Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! Here's my favorite spooky organ song for your Halloween playlist. 

"Toccata"  from Suite gothique, Op. 25, an organ suite composed by Léon Boëllmann in 1895. I recommend listening to the Ernie Englund version of it on Spotify, but the above was the closest I could find. A lot of organists play it too fast IMO. 

I first heard it a few weeks ago when we went for a free organ concert at one of the NYC cathedrals. I was blown away. By the way, if you are in NYC and goth and broke, check out the cathedrals. They usually have free organ concerts. And organists love playing spooky organ songs. What's the point, otherwise?

Recommend some spooky classical songs? 

Ootd, work

Posting from my new Nexus 5 phone! The camera is much better than my last phone, so maybe there will be more mobile posts, as I'm rarely at my computer these days. (My fencing classes have ended and I'm now trying out yoga... Plus my weekly gaming... plus alumni committee ... plus regular industry networking stuff... Plus I want to get back into writing for nanowrimo...not to unload or nothing... Lots on my plate!)

Here's my work outfit from Friday, hat and crop top are recent buys from f21 and I'm wearing my go-to pleated skirt from AA. Frye Oxford shoes.

Anyone else wearing crop tops to work?

Halloween Costume Wishlist

DIY costumes that I wish I would do, but probably won't:

1. Witch Doctor:

2: G-G-G-Ghost

MoYou Nail Stamping

So, you know I like my nail stamping, and I've been wanting to try out the London-based MoYou since forever and now I'm sold on their newest "gothic" collection. (no, this isn't a review because the items are sitting in my shopping cart as I write. and no, I'm not getting them for free...haha I doubt they'd want me writing about their products to begin with....YOU'LL SEE) 

Nu-Goth, Haute Goth, Rivethead

Roses and Vellum and Little Corp Goth Girl recently did a post on dark fashion "stereotypes" featuring those fun illustrations by Trellia. I thought I'd join in too.

I first got into dark fashion in a real way (beyond band t-shirts) through the whole rivethead thing. I don't really listen to too much industrial (though I was listening to Combichrist today) anymore, I still love the old look. Like the little description says, I never considered myself a goth. The clothing is pretty masculine, tough, grungy, futuristic, military--quite the opposite of the fussy, feminine, vintagelike goth fashion.

That's where I started dark fashion. I still think it's awesome, and it reminds me of Chicago of course. I've moved on though. These days I'm wearing what Trellia calls the "Haute Goth"--I watch the runways and can name many of the high-end goth designers. Also, with the benefit of living in NYC, I can get high end stuff for a sliver of the price. We still have the old-school department stores that actually sell designer stuff at a discount, unlike TJ Maxx and outlet stores that license the brand name and make it at some slave-labor factory for pennies. Oh, what a snob I am. Personally, I love how weird and creative it all is. I get too bored staring at the same old same old.

diy halloween costumes for goths

I'm still not sure what I'm going to be for halloween. My department has a halloween party and we coordinate our costumes. So I'm still waiting for the memo. I'm a DIY costumer, though they haven't been as elaborate as in the past. Here are some easy DIYs if you've already got a dark fashion wardrobe.

Devil: You pretty much just need the horns and some makeup. Red+black clothes

my costume in 2011

Witch: My costume in 2012--when nu-goths were all over the witchy look  (including me). This is also an easy-peasy look for anyone with an already-existing goth wardrobe. Just wear what you usually wear plus a witches hat.