoy it. For this is the time for yard sales, rummage sales, antique fairs, art wine festivals, all things outdoorsy.
By why??? You ask. Well how are you going to find all those wonderful darkly gothic things to add to your wardrobe or your home. This is the time to start hunting at Estate Sales and everything.
During the Christmas holidays such sales are rare with the exception of some Estate Sales, but most things outdoors are in hibernation and you’ll never know what to expect.
I went to one that had all kinds of old and I mean ooollllllddddd catholic religious things and bought everything, of course I kept the best for Moi but that which I wasn’t too fond of or I had something similar that I liked better I put on my Dinning room table and called my friends and said “Guess What”, I wanted them to have first refusal and what didn’t sell I used E-Bay and made more money for more Yard and Estate sales.
Also if you are planning to repaint the interior of your home, with the warmer weather you can open windows and allow the fresh air in without ‘gassing yourself’ out.
You can go to wine tastings and find all that dark vintage wine whose color reminds you of blood.
Eventually with the return of fruit bearing trees you can indulge in dark, dark Bing Cherries, dark raspberries and loganberries, deep rich dark plums, you can even plant a “Dark Garden” purchase all those roses and irises that have dark petals and foliage. Have your own “Cemetery Garden” or “Mourning Garden”, one of my friends has a “poison garden” with plants that can be poisonous (animals and children are not allowed, “too dangerous”), another has a garden with carnivorous plants like the Venus flytrap or the pitcher plant (all those that are legal to have), even an all white or grey garden or a garden with night blooming flowers. You will need to do some research but it’s possible.
Now when you go out into the sun light always wear sun block, use makeup that can prevent sun damage, a large hat to shade your face and use a parasol (preferably in black) to keep the sun off of you, always sit in the shade if possible. I have one friend who looks for things in cotton but in black if possible, but she discovered that she can be Goth even wearing white or cream color clothing. Just look for her skull, crosses or bat jewelry. Another wears various shades of light grey with splashes of pink, red or pale coral, as she says “all hints of blood” in her darkly way.
Depending upon the type of event and the time, you can enjoy things just before sunset, such as the beach or Amusement Park Boardwalk.
Some of my friends will walk or tour the red woods especially going up north to the Trees of Mystery or touring the “Avenue of the Giants”---as one of them says, “How often can you walk through the interior of Redwood tree.
Some of my friends enjoy walking along our local beach starting just before twilight; it becomes very mysterious and darkly romantic---unless you come across a homeless person.
When the weather is warm you don’t have to have bar-b-ques during the day, start it at twilight and dress up your yard with ‘fairy lights’.
All it takes is a little thought and planning, some people during the day will have a picnic in a cemetery, just put flowers on the graves that you are going to be sitting next to and look like you are caring for it.
I and several friends have done picnics and we have almost always have found a grave or two that appears to be not attended to or lonely, so we clean it up and put fresh flowers, it may seem morbid but you really are inviting the dead to dine with you.
Lots of time it little children’s graves, they have been dead a long time and we’re sure the parents must be dead, we have even taken to having some head stones repaired because we felt sorry for the little ones. So your picnic can have a two fold purpose.
This is also a perfect time to take in all those Film Noir Festivals and wearing your favorite vintage clothing, I had the pleasure of going to one here in San Francisco and saw Angie Dickenson, and last night I went to a book signing and had the pleasure of having the most recent novel and my first edition of “Interview with a Vampire” autographed by Anne Rice.
Another event I love to go to is the gun and knife shows, not so much for the guns (and knives) although I find them fascinating (I even own several), but there are also dealers who sell other things strange and bizarre, one of them sells fossils, minerals and insects incased in heavy plastic, right now I have one of a black scorpion that I’m using as a paper weight.
There are art deco shows with wonderful vintage clothing, accessories and furniture, you can even take a tour if it’s offered in your area of cemeteries and columbarium’s.
There is one place called “Dark Apple Tours” that give tours of places where people died in New York City.
But many of these events occur between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. so Darklings you will have to venture out into the sun. Don’t worry you won’t turn to dust, but feel alive as you pursue all that is dark, Gothic and glorious.
The weather here cannot make up it’s mind if it’s winter or spring, it’s cold and yet fruit trees are blooming, winds have picked up which is Mother Nature’s way of pruning off too many blossoms so that the fruit is not overwhelming the branches by its weight.
But because of that, once again our thoughts turn to Spring…Ahhh yes, the time of renewal and re-birth and income taxes and property taxes….no matter what Darklings you can always find a down side to things.
But what is an elder Goth to do when things turn to Spring Time---I say ENJOY IT!
Take a page from the Catholic Church which seems to enjoy suffering and guilt, this is the time of Lent, of depravations, wearing sack cloth and ashes, I went to church on Ash Wednesday, (a day full of woe) to receive the ashes on my forehead, for me as an elderly Goth it is not so much for the man who will die on the cross as it is remembering all those of my family and friends who have gone before me and to rejoice knowing that where they are it’s much better than this earthly existence of wars, cruelty, selfish and self-centeredness and extreme consumption. And so for 40 days I will enjoy my period of mourning and remembering.
Then go to church for Good Friday services, enjoy the aspect of the suffering and death of the Man and remember that we all suffer.
Then on Easter Sunday get out your Dark Purples and enjoy the fact that we can celebrate being Goth.
Yes dark ones, enjoy it. For this is the time for yard sales, rummage sales, antique fairs, art wine festivals, all things outdoorsy.
By why??? You ask. Well how are you going to find all those wonderful darkly gothic things to add to your wardrobe or your home. This is the time to start hunting at Estate Sales and everything.
During the Christmas holidays such sales are rare with the exception of some Estate Sales, but most things outdoors are in hibernation and you’ll never know what to expect.
I went to one that had all kinds of old and I mean ooollllllddddd catholic religious things and bought everything, of course I kept the best for Moi but that which I wasn’t too fond of or I had something similar that I liked better I put on my Dinning room table and called my friends and said “Guess What”, I wanted them to have first refusal and what didn’t sell I used E-Bay and made more money for more Yard and Estate sales.
