Hexotica Archive

Hexotica Has Moved To A New Blog!

2011-10-28T16:47:00.000-07:00

Hello!

Hexotica has a brand spankin' new blog and a snazzy new web-site!

If you have just found or have been a follower of this blog, please be sure to now follow the new blog at:

http://gothicburlesque.blogspot.com/

Most Blogspot blog followers have automatically been transferred to the new blog, but a few new followers have found this archive instead of the new blog, so please un-follow this one and go subscribe to the new one, as this will be the last post for this, the now archived blog. I don't wanna leave you guys behind! :D

And for those of you who enjoy rummaging around old posts, I hope you will enjoy some of my early stabs at blogging and forgive my dodgy, point-and-shoot photos!! :P

Now, go check out the new web-site and the new blog! *happy dance!*

Weekly Outfit: Casual In Blue on a Very Blue Day

2011-10-02T14:27:00.000-07:00

I've been having some big changes in my life lately, so I haven't spent much time dressing up or getting out, but I did go out for brunch over the weekend and managed to throw something comfortable and just interesting enough to be picture-worthy.

Underneath my 'Grover' coat I'd thrown on this shoulder-less blue velvet top I found at a thrift shop. I adore open-shoulder winter tops; especially on windy days when I have to wear my hair up. I think it's such a feminine look, yet still very casual.

It rained all weekend, which is why I didn't go with Maiki to the big custom car show and camping weekend that is Chopped. I will never camp in the rain if I can help it---it's total misery!! It was really cold to boot, so I stayed inside with the heat on, drinking green tea and making fascinators most of the weekend. Then there was the added misery which is the city during the Grand Final footy match, when the streets get swamped with drunk suburban footy fans. Even with staying inside Saturday night, there was so much commotion on the street just outside that my cats ran off to hide!

This outfit was totally thrifted--even the cute bow-tie hosiery. Only my patent Doc Martens are new, and you've seen them before! :P

Mexican Party!

2011-09-25T15:00:00.000-07:00

My friend Danee celebrated her birthday with a bunch of her amigos at a Mexican tequila bar-restaurant, Mi Corazon, a while ago. Though I was a hung over and grumpy bitch that day, I got some pretty cute pics of her and her boyfriend!

The sombrero did the rounds!

Danee and her boyfriend, George, who showed up wearing this!

Maiki and Shannon

And another of the cute couple! I didn't last till the end of the evening before everyone went off to enjoy a backyard bon-fire, and at some point Maiki had a cupcake shoved in his face, which he can remember but apparently nobody else remembers very much from that night! Tequila will get ya!

Oraculous: Black Satin and Tassel Nipple Pasties

2011-09-22T15:00:00.000-07:00

So we've had Vesalius, Nefarious, and last week, Salacious-- and now for the last in my beginner-basics, all-black, gothic nipple pasties series: Oraculous.

Oraculous means 'mysterious', like an oracle. An oracular lady might wear a pair of black pasties on her boobs, don't you think? ;) I think it's such a beautiful word; it is appropriate to describe beautiful things.

This pair is a more subtle tassel version than last week's sequined Salacious. It is more for the bedroom than the stage, or for a costume that just needs nipple coverage without the glammed-up factor.

Oraculous--Black Satin and Lace Gothic Burlesque Nipple Pasties

Available in my Etsy shop now, with custom color requests for the satin base welcomed!

Travel: Bendigo, Victoria

2011-09-20T15:00:00.000-07:00

Not having been very far out of Melbourne since my road trip to Sydney, it was time to take a few days off and explore a place I've never been, so I took a country train out to one of Victoria's historical gold boom-time towns, Bendigo. Though the town is small, they have a kick-ass art museum curator who has consistently been bringing the little town the most magnificent exhibits the town has ever seen, and none more exciting than the current one: The White Wedding Dress. With an exhibition of dresses spanning 200 years of fashion, organised by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, I simply could not miss it!

I caught an early morning train from Melbourne's interstate train station, which has a curvy roof that always makes me long to ride on roller coasters.

Two hours later I arrived in Bendigo and my friend Teresa came and picked me up. We dropped my bags off at her mother's house and hit the town for some shopping and lunch. I was immediately impressed by the gorgeous, doll-house like beauty of the Victorian-era architecture throughout the town, all showing the signs of the great wealth that came from all the gold mined in this area.

The grandest building in town is the Shamrock Hotel, situated right in the center across from a lovely green park.

All over town the shops were celebrating the white wedding dress exhibition with displays of wedding dresses. These two are made in ceramic!

Teresa and I visited all the quaint boutiques and antique shops along the main street before having lunch and ciders at a historical pub.

We then visited the Bendigo Art Gallery to see the exhibit, where Teresa just happens to work, coincidentally! I couldn't take photos inside, of course, but here are some of the dresses I saw:

The not-so-white shot taffeta meringue dress worn by Dita Von Teese to her ill-fated marriage to Marilyn Manson in 2005, designed by Vivienne Westwood. They also had on display her Stephen Jones tri-corn hat, her shoes, her custom made black lace negligee bridal robe and a Mr. Pearl corset.

And I saw Gwen Stefani's wedding dress, designed by John Galliano. It featured an asymmetrical corset busk and a softly fading-to-pink bottom.

My favorites were the heavily embellished, heavily beaded, stunning Edwardian and Victorian-era gowns like this one from 1885. It features a skirt fringed in thousands of glass pearl beads:

Teresa loved a more modern gown with a tee-shirt top, designed by Australian designer Toni Maticevski.

Outside the museum there was a lovely plum blossom tree orchard, beautifully in bloom with delicate pink buds.

Next we went across the road to a university art gallery (I forget which university!). They had a cool installation of crazy things to play in in the courtyard!

Peek-a-boo!

Then we walked up a hill behind the museum and saw the town from above.

After that it started raining and we went home, had drinks, and stayed up late catching up.

The next day Teresa had to work so I explored the town on my own, starting in the center near the big historic post office.

First I visited the Golden Dragon Museum. Thousands of Chinese immigrants arrived in Bendigo to mine for gold back in the days, and though there is not much of a Chinese presence anymore, their legacy remains. I loved the formal gardens, though they were a bit sparse with it being winter.

After hours of walking around, I had the most amazing salad for lunch and spent an hour relaxing and writing in my diary at a a place called The Green Olive.

It was then time for shopping! I first visited the shop of a customer from my wholesale work, and chatted to her for a while and bought a pair of boots from her shop. Her shop was in the main street mall full of unexciting chain stores, so after hitting some of those I went hunting for what Bendigo had to offer in the way of alternative and vintage.

First I found Doris, a lovely little vintage shop with some great hats.

And right next door to it was the new alternative shop, The Black Lagoon.

It stocks well-known international and Australian rockabilly and gothic labels, and will soon be stocking Hexotica accessories too. ; )

I have to thank a customer of mine for letting me know about the shop, and would you believe the coincidence--she was actually IN the shop, chatting with the lovely owner, when I arrived! Weird! I chatted with them for a while, and they let me know all about the alternative things happening in Bendigo, such as a new roller derby team and the quirky low-brow art gallery-shop, Hudsons Hub.

So, then I chatted with the owner of this shop, and drooled over some of the fantastic steampunk jewelry that a friend of his has made and is selling exclusively at his shop (you have to visit to see it, no other way I'm afraid!).

When I started to get all worn out with walking, I happened to find the coolest place in town for a chai break, but I have no idea what it is called or how to tell you where it is. (Yea, I suck at travel writing, haha!). It had this retro caravan coffee-kitchen inside, and a lovely courtyard out back. I found places Teresa didn't even know about, haha! :P

So, there's my little escape from Melbourne! The next one will be for a big-ass car show out in the country in a couple of weeks (oh, yay), then another big overseas trip back to the States this December--but via FIJI, baby! In Australia, there aren't a lot of terribly exciting places to visit for culture--it's heaven for nature-lovers---so when you do travel, it's almost always to get off the island, and it's almost always for a long time, for me anyway.

Yet, I find these little jaunts to Australian towns highly satisfying, if even to see different things and have a day or two out of the house. And, I highly recommend The White Wedding Dress exhibit to anyone near Victoria. It's first class and worth every minute and penny to see those gorgeous gowns. The exhibition is currently on and will run till November 6.
If--for whatever stupid reason--you miss out on this exhibit, the next killer exhibition will be on Grace Kelly, beginning in March, 2012. I'll be going! :)

Pirate Paarrtay!

2011-09-18T15:00:00.000-07:00

Happy International Talk Like a Pirate Day, me hearties!

Wether ye be a landlubber or a true pyrate, it's a jolly day to talk in a pyrate way!

Here be some pics from me last pirate paarrtay, along with a few useful pyrate terms ta' git ya' through yur day on the broadside o' yer enemies, maties!

"Landlubber - a term given to one fond of land as opposed to sea. The terms doesn't derive from "land lover" but rather from the root of "lubber" which means clumsy or uncoordinated. Thus, a landlubber is one who is awkward at sea for familiarity with the land. Of course, this terms was used to insult the abilities of one at sea."

"Broadside - a general term for the vantage on another ship of absolute perpendicular to the direction it is going. To get along broadside a ship was to take it at a very vulnerable angle. This is of course, the largest dimention of a ship and is easyiest to attack with larger arms. A "Broadside" has come to indicate a hit with a cannon or similar attack right in the main part of the ship."

Source

Avast Ye!, I say!

"- a hailing phrase to indicate that the hailed must "stop" and give attention."

A buccaneer and his Spanish slave-wench, otherwise known as the hosts, Zac and Daphne.

"Buccaneer - originally a term for those privateers who fought against the Spanish, later a general term for pyrates of the atlantic, specifically the Caribbean. The buccaneers were first hunters of pigs and cattle on the island of Hispanola, but were driven off by the Spanish and turned to pyracy. Buccaneers were said to be heavy drinking, cruel pyrates."

Some o' the many crazy treasures in their jolly house. Zac really likes collectin' baubles and goo-gags.

Even more loot!

A sword fight broke out o'er the remaining cheese balls!

Daphne and Chris dancin' on the mizzen.

"Mizzen - a term meaning "middle" on a ship. The Mizzenmast was usually the largest and, perhaps, most important mast."

The pyrate lady wins the cheeseball fight! After bein' sentenced to a keel haul the poor defeated dude was tossed into the bilge, and made to catch the bilge rats for the rest o' the starving crew to eat!

