Its been a long time....

Wow! I didn't realise it had been so long!!

Download was a lot of fun, beautiful hot weather, despite the promise of rain, and I didn't get a single patch of sunburn thanks to preparation and suitable clothing. The same couldn't be said for many people there who seemed to forget that the British weather is severely unpredictable and when they say rain, they probably mean sun. I may return next year, but the plan is to go to a festival in Sweden or northern Europe somewhere.

The main reason I've been AWOL for so long is that I have been incredibly busy, what with holidays, my best friend moving, family get togethers, work and life, I've barely had time to breathe. That and I've been struggling with clothes a bit lately, and have only just now got back to a place where I'm good to go.

So...

Last weekend was Halloween, and I joined many other people in the world in celebrating. I'm currently a little bit obsessed with vampires, thanks to watching True Blood and reading Charlaine Harris' novels that the series is based on, the Sookie Stackhouse novels. So, it seemed only natural to go out on Halloween dressed as a vampire. Accompanied by my bf, who was dressed as the Sexual Harassment Panda from Southpark, and my best friends, one who was dressed as Alice from Resident Evil, the other as a Fangbanger. Unfortunately my fangs didn't work out (going to keep hold of them and get some proper fixative though) but luckily I have quite long pointy incisors of my own, so a cocktail of agave nectar and synthetic coccineal colouring gave my mouth that freshly fed look.

My dress was from New Look last year, bought for a bargainous £10 in the sale after Christmas. My tights are from Primark and are footless. I think they were £2. My boots are my New Rocks, my choker I bought in Dorothy Perkins I think, many many years ago, and my earrings I bought in River Island last winter. My corset is from Burleska, who have a stall in Camden Market. It was £60 and despite having put on a couple of inches since I bought it, its still very comfortable.

The Alice costume was made from a satin nighty from Primark, a lot of fake blood and some Primark glossy tights. The black skirt was something my friend had already. My Fangbanger friend was wearing a gorgeous dress from ? which looked black but as you can see from the photos is actually purple with a black lace overlay. It looked amazing!

A good night was had by all, much wine and drink was consumed and we danced the night away!

Next time: I have finally found what I think may be the best pair of jeans ever. Clothes from my new wardrobe and musings about stuff.

Only 40 something days until Download!

That's right folks, its not long until the Download Festival is upon us once again!! I haven't been since 2007, when I went for the weekend for the first time. I also went on my own, and as such, stayed with relatives who lived nearby. I don't think I'll ever camp again - cooked breakfasts, a BED, showers, toilets... all the creature comforts and then I get to go have fun in a field!!

So this year, me, my best mate and my bf embark on a trip to the festival, not camping. With a bit of luck the weather will be as nice as it was in 2007 - gloriously sunny and hot. Loads of bands to watch, just lying in the sun....

But what to wear? Having been to a few festies now I present to you my top 5 festival clothing tips:

1. Layer up - you don't know what the weather is going to be like, and lots of thin layers are easier to deal with than a couple of thick ones. Vest tops and thin cotton t shirts can be rolled up and slotted into even the smallest of spaces.

2. Comfy, sturdy footwear - you're probably going to end up walking miles. You don't want blisters when you are trying to fight your way out of the impromptu mosh pit that just sprang up around you. Also, remember that it might rain. So it would be best that your footwear could cope with this. My vote is on New Rocks, or something similar, as they aren't too hot in the warm weather and are pretty sturdy and waterproof if it rains. Take a spare pair of socks just in case.

3. Pockets - bags are rubbish in a crowd. Its difficult to carry a rucksack on your back, and the last thing you want is to have it hanging off one shoulder, because you're going to end up with a sore back after band number 15. If you can, wear trousers/shorts/bottoms with loads of pockets, and preferably pockets that you can fit a small bottle of water, tube of sunscreen and your money into.

4. Think about material and design - if it rains, and you are wearing long trousers that drag on the floor they are going to soak up the water quicker than you can down a pint of warm beer. Then you will have soggy legs for the rest of the day. Likewise, if they are long, and it is hot, you're going to have sweaty ankles. My vote - long shorts. Long enough to reach almost to the top of your boots. Then, you are shielded from the sun's rays (thus cutting down the amount of sunscreen you need to apply, and if the weather turns nasty, you can pull your socks up and keep your legs toasty. And they won't trail in the mud/wet. Same thing applies with heavy fabrics.

5. Black is always best - festivals are either muddy or dusty. Or both. White is not going to last 5 minutes. Black may still show the mud/dust, but when you put that through the washing machine 2 weeks after you get back, its going to be black when it comes out, not a patchy beige colour.

