Trend: Chain Necklaces

You know what I haven't worn in over 20 years? Chain necklaces. I don't mean dainty chains--I mean the industrial ones you would get at a hardware store. When worn with a spiked collar (like in the above Widow photo), it was a pretty badass look in the late 90s, early 00s. I'm liking it with the updated hair and makeup in the photo above. Though I won't hate it with the choppy highlights and panda eyes of the 00s.

Why isn't gold goth?

For me, personally, this has been the year where I rethink all the conventional dark fashion "rules." And there are rules--there's a difference between someone who is just wearing black and someone who is counter-culture. But for people in high school and college who were dressing this way to be "unique" or "rebellious," I'm sure they were eventually disappointed:

"[I found a place] where I can be appreciated for my originality" 

For some reason, gold was never goth. I have theories: 1: the good stuff was too expensive for youth culture. 2) it traditionally doesn't go with cool-toned pale makeup and blue-black hair. 3) it was popular with parents and old people.

Maybe. I'd argue that it doesn't have to be expensive...you don't need to get solid gold. Brass would work too:

GIY: It Takes Two: metalsmithing jewelry

I finally got it twogether this month with a DIY with GIY. This month's theme was dual crafting, and I made two brass/copper rings and two brass/copper earring jackets (to match my brass necklace):

How to Wear Brooches (Summer)

My brooch collection

Jewelry 101: Annealed Brass Bracelet

DIY Choker

Where the hell have I been?!? Well generally when I vanish, I'm freelancing (in addition to my 9 to 5 job).

Pantone Fall Color Trend 2016

Medieval/Fantasy Looks

You may or may not know it, but we are in a golden age of sword and sorcery fiction. Every fantasy book I pick up has amazing badass women who fight alongside men. They're not just love interests or prizes, they're bandits, fighters, powerful antagonists, and main characters. I remember giving up the search for female knights when I was growing up...It was pretty much only The Hero and the Crown.

So it's no surprise that "Medieval goth" when I was younger was similar to the first search result you get when you type that in Google image search:

still awesome by the way

Trend: Chokers

top: F21; choker: free people; skirt: brooks brothers

Shop With Me: Alchemy Gothic

So, I don't actually own anything from Alchemy gothic. Not wearable anyway. I glued a pendant to a journal once--it was typical Alchemy Gothic stuff...two axes with a skull. very over-the-top. That's not going to stop me from reviewing their latest offerings. Join me, "gothlings," as we explore the designs from spring 2016 after I stopped paying attention to this brand for like 10 years.

Buying Expensive Shit: Worth It?

From indie-label jewelry to big bad New Rock boots to bespoke corsets and latex, dark fashion can be expensive. Dressing this way is a labor of love, whether it's an expression of your true self or full-blown performance art. But there is a point when you have to wonder if your money is better spent elsewhere.

case in point: these $500 gloves

Karen Coil Necklace

A quick post, since I don't want to leave you guys without a Thursday update! I ended up getting one of my wishlist items I wanted since forever: the Karen Coil necklace by Tawapa.

Not sure how I feel about these

Red and Gold weeks

The past two weeks have been strange at work since my group was folded into a larger group. I'm in a new bigger department...my job's still the same but the work that my lean team of 3 is now being done by like 15 people. The levels of bureaucracy are amazing. I inherited an assistant and I now attend meetings with the other managers, so I'm suddenly very visible. To introduce myself to the group, I've been wearing a flashy combination of red and gold (lol and participating in the meetings). It's easy to disappear in a corporate setting. For better or for worse, I've chosen not to.  

For one thing, I now wear my septum, which I've never worn to the office. The hoop earrings are ridiculously flashy and cheap looking, but I like em.

Personal style lately

So, I haven't been sharing as many photos of myself lately. Mostly because it's been outside the scope of this blog, which centers around dark fashion trends. The reason for this is that I'm growing my hair out, and it's in its natural ugly boring shade as I grow it out. Dark fashion is a total-body look, and while some people are fine with having one part of their look mismatching, it drives me crazy. and no matter how I try, I can't make my ash brown hair seem cool.

Industrial bar earring haul

moooon

Fossils

trilobite (not mine)

What's in my piercings?

Thought I'd do a quick post before I head to the eye doctor. I broke all of my glasses and now need a new ones and a new prescription. I'm pretty happy with what I'm wearing in my ears right now and wanted to share:

Left ear:

ugh my hair is growing out...

DIY: Crystal Necklace

Not too long ago, I did a post about the raw minerals trend and a few DIY ideas. I DIYed one based on some of the tutorials from the post and made things up as I went along. Lynoire from Space Unicorn also made a quartz necklace, so check hers out too!

finished

Trend: Minerals

Maybe it's because I like it, but I've been seeing raw stones everywhere.

Diablo Organics