"Keel haul - another term made famous by pyrates. This is the act of throwing a man overboard, tied to a rope that goes beneath the ship, and then dragging him from one side to the other and hauling him out. Besides the torment of being dragged under water, this would drag the victim across the barnacle studded ship's hull and cause great pain and injury. This was a serious punishment and not administered lightly."

"Bilge - The lowest part inside the ship, within the hull itself. If any place on the ship was going to be dank and musty, the bilge was such a place. It was the first place to show signs of leakage and was often considered the most filthy, deadspace of a ship. Hence, a "bilge rat" is a creature considered most lowly by a pyrate. Though, many a pyrate found himself eating those same rats to survive!"

On the poop deck Ben the Random Panda chewed on his bamboo contently, wonderin' how he ended up on a pyrate ship...

Poop Deck - the deck at the furthest back of a ship. Usually above the captain's quarters, the poopdeck was usually the highest deck of the ship.

Salacious-Black Satin and Chiffon Ruffle-Trimmed Nipple Pasties with Tassels

2011-09-15T22:01:00.000-07:00

Because everyone needs a pair of sexy, black pasties with tassels, and I am determined to make the most beautiful ones possible, and as many as possible, so I present to you: Salacious, satin and chiffon ruffled pasties, edged in large black sequins and rhinestone-encrusted tassels!

Salacious--Black Satin and Chiffon Ruffle Trimmed Nipple Pasties withTassels and Kit

When it comes to basic black, tasseled pasties, the variations are limited to the style of embellishments. I've used a luxurious black duchess satin for the base, a delicate chiffon ruffle trim, and have hand-stitched a ring of black, larger than usual black sequins around the edge, topped with black beaded centers. The tassels have been bejeweled with black rhinestones around the knots, giving the tassels a bit of shine to balance the sequin shimmer. It's just that touch of sparkle that offsets the satin, but is subtle enough to not overpower the look, keeping them sensual, seductive, and salaciously dark...

The little skull rosette choker featured here is my Vasalius choker, available separately in my Ebay and Etsy stores.

These high-quality, luxurious pasties are a great starter pair for your pasties collection, and can be custom-made to size upon request.

Luminous Melbourne

2011-09-13T18:01:00.000-07:00

Continuing on with my BTN 'tude toward blogging lately, here are some pretty photos taken with Maiki's amazing new camera, the latest model which is the closest a little point and shoot camera can get to an SLR. This smart camera has an amazing light navigation, and effortlessly takes brilliant photos like these:

View of the Yarra River and arts center tower from swank city bar, Transport.

View of Melbourne's main transit hub, Flinders Street Station.

Transport bar restroom, a little modern, Japanese-y delight, and another view to the streets below (blackened out).

Wearing this outfit. It's my go-to outfit for any social outings in sleek and modern places with lots of mainstream fashion peeps doing the trendy tunic-dress and stockings/leggings thing that we sell at my work (wholesale fashion sales).

The camera is a Canon powershot S95 in case anyone wants to know. It's f*#king brilliant.

Evening Outfit and Lotsa Silly Faces

2011-09-12T03:55:00.000-07:00

So, this is not quite my normal kind of outfit post, but it's BTN (Better Than Nothing)! These pics were from a wild night out at psy-trance club My Aeon with some friends a couple weeks back.

Waiting for a cab outside the wine shop in my big blue, vintage 'Grover' coat, heading to our friend Steve's for pre-drinks.

Maiki just loves my camera!

"Hey honey, want some sugar??"

These pics remind me of GothBarbie and Industrial Ken poses!

Classy dudes!

With Knick-Nack-Nikki at the club

This guy is single if anyone is interested...;)

Weekly Outfit: Gun Print Shorts in the Courtyard

2011-09-06T20:08:00.000-07:00

Mr. Sun is departing the northern hemisphere and heading down south! Thanks, northerners! We'll send him back when we've had enough. For now, he's welcomed as can be! Suddenly all the girls in Melbourne are breaking out the shorts--but not without a warm top and some opaque tights--it's sunny but still a bit chilly.

Here's my version: a black glittery sweater, dark purple shorts, black tights, rocker waist belt and lots of accessories. I didn't get a shot of my derriere, but these are what the shorts look like on the back:

Except my gun is black, of course.

I'm wearing my fringed collar a lot lately. I like its contrast of edge and elegance.

For Maiki and I, it's time to get the courtyard spiffied-up, starting with a new DIY table made from an old door. The door use to be to a closet under the stairs, but Maiki has knocked all that out as we continue to renovate the house. The hole use to be a cat hole, as we kept the litter box in that closet. Now it will be a plant box, and sometimes we'll switch it to an ice-box for chilling wine.

Having a table in the courtyard has already transformed the space. We've been having friends over every weekend it's sunny, to enjoy our new 'beer garden'. Also, Maiki and my friends at Visage and Vice headquarters are running a competition to see who can make the best courtyard by summer. Our plans are to make it all very Japanese-inspired, though it'll take a lot of work and is sure to happen slowly. Till then, we are loving the transformation and have been working outside some afternoons--like today, as I blog this in the sunshine!

Outfit details:

Top: gift from parents in the U.S.

Shorts: Berserk

Boots: Doc Martens 14-up patent (best boots evvv--er!)

Satin fingerless gloves: Leg Avenue, also available from the Berserk web-store

Choker: gift from Maiki from Camden, London

Bracelets & spike earrings: Most are from the evil Diva chain stores here in Australia

Skull Ring: Sydney designer Coco Liberace

Cream Lace Bridal Tiara 'Charlotte'

2011-09-01T19:39:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the second sunny day of spring here in Australia, here is the lovely Kelsey-Jean again, modeling my other white-wedding tiara, 'Charlotte', embellished with pearls and rhinestones on a heavy-knit, cream lace.

'Charlotte' Tiara--Cream Embellished Lace with Detachable Veil

The model here is Kelsey-Jean.

Photography by Studio Edge.

MUA Make-Up By Doll/Kara Doll

This coronet is available in my Etsy store now, and though the listing includes the detachable veil, it may also be purchased sans the veil; just contact me through Etsy to adjust the price.

My big plans for a Hexotica transformation

are still underway and coming very soon! Right now I am busy keeping up with all the spring racing fascinator and parasol orders I have been receiving, and devising new ways of time-management to get ahead in everything from inventory to blog posts.

Find Hexotica on Facebook for updates, new product previews, and giveaways at:

https://www.facebook.com/DarkCabaretJewelry

Hhmm....like most people, changes to blog editing drives me batty. What do you think?? Grrr...

http://www.etsy.com/listing/80955892/vintage-inspired-cream-lace-bridal-tiara

Nefarious-Gothic Burlesque Black Beaded Star Nipple Pasties

2011-08-26T05:02:00.000-07:00

Why, hello! It's been a while. I've been up to ~~no good~~ new projects and a bit of time off for travel! Lots of eye-candy to be revealed this weekend, and a big shebang to come shortly--Hexotica is about to meta-morph into a new life stage, and that's what I've been busy with lately, as you'll see in less than a new moon away! I'm SO excited! *happy dance!*

Till then, here's my latest listing: dark, twinkling stars for your boobs!

Nefarious-- Beaded Lace Star Gothic Burlesque Nipple Pasties with Kit

These pasties were one of the five pairs that came out of a gothic-inspired all-black phase a couple of weeks ago. They are available in my Etsy store and in local Fitzroy shop Visage and Vice Boutique. Custom color requests for the satin base are welcomed!

Weekly Outfit: Velvet Blue Baby Doll Dress

2011-08-10T19:04:00.001-07:00

Last weekend was all about two Samantha's and a wedding. One of the two Samantha's was getting hitched, so for her hens night I wore my favorite winter dress, a teal blue velvet baby doll dress.

What I adore about this dress is that the sleeves are completely removable, like opera gloves. They come off just under the arm band of the poofy shoulder cap sleeves. The hens night was at a busy restaurant bar which got very hot, so I was definitely grateful I'd worn this awesome little dress. I posted this dress before but my little camera didn't capture the gorgeous color quite as well as my big camera, and those earrings didn't match as well as these new ones (I am bat-shit insane about coordinating jewelry correctly!).

I always wear it with an arm party of blue, teal blue, and olive green bangles, and recently bought a perfectly matching pair of teal blue chandelier earrings:

All my jewelry was from the evil Diva chain store, and all for $5 a piece on clearance! YEA!

With Samantha Doll and bride-to-be Samantha Diamond at the Panama here in Collingwood. Their food was AMAZING!

Vintage-Inspired White Lace Bridal Coronet

2011-08-04T23:37:00.001-07:00

And now, for the more traditional, yet still slightly offbeat bride: The first of my two lighter-colored coronets:

'Arch Duchess' Tiara--White Embellished Lace with Detachable Veil

As with the gothic black version of this design, my inspiration came from a collection of 1930's Sears Catalog coronets. The unintended height gave this piece more of a fantasy feel than a vintage feel, but I still love the end result and am sure there are plenty of brides-to-be out there who are planning princess-style weddings and that will adore this tiara.

To add depth and shine to the lace applique, I hand-stitched glass bugles, mirrored Czech crystals and glass sequins along the embroidery.

My lovely model here is Kelsey-Jean.

Photography by Studio Edge.

MUA Make-Up By Doll/Kara Doll

This coronet is available in my Etsy store now, and though the listing includes the detachable veil, it may also be purchased sans the veil; just contact me through Etsy to adjust the price.

And thinking of brides and weddings, I am off to a friend's hens night dinner tonight, then Sunday is the wedding day. So pretty much most of this weekend will be celebrating marriage!

Weekly Outfit, an Arm Party, and a Swap Market

2011-08-03T00:31:00.001-07:00

An 'arm party' is when you wear a stack of bracelets and bangles all at once. I recognize a serious costume jewelry collector when I see an arm party--it's when there are too many favorite bracelets to choose from so you just go for a lot at once! Combining the bracelets in different ways to compliment colors, metals, beads, styles, and textures can be a lot of fun. I've had an ongoing arm party lately that mostly consists of these:

Rubber 'barbed-wire' bracelets, a thin black rhinestone stretchy, a 'feature' bracelet, and two to three stud stretchies in black or metallic shades. So, when I saw fellow jewelry-loving fashion blogger Pretty Shiny Sparkly feature a 'Bloggers Do it Better' theme post on arm parties, I just had to put my darker two-cents in, and photograph the arm party I've been having the most lately!

I've also been wearing this stretchy belt with a black studded closure a lot lately, so it matches pretty well with the black stud bracelet. I love the way it slims down slouchy or waist-less tops...