Also if you are planning to repaint the interior of your home, with the warmer weather you can open windows and allow the fresh air in without ‘gassing yourself’ out.
You can go to wine tastings and find all that dark vintage wine whose color reminds you of blood.
Eventually with the return of fruit bearing trees you can indulge in dark, dark Bing Cherries, dark raspberries and loganberries, deep rich dark plums, you can even plant a “Dark Garden” purchase all those roses and irises that have dark petals and foliage. Have your own “Cemetery Garden” or “Mourning Garden”, one of my friends has a “poison garden” with plants that can be poisonous (animals and children are not allowed, “too dangerous”), another has a garden with carnivorous plants like the Venus flytrap or the pitcher plant (all those that are legal to have), even an all white or grey garden or a garden with night blooming flowers. You will need to do some research but it’s possible.
Now when you go out into the sun light always wear sun block, use makeup that can prevent sun damage, a large hat to shade your face and use a parasol (preferably in black) to keep the sun off of you, always sit in the shade if possible. I have one friend who looks for things in cotton but in black if possible, but she discovered that she can be Goth even wearing white or cream color clothing. Just look for her skull, crosses or bat jewelry. Another wears various shades of light grey with splashes of pink, red or pale coral, as she says “all hints of blood” in her darkly way.
Depending upon the type of event and the time, you can enjoy things just before sunset, such as the beach or Amusement Park Boardwalk.
Some of my friends will walk or tour the red woods especially going up north to the Trees of Mystery or touring the “Avenue of the Giants”---as one of them says, “How often can you walk through the interior of Redwood tree.
Some of my friends enjoy walking along our local beach starting just before twilight; it becomes very mysterious and darkly romantic---unless you come across a homeless person.
When the weather is warm you don’t have to have bar-b-ques during the day, start it at twilight and dress up your yard with ‘fairy lights’.
All it takes is a little thought and planning, some people during the day will have a picnic in a cemetery, just put flowers on the graves that you are going to be sitting next to and look like you are caring for it.
I and several friends have done picnics and we have almost always have found a grave or two that appears to be not attended to or lonely, so we clean it up and put fresh flowers, it may seem morbid but you really are inviting the dead to dine with you.
Lots of time it little children’s graves, they have been dead a long time and we’re sure the parents must be dead, we have even taken to having some head stones repaired because we felt sorry for the little ones. So your picnic can have a two fold purpose.
This is also a perfect time to take in all those Film Noir Festivals and wearing your favorite vintage clothing, I had the pleasure of going to one here in San Francisco and saw Angie Dickenson, and last night I went to a book signing and had the pleasure of having the most recent novel and my first edition of “Interview with a Vampire” autographed by Anne Rice.
Another event I love to go to is the gun and knife shows, not so much for the guns (and knives) although I find them fascinating (I even own several), but there are also dealers who sell other things strange and bizarre, one of them sells fossils, minerals and insects incased in heavy plastic, right now I have one of a black scorpion that I’m using as a paper weight.
There are art deco shows with wonderful vintage clothing, accessories and furniture, you can even take a tour if it’s offered in your area of cemeteries and columbarium’s.
There is one place called “Dark Apple Tours” that give tours of places where people died in New York City.
But many of these events occur between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. so Darklings you will have to venture out into the sun. Don’t worry you won’t turn to dust, but feel alive as you pursue all that is dark, Gothic and glorious.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Being Goth after the Holidays~~~
Well my little Darklings, I know I haven’t been blogging but work, blasted work makes demands upon me.
The Christmas holidays were just so upbeat, but for me who loves to indulge in the meanderings and gloomiest of Charles Dickens, I chose to indulge in the Annual San Francisco Dickens Fair, and for any Goth or steam punk enthusiast I certainly recommend it to help you get through the Holiday cheerfulness.
The Dickens Fair offers the perfect accessories and clothing for all but the Mod/Grunge or Baby Goth, Dark Garden offers corsets that are perfect for those who love to torture themselves into tiny waists. And with how they do their layouts of pretend Dickens London, one can get ideas how to create a wonderful Gothic Victorian setting.
Scanning through the stores and through magazines I discovered some wonderful Vampy Goth styles.
Merle Norman cosmetics has a lovely little clutch to hold your makeup or just for fun, in black velvet with a bejeweled lipstick and lips design on it and it offers their new Hussy red shade for lips and nails as well as a new fragrance Hussy Eau de Parfum. Just check it out to see if it’s still offered at merlenorman.com.
If you want to sleep during the day my vampire beauties, Prada offers a black satin eye mask for only $195 at prada.com. all soft Black Satin with a little satin ruffle around the edges. Frankly for the money if you have the talent to sew your own I would recommend that.
With the cold, cold weather for those of you who love being frozen like the dead this weather would be perfect for you, but for many pajamas are coming back in style both for sleeping and lounging in. Can you picture yourself my Darklings, in a pair of black satin pajamas with gold piping and a matching robe? Toss in a pair of black satin mules with gold, black or red marabou toppings for extravagant decadence.
And the hell with all those rules about smoking in one’s home, if you are going to do it do it with style with a long, elegant cigarette holder right out the 1920’s.
I had to have a pair of DKNY suede and leather booties in black suede and gold leather with impossibly high heels, not spiky but thick enough to support you heel and high enough to torture your calves.
In jewelry both real and costume for the holidays it was gold, Gold, GOLD! Metal bracelets, actually cuffs, are the in style, Ben-Amun, Delfina Deletriz and Fallon offered very edgy designs as well as Giamattista Valli’s gunmetal cuff.
Can you picture yourself Darklings in a long black skirt, or skin tight black pants with a long sleeve mock turtle sweater in black, all tight fitting and wearing only as an accent a gold metal cuff? What a statement. It would show-off your self assurance, that you totally take charge. What a way to indicate your dominance.
And for perfume or cologne my Darklings, indulge yourself with either J’adore and strut like Charlez Theron or go with Guilian’s Insolence.
