Gothing Up the Pantone Spring 2014 Colors

Happy Spring, everyone in the northern hemisphere! It's that time of year. Pantone color time. My personal seasonal challenge: gothing up the season's Pantone colors. I'm not sure why I do this. (Those of you in the southern hemisphere, you can see fall's colors here)

What's Pantone? Well, it's basically the, um... only color company? Everything that uses colors uses Pantone colors. You need something printed at a commercial printer? they're going to ask you for a Pantone color number. Ordering fabric from a textile manufacturer... going to need a pantone color for that too. I don't understand how they make their money.

Spring/summer colors are always a challenge for those of us with darker wardrobes. The above colors are especially a challenge. When I did this for fall 2013 there were actually a few colors I loved: the deep violet-purple Beaujolais, which looks awesome as lipstick; the washed-out, grungy deep lichen green. I thought I was going to hate these spring colors, but I actually like them. This is a great time for rockabilly looks, vintage/antique looks, steampunk, pastel goth, and postapocalyptic fashion. 

pantone spring 2014 by ahp259 featuring an essie nail polish

Fall/pre-fall '14: goth on the runway

Just wanted to share a few goth/dark fashion runway looks I'd liked from Fall/pre-fall '14. Commentary below each photo.

Katie Gallagher RTW Fall 2014

Post your collection: Rings

Most of my rings were bought in the past two years, since I started nail blogging. I don't usually wear rings, especially not in the winter--too fussy with gloves and coats and long sleeves and whatever.

Vaguely Ethnic Outfit Post

After doing my vaguely ethnic septum rings post, I've been liking the idea of vaguely ethnic clothing. Vague being the key phrase here. I'm not talking about sticking a fez cap on or wearing a Native American poncho or whatever. I'm talking about completely original ideas that are mostly fantasy. Think Star Trek or fantasy books about fictional cultures. Not cultural appropriation. 

I saw this sweater on the clothing rack and it just looked like it was from an alien world. I was never more sure of anything in my life when I tried it on. I think this is going to be my new signature look. I wore it to the office yesterday.

This is my normal face. I'm not pissed off!

Liebster Award

So I've been tagged by Liberty Fox of Where Foxes Say Goodnight (she's also cataloging different types of alternative fashion...worth a look on her blog!) for a Liebster Award. Thanks! Here are her questions:

1. Who would you love to see in concert? (Even if they are dead now, who would you go back in time for?).
NIN in '99. This was before online ticket sales and I waited 4 hours in line to see them...was first in line. They did the lame raffle thing, and by the time it was my turn, all the shows were sold out. I'd later see them in 2005, but the Fragile was still my favorite album. 

Also Stiffs Inc, the beginning and end of Victorian punk, almost 20 years before the steampunk thing took off. Way ahead of their time and a shame they called it quits. 

2. Where is one place in the world you would love to see/travel to ?
Being a manga/anime nerd, Japan. Also Easter Island. Antarctica.

3. What is your favourite colour (other than black)? Pine green

4. What are your obsessions? What gets you out of bed in the morning and keeps you up until late at night?
Playing videogames. I can play 15 hours straight. 

5. What would be your ideal pet?
D'aww I miss my cat. I'd love to have her back.

6. What tips do you have for newbie bloggers? Aka, what do you think makes your blog successful?
I can tell you why my blog ISN'T successful. No clear brand (how am I skuzzlite, 1066X30, mutant stomp friends...etc all at once?!) or focus...no clear identity. Yeah, it's mostly dark-fashion focused, but then again there's this post, posts about my weekend, long expository posts on gaming. Who's the audience? Do I write for them? Well, I'm a little more higher-end fashion focused (so more designer stuff instead of Nightmare Before Christmas backpacks), but my tone is completely contradictory LOL!!!! I also don't post enough to draw regular visitors. 

While that's why my blog isn't successful, I wouldn't say it sucks. I think I have a more original POV, create original content, and have big, nice photos. The most important thing is good content. 

7. Favourite song?
Foetus: Water torture. I love every Foetus album ever. There are entire years of my life where I only listened to Foetus. There are dozens of us! Dozens! 

8. Person/thing/being you always wished you could be. A mermaid? Siouxsie Sioux? Susan Sto-Helit?
A ghost with ghostly powers. More a monster from a fairy tale than Casper. I guess I'll see eventually! Either that or cyborg. I shall be a ghost in a shell.

9. Is goth a really big part of your lifestyle> Do you eat, sleep and breathe goth, or occasionally lounge around with fluffy bunny slippers? (Or both): I'll assume you use the term "goth" loosely. In that case yes. While I don't spend my days ironing Cure patches on my couch cushions, most of my time is spent doing dark (dorky) things.

10. The person you are most proud of: my graduating class in my masters degree. We've gone on to do great things.

I'm late in the game for this, so I'm not going to tag anyone. 

Pierced Septums @ Fashion Week

Well, seems another one of my 2014 trend predictions is coming true. I've been noticing more pierced septums popping up in my WWD Fashion Week (NYC, Paris, London, Milan) Tumblr feed. I'm not pissed it's going more mainstream...since more jewelry options are sure to follow!

Milan Fashion Week (street photo)

Paris Fashion Week (street photo)

Brooklyn Night Bazaar

Brooklyn Night Bazaar: it's a music venue, arcade, and craft fair in an old warehouse. Free to enter, but get there early to avoid the lines.

I'm still super sick but I had to brave the cold to go see one of my favorite BK band, Crystal Stilts (I wrote about em in this nu-goth music post) before they headed back on their world tour. here's the full lineup:

By the way, if you are ever in NYC, this is a great venue for seeing local bands. There wasn't a single weak set and the atmosphere is fantastic. I normally hate live music shows (I hate standing, hate all the tall people, hate all the downtime between sets) but this place was really awesome.