Take a look: I am now at the stage where I am re-doing previously posted outfits, so I can look back to see how I wore this outfit in the past and how I can do it better this time around (besides improving the dodgy point and shoot, pre-SLR pics!). This colorful winter ensemble looked a bit dowdy with just a pull-over cardigan, but with a belt it gives me a waist, updates the whole outfit to today's stretchy-belt, waist-emphasizing trend, and adds a bit of edge.

The cardigan is the one I embellished in this tutorial. It's great for when I man my market stalls--all the rosettes unmistakeably connect me to my table and to all my rosette accessories!

I should make another one soon--I'm able to match this one to a lot of satin blouses for warm layers, and it looks so luxurious and unique...

I also made a matching rosette-centered hair bow on a slide comb, which I'll be making more of for my stores, in various colors.

And here I am behind my table at a neighborhood swap market in my friend Ben's kustom car garage, Rancho Deluxe.

Ben, making coffees. Maiki and I often come here Saturday mornings along with members of his car club, the Kardinals.

Kardinal Danny with Karen and some little girl...

Matthew and Maiki.

The best thing about this fun day was having my table next to Matthew of online shop Grim Fandango's, who besides just being a pleasure to talk with, is also a referee for the Victorian Roller Derby League, and who gave me lots of ideas for future promotions and ways to sell my stuff!

All the purdy little thangs of my table...

swapping happening...

Tatts happening too!

To check out more arm parties visit the blog Pretty Shiny Sparkly.

My Favorite Fascinators and Hat

2011-08-01T06:57:00.001-07:00

This month exquisite gothic fashion blogger Sophistique Noir is hosting a hats and fascinators theme as part of her monthly theme schedule. Having missed her last two themes, I did not want to miss this one: Hats and Fascinators!

I make and own so many hats and fascinators that it was almost impossible to choose my favorite, so I chose three: my favorite fascinator that I've made, my favorite fascinator that I didn't make myself, and my favorite winter hat!

The first is one that I didn't make myself--this adorable glitter bird on a satin and sequin perch that a lovely burlesque-performing friend of mine made, Venus Vamp. I met her at one of the Worn Wild markets a year or so ago, and all day long we were eying each others' crafts, as we seemed to not only have the same taste in accessories, but apparently we even looked alike because people kept confusing us with each other (people were telling me how much they loved my performance, ha!). We did a fantastic trade at the end of the day, and this little birdie was all mine!

About a week later I happened upon the exact same color satin top in a thrift shop. It's a gorgeous scoop-neck with ruched bust, but the bottom half just hangs loose, so I've ordered a black satin underbust corset to wear it with before I make a proper outfit with it!

I love the way the bird just sits on my head. I thought maybe I should have a more elaborate hairstyle for it to perch in, but kinda like it more just hanging off to one side as if it just landed there.

Wearing it always makes me feel playful and lighthearted--I mean, I have a bloody bird on my head, right? Too cute!

My next fascinator is one I made--a big, feathery, poofy, beaded, rosette-and-tulle covered pleated satin base-styled one similar to the ones I already sell now, but BIGGER. This is my prototype for a whole new level of fascinators, aimed for burlesque and stage--BIG-ASS head pieces, dripping with chains and beaded falls, poofy with ostrich or marabou, luxurious with hand-stitched rosettes and tufts of tulle or netting.

I made this one to match my necklace, but plans are in the works for various colors and styles and Marie Antoinette-levels of height to sell! I want to make fascinators that skim door frames and car ceilings--BIG, showgirl styles!

Ok, gotta calm down now...

Onto my favorite winter hat!

This gray fur 1950's pillbox hat and matching cape were a gift from my younger sister one Christmas. The silver star brooch came with the hat; all in absolutely perfect condition. I often wear this ensemble to fancy dress events where I know there will be a lot of standing outside, like laser light shows, outdoor concerts, and galleries.

Now, go check out Sophistique Noir's lovely, highly polished fashion blog and see the amazing fascinator she has matched with none other than my Ravishing Ruffles choker! You'll also find a whole slew of links to other blogs participating in this month's theme; with more toward the end of the day!

Gothic Burlesque Skull Rosette Choker and Matching Nipple Pasties

2011-07-29T01:27:00.001-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I got inspired to make a slew of all-black, very textured, very gothic accessories, and here are the first of that inspiration-party-in-my-brain to be listed--and named after Andreas Vesalius, a fascinating historical figure that I learned about in my doco pick of the week, Blood and Guts: A History of Surgery!

Vesalius-- Satin and Lace Skull Rosette Nipple Pasties with Kit

The skull rosettes were so cute I made them into chokers, sold separately in my stores:

Gothic Burlesque Satin and Lace Skull Rosette on a Ribbon (FREE SHIPPING!)

Both pasties and choker are available in my Etsy and Ebay stores now.

Andreas Vesalius was a dwarf, a grave-robber, and the founder of modern anatomy. He use to chop his stolen corpses up, boil off the flesh, then piece together the puzzle of human bone structure. Gruesome work, but pivotal to the history of medical science!

Learning about Vesalius was just one of the many bazillion fascinating historical facts of this brilliant doco. It's a five-part series you can watch online, and I highly recommended it, but have to warn animal lovers or those with a queasy stomach--many people and animals had to die to bring surgery where it is today. It's a fascinating journey though, and gore-loving goths will freaking love it--there's more blood and guts scenarios in medical history than an early Peter Jackson zombie flick!

Here's the link to the doco for you:

Blood and Guts: A History of Surgery

Evening Outfit: Engineers of Desire Corsetry

2011-07-27T05:38:00.001-07:00

I have a secret to tell...for security reasons I couldn't blast it all over the net, but I spent all of June on my own in this cold, old house, while Maiki partied all over summer-time Europe with *my* best friends! He spent two weeks in London, a week in Barcelona, then another two weeks in Berlin with another friend. Ok, so they are not only my best friends--his too, then he had a ton of other friends to stay with/catch up with, but basically he traveled sans girlfriend as I couldn't afford both Europe and my trip home (to Atlanta) for Christmas this year. BUT! It was all good, as I got heaps done, made new friends (as you do more often when you go out on your own), and then, when my man returned, he came laden with gorgeous gifts for me, like the sweetheart he is!

One of the gifts was this lovely fringed collar than he picked up in Camden. I've been wearing it both in going out and casually, with jeans.

Another thing was the corset that he had bought for me at one of the Worn Wild markets. The designer works in London, so rather than have it shipped, he picked it up from one of her stockists in Camden. I love the locks down the center and the fact that it has no boning; it is thick enough to hold its own shape.

The skirt is by Lip Service Black List label and has a sparkling tulle trail and butt-laced corseting.

Haven't grown tired of my shaved side yet...especially love it with a kiss-curl....

And now for the messy clubbing pics!!!

The club was Melbourne's monthly Cabaret Nocturne, held at the awesome underground tunnel-bar, Platform One. It's a duel-tunnel bar with lots of lounge space, two separate dance areas, and decent toilets; all nicely clean and contemporary (I'm not into dive bars anymore; I like to feel sexy in a sexy space!). Coolest thing about this venue: Maiki designed it! It was one of the very first architectural projects of his career. So I feel very proud whenever people say how much they love it! "Of COURSE it's awesome!! AWESOMENESS made it!" haha

With friends Jazz and Melissa, Jazz in her hot latex pants all turning me on.

With super sweetie Tom (who is single, ladies!!) Ahem.

Me between Matthew and Maiki, snapped by club photographer about town,Len Weigh of Ellway.com.

And a last one with my hunny.

Maaaan, Cabaret Nocturne is in full glory right now--I've never seen such a fantastic turn-out for a cold, wet winters night. If you are in Melbs or if you plan to visit Australia, this is the place to party! I hope to not miss the next one--unfortunately, Maiki also brought back something nasty from Europe--a horrible virus that blocked his ears, killing off most of his hearing and making it impossible to go out. We may have no social together life until he beats this thing. (and I may not have my voice for much longer!). :(

Outfit details:

Collar: gift from Maiki, bought somewhere in Camden, London

Top: made by me

Corset: Engineers of Desire

Skirt: Lip Service, Black List label

Pretty Tables and Pretty Outfits from the Worn Wild Alternative Designers Market

2011-07-23T05:15:00.001-07:00

The July Worn Wild Market was once again held at the blue stone former prison, the Royal Melbourne Hotel. This time the Hexotica table was in the main atrium, so it was a lot more social and fun for me than the last time when I was stuck near the cells! There also seemed to be a lot more well-dressed shoppers this time around, like this finely frocked young lady:

And there were a number of fantastic designers I had not met before. Here, the colorful table of millinery and accessories label, Licorice and Cream.

Licorice and Cream

The lovely Kara Doll, make-up artist of Make-Up By Doll, who I always does make-up for Hexotica photo shoots.

Accessories table for the edgy gothic clothing label, Le Lash.

Tattoo-art jewelry label, Jubly-Umph, and on the right the hard-working blue-haired organizer of Worn Wild, Melissa.

Joann of Dark Muse Corsetry and Gabrielle, who you might recognize as the model of my gothic tiaras!

Opposite my table was super-cute accessories label,Toxic Cupcake Accessories.

One very fetching couple!

Ruby Rebel Couture

My neighbor again, parasol and lampshade designer Chris of Bone Orchard.

Hexotica's booty!

And no Worn Wild is ever complete without the cupcake girl!

Worn Wild is now an awesome 4 times a year!

The next one will be September 10th for the Melbourne Spring Fashion Week, then in Sydney December 3.

It's always a pleasure to meet customers in person, and to see customers in the past wearing my creations. I could never miss out on this market--it's hands down the best in Australia!

Red and Black Gothic Tiara

2011-07-22T01:43:00.001-07:00

Just listed in my Etsy store under a shiny new store banner: my second vintage-inspired, gothic tiara:

'Rasia' Tiara--Red and Black Bead Embellished Satin with Detachable Veil

Photo by Studio Edge

Model: Gabriele Clare Pickett
MUA: Make-Up By Doll/ Kara Doll
Corsetry: Dark Muse Corsetry

This design can be made in white, cream, or in black with different colored embellishments. It can be purchased with or without the veil.

I have two more bridal tiaras from this shoot, ones in cream and in white on a different model. Coming soon!!

Victorian Lace-Up Red and Black Lace Spats

2011-07-15T01:16:00.001-07:00

My second style of Neo-Victorian spats are now available in my Etsy and Ebay stores! Introducing:

'Lady Radcliffe' -- Steampunk Romantic Victorian Style Spats

An ankle-height version of this style will follow as soon as my eyelet shipment arrives! And a black and cream-white lace version is in the making now; follow my Hexotica Facebook page for daily updates and deviations!