There is one other thing that I indulged in my Darklings, although many of you would say wrong, wrong, wrong, but you have to remember I am my Own woman, and I do not take criticism from anyone----so what did I indulge in? A black mink coat…PERFECT for such cold, cold evening weather, mink is not an endangered species, as a matter of fact they prey upon the fishing industry and are considered a nuance, but with raised mink on “ranches” they are not endangered.
But not to worry….the coat was made in the 1970’s and in perfect vintage condition, Yes Darklings, a vintage mink coat, done in a long sleeve swing style, plus a vintage black fox fur jacket that comes to the top of my hips. I scored wonderfully there. But I would only use them in the evenings when it is extremely cold and even a wool coat can not keep out the chill, and especially where we had near freezing conditions where I live. I am not about to catch a cold! But if you are going to use a wool coat then top it with a black mink scarf for your throat, and if possible top it with a blank mink beret, can you picture that and wearing your eye mascara in a cat’s eye line with red, red lips and red, red nails? I certainly can.
Even Francisco Costa the designer for the Calvin Klein Collection believes in a fur coat and in the last issue of Allure magazine (Dec 2011) said that a knee length shearing coat is superpractical, and extends your wardrobe. But again make sure it comes from a non-endangered species.
Going back to nails--- (I can’t seem to get away from manicures and nails) If you love to do designs but don’t have the time for it, there are these “skins” that you can apply to your nail and then just file, I believe Sally Hanson makes them, I’ve seen some styles that are just edgy enough for a business Goth and they last for up to 10 days, not a bad investment especially if you have a serious shortage of time. Also for more dazzling glitz, a brand of nail skins called “Kiss” which you can find in, of all places, Walgreens, can be perfect when you want to club hop.
If there is one thing this Gothic Rose loves it’s Art Deco Antique Shows, and the Art Deco Society of San Francisco’s Deco the Halls was not at all bad, a bit smaller than previous years, (we can only blame the economy) but it was a wonderful experience for me, so that I can indulge in my art deco Gothness, get information on materials to update my home. Yes, Darklings, if I’m going to be Goth then Art Deco/Art Modern is the style for me.
Why do you think I’ve chosen the photo of Gloria Holden as Dracula’s Daughter, to represent me? She is perfect, her and the Tamara DeLapinka painting of the girl with the green racing car, I managed to get a quality poster of that painting and had it beautifully framed. The DeLapinka poster is in the room that I have my collection of books, DVD’s and Cd’s in that I call my “Bat-cave”.
Which will bring me to another subject in another post, I’ve had some people ask me how have I styled my home, well I got very, very lucky in the house that I have, and not to many of them in the Art Modern style were built where I live but it is very perfect for me, I had been saving up for a long time to put a very hefty down payment, but a “spinster” aunt of mine (great-aunt really) had died, I didn’t know how much she really liked me, I mean I was the only one of the extended family who would check in with her, take her shopping, she just adored my 1940’s Black Ford sedan, even take her to her doctor and dental appointments.
She was very sharp but I had noticed she was getting a bit more tired, so I got her one of those medic alert buttons, praying that she’d never have to use it but that day Darklings did come and I got the call, we rushed her to the hospital, a broken hip, one of the worst things that could happen to an elderly Goth---yes Darklings, she was in her own way Goth. Perhaps that is why we got along so well.
I visited her every day in the hospital and then in the convalescent home, we were planning on ways she could be independent, I was even thinking of moving in with her and subletting my apartment to one of my Goth friends on a month to month.
But Prince Serki, aka the Grim Reaper took her away from being old and in pain, I will have to tell you about her funeral another day Darklings.
I was fortunate to have her papers outlining her funeral arrangements and I also got in touch with her lawyer. How surprised I was to discover I was receiving the “bulk of her estate” which included her wonderful home, plus all it’s furnishings as well as a serious monetary income from investments. Oh, she left bequests to other family members but since I wasn’t on great speaking terms with them, their opinions didn’t matter to me.
Her 1925 Gothic revival home is more than large enough for me to put my things into rooms that were not being used, so I have expanded my style which comfortably blends my Art Modern things with hers. So I am using the money to restore the house bit by bit, updating wiring, plumbing, etc., and when the weather is nice getting it painted.
I also found out how quirky she was, her house is on the 600 block of my lovely community, but she specifically got the City planning department to change the house number to 666, it was 664 and then the one after it was 668, but she enjoyed being different, one thing I’m going to have done is have her portrait cleaned up, it is fantastic of her in her total glory, with her dark raven black hair and pale skin and sharply blue eyes. She was the beauty of her generation and I’d have to say of the family.
My Mother always admired her aunt, but she wasn’t ready to rebel like she did.
My family, mostly my Uncles (except Uncle Mannie)and my other great-aunts, always considered her to be the “black sheep” they were so traditional, but my Grandmother always loved her sister my 'great-aunt' and she always came to the rescue giving of herself, her money and her time without reservation, I have her diaries and she was a woman after my own heart.
She outlived my Grandmother and my Mother and Dad, she was very old when she died, but she LIVED!!
Until later Darklings.
The Christmas holidays were just so upbeat, but for me who loves to indulge in the meanderings and gloomiest of Charles Dickens, I chose to indulge in the Annual San Francisco Dickens Fair, and for any Goth or steam punk enthusiast I certainly recommend it to help you get through the Holiday cheerfulness.
The Dickens Fair offers the perfect accessories and clothing for all but the Mod/Grunge or Baby Goth, Dark Garden offers corsets that are perfect for those who love to torture themselves into tiny waists. And with how they do their layouts of pretend Dickens London, one can get ideas how to create a wonderful Gothic Victorian setting.
Scanning through the stores and through magazines I discovered some wonderful Vampy Goth styles.
Merle Norman cosmetics has a lovely little clutch to hold your makeup or just for fun, in black velvet with a bejeweled lipstick and lips design on it and it offers their new Hussy red shade for lips and nails as well as a new fragrance Hussy Eau de Parfum. Just check it out to see if it’s still offered at merlenorman.com.
If you want to sleep during the day my vampire beauties, Prada offers a black satin eye mask for only $195 at prada.com. all soft Black Satin with a little satin ruffle around the edges. Frankly for the money if you have the talent to sew your own I would recommend that.
