Skeleton Closet: Phoenix Rises

I always seem to have this issue of not feeling like I look goth during the summer months despite wearing black all over. So as often as I want to, I'll be posting up my outfits for the public to decide whether it's just black clothes or gothic summer time flair.

Last night I came back from my weekend in Phoenix. On today's hot weather goth I have for you all the highlight outfit I wore; which as I progressed further into the valley many of the key points were lost because at a staggeringly hot 110 degrees Fahrenheit (approx. 45 Celsius) I just had no choice.

It started off with what you see above, and slowly I took off the shrug, the heels, the hair piece and finally the choker (which you might recognize! hehe).

It was one of a few times which I really could get my hair to straighten out a little, but with the heat it just began to frazzle up. You can get an idea of the true length of my hair from the right photo above.

The top is one I made back in Jr. High, and my best made article of clothing from that time because it was made using a pattern from an assignment in Home Economics class. I altered it in later years to include all the ruffles and the lace up details.

The skirt I bought at my previous job, as it was mandatory that we wore some article of clothing bought from the store-- I was glad that it was the fall/winter season because many places have lots of jewel tones, blacks, and laces around that time so it wasn't hard for me to shop and find something I loved. And on sale + my employee discount, the skirt cost me $4!

The shrug was purchased for me from my lovely younger brother at a shop called Sirens (which I love to shop at during fall/winter seasons because they have the gothiest of goth outfits for cheap!).

The shoes are 725 Originals from Wal-mart and are surprisingly comfortable (but then, I do have Dr. Scholls heel insoles)

They are very inexpensive and very beautiful. If you care for your shoes, as I do, then even low quality shoes will last you a long time; a previous pair of 725 Original boots were 10 years old before they finally off the sole. These heels are only 2-3 years old. Unfortunately because I was sweating more profusely than I ever had, it was awkward walking in them when the sweat made them slippery... luckily I had the foresight to bring my Dr. Scholl walking sandals which don't have this issue because of the fabric insole.

The hair piece, and necklace, of course, are all self made. The hair piece sits on top of a thin black headband and rests comfortably at the side of the head.



This piece also happens to be the first real attempt at making fascinators, and funny enough it is my most favored even against the newer ones I've produced.

It still needs work, but I was satisfied at the time

The skull is hand sculpted by yours truly, and is one of my most successful attempts at sculpting altogether. It's not one of those things I'm entirely into, but love the idea of creating most aspects of the things I produce.

Sadly, I left it inside the car, and the glue I had used melted and off the entire thing came from the headband-- luckily it is all still intact and fine-- but now I realize that I am glad I added reinforcement sewing onto the bands in later ones so that tragedies like this won't happen again.


P.S.
If any of you are curious, the necklace is for sale; It will be gently cleaned before being sent out, of course. My home is kitty and incense friendly; please feel free to PM or comment below if you're interested.

Mortem's Tricks or Treats: Simple Tatted Choker

I have to admit to talking too soon when I had previously mentioned to a commenter that tatting is easy-- it is a first, and that illustrious flip wasn't as hard to grasp as I've been led to believe.

Cocky batling ^

However, the tedium levels for tatting are progressively higher as you continue just a few steps forward. That'll teach me to be cocky! =)

Last night I was finally able to complete the most basic/beginners pattern in tatting, and turned it into a choker rather than continuing on to making it a doily, or snowflake. The work that went into a supposed "basic" pattern made me really appreciate the work of others that much more (as if I already wasn't blown away!).

Kitty mishap which resulted in fur coverage

The jewelry possibilities for this one pattern are virtually endless, but with present limited resources I opted for something quick, and easy with sufficient levels of pretty.

It's definitely elaborate enough to be able to be worn with more formal outfits, but also simplistic enough to be worn with my everyday clothing.

It'll likely change in its entirety once I get my hands on juicier supply. Perhaps if I had black findings I would've added draped chains rather than strung beads-- in fact that may be the route I take with this once I go on my monthly shop again.

I've already attempted adding beads into the knots of tatting with extremely mediocre results (No pictures because it didn't occur to me to take them before I clipped them apart). Though, to be honest I think I am getting ahead of myself, in that regard-- I've just barely finished getting the hang of connecting chains and loops, and continuing after reloading the shuttle. The beads I strung on this pattern were simply sewn in.


Do you have a tendency to get ahead of yourself when you begin learning a new craft?

Spooky Basket: My Louise Black Corset Purchase

At one point or another, we've all seen these... these devastatingly gorgeous, totally covetable under bust corsets. And if you haven't, well go check out Louise Black on etsy quickly and gawk at her original cameo corsets.

Hell I've been yearning and saving for about a year, until I finally made my purchase back in Jan to Feb. Some people have warned me that their customer service is less than helpful... but this wasn't the case when I got up the gal to press "checkout".

They were very helpful and my request was processed and shipped very quickly and timely! I was happily surprised.

Proud owner!

In the beginning of January I had requested a custom fit faux leather ribcage cameo corset before this passed May when I would be attending the Rammstein concert in Glendale (which by the way, blew my mind beyond the zenith). Sure enough it came before the expected arrival in mid February.
It's one my single best purchases, and I did not regret a single penny of it.





 The construction is immaculate, and the fit is beyond comfortable; it would feel like a second skin if the steel boning didn't stop me from bending over all the way, hehe!
However, these corsets are not constructed with a busk or with a modesty panel; it makes putting them on and lacing them yourself a little bit of a hassle if you haven't done it as much, as was the case with me (I usually get my husband to do it, but for the pictures I had to do everything myself).

Many corsets will come with busks making them a hell of a lot easier to put on; here is a video demonstrating the process with the average constructed corset:

 But for corsets like Louise Black's, there is a little trick (somewhat obvious, but doesn't dawn very quickly) that I wish someone had told me or I had found during my research before getting my first corset. If you're like me, you hate lacing anything up, it's time consuming and exhausting. So to prevent any unwanted unlacing while I shuffle my way into my corset from the top, I tie the tips of the four laces by pairs in a simple firm. but loose enough knot

Another little tidbit is that if you're going to purchase a corset, you should purchase a tube top along with it if you plan on wearing nothing underneath it (maybe for a burlesque show, I don't know). Corsets are never fully washable, as many well finished ones have steel boning that could rust and bleed through fabrics. Having a tube top will help prevent a lot of that sweat and B.O. coming off on your corset. I spray a cloth with a bit of fabric freshener and gently go over the inside of the corset to keep it smelling nice.


 I love Louise Black and her corsets so much, I am beginning to save for two more, maybe even three! And I know just the ones I am going to get...

Here is the choker I made, which I am wearing in the full body shot.