Custom requests are welcome--I'm enjoying making these immensely!

Evening Outfit: India Goth

2011-07-13T02:13:00.001-07:00

('Cause I hardly ever do 'daily' outfits anymore!)
Maybe this could be a new gothic sub-category? Goths who wear Indian designs? No? Yes?? I have always loved saris and Indian prints, but rarely found them in all-black like this matching top and skirt I bought off of an international-hopping friend of mine...

The skirt is quite heavy, as it's trimmed with a long fringe of glass seed beads. I can't walk very fast in this skirt because of all the racket it makes!

A closer look at the intricate, beaded pattern of the top. It's the type of small, round point beads that are glued on like glitter.

I matched them with these lovely, sparkling earrings that have a similar design shape...

It's too bad I didn't get this outfit post ready in time for Sophistique Noir's July theme day, which was BEADS. My favorite thing in the world next to books and I didn't get a post in in time! *sigh* :(

Next time!

Gothic Black Lace Bridal Tiara

2011-07-08T03:17:00.001-07:00

Hey all, please forgive me for only posting my latest creations lately. I am in uber, bee-on-speed mode right now and have some big plans unfolding that need a lot of attention, but I promise I'll get back to sharing outfits and articles in time!

Today I have something very special to share with you: my new gothic black lace bridal coronets!

'Arch Duchess' Tiara--Black Embellished Lace with Detachable Veil

Inspired by 1930's Sears catalog coronets, my new bridal tiaras are made on a base of black Duchess satin on a wide, satin-wrapped headband. I embellished the delicate lace with black glass bugles, Czech crystals, and sequins. The soft, two-layered tulle veil is on a detachable, satin wrapped-comb.

This is the first of four that I had modeled in a May photo shoot. It is a one-of-kind design, though I also have one exactly the same in white...coming soon!

Photo credits:

Model: Gabriele Clare Pickett

MUA: Make-Up by Doll/ Kara Doll

Corsetry: Dark Muse Corsetry (my favorite in Australia!)

Photography: Studio Edge Photography

Steampunk Military Style Spats

2011-06-30T20:30:00.001-07:00

Atten-hut! Happy Friday! I'm back to bring you the latest goodness from the Hexotica studio, which has been very busy of late as you might have guessed by the lack of blog posts! Here are my latest creations:

'Sargent Sally' -- Steampunk Military Style Spats Eleven-Ups

'Sargent Sally' -- Steampunk Military Style Spats Four-Ups

These two style are now available in my Etsy shop, with more styles to come in time.

What do you think? Do they inspire you to get gussied-up in Victorian garb?

Some Ebay Auctions and a Couple New Nipple Pastie Designs

2011-06-17T04:21:00.001-07:00

I'm cleaning out my studio and selling some things that I've had sitting around for far too long, so in addition to my newest listings every Friday (and catching up to the last six weeks of listings I didn't blog about!) I'll be sharing the other stuff I'm selling:

My first auction is for this two-tone teal satin 1960's turban hat in immaculate condition. It features a beautiful cross-hatched crown and a teal merry-widow net veil.

The most beautiful feature is the large two-colored back bow. Gorgeous as it is, it is a small-sized hat that does not fit my fat head, so I hope that it finds a stylish, small-headed woman's home to depart to.

Vintage 1960's Teal Blue Satin Turban Hat with Veil

Another auction is for these brand new, never worn leather strappy studded ballet flats. I bought them for work but decided they would not be comfy enough for the 8 hours I have to work on my feet. I'd bought two pairs, so am selling the second off.

Black Strappy Studded Ballet Flats Size 39/ AU 8

Then I am selling this very gothy baby doll dress with sheer, bell-shaped sleeves. It's very pretty; just no longer my style.

Black Gothic Baby Doll Dress Size 12

And now, onto my newest Ebay and Etsy store listings:

'Rosy Boobies' -- Ruby Red Satin and Black Satin Rosettes Burlesque Nipple Pasties with Kit.

And for the sugar pop princess, I've made the ultimate girly hearts...

'Pretty Princess Boobies' -- Burlesque Pink Satin Hearts Beaded Nipple Pasties with Kit.

All of these items are available for international buyers, just write to me about the auction postage prices as they vary depending upon where you are. :)

Gala Darling on Fashion Blogging

2011-06-15T21:21:00.001-07:00

This is why I never buy or read high fashion magazines and why I love to blog and follow other blogs! This article is a must read!! Just had to share with everyone out there in case you missed it:

Blogger Beautiful? An Examination Of What It Means To Be Beautiful & Valuable In Fashion Blogging

Weekly Outfit: Rosy and Velvety

2011-06-15T03:31:00.001-07:00

Of all the hair accessories I make, I like this velvet, lace-trimmed rose hair clip the best.

Paired with these gorgeous chandelier earrings, it has a romantic, Spanish-dancer sort of look...

Lately I've been loving vivid eye-shadow--lots.

The dress is a gorgeous burgundy-purple, almost black, crushed-velvet from the 80's. I've had it for so long--I can't even remember which country I bought it in!

Ready to face the cold and go see a burlesque show!

Outfit details:

Hexotica's 'Demure Debutante' hair clip fascinator made by me, available in my Etsy shop

Vintage 80's dress by the label Network

Earrings from Diva

Stilettos by NaNa

Weekly Outfit for The Good Food and Wine Fest--and a whole lotta pics!

2011-06-08T05:44:00.001-07:00

Firstly, I'd like to congratulate Lisa Whitman from the U.S. for being the winner of my first official Hexotica Facebook Giveaway! Lisa will get to choose anything of her choice up to $50 from Hexotica's Etsy shop and have it shipped free to her door! Lisa's name was chosen at random out of 94 entries by the 'winner generator' in the Facebook sweepstakes application, a great little device that takes the pressure off me to choose (and could have been quite funny had my mom won, 'cause she entered too! Thanks, mom!). Thank-you to all those who entered, and be sure to fan the Hexotica Facebook page for future giveaways!

Now, I have a TON of photos to share with you today from the most sensually delightful festival Melbourne hosts, the Good Food and Wine Show. After my first visit two years ago, I was hooked quick as an ice-addict! I did not want to miss it again this year, so I grabbed my lovely friend Natalie, who I know has great taste in food, as she owns every single Jamie Oliver cookbook, and is known to knock her guests' socks off with her talents in party food!

Nat was kind enough to snap an outfit photo for me to share with ya'll:

From the moment these purple jeans arrived at work, I haven't been able to stop wearing them! I love this shade of purple because it's the best shade to match with black, and they look so good with my shiny black docs! Only crap thing is, they are evil hipsters. Howevah, I've recently discovered a way to hide that fact--wear a long top and add a waist belt! This black sparkaru top is great for just that, and very comfy for a ramble around food and wine booths--though it did show off the blotchiness of my chest after tasting red wines!

The delights of the show are foremost that guests can sample all the products on display. Here is where I discovered the supremacy of Australian olive oils, and the varied flavors of vinegars, dressings, and chutneys. It is where I first dipped bread into dukka (mixed spices), and sampled organic preserves and gourmet chocolates.

Throughout the day were cooking classes, kitchen product demonstrations, and large celebrity-chef theater shows. Though we didn't catch any of the big shows, we did catch celebrity Masterchef runner-up Poh Ling Yeow at her book-signing:

AND, we got to choose between a three-course lunch from the recipes of either Poh or Marion Grasby, another Masterchef runner-up.

We went with POH:

Kingfish Carpaccio entree

Nonya Vegetarian Curry for me, Dong Do Pork with Chop House Fried Rice for Nat

and Sago Pudding for dessert!

YUM!

After lunch, we scouted for the free wine glass stand so that we could begin wine-tasting, the thing that makes the show especially fun! This is Nat letting me know she'd done the job when I returned from the restroom!

Let ze tasting begin!

We were actually quite surprised at how many bad wines we tasted. The very first one I tried was the best, and we ended up finishing with that same one. Nat was a proper taste-tester, and threw out any wine remnants that she did not fancy, but I was a complete lush and drank all the dregs of mine, good or bad!

It amused me to see this young boy almost participating in the wine tasting with his parents. In Australia, it is legal to drink at age 18, though it is very softly regulated--I've hardly ever been carded anywhere since I arrived here 11 years ago-- so you can see why this country enjoys both a reputation of being a lot more laid back, as well as having the most alcoholics in the world! Australian wines are fantastic, however. We are absolutely spoilt with local wineries here, just as Americans are spoilt with local beer breweries.

Fancy rhinestone-encrusted champagne and wine bottle-stoppers!

Sweets!

Dressings!

Teas!

Decorative trees!

Nat and I, after a few dozen wine-tests, just before closing. What we were most after was cheese, yet, disappointingly, we only found one cheese-exhibitor in the entire show. Not sure why that is....?

After the show, we took a leisurely walk back through the city, and Natalie, who recently completed an advanced photography course, kindly worked with me to take a few night-time shots. As I've only begun to use my camera off auto, taking night photos is very exciting--there are so many more options when you have a SLR. This is the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, which hosted the show. It was designed by Maiki's architecture firm, Denton Corker Marshall, or 'DCM'. The firm is made up of three life-long friends who have designed many of Melbourne's most recognizable buildings and artistic structures.

Wearing my hand knit gifts from my favorite fashion-blogger friend and Etsian, Goth Barbie. They match my new jeans perfectly!

Lesson: always be sure to set the camera on AUTO when a kind person offers to snap a photo of you and your friend together! :/

Melbourne's den of vice, the expansive Crown Casino. I did a short stint as a banquet waitress years ago, and had a few stints there. As a goth, I found it highly fascinating that all the restrooms there have secret doors in which to tow out the gambling-addicted suicide victims. So that is what I always think about most when I see the Crown. The secret doors.

Back on the main street of Melbourne, there is a large building with colorful light projections. As we waited for the tram, Nat and I were absorbed in watching the colors change...

Looking east down the mainstreet...

Looking west...

At home, reflecting on my haul. Jars of olives, capers, pickles, and red peppers, and two bottles of olive oil and a fig dressing. Perfect toppings for an insatiable salad-eater!

Hexotica Giveaway!

2011-06-03T18:41:00.001-07:00

Hello, folks! I am back in action after a blogging break that was followed by the complete meltdown of my internet service thanks to my partner's porn obsession! (haha, just kidding, Maiki doesn't watch porn, he just likes to download lots of music and t.v. shows for his grateful girlfriend!) Either way, I had NO internet for almost a week and STRUGGLED just to open and send emails, so blogging was the last thing on my to-do list, unfortunately. I did have lots of episodes of True Blood to watch for the first time however, and IT IS AWESOME! Ahem. Anyway, back to BUSINESS! To make up for my rude absence, and to celebrate earning over 666 100% positive Ebay feedback and having over 600 Facebook fans, I am holding an OFFICIAL Hexotica giveaway!