With the cold, cold weather for those of you who love being frozen like the dead this weather would be perfect for you, but for many pajamas are coming back in style both for sleeping and lounging in. Can you picture yourself my Darklings, in a pair of black satin pajamas with gold piping and a matching robe? Toss in a pair of black satin mules with gold, black or red marabou toppings for extravagant decadence.
And the hell with all those rules about smoking in one’s home, if you are going to do it do it with style with a long, elegant cigarette holder right out the 1920’s.
I had to have a pair of DKNY suede and leather booties in black suede and gold leather with impossibly high heels, not spiky but thick enough to support you heel and high enough to torture your calves.
In jewelry both real and costume for the holidays it was gold, Gold, GOLD! Metal bracelets, actually cuffs, are the in style, Ben-Amun, Delfina Deletriz and Fallon offered very edgy designs as well as Giamattista Valli’s gunmetal cuff.
Can you picture yourself Darklings in a long black skirt, or skin tight black pants with a long sleeve mock turtle sweater in black, all tight fitting and wearing only as an accent a gold metal cuff? What a statement. It would show-off your self assurance, that you totally take charge. What a way to indicate your dominance.
And for perfume or cologne my Darklings, indulge yourself with either J’adore and strut like Charlez Theron or go with Guilian’s Insolence.
There is one other thing that I indulged in my Darklings, although many of you would say wrong, wrong, wrong, but you have to remember I am my Own woman, and I do not take criticism from anyone----so what did I indulge in? A black mink coat…PERFECT for such cold, cold evening weather, mink is not an endangered species, as a matter of fact they prey upon the fishing industry and are considered a nuance, but with raised mink on “ranches” they are not endangered.
But not to worry….the coat was made in the 1970’s and in perfect vintage condition, Yes Darklings, a vintage mink coat, done in a long sleeve swing style, plus a vintage black fox fur jacket that comes to the top of my hips. I scored wonderfully there. But I would only use them in the evenings when it is extremely cold and even a wool coat can not keep out the chill, and especially where we had near freezing conditions where I live. I am not about to catch a cold! But if you are going to use a wool coat then top it with a black mink scarf for your throat, and if possible top it with a blank mink beret, can you picture that and wearing your eye mascara in a cat’s eye line with red, red lips and red, red nails? I certainly can.
Even Francisco Costa the designer for the Calvin Klein Collection believes in a fur coat and in the last issue of Allure magazine (Dec 2011) said that a knee length shearing coat is superpractical, and extends your wardrobe. But again make sure it comes from a non-endangered species.
Going back to nails--- (I can’t seem to get away from manicures and nails) If you love to do designs but don’t have the time for it, there are these “skins” that you can apply to your nail and then just file, I believe Sally Hanson makes them, I’ve seen some styles that are just edgy enough for a business Goth and they last for up to 10 days, not a bad investment especially if you have a serious shortage of time. Also for more dazzling glitz, a brand of nail skins called “Kiss” which you can find in, of all places, Walgreens, can be perfect when you want to club hop.
If there is one thing this Gothic Rose loves it’s Art Deco Antique Shows, and the Art Deco Society of San Francisco’s Deco the Halls was not at all bad, a bit smaller than previous years, (we can only blame the economy) but it was a wonderful experience for me, so that I can indulge in my art deco Gothness, get information on materials to update my home. Yes, Darklings, if I’m going to be Goth then Art Deco/Art Modern is the style for me.
Why do you think I’ve chosen the photo of Gloria Holden as Dracula’s Daughter, to represent me? She is perfect, her and the Tamara DeLapinka painting of the girl with the green racing car, I managed to get a quality poster of that painting and had it beautifully framed. The DeLapinka poster is in the room that I have my collection of books, DVD’s and Cd’s in that I call my “Bat-cave”.
Which will bring me to another subject in another post, I’ve had some people ask me how have I styled my home, well I got very, very lucky in the house that I have, and not to many of them in the Art Modern style were built where I live but it is very perfect for me, I had been saving up for a long time to put a very hefty down payment, but a “spinster” aunt of mine (great-aunt really) had died, I didn’t know how much she really liked me, I mean I was the only one of the extended family who would check in with her, take her shopping, she just adored my 1940’s Black Ford sedan, even take her to her doctor and dental appointments.
She was very sharp but I had noticed she was getting a bit more tired, so I got her one of those medic alert buttons, praying that she’d never have to use it but that day Darklings did come and I got the call, we rushed her to the hospital, a broken hip, one of the worst things that could happen to an elderly Goth---yes Darklings, she was in her own way Goth. Perhaps that is why we got along so well.
I visited her every day in the hospital and then in the convalescent home, we were planning on ways she could be independent, I was even thinking of moving in with her and subletting my apartment to one of my Goth friends on a month to month.
But Prince Serki, aka the Grim Reaper took her away from being old and in pain, I will have to tell you about her funeral another day Darklings.
I was fortunate to have her papers outlining her funeral arrangements and I also got in touch with her lawyer. How surprised I was to discover I was receiving the “bulk of her estate” which included her wonderful home, plus all it’s furnishings as well as a serious monetary income from investments. Oh, she left bequests to other family members but since I wasn’t on great speaking terms with them, their opinions didn’t matter to me.
Her 1925 Gothic revival home is more than large enough for me to put my things into rooms that were not being used, so I have expanded my style which comfortably blends my Art Modern things with hers. So I am using the money to restore the house bit by bit, updating wiring, plumbing, etc., and when the weather is nice getting it painted.
I also found out how quirky she was, her house is on the 600 block of my lovely community, but she specifically got the City planning department to change the house number to 666, it was 664 and then the one after it was 668, but she enjoyed being different, one thing I’m going to have done is have her portrait cleaned up, it is fantastic of her in her total glory, with her dark raven black hair and pale skin and sharply blue eyes. She was the beauty of her generation and I’d have to say of the family.
My Mother always admired her aunt, but she wasn’t ready to rebel like she did.
My family, mostly my Uncles (except Uncle Mannie)and my other great-aunts, always considered her to be the “black sheep” they were so traditional, but my Grandmother always loved her sister my 'great-aunt' and she always came to the rescue giving of herself, her money and her time without reservation, I have her diaries and she was a woman after my own heart.