Image by artist Natalie Shau copyright Hexotica

This draw is for YOUR CHOICE of anything from the Hexotica Etsy shop up to $50 with FREE SHIPPING to your door! That would be a pair of pasties and a choker, or a fascinator and a bracelet--anything you like! All you have to do is enter the official 'sweepstakes' form on my Hexotica fan page and comment either on my Facebook fan page or back here under this blog post to tell me what your favorite items are in my Etsy shop--not just what you would want to win, but what items do you really like, even if they are above $50.

The giveaway ends in just 48 hours so get browsing my Etsy shop now! Good luck!

Lori Earley-Inspired Hairstyle

2011-05-20T18:40:00.001-07:00

Aloha. Where have I been and why are Hexotica shops closed right now? If you follow Hexotica's Facebook page you know what's up, and if you don't follow it, you should, because I am going to give away stuff starting next week, to celebrate every 100 fans I gain. Wooot!

I've been taking a blogging and selling break to work on new designs and put a photo shoot together for next week, and I have also been practicing photography like a maniac and I literally have TOO MANY PHOTOS to get through now, so it may be a while till I get all my outfits from the last week or so up online!

'Till then, here are some snaps of a hairstyle I tried out recently, inspired by the awesome low-brow artist Lori Earley. There are many great hairstyles in Earley's ethreal, anorexic ladies, and this one has always been my favorite, so I thought I'd give it a go:

Even with an extension, I didn't have quite the mass of hair to make the giant, twisted bun at the back, but this was big enough for me. It was the front part I liked the most anyhow, and the way it loosely hung at an angle from the bun...

I better get back to work now!

Find Hexotica on Facebook for giveaways starting next week---your choice of a pretty thing from my shops, when they open again next Wednesday. And, just 'sayin, I'm not into spamming and loading your news feed with every booger-picking detail about my activities like some page admins do, in case you were worried 'bout that. ;)

Weekly Outfit: Shiny Docs!

2011-05-10T18:33:00.001-07:00

Who doesn't own a pair of Dr. Martens? They were huge in the grunge period that I enjoyed in my early twenties, and they seem to have come back lately with their new, stylish heeled boots, especially the coveted 'Darcie' style that blogger Gala Darling has made popular. I debated for a long time on what style I should buy as my first official pair of Docs--I loved NaNa boots a lot more back in the days of grunge, not only because they were a little fancier in design, but because they were more underground than Docs, and everything was about being more underground in grunge, the anti-fashion fashion. I had to have decadent patent leather, that was certain, but couldn't decide between the 'Darcie' style or flat heels, because the 'Darcie' style looks so much more modern and trendy, while the flat-heeled ones would suit my very pedestrian lifestyle in my inner-city suburban neighborhood.

Practicality won out, but that doesn't mean I can't buy a second pair later!

Close-up of customization--that yellow line along the soles, as signature as it may be to Docs, had to go! Then Maiki laced them up for me, combat style. They are super easy to take on and off because they have two zips running alongside the laces, which are just for show. I normally wouldn't wear them with a short skirt but this outfit was for a local gig at a dive bar, the bar being to dive-y for heels. And they are so much more conformable than heels!

Looking happy with new boots!

This is, by the way, is our black and white kitchen. It will be getting a new floor and splash-back tiles soon, as well as new overhead lighting. New shinies=happiness!

Outfit details:

Top: Review

Skirt: made by me

Boots: Dr. Marten--14-ups in patent leather

Hhhmm...just realized I blogged this outfit before! Whoe, getting into second-time around outfit territory, 86 outfits in! I still have a lot more to do the for the first time, though! ;)

The Bohemian Masquerade Ball Melbourne, March 2011

2011-05-07T01:50:00.001-07:00

Ze grand finale of ze week on bohemians has to cover bohemians here and now, the here being Melbourne and the now being right now!

Twice a year, The Bohemian Masquerade Ball hosts what it calls, "the vanguard for a whole sub-culture of junkyard heros, gentleman punks, flaneurs, neo-vaudeville and circus performers", "A debauched boiling-pot of independent music, extreme circus, and art installations.", "Sideshow circus, burlesque, cabaret acts and rovers are threaded between the headline bands to create a seamless event, overwhelming the audience to create something that has an explosive effect with no comparison."

I had never been and always wanted to go, so it was the perfect excuse for my 35th birthday celebration. Just my kind of night! Maiki and I, as usual, went crazy making costumes for the weeks leading up to it.

Roby and Jo dressed to the nines in old-fashioned finery.

It was held at the lavish Thornbury Theatre--a freaking mini-Versailles! Well, sort of!

Jen in a sexy black vintage dress

Melissa in pin-stripes and ruffles

Maiki spent a lot of time on his evil, skull-head staff with glowing green eyes and wings. He also made a mask that he could somehow see out of--not sure how!

Some random bohemian gals

Up on the balcony were some theatrical stage settings..

And some art installations, like this human bubble-maze thing. When we lost our friend Jen for a while we learned later it was because she got sucked into one of these and was chatting with others inside it for a long time.

Melissa and fierce cat-man, Dave

Mel and Maiki

Amazing Charlie Chapman-esque plate-spinning guy

Jazz and Gen wearing their incredible headgear. Jazz's ship tri-corn is from Hello Sailor and Gen's is her own tribal creation, Shunyata, on Etsy.

Getting towards the end of the night here! Time to head out to a goth club so we can continue the party!

But wait! Afro chic says to Gen, 'you must not pass without our getting your picture!'

So the rest of us drunkenly waited with drool running down our chins while they took a bunch of pictures!

Then it was off to Cabaret Nocturne for some more drinking, more dancing and evading the security guys till dawn! A GREAT night. Can't wait for the next one!

Favorite part of the evening: the Russian drinking songs when everybody on the dance floor put their arms across their neighbor's shoulders and drunkenly sang and swayed like maniacs, toasting the bands with their drinks!

Least favorite part of the evening: Losing friends continuously! There were a bazillion people there and we didn't have a 'spot' to meet up in. We know better for next time!

How to Be a Bohemian

2011-05-06T01:07:00.001-07:00

Due to a hapless stroke of a finger the ENTIRE POST that was meant to go up yesterday was LOST. :(

I still have no clue what the hell I hit that made that happen. :(

I had time to re-write it but...I decided to take a shower instead. :P

ANYWAY, I have the feeling from the commenting that you guys prefer OUTFIT photos more than anything else I post anyway, so I bet there won't be anybody missing my original, much longer post on 'How to Be a Bohemian', huh? ;)

So, I am going to QUICKLY sum up what I wrote about yesterday, and starting next week I am going to try to post TWO outfits a week!

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY! (I'm secretly thinking: "oh shit".) I am also happy to report my photo-taking ability is slowly improving, and that the next pics I post won't have been taken on AUTO. WooooOOooooT! Now, back to my theme:

How to Be a Bohemian (version 2pt.turbo):

Create--be expressive. You don't have to be an artist, but art is a central part to the lives of bohemians. Read about art, have it hanging on your walls, dabble in paint, music, dance, drawing, etc, visit art galleries and exhibitions, and allow yourself to experience the awakening effects of art. Challenge yourself and your boundaries through coming into contact with art.

Dress the way YOU want to dress--This is also a part of being creative and expressive. Break your own rules. Don't follow trends. If you dress in a sub-cultural style, don't do it in a paint-by-the-numbers way that makes you look like everybody else; have your own signature look that expresses who you are.

Break Sexual Mores--Bohemians are not confined by sexually morality (that means they can still be ethical but they don't necessarily follow social conventions). This can mean being bi-sexual, having pan-sexual friends, open-relationships, or even being androgynous!

Marlyn Manson, musician and bohemian

Challenge Belief Systems-- The most important beliefs to challenge are your own--especially the ones inherited by your family. For many, this means questioning religious beliefs, political opinions, ethical and moral beliefs. Just because a convention has been around a long time doesn't mean it is best, or even very wise.

Be Worldy-- Bohemians are either nomadic, or they are always dreaming of their next trip abroad. Travel is the best education life offers! And if you can't take trips abroad, then learn what you can about other countries while you are home. For years before I could travel, I crossed Atlanta to experience international restaurants, shopping centers, and festivals. I listened to world music and read all I could about other countries. I loved making international friends and learning about their culture. You don't have to have a passport to be worldy!

Question Authority-- Bohemians are not caught up in symbols and histories. They question the motivations behind people with power or influence. They think critically and do not hold anything as too sacred (except art perhaps!). They also tend to be progressive politically because they embrace change and evolution; they are not persuaded by traditions, religion, or patriotism. Many bohemians, such as Henry Thoreau, were conscientious objectors.

Henry Thoreau, writer and bohemian

Respond With Intellect--Lastly, a prime trait of a bohemian is an intellectual approach to life. This might mean a lot of different things to different people: it might mean being well-read, being informed, being factual, being rational, or just articulate and self-aware. Some people think it just means having a big, fat, vocabulary! For me, it has always meant being a conceptual thinker. It means having an understanding of the origins of ideas, how ideas evolve, and how ideas work together. Philosophy is pretty much exactly that, but you don't have to study philosophy to be a conceptual thinker. You just have to have an ability to see the gray areas in life, and to ignore black and white thinking--because life is ALL gray in the end; it is ALWAYS more complicated than it seems. There is never a single answer, there are many. So an intellectual approach is to never stop searching and questioning, to never accept something as truth.

Finally, to really live like a bohemian, find inspiration in Laren Stover's Bohemian Manifesto: a Field Guide to Living on the Edge. Laren writes about the five types of bohemians:

Nouveau: bohemians with money who attempt to join traditional bohemianism with contemporary culture

Gypsy: drifters, neo-hippies, and others with nostalgia for previous, romanticized eras

Beat: also drifters, but non-materialist and art-focused

Zen: "post-beat," focus on spirituality rather than art

Dandy: no money, but try to appear as if they have it by buying and displaying expensive or rare items – such as brands of alcohol

I think I was very much a BEAT in my twenties, and now I am more a ZEN.

Which type of bohemian describes you?

"Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist"

--Ralph Waldo Emerson, (the man whose writings helped me survive high-school!)

Weekly Outfit: Gothic Bohemian

2011-05-04T05:20:00.001-07:00

And.....a theme outfit, mais oui!