She outlived my Grandmother and my Mother and Dad, she was very old when she died, but she LIVED!!
Until later Darklings.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Scallywags flashdrives....
Well Darklings and Baby Bats, did you survive Halloween???
I did, of course sleeping in late today helped and taking today off from my job too. With lots of little baby bats, and princesses and pirates, witches, and tiny baby pumpkins that looked good enough to eat...they were darling.
So I will be carefully packing away all my outside decorations for another year, but inside its totally different....if those little darklings knew.
Today is an excellent day to buy any left over decorations especially for inside your home, anywhere from 50 to 75% off.
If there is one thing that I plan on is to save up as much as my vacation time as possible, I always take the day before, during and after Halloween off as vacation, unless it falls on a weekend but still I do plan on a vacation time around it.
I also plan around other holidays as well....Now do I take time off for a trip or two, of course I do. But the trick is to plan your vacations around regular and holiday time off. That becomes your treat.
But I want to briefly touch upon a techno item that I think all you Darklings and Baby Bats will enjoy.
Everyone has heard of flashdrives...and for many it's old hat...but I love flashdrives because you can carry your information around with you...it depends, of course, on avoiding any thing that could wipe off the info.
But there is one style of flash drive that I just adore, the style is called "Scallywags" it's a flashdrive encased in a rubberized case that has a skull and cross bones on it. It also has a small chain also decorated the same to hold the cap to your flashdrive, it comes in 3 colors, black, red and pink. Perfect for the Goth, Vampire or Pirate.
I've seen it offered at office supply stores but you can order it direct from EMTEC Electronics. Their web site is www.emtecelectronics.com. The flash drives come in 2 and 4 GB, no drivers.
So when I whip out my flash drive for my lap top at meetings, I've seen a few looks, but I always say..."That's so mine is not mixed up with others." If they only knew.
Now I must be off, there's a Halloween sale that's calling my name.
I did, of course sleeping in late today helped and taking today off from my job too. With lots of little baby bats, and princesses and pirates, witches, and tiny baby pumpkins that looked good enough to eat...they were darling.
So I will be carefully packing away all my outside decorations for another year, but inside its totally different....if those little darklings knew.
Today is an excellent day to buy any left over decorations especially for inside your home, anywhere from 50 to 75% off.
If there is one thing that I plan on is to save up as much as my vacation time as possible, I always take the day before, during and after Halloween off as vacation, unless it falls on a weekend but still I do plan on a vacation time around it.
I also plan around other holidays as well....Now do I take time off for a trip or two, of course I do. But the trick is to plan your vacations around regular and holiday time off. That becomes your treat.
But I want to briefly touch upon a techno item that I think all you Darklings and Baby Bats will enjoy.
Everyone has heard of flashdrives...and for many it's old hat...but I love flashdrives because you can carry your information around with you...it depends, of course, on avoiding any thing that could wipe off the info.
But there is one style of flash drive that I just adore, the style is called "Scallywags" it's a flashdrive encased in a rubberized case that has a skull and cross bones on it. It also has a small chain also decorated the same to hold the cap to your flashdrive, it comes in 3 colors, black, red and pink. Perfect for the Goth, Vampire or Pirate.
I've seen it offered at office supply stores but you can order it direct from EMTEC Electronics. Their web site is www.emtecelectronics.com. The flash drives come in 2 and 4 GB, no drivers.
So when I whip out my flash drive for my lap top at meetings, I've seen a few looks, but I always say..."That's so mine is not mixed up with others." If they only knew.
Now I must be off, there's a Halloween sale that's calling my name.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Of Ghosties & Ghouliess---the inner Goth
“Of Ghosties and Ghoulies and long legged Beasties, Good Lord Deliver Us!”
Isn’t that a wonderful sentiment, it’s like discovering that the earliest collectors of fairy tales was named Grimm, wonderful last name.
Today is Halloween, All Hallow’s Eve, Samhain and what other names that is associated with this Day and Night.
For the Mundane people it is one night of the year that they can let their strangeness out, but for the Elder Goth Halloween is 364 days of the year---After all there is Christmas and it needs to have it’s own day. It’s really hard to live Christmas 365 days of the year, except in good fellowship spirit, which even an Elder Goth should maintain, after all Snarklings we do have to get along with all the “Muggles”.
Of course you have to decide “Addams Family” or “Munsters”. Frankly I prefer “Addams Family” but both shows and even the iconic cartoons of the Addams Family did show and practice family values. The Munsters took in a niece that although they secretly pitied because they thought she had a disadvantage, they still loved her and protected her, and she loved them because she knew they loved her and always watched out for her, even if the rest of the world would run in horror.
In the Addams Family T.V. show, there was one program in which a wealthy young man who tried to be a rebel ran away from his father and the family wealth. The Addams’ took him in, accepted him as he is, and demonstrated it to his father who learned to accept his son and his son accepted his father. O.K it was overly simplified, in the real world it would be a very hard lesson to learn, but the messages were always there, and done with a smile.
But I love Halloween because it let’s your inner Goth come out with a vengeance.
The trick is how does one maintain it all year round, you start with little things and slowly build up to your inner Goth, with me it was easy, as a child I wore what my parents bought me, the red plaid jumper, the black patient leather shoes for Sunday best wear, but as I got a little order, especially when I was 13 and 14 I started my inner Goth without realizing it.
I loved classical music, so saving up my pennies to buy the classical record albums that were on sale at the nearby drug store was not consider unusual, I would read ghost stories, and even the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boy mysteries, like the “The Clue of the Phantom Showboat” or something like that…not unusual. But I kept my slacks and skirts to dark blue or black, which could be a little hard in the 7th and 8th grade as Mom wanted to buy me a print skirt that had little poodles on it with the background as being in Paris, it was the thing back then, she wanted to buy a pink skirt, but I spotted one with a soft light gray background and I suggested it to her saying that it would go with any color blouse I wore, she could see the wisdom in that. So I had a poodles skirt but NOT in pink….compromise always worked.
Later on in high school I realized that it wasn’t wise to stand out too far, you could be improperly labeled, that still happens to day but for other reasons. So I had to suppress my inner Goth with dark blue, gray and in the spring even a few pink and white blouses and blouses bought by well meaning family members for my birthday or Christmas.
Then I discovered in music my Uncle’s 1920’s and 30’s Jazz and Blues collection, in old 78’s, I had fun with that and in high school my Mother and Dad decided that the baby furniture that I grew up with was too babyish for me, of course by that time I had a baby sister and it was perfect for her, but there was no money for new bedroom furniture for me, what to do….Again my Uncle who was a widower and my Grandma came to the rescue, my Uncle moved in with Grandma after Grandpa passed away. His wife had died some years before and he was rattling all alone in his house, Grandma all alone in hers, he packed up everything, sold his house and moved in with Grandma, but he had this vintage from the very early 1930’s bedroom set.
It was perfect! And although I still had pink wallpaper in my bedroom, the wall paper had tiny harps and filigrees in silver, it was a perfect combination. And her dresser set all black enamel with silver chrome decorations, also perfect. I still have it to this day, except for the wall paper. But that is when I discovered antiques and art deco vintage could satisfy my inner Goth.
And that is how one does it by degrees….unless one wants to go all out and build either an Addams Family or Munster House, which several couples have done, and not an easy thing to do.
But for today, just today on Halloween to all you “muggles” let your inner Goth come out.
Isn’t that a wonderful sentiment, it’s like discovering that the earliest collectors of fairy tales was named Grimm, wonderful last name.
Today is Halloween, All Hallow’s Eve, Samhain and what other names that is associated with this Day and Night.
For the Mundane people it is one night of the year that they can let their strangeness out, but for the Elder Goth Halloween is 364 days of the year---After all there is Christmas and it needs to have it’s own day. It’s really hard to live Christmas 365 days of the year, except in good fellowship spirit, which even an Elder Goth should maintain, after all Snarklings we do have to get along with all the “Muggles”.
Of course you have to decide “Addams Family” or “Munsters”. Frankly I prefer “Addams Family” but both shows and even the iconic cartoons of the Addams Family did show and practice family values. The Munsters took in a niece that although they secretly pitied because they thought she had a disadvantage, they still loved her and protected her, and she loved them because she knew they loved her and always watched out for her, even if the rest of the world would run in horror.
In the Addams Family T.V. show, there was one program in which a wealthy young man who tried to be a rebel ran away from his father and the family wealth. The Addams’ took him in, accepted him as he is, and demonstrated it to his father who learned to accept his son and his son accepted his father. O.K it was overly simplified, in the real world it would be a very hard lesson to learn, but the messages were always there, and done with a smile.
But I love Halloween because it let’s your inner Goth come out with a vengeance.
The trick is how does one maintain it all year round, you start with little things and slowly build up to your inner Goth, with me it was easy, as a child I wore what my parents bought me, the red plaid jumper, the black patient leather shoes for Sunday best wear, but as I got a little order, especially when I was 13 and 14 I started my inner Goth without realizing it.
I loved classical music, so saving up my pennies to buy the classical record albums that were on sale at the nearby drug store was not consider unusual, I would read ghost stories, and even the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boy mysteries, like the “The Clue of the Phantom Showboat” or something like that…not unusual. But I kept my slacks and skirts to dark blue or black, which could be a little hard in the 7th and 8th grade as Mom wanted to buy me a print skirt that had little poodles on it with the background as being in Paris, it was the thing back then, she wanted to buy a pink skirt, but I spotted one with a soft light gray background and I suggested it to her saying that it would go with any color blouse I wore, she could see the wisdom in that. So I had a poodles skirt but NOT in pink….compromise always worked.
Later on in high school I realized that it wasn’t wise to stand out too far, you could be improperly labeled, that still happens to day but for other reasons. So I had to suppress my inner Goth with dark blue, gray and in the spring even a few pink and white blouses and blouses bought by well meaning family members for my birthday or Christmas.
Then I discovered in music my Uncle’s 1920’s and 30’s Jazz and Blues collection, in old 78’s, I had fun with that and in high school my Mother and Dad decided that the baby furniture that I grew up with was too babyish for me, of course by that time I had a baby sister and it was perfect for her, but there was no money for new bedroom furniture for me, what to do….Again my Uncle who was a widower and my Grandma came to the rescue, my Uncle moved in with Grandma after Grandpa passed away. His wife had died some years before and he was rattling all alone in his house, Grandma all alone in hers, he packed up everything, sold his house and moved in with Grandma, but he had this vintage from the very early 1930’s bedroom set.
It was perfect! And although I still had pink wallpaper in my bedroom, the wall paper had tiny harps and filigrees in silver, it was a perfect combination. And her dresser set all black enamel with silver chrome decorations, also perfect. I still have it to this day, except for the wall paper. But that is when I discovered antiques and art deco vintage could satisfy my inner Goth.
And that is how one does it by degrees….unless one wants to go all out and build either an Addams Family or Munster House, which several couples have done, and not an easy thing to do.
But for today, just today on Halloween to all you “muggles” let your inner Goth come out.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Handbags and purses
Well Snarklings, I have been asked what sort of handbag or purse, etc an elder Goth should tote around.
That depends upon what is its purpose, casual, day work, evening, running errands or just looking drop dead wonderful.
Let’s start with color; you can never go wrong with basic black, as a matter of fact I found at a TJ Max store a beautiful black straw bag with silver fastenings that is just wonderful for the Spring Summer look. The straw is not bulky or thick but smooth and fine and will last for 3 possibly 4 or more seasons, if properly taken care of.
Another color is red, but be careful with the red that you choose, I have several evening purses, one is a black velvet bag with a draw string top with black jet beading, very Victorian, elegant and goth at the same time, the other is a red satin bad, but the red is very deep and dark, not burgundy but nearly enough, the trim is gold simple and understated.
In red I have one daytime bag that I will use for work in a very good red leather, again the red is deep and not cheap looking. It is smaller than my black daytime work purse but it carries my essentials, wallet, phone, keys, aspirin for headaches, lipstick and compact with mirror and powder, business cards, pen and small notebook.