I didn't have a lot of time to dress for errands today, so was delighted to find that dressing 'boho' is the ultimate time-saving style! No fancy hairstyles--not even a blow-dry for my fringe--just a good brush, a clip-back for my fringe, and no products for my hair. No lip liner or lipstick--just gloss; a little heavier on eyeliner for the pre-sixties, bohemian, kohl-eyed look that writers like Anais Nin preferred; my only 'bohemian'-looking clothes, consisting of this long, tiered, rayon skirt and thistle-pink top with a velvet flocked pattern and bell-sleeves with lacings; and wah-lah: boho chic, gothic style. On my feet, sandals would have suited best, but as it is too cold for sandals I took the photos with bare feet and put my Converse on afterward for my normal speed-walk to the main street and back!

A skirt like this makes you wanna swirl!

Bohemian style, or 'boho-chic', as we know it today, is a mixture of the romanticized gypsy from Bohemia and the flower-power hippy of the sixties. It gained mainstream popularity in 2004-5 when trends went boho and celebrities such as Sienna Miller and model Kate Moss in the U.K. and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen and Nicole Richie in the U.S. sported the look with flowing, patterned clothes, headbands, and ethnic jewelery. One of the best quotes I've come across on bohemianism comes from Sienna Miller's elder sister, designer Savannah Miller, a "real bohemian", she said, is "someone who has the ability to appreciate beauty on a deep level, is a profound romantic, doesn't know any limits, whose world is their [sic] own creation, rather than living in a box".

Though I'm obviously not a huge fan of boho-chic, being more gothic in my style, the one thing I've always loved about it is the heavy jewelery. Holding a bohemian novel here, my fingers are adorned with rings from Cambodia, Thailand, India, and um, Melbourne (the big one, from evil design-ripping chain store, Diva).

What better place to pose boho than my bookshelf?

Making love to a book about making love..the letters between Henry Miller and Anais Nin, bohemians both.

Outfit details:

Top: found in a vintage shop in Brussels, Belgium.

Skirt: Found in a thrift shop two blocks down.

Necklace: gift from a friend.

Earrings: from a $2 shop.

And rings from Cambodia, Thailand, and India....

So, this really is a bohemian's outfit---the penniless kind!

Why Bohemians Should Not be Put To Death

2011-05-03T05:17:00.001-07:00

Does the word 'bohemian' make you feel uncomfortable or calmed? Irritated or interested? Like the word 'intellectual', or even 'goth', I find that this word, 'bohemian', carries a lot of different meanings for different people and that often times people that fit the description are hesitate or even dismissive in accepting it as a word that defines a large part of their identity. Why? For the very reasons, ironically, that the person so described is the thing they deny themselves to be--a refusal to accept anyone's authority over who and what they are; in this case the authority of an asserted opinion. If you are a goth or have ever dressed to the codes of a particular sub-culture, I am sure that you have encountered the ever-so excruciatingly annoying accusation of a person who thinks they have hit upon some kind of profound conundrun in your doing so:

"So let me get this straight--if you dress the way you do to be different, then how come you look the same as all your friends?" derp derp derp!

Picture by artist Ramsey Everydaypants

Refusing to be obedient to authority is a trait of a bohemian. Defiance of social codes, religious traditions, morality, and the expectations of a conventional upbringing is the first sign of a bohemian in his or her youth. The twenty-something woman who pierces her face or tattoos her arms is asserting her defiance against the conventional assumption that her physical appearance belongs to the public eye and its desire that she should strive to be conventionally beautiful for its pleasure. She is not trying to hurt her dear grandmother, and she doesn't hate the world, she's just saying that her body belongs to her, and her alone. She will define what is beautiful on her own terms.

And that is where alternative roots begin. Young men and woman asserting themselves defiantly through dress and lifestyle in a world stifled by conformity. Is it any wonder then, why the modern day bohemian/alternative person can be so hated? Nobody likes the person who refuses to play the same game that they and the majority of those around them are playing...

So why should a bohemian not be put to death? Perhaps it seems like an extreme idea, but to me it is the end solution proposed every time I hear someone exclaim their distaste for 'ferals', Aussie slang for anyone with dreads or a hippy-appearance, goths; people living on the fringes of society and look as far removed from a t.v. ad as Uluru (Ayres Rock) is from Melbourne. In other countries and in other words the names given may vary, but the essence is 'the other', and the implication being that there is a segment of society that does not belong, that has no right to be, no legitimacy. When I see a drag queen, a man with dreads down to his butt, a girl with a stuffed toy on her head, or any other colorful, unusual, different, or down-right indescribable person walking down the street, I mentally embrace that person and their right to be who they are, loving the fact that that person is doing society a service. That person is challenging the bourgeoisie/mainstream's ideals, reminding us all not to neglect the value of creativity, and playfulness, and to not be overly concerned with established order and rules.

Many, if not most, artistic souls feel it is their duty to actively irritate the mainstream with creative expression that challenges convention,"The history of bohemia is studded with attempts to irritate the respectable classes," writes Alain de Botton in Status Anxiety.

In 1917 Dada artist Marcel Duchamp submitted this urinal, calling it the 'Fountain', in an art show as 'art' having simply written on it, 'R. Mutt 1917'. The art show committee insisted it was NOT art and rejected it, just as many people walking into a modern art museum today would decide something is "not art" and reject it. Yet, that rejection and the emotions it arouses are exactly the point of having called something like this 'readymade' as art. "Art is anything an artist calls art", Germaine Greer recently stated, and most art plays a reflective role in the evolution of human consciousness; its existence or the reason behind its creation is a clue to who and what we are in a given time. Dadaist art specifically intended to irritate and awaken the bourgeois: "We wanted to bring forward a new kind of human being, free from the tyranny of rationality, of banality, of generals, fatherlands, nations, art-dealers, microbes, residence permits and the past. To outrage public opinion was our basic principle," Dadaist painter Hans Richter remarked.

From Gustave Flaubert's Salammbo, written "to annoy the bourgeois', and "unnerve and shock sensitive people", among other reasons, to modern day Shock Art by the Young British Artists, bohemians play a role in society to knock us out of our comfort zones, to force us to think about how we feel about something, whether we like it or not.

Young Britsh Artist Tracey Emin's My Bed, 1998: "Tracey shows us her own bed, in all its embarrassing glory. Empty booze bottles, fag butts, stained sheets, worn panties: the bloody aftermath of a nervous breakdown. By presenting her bed as art, Tracey Emin shares her most personal space, revealing she’s as insecure and imperfect as the rest of the world."

Does this 'art' make you feel disgusted? Angry? Secure in feeling like a normal human being? Feeling something is better than nothing, a bohemian would say!

Self-exploration above daily preoccupations, independent thinking before sheepish following, values oriented around the needs of the individual's soul rather than the expectations of society, these are what bohemians strive to inspire in us when they create, and our spiritual growth (through confusion, anger, joy, or whatever else they may inspire) is the ultimate goal, consciously or unconsciously, by the artist.

To me, that seems reason enough to keep bohemians hanging around, don't you think? ;)

Bohemian Homes

2011-05-02T02:36:00.001-07:00

Painted door of the library at Charleston, home and host of the Bloomsbury Group

BOHEMIAN HOMES

Because I don't want to load up too many heavy articles back to back, we shall now take a short, eye-candy intermission to see what the home of a bohemian looks like.

Firstly, the most famous bohemian home that I know of, a home that has inspired me for years and years: Charleston, the home of artist Vanessa Bell and writer Clive Bell, and meeting place for the artists, writers, and intellectuals known as the 'Bloomsbury Group', which included Vanessa's sister, Virginia Woolf.

The 18th century farmhouse house sits in Firle, East Sussex, in the U.K., and remains today very much as it looked when the group met there, beginning in 1916 when Vanessa, her fellow artist (and sometimes lover) Duncan Grant, the writer David Garnett, and her two young sons moved in. Among those who met at Charleston were the Woolfs, Roger Fry, Lytton Strachey, John Maynard Keynes, T.S. Elliot, Desmond MacCarthy and E.M. Forster who were close friends.

Despite the house having only basic plumbing, no gas, and no electricity, the house was made into an inviting artists' retreat with murals, painted furniture, artwork, and ceramics, inspired by Italian fresco painting and post-Impressionist art. Creative uses for objects pervaded the home, such as an upside-colander being used as a lampshade here in the dining room.

For years the Charleston home inspired me to decorate the old homes I liked to inhabit in university and elsewhere, though in a rental my efforts at decorating often amounted to something like the bathroom above! Colorful, artistic, but not very appealing. If I were allowed, I painted every room in the house a bright color, with stencil work, murals, tapestries, and fairy lights as a backdrop to copious artwork; both prints of famous works (usually by a Surrealist), or by my many amateur artist friends. The end effect was very much a university students' home--not exactly what I would choose to live in today.

Yet, 'Bohemian' is a strong interior decorating style today, and the choice of a modern-day bohemian who refuses to live in a house that looks anything like an Ikea catalog. Also called 'Fleamarket Style', it was my favorite style up until I became a Goth, and I began to take all the luxurious, dark, or romantic elements of Bohemian style and condense them into something much more dramatic.

But I still love the elements of Bohemian style: old furniture, lots of color, lots of artwork, libraries and overflowing bookshelves, ethnic tapestries and oriental rugs, second-hand curiosities, souvenirs from around the world...

Often the 'Fleamarket Style' has a feeling of dilapidation, but today's modern bohemian can live in a brand-spanking new home and still convey the spirit of an artist. Just look at these crisp, colorful rooms:

This picture freaked me out a little because I had wanted to make exactly the same kind of bedspread for my bed while in university...but never finished it...too many novels to read and essays to write!

The exotic, international elements were my favorite about this style, and so the typical import store (or what a cynical friend of mine calls asian plunder shops) were my first stops when buying something new.

For more eye-candy on the bohemian style, I highly recommend this interior decor book, Bohemian Style by Elizabeth Wilhide. It features the Charleston home in addition to many other, new and old homes.

Or, for an online fix, check out these sites:

Lifestyle Bohemia

Bohemian Homes on Tumblr

And if you would like to visit Charleston yourself, visit the official historical preservation society site: Charleston.

So, who here likes bohemian style in their own home?

I still love it, though I love the more gothic, dramatic, decor of the new Modern Baroque style much more for my present home.