Another color is a deep burgundy purple, this works with black, red, and purple.
But it is hard to find in a good burgundy color in leather. So stay with the Red and Black.
One thing I do avoid is the cheap plastic or patent leather look; nothing looks as cheap as that. And Elder Goths are never cheap looking.
For my work purpose I have one red bag but several black purses, ranging in size, one is a Liz Claiborne that doubles as my briefcase, so I combine two purposes into one bag.
When traveling I prefer a black bag that will cross over the body, makes it harder for a thief to steal and that is another thing you have to be careful about is having your purse stolen, even if you drape it from your chair it is too easy for a thief to remove your wallet. Also by having it cross over your body it leaves your hands free.
And speaking of wallets, a friend of mine bought the Alumina wallet and has found (at least in her case) that it does prevent anyone from scanning her cards. But she also found that she could not carry every card in it. So the Alumina wallet forces you to choose what card you will be carrying, which is good.
Elder Goths know that credit card debit is bad debt, there is no way you can get a tax write off with it. So my friend carries one credit card to cover gas, and emergencies, when she goes shopping for clothes, she keeps herself on a serious budget. The other cards are her I.D., Road side service card, medical card, her bus pass (she doesn’t use her car except on weekends) she does have a debit card, with Wells Fargo but she uses that in credit mode only after she has paid her bills and has put a serious amount aside in her savings and IRA.
But the best thing an Elder Goth can do is look like she doesn’t need a purse.
How does one achieve that look, I have several items of clothing, a jacket, coat, over sweater, that has pockets, I carry only 3 keys, house, ignition and gas key, I use the least amount of cards so a super thin wallet, cell phone, lipstick and a small tin of aspirin, I make sure that my pockets have Velcro tops to close so nothing falls out, and a small coin purse to hold coins and paper money, tightly folded. With my hands free I look like I mean business, no one bothers me.
And that is what an Elder Goth should present to the world.
That depends upon what is its purpose, casual, day work, evening, running errands or just looking drop dead wonderful.
Let’s start with color; you can never go wrong with basic black, as a matter of fact I found at a TJ Max store a beautiful black straw bag with silver fastenings that is just wonderful for the Spring Summer look. The straw is not bulky or thick but smooth and fine and will last for 3 possibly 4 or more seasons, if properly taken care of.
Another color is red, but be careful with the red that you choose, I have several evening purses, one is a black velvet bag with a draw string top with black jet beading, very Victorian, elegant and goth at the same time, the other is a red satin bad, but the red is very deep and dark, not burgundy but nearly enough, the trim is gold simple and understated.
In red I have one daytime bag that I will use for work in a very good red leather, again the red is deep and not cheap looking. It is smaller than my black daytime work purse but it carries my essentials, wallet, phone, keys, aspirin for headaches, lipstick and compact with mirror and powder, business cards, pen and small notebook.
Another color is a deep burgundy purple, this works with black, red, and purple.
But it is hard to find in a good burgundy color in leather. So stay with the Red and Black.
One thing I do avoid is the cheap plastic or patent leather look; nothing looks as cheap as that. And Elder Goths are never cheap looking.
For my work purpose I have one red bag but several black purses, ranging in size, one is a Liz Claiborne that doubles as my briefcase, so I combine two purposes into one bag.
When traveling I prefer a black bag that will cross over the body, makes it harder for a thief to steal and that is another thing you have to be careful about is having your purse stolen, even if you drape it from your chair it is too easy for a thief to remove your wallet. Also by having it cross over your body it leaves your hands free.
And speaking of wallets, a friend of mine bought the Alumina wallet and has found (at least in her case) that it does prevent anyone from scanning her cards. But she also found that she could not carry every card in it. So the Alumina wallet forces you to choose what card you will be carrying, which is good.
Elder Goths know that credit card debit is bad debt, there is no way you can get a tax write off with it. So my friend carries one credit card to cover gas, and emergencies, when she goes shopping for clothes, she keeps herself on a serious budget. The other cards are her I.D., Road side service card, medical card, her bus pass (she doesn’t use her car except on weekends) she does have a debit card, with Wells Fargo but she uses that in credit mode only after she has paid her bills and has put a serious amount aside in her savings and IRA.
But the best thing an Elder Goth can do is look like she doesn’t need a purse.
How does one achieve that look, I have several items of clothing, a jacket, coat, over sweater, that has pockets, I carry only 3 keys, house, ignition and gas key, I use the least amount of cards so a super thin wallet, cell phone, lipstick and a small tin of aspirin, I make sure that my pockets have Velcro tops to close so nothing falls out, and a small coin purse to hold coins and paper money, tightly folded. With my hands free I look like I mean business, no one bothers me.
And that is what an Elder Goth should present to the world.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
All Hallows Eve
If there is one Holiday out of year that I enjoy the most it's Halloween.
Oh Christmas is right up there too, but Christmas is more for a deeply spiritual and family and friends focused feeling.
Halloween is a good time to let the hair down and howl at the moon. Starting about the second week of the month is when I start wearing my more bizarre jewelry, no one bats an eye at it.
My spider pins, my skull rings, etc. but what I do is I have been letting is hang around a bit more often. They don't exactly disappear.
Well for Christmas I do wear this beautiful red enamel pointisetta pin but only because the red is so deep blood red and the green of the leaves is deep dark emerald, with just enough gold trim.
But during Halloween is when wonderful little things show up. I dropped into this teeny bopper boutique called "Claire's" I believe it's sort of a chain story and was happy to see spider rings and tiny bottles that one wears on a necklace and the bottles are labeled poison. Just the right thing for a baby bat.
And one can order these wonderful labels from Spirit or from Victorian Trading Company so that your soft drinks can say "Toxic Brew" or "Vampire Juice" or something equally as revolting.
What I have fun with is Jello----such an amazing food product----you can find hand molds, brain molds, and heart molds and pour jello mixed with cottage cheese or sour cream or whipped cream and fruit slices into these molds for a wonderful revolting looking desert.
I like to use Lime Green Jello with Sour Cream, just use two cups of hot water and 16 oz of sour cream to substitute for cold water, allow it to get just a little firm but not too much, add finely chopped celery, and red apples (have the apples marinating in lemon juice to keep it white) now do not add the lemon juice that you have been marinating the apples in other wise it will not jell.
Pour into your mould have it chill over night. Now I like to use the hand mould and use silvered almonds for the nails. With the Brain mould, after I unmould it onto a plate, I put it back into the refrigerator to chill some more 30 minutes is best, then I take it out and using a black colored frosting that comes in a tube I outline the valleys of the brain to help bring out it's shape. Looks gross but tasty.
For some Art Deco Goths who want to put on a party look, I recommend wearing deep plum shades, a deep blood red, a deep, deep blue or the deepiest darkest emerald green you can find all in velvet, the idea of velvet is that in the dark you can 'vanish' become almost unseen.
Make sure your skin is perfect, smooth, creamy, unmarked that way you can appear to be a statue come to life, it can be completly unsettling to people. And as a Goth that is what you want to do.
There is one other thing that was taught to me by my Grandmother, she used it very effectively.
Most people cannot look another person in the eyes for any length of time, they will look away then glance back, Police officers and Highway patrolmen, wear those sunglasses that are reflective so you cannot see their eyes and it can be intimidating, of course since they are out in the sun it is to protect their eyes but if you notice, you find you cannot look at them.
I would not do this with an officer of the law but I would do it with anyone else that I do not like.
Look at them, but do not try to look at both of their eyes, it will cause your eyes to flutter back and forth and then you find you'll have to look away. Just look at one of their eyes. What some people would call the down stage eye, for example you are at a bar and he is looking at you, you look at his eye that is closest to the bar and away from the crowd, he will not be able to look at you and you will have achieved dominance.
You do not have to have your eyes wide open, just slightly closed, sort of taking him in via his face slowly like, or at least giving that impression, he maybe thinking you are reading his mind and seeing all his evil thoughts. I call it the Dracula look.
However if it's someone you think you might like, don't do it or do it just a little bit to see if he's just right for you.
Now a suggestion my Snarklings----The beauty about the internet is you can find all kinds of food and drinks that are perfect for halloween, but also perfect for any kind of Gothic party you're having any time of the year. So what you can do is put together your own gothic cook book of foods, alcholic and non-alcholic drinks. As a matter of fact decorate it so it looks like a witches potion book.
Have Fun!
Oh Christmas is right up there too, but Christmas is more for a deeply spiritual and family and friends focused feeling.
Halloween is a good time to let the hair down and howl at the moon. Starting about the second week of the month is when I start wearing my more bizarre jewelry, no one bats an eye at it.
My spider pins, my skull rings, etc. but what I do is I have been letting is hang around a bit more often. They don't exactly disappear.
Well for Christmas I do wear this beautiful red enamel pointisetta pin but only because the red is so deep blood red and the green of the leaves is deep dark emerald, with just enough gold trim.
But during Halloween is when wonderful little things show up. I dropped into this teeny bopper boutique called "Claire's" I believe it's sort of a chain story and was happy to see spider rings and tiny bottles that one wears on a necklace and the bottles are labeled poison. Just the right thing for a baby bat.
And one can order these wonderful labels from Spirit or from Victorian Trading Company so that your soft drinks can say "Toxic Brew" or "Vampire Juice" or something equally as revolting.
What I have fun with is Jello----such an amazing food product----you can find hand molds, brain molds, and heart molds and pour jello mixed with cottage cheese or sour cream or whipped cream and fruit slices into these molds for a wonderful revolting looking desert.
I like to use Lime Green Jello with Sour Cream, just use two cups of hot water and 16 oz of sour cream to substitute for cold water, allow it to get just a little firm but not too much, add finely chopped celery, and red apples (have the apples marinating in lemon juice to keep it white) now do not add the lemon juice that you have been marinating the apples in other wise it will not jell.
Pour into your mould have it chill over night. Now I like to use the hand mould and use silvered almonds for the nails. With the Brain mould, after I unmould it onto a plate, I put it back into the refrigerator to chill some more 30 minutes is best, then I take it out and using a black colored frosting that comes in a tube I outline the valleys of the brain to help bring out it's shape. Looks gross but tasty.
For some Art Deco Goths who want to put on a party look, I recommend wearing deep plum shades, a deep blood red, a deep, deep blue or the deepiest darkest emerald green you can find all in velvet, the idea of velvet is that in the dark you can 'vanish' become almost unseen.
Make sure your skin is perfect, smooth, creamy, unmarked that way you can appear to be a statue come to life, it can be completly unsettling to people. And as a Goth that is what you want to do.
There is one other thing that was taught to me by my Grandmother, she used it very effectively.
Most people cannot look another person in the eyes for any length of time, they will look away then glance back, Police officers and Highway patrolmen, wear those sunglasses that are reflective so you cannot see their eyes and it can be intimidating, of course since they are out in the sun it is to protect their eyes but if you notice, you find you cannot look at them.
I would not do this with an officer of the law but I would do it with anyone else that I do not like.
Look at them, but do not try to look at both of their eyes, it will cause your eyes to flutter back and forth and then you find you'll have to look away. Just look at one of their eyes. What some people would call the down stage eye, for example you are at a bar and he is looking at you, you look at his eye that is closest to the bar and away from the crowd, he will not be able to look at you and you will have achieved dominance.
You do not have to have your eyes wide open, just slightly closed, sort of taking him in via his face slowly like, or at least giving that impression, he maybe thinking you are reading his mind and seeing all his evil thoughts. I call it the Dracula look.
However if it's someone you think you might like, don't do it or do it just a little bit to see if he's just right for you.
Now a suggestion my Snarklings----The beauty about the internet is you can find all kinds of food and drinks that are perfect for halloween, but also perfect for any kind of Gothic party you're having any time of the year. So what you can do is put together your own gothic cook book of foods, alcholic and non-alcholic drinks. As a matter of fact decorate it so it looks like a witches potion book.
Have Fun!
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