Le Leitmotif: Bohemia

2011-04-30T23:11:00.001-07:00

Life, if you choose it to be, is a competitive rat race where success is more often measured by the breath of your wealth, number of things you possess, and by your status within the working world: your job title. But, what if you know that true success is not based on any of these but on simple spiritual contentment----on happiness? What if you lead your life with your spirituality in the forefront and material attainment second to your attainment of happiness? And what if, in this pursuit of higher things, you find yourself in perpetual conflict with those who seem to ignore or are oblivious to anything but material and meritocratic pursuits? You then, are a bohemian.

Virginia Woolf, novelist & bohemian

These days, the term 'bohemian' seems a little old-fashioned, and conjures up romantic ideas of starving artists in the early 19th century, who pitted themselves against what they called the 'bourgeoisie', the upper and middle classes of society, who accorded status on the basis of commercial success and public reputation. Bohemianism emerged at this time as a revolt against the materialistic tastes of the bourgeoisie, who were seen by the early bohemians as prudish, immersed in trivia, and at once both cynical and sentimental. Think of someone who is obsessed with a celebrity and everything that goes on in that celebrity's life: what they wear, who they sleep with, what they eat. That is bourgeois triviality. Think of the young student who is intent on being a lawyer, not because he or she has any talent or passion for a good debate or upholding the law, but because it pays well. That is bourgeois.

Gustave Flaubert, novelist & bohemian

'Hatred of the bourgeois is the beginning of wisdom,' wrote French novelist Gustave Flaubert. Like many fellow artists of his time, his distaste for the bourgeois arose from a fundamental conflict in how success was assessed: the bourgeoisie saw the ability to afford nice things and to live in a beautiful home as the pinnacle of success, whereas a bohemian valued a life devoted to feeling, to friends, travel, and art, as the true measure of a life well-lived. In our modern vernacular, we tend to use the word 'mainstream' to describe the tastes of the bourgeoisie, implying blandness, conformity, and a lack of spiritual depth. For 'bohemian', we began to use the sociological word 'counterculture' around the late 50's and 60's, as when describing the American Beat movement, with writers such as Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg. Today, less formally, we tend to just say, 'alternative'. Yet, the meanings are generally the same: bohemians/alternative culture v.s the bourgeoisie/mainstream culture.

Jack Kerouac, novelist & bohemian

So, what does it mean to be a modern day bohemian? What does the average bohemian do, look like, how do they live, and what are the are the positive and negatives of life as a bohemian? Why would someone want to be a bohemian or not be one? And if, like me, you already are and always will be a bohemian, how do you stay sane in a world that undervalues all that you value most, judges you constantly on its materialistic standards, and even actively tries to destroy you and all that you stand for?

Allen Ginsburg, poet & bohemian

Across the web evidence of this ongoing battle between popular culture and alternative culture wages everyday, and is constantly in conversation. For example, every discussion of how an alternative person must defend her/his look, lifestyle, or choices from an attack are part of this battle. Here is an example of what I mean: an article on the Ultimate Goth Guide on being attacked for dressing goth. I think it is wise to really explore why we would choose to be bohemian/alternative, and what it really means for us.

Lee Miller, model, photographer, bohemian

Bohemians can be found in all walks of life. Being a bohemian does not equate to poverty, and never has--technically--though it does in the romantic sense. 'Early writers argued that bohemians were to be found in every social class, age group and profession: men and women, rich and poor, poets and lawyers, scientists and the unemployed,' writes my favorite writer and armchair philosopher, Alain de Botton in his book, Status Anxiety. And in Bohemia in London (1907), Arthur Ransome wrote, 'Bohemia can be everywhere: it is not a place but an attitude of mind.' The most bohemian man I know is probably my ex-boyfriend, who is nearing 30 now and has never worked a day in his life (or hardly many) because he comes from a very wealthy family who funds all his studies and decadent, dandyish lifestyle in any country he chooses. My three years with him gave me an advanced education in philosophy, literature, and art, as all we did was spend time in Melbourne coffee shops in intellectual discussions, reading through book after book and attending gallery openings almost weekly, watching art-house films and hosting a book club at our house--oh, and all the while we were in an 'open' relationship, both being bi-curious to boot. While living this extreme bohemian life, I met many of his professors, many established artists, published writers, and scholars, and all of them lived far from poverty, owned homes and cars, etc., yet were bohemian in attitude to the core. They loved art, detested mainstream culture, and placed much less value on the things they owned or the titles they possessed than they did their friendships, families, their travels, and their spirituality.

My ex, the ultimate modern day Dandy.

Though I may not actively read as much philosophy or literature now, my life is even more about my friends, travel, and art than it ever was, and through these values I have found great contentment with my life, and am not plagued by the insecurities I see in many people around me, who may own homes, or have a great-paying job, or expensive wardrobe, yet are deeply unhappy, numb, or spiritually lost. However, I can't say being bohemian is a better way of life, or that I do not sometimes struggle with my unconventional choices and the disappointment I know I have caused my family and their bourgeois expectations, who would have liked to have seen me become an air hostess or Japanese translator rather than a not-quite-self-employed gothic and burlesque accessories designer, unmarried and without children at 35! It isn't easy being alternative, but for me, it was not really a choice, as I imagine it was not for most people who live unconventionally. In this world, you must live by your own values or you will suffocate, and the next thing you know you are popping prescription pills and regretting entire chunks of your past, wondering where you went wrong! It isn't you that is the problem, though, it's just that in life there are different paths for different people, and your path is the one you must have the courage to choose...

Alain de Botton, writer and arm-chair philosopher

Bohemianism is what I'll be exploring this week, having finally stopped putting off this theme that I've wanted to explore for quite a while but keep putting off! And I promise, this theme will only last one week (unlike the first two this year which sprawled out of control and lacked a schedule!)

Here's how I will conduct this and all future themes, which some of you may have noticed is similar to the schedule I've tried to follow on my 'off-theme' weeks these last two months. I hate to disappoint you all so I've kept my scheduling ideas to myself until I found I could actually follow them at least half the time I post!

Sunday: theme introduction and initial exploration

Monday: Fantasy, Darker Glamour, or travel experience inspired by the theme

Tuesday: Thoughts on the theme--Intellectual, Sub-Cultural, Spiritual, Feminist, or Expatriot

Wednesday: An outfit inspired by the theme (because we can't go without a weekly outfit, can we? ;)

Thursday: A How-To article exploring any of Tuesdays thoughts

Friday: A Hexotica product inspired by the theme

Saturday: a free day to explore any other elements of the theme, but often I would like to post some social experience that I had that related to the theme, like pictures from a costume event I attended.

So, do you consider yourself a bohemian? In spirit or in practice? And if you are a bohemian in practice, what makes you feel so?

The Black Market, April 2011 aka The Big Gothy Garage Sale of DOOM!

2011-04-29T19:27:00.001-07:00

This year's gothic garage sale was HUGE. I mean, MEGA-HUMONGOUS! There were over a 1,000 people, selling new and old stuff, buying, or just lazing around on the banks of the Merri Creek with lots of other black-clad people. This event brings together the Melbourne gothic community like none other, as it is totally non-commercial--hosted by one awesome gal in her big backyard--and is all-ages. Old goths, baby goths, semi-goths, non-goths and children of goths all came out to sell their shit! And. it. was. AWESOME:

Me, on sale for $25.

The huge, snaking line of people that wound all around the house and along the creek banks.

The pinkest-haired lady in town, the hard-working hostess who made it all happen, Tarley, with a friend. Her old, ramshakle house in the background.

Jazz and me.

Maiki and Dani behind the Hexotica table.

This gal had a really cute outfit. Too bad there was so much shade and I didn't check the picture!

Various bands played all day and kept the atmosphere festive.

I loved the way their cupcakes matched her dress! So cute!

Goths in the shade, hangin' out all day.

One method of keeping the brats sedated.

Roby (on the right) being his usual cranky, disagreeable Italian self while Garrick tries not to lose it.

A sneaky ninja pic of Jazz looking very pretty at her table.

Another cute outfit. I do wonder if I get people warning each other, "Hey, watch out for that Hexotica table, that chick is like the freakin' paparazzi with her camera over there!!" Hee hee! I've always loved taking pictures of cute outfits though, it's not just for the blog!

Jason sold hot buttered corn this year; last year it was mulled wine, which he mostly drank himself. He'd kill me if he saw that I put this picture of him--he always poses so nicely for me! He said my taking this picture of him selling corn was "corny". Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

And that was The black Market this year. A gorgeous day in the sun, cool air, no rain, no clouds, and everybody made lots of money. I bought:

A BRAND NEW Lipservice PVC skirt for $35, fits like a glove. Now I just need the matching jacket!

A pretty sundress off of Jazz (best dressed lady in Melbourne, been sayin' it for years) $5.

Two carrot cupcakes $4.

A stick of corn $2.

A hand and nail kit, $5.

A practically BRAND NEW pair of Demonia Dolly heels, $6!!!!!!!!!!!!

BARGAIN!

Gothic Burlesque Ostrich Feather Fascinators 'Lolly Doll' and 'Miss Prim Pouts' (the purple version!)

2011-04-28T23:58:00.001-07:00

"She had a sugary sweet act: she threw candy out onto the audience, licked giant lolly pops, dipped her fingers in warm vats of caramel, and whipped the air with licorice strings, dressed in the brightest hot pink satin, frou-frou-ostrich feather fascinator, corset and bustle!"

Introducing my latest pleated satin fascinator design,

Lolly Doll:

'Lolly Doll' Hot Pink Satin and Ostrich Feather Fascinator

on Etsy

On Ebay

And, for those who love purple but want a little less lavish design than my 'Isadora Dubonet', here is the 'Miss Prim Pouts' design in purple. It differs from my Isadora design in that it features black lace and lace rosettes for a more Victorian feel, and it does not have the beaded embellishments and falls that Isadora does.

'Miss Prim Pouts' Purple and Black Satin and Lace Hair Clip Fascinator

On Etsy

On Ebay

These two designs came about through special requests, just as any of my designs can be made in any color, along with matching accessories from chokers, nipple pasties, and corsage corset cuff bracelets. I love making entire accessory set ensembles, so all bespoke requests are welcomed! These designs and more in other colors and features can be found in my Etsy shop now.

For the latest updates on gothic and burlesque events and fashion, Hexotica's exclusive offers, giveaways, new products, event pictures, awesome Etsy treasuries, blog posts, photoshoots, and creative friends, please check out my newly-pimped up Facebook page.

Weekly Outfit: Slinky Black Velvet Dress

2011-04-27T01:15:00.001-07:00

Hello! I have returned from a deep, dark-chocolate Easter COMA! I hope your Easter was as pleasant as mine. Today I'm going to show you my favorite winter dress, which I wore on a date night to the delicious Izakaya Den with my sweetie last week. Maiki worked on the design of the restaurant, which was voted one of Melbourne's top five recently, so I had been wanting to check it out for quite a while. It was innovative, modern, packed, and the food--deliciously up to my extremely high standards for Japanese! Now on to my dress:

It's the most luxurious black velvet, and it features a halter strap over long sleeves. I bought it from a thrift shop two years ago, and every winter since it has been my first choice for dressy occasions on a cold night. I believe it must be from the 80's.

Since this was for a date night, I wore hosiery Maiki had given to me as a gift. They are by the luxury brand Wolford, and cost about five times more than everything else I wore combined. Not for party nights! I wear these sober and smack anything that comes close to them, and am careful about my ring and bracelet choices.

I also wore a sparkly pair of earrings he recently bought for me. They are a little bit kinked here, unfortunately. Every time I wear these I get compliments; they are really sparkly!

Soon my photography skills are going to improve, I promise! I've just enrolled in a course, so I can finally start to learn how to use my SLR off of AUTO! Yea!!!

Outfit Details:

Dress: By the label Cassis, bought second-hand

Earrings: Dangerfield, in stock now

Hosiery: Wolford

Shoes: By that brand I refuse to name so that I don't end up on their web-site! Bloggers know the one!

Little Bow Peep Show Burlesque Nipple Pasties

2011-04-21T20:35:00.001-07:00

Happy Good Friday! While you all are enjoying a paid holiday I am working as usual! I've just added four new nipple pasties to my Etsy shop! They are a cute satin and bow design with beaded lace drops, including my first all-white bridal pasties design:

Little Bow Peep-Show---White Satin and Bow Bridal Burlesque Nipple Pasties with Kit

The bridal pair features acrylic pearls and white heart-shaped lace.

Little Bow Peep-Show---Pink Satin and Bow Gothic Burlesque Nipple Pasties with Kit

Little Bow Peep-Show---Red Satin and Bow Gothic Burlesque Nipple Pasties with Kit

This gothic, red satin version features red Czech crystal drops.

And of course, there is an all-black gothic version:

Little Bow Peep-Show---Black Satin and Bow Gothic Burlesque Nipple Pasties with Kit

Find these burlesque nipple pasties plus a lot more in my Etsy shop.

Time to reward myself with some dark Easter chocolate now! Mmmmm... :D

Weekly Outfit On the Go Casual in Collingwood

2011-04-20T01:43:00.001-07:00

Lately I've been too busy to have time for outfit pics; social events have come up back to back with working and other stuff (like hangovers) which get in the way of coordinating any camera action. Today, though I was in a big hurry to run errands, I snapped a few quick pics of what I usually wear around my neighborhood here in Collingwood:

This wasn't posing--I was literally just doing two things at once in having the camera snapping while I stuffed my satchel with orders!

This was posing--a quickie close-up of my up-do, a twisted and under-tucked 60's-inspired 'do.

I usually only wear make-up when I have more than a few places to visit. I never wear make-up just to go to the post office or buy cat food...

And that's it, I'm off!

Jeans: High-rise skinny legs by Since Jane, the imported brand we sell at my work. These are a great pair, though just a bit too thick.

Converse black velvet sneakers (so I can walk really fast!)

Fur-trimmed sweater: CKM

Striped top by Excepsion

Bag: Mollini

Blog Appreciation Day! My Favorite Blogs Out There

2011-04-16T05:00:00.001-07:00

While my head is pounding with a massive hang-over after having no less than five awesome trashbag girlfriends over last night (plus Maiki), I can't seem to get started on the next theme I've been wanting to do this month and that I keep delaying...and delaying. Today I'm caught up with orders but I can't think straight, so I am going to appreciate other blogs instead!

Earlier in January Lady Euphoria Deathwatch of the blog Thoughts from an Eclectic Goth Mind awarded me an award, The Stylish Blogger Award, and I wanted to publicly thank her and all those who comment and say such lovely supportive things to me, a stranger in outer cyberspace! It means so much to me when I can share something that my readers feel is useful, or cool, or interesting, and it really makes me feel good when an outfit or thing I share with readers gets compliments-- blogging then is deeply validating and quite a confidence boost! I love seeing this confidence boost bloom in fellow fashion bloggers as they, too, begin breaking their own dressing rules and pulling out things that they hardly wear, or have maybe never worn, with a new creativity and appreciation for self-expression through fashion, all supported in this strange little online community we've got going on here. So, I thought it was high time I hop on over to the other side, and talk a little about what I get rather than what I give through my own blog. A little blog appreciation roll-call...

First,

Favorite Gothic Blogs

When I first started getting into blogs I could hardly find any on the gothic sub-culture, especially gothic personal fashion blogs. Now there are heaps, and I feel like we goths are really staring to make a community in a sea of trend blogs, vintage and retro blogs, some fantastic, some so grandma-esque it makes Maiki laugh when he spies my laptop screen over my shoulder!

Adora Bat Brat-- This Swedish goth is so hilarious and outlandish that I often laugh out loud when reading her posts. She posts almost everyday, often with just a modeling picture or two, and though her photography is pretty crap, it does the job in covering her uber-goth make-up, hair, outfits, and supremely kitchy gothic lifestyle with her family. Her lifestyle is rather hard to believe--she seems to dress like a club kid even for a parent teacher meeting, and enjoys baking and crafting for her children as much as she enjoys make-up that makes her look like she has been shot.

Sophistique Noir--A new comer barely a few months old, this beautiful, crisply laid-out personal fashion blog belongs to a beautiful old-school romantic goth, Victorian Kitty. She posts two to three outfits each week, all very dark and very elegant and often put together for her work in an office environment. She poses in front of a well-lit curtain so it is easy to see the details of her immaculate outfits. I love the frequency of her posts and her unabashed embrace of black--lots of black!

Sophistique Noir

This is Corp Goth- Another personal fashion blog featuring office-friendly outfits by perky goth Trystan L. Bass. Trystan posts often and is very experimental with her wardrobe; when something doesn't work one day she posts the outfit anyway then tries the piece again another day. She has a killer gothic jewelry collection and never fails to accessorize really well.

The Fashionate Traveller- Covering all things alternative and dark in Japan and other parts of the world, but mainly Japan, The Fashionate Traveller features a variety of posts on places, people, products and events, all peppered with the boldly colorful outfits by The Fashionate Traveller herself. I love this blog and all other Japanophiles like myself will also love it!

Through the Looking Glass- Here is another new-comer gothic blog that has had a great start. Though it is mostly in Finnish with some English translations, the author (not sure of her name!) makes goth look great every time, both with the amazing designer pieces of her very black wardrobe and in her excellent photography skills. Her color palette is absolutely limited to black, white, and red, and ranges from Victorian Goth to a very Burtonesque, Alice-in-Wonderland charm that would appeal to younger goths. She is also very pretty and quite poetic in her muse-like writing, which creates an enchanting world around her. Her blog is very much like a gothic version of The Freelancer's Fashionblog.

Through the Looking Glass

Next,

Favorite Vintage/Retro Blogs

I prefer dark fashion, so when it comes to personal fashion blogs outside gothic sub-culture I mainly follow the highly popular, semi-professional bloggers out there.

Vixen Vintage-- What blog doesn't have Vixen Vintage in their blog roll? This lovely blog appeals to all kinds of people, as it features fantastic photography and the super-cute, and very young vintage maniac, Solanah, who could open a whole shop with her own personal wardrobe. Make that two shops, one for clothing and one just for her bazillion hats! Solanah dresses in vintage head to toe everyday, with only a few new pieces here and there. Her frequent outfit posts, cute outfits, and great photography make this an endearing must-follow for any kind of fashion lover.

The Freelancer's Fashionblog- This blog is run by a Finnish blond burlesque bombshell with impeccable taste in retro styles. She writes very little but her great pics speak volumes, and she posts frequently, always with terrible, lazy titles (she hates to write titles!). She sometimes posts hairstyle tutorials and sponsor give-aways, so it is always a nice mix of posts; always a nice surprise.

Super Kawaii Mama-- The best blog out of Melbourne belongs to this uncommonly fetching mother of two, Candace DeVille, who loves vintage but has an eclectic wardrobe full of plenty of kitchy, kawaii accessories and some unusual pieces, including lolita skirts and velvet tuxedo jackets that swing toward goth. I love her weekly outfit posts, but I equally enjoy her well-written and thoughtful articles covering vintage fashion, retro events, hair and make-up tutorials and reviews, and a whole lot more.

Favorite Hard-To Describe Blogs

Doe Deer Blogazine-- This eccentric gal is a real inspiration. She has the most outlandish, fantasy-inspired style that centers around her belief in unicorns as self-proclaimed 'unicorn queen'; pastels and pretty prints, wacky shoes and very odd accessories. I love how unique she is, but I also love that she encourages young girls to be as expressive as they want to be, to stand up against conformity and criticism, and to nourish self-belief. Her blog features unbelievably enchanting professional photo shoots, mainly to promote her make-up line, Lime Crime. I get very inspired reading about how much this young woman has achieved over the years.

In the future I will cover blogs that cover fashion more broadly, lifestyle, culture, home decor, and whatever else strikes my fancy.

What are your favorite blogs? I'd love to know if there are any more really good personal fashion blogs by goths that I do not have listed on my blog already--please let me know! :)

Black Velvet Gothic Corset Choker with Beaded Cross

2011-04-14T21:23:00.001-07:00

A one-of-a-kind, exotic and very dramatic addition for my jewelry range:

Madam Shisha--Black Velvet Corset Choker

Reclined on a velvet divan in flowing satin robes and glittering jewels, Madam Shisha enjoyed indulging her guests with exotic shisha blends on her purple crystal hooka, which chimed with hanging beads that matched her elaborate jewelry...

This gothic choker shimmers with a mix of various shades of purple crystals, glass beads, and acrylic beads in an unusual design. It features luxuriously thick black velvet outside and on the inside, heavily embellished with a hand-stitched star and dotted pearlescent purple beads. This will beautifully suit a corset and up-do hairstyle; the beaded strands will cascade from your neck and the velvet sensuous corset closure will match the line of a corset closure from above.

This one-of-a-kind velvet choker is only available in my Etsy store.

A New Marie Antoinette Documentary

2011-04-13T18:58:00.001-07:00

This is a very thourough documentary of the life of Marie Antoinette from her marriage to her very last days. It is about two hours long and features re-entactments, readings of letters written at the time, and some interesting details about her life.

Enjoy!