So there are my 5 tips for festival clothing. Before I go I'll show you the items that I will be taking with me for my weekend of fun!!

And we're back to dark hair again.....

So, after spending the best part of the last year with my hair getting lighter and lighter - first red, then blonde, I decided last week that enough was enough and the bleach had to go.

3 days of dye ensued - first a horrible light gingery brown that I think represented my natural colour (having not seen it for the best part of 10 years I have no clue) then what was supposed to be a gorgeous plum colour but actually went a weird inky blue, then a dep burgundy to remedy the situation. Which is where I am at now. And where I shall be staying.


The colour is Garnier 100% in 426 and my hair is wrecked. Not through that, but through far too much processing. I need to be very gentle with it for a while now....

Make up in the picture is MAC (what else!) - Aquadisiac e/s, Teal pigment in crease, Blacktrack fluidline, Lancome mascara.

Black - its all black!

I thought I'd give one of the new SS09 looks from MAC a try (www.maccosmetics.co.uk) seeing as I had all the products that were required, and seeing as how it is all black!!

Apologies that the photo isn't great, I came down with a cold yesterday and have the gormless look of someone who is trying to concentrate on the camera and the mirror at the same time!!

Paint Pot in Blackground
Pro Pigment in Black
Fluidline in Blacktrack
Kohl in Black
Mascara by Lancome
Foundation, concealer, powder all MAC

The original look can be found here: http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/templates/products/single_pick.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CAT22417

Pictures of aforementioned items!!

I have some pictures for you!! Its been a bit tricky to get pictures of the aforementioned beloved new clothes - I'm rubbish at taking pictures of myself and my photographer has been busy!! But enough of the excuses!!

Here is me yesterday enjoying the sunshine at the beach, wearing my skinny jeans and long New Rocks!

Jeans: Broadway Jeans, Long Tall Sally
Boots: New Rock 161
Jacket: Topshop Tall, Spring 2008
T Shirt (just peeking out): Alice in Wonderland, TRF, Zara
Sunnies: Boots 17, Summer 2008
Bag: H&M Winter 2007

More from me later!!

Back in black

I think I got my wardrobe mojo back!

Its all to do with my deliciously lovely new boots, which I purchased in Camden the other weekend. That and the other items of clothing I have bought... I've spent quite a lot of money this month on clothes and beauty, but on really staple, key pieces that have really made a difference in my wardrobe.

These key items are:

New Rock 161 boots - they have spikes and everything! They are supremely comfy and although cost me a fair old whack, will hopefully last me for years to come (my others I've had for 3 1/2 years and they are still going strong). They look fabulous and I've already had one person declare that they want to steal them off me!

Black satin underbust corset - I bought this from Camden Lock Market, from a shop called Burleska (http://www.burleska.co.uk/) for a not unreasonable price. I had a corset from a couple of summers ago when I was thinner, but it doesn't fit anymore, and I've been after a new one for ages. Trouble, is, being a bit of a seamstress myself, I was finding it difficult to justify buying one to myself, when I have a pattern that I bought sitting around doing nothing. Still, this is a beautifully made corset and its pretty comfy. I'm getting back into wearing them again quickly, and I can lace tighter everytime I wear it!

Black skinny jeans - I'm very tall and have big, muscley thighs to match, and finding skinny jeans (or any jeans for that matter) is very tricky. I had been lusting after these from the Long Tall Sally collection since the catalogue arrived on my doorstep just after Christmas and I finally went and tried them on. They look magical. So I had to buy them. They go with so many things, and look good with the new boots over the top!

Black jersey dress - Another Long Tall Sally purchase, but this time in the sale! I bought it mainly for work, but I also wanted a nice black jersey dress that could be dressed up so I'd have something to wear with my fabulous cow print shoes that I bought at Christmas and haven't really had anything to wear with them. Its a very flattering dress on, and looks great with a long sleeve t-shirt underneath for work, or on its own for an evening out.

MAC Creme Cup Lipstick - This lippy is the perfect shade of pink for me - not too loud so that I can't wear it everywhere but not too beige/nude so that it looks like I have beige lips. The texture is gorgeous and the sheen that it has is to die for. Next on my list of colours is a bright vibrant pink. Having white blonde hair is so much fun!

Superdrug Luxury Sheen tights - A couple of my mates have been going on about these and the Luxury Gloss ones for a while, mainly about how they are indestructible! I must say I was impressed when I tried them on and they were actually long enough - a rare feat for tights makers! They do stick to your legs like they are glued on, thus reducing the likelihood of you catching them on something, and they were a good colour, not too dark on my palid legs!

All in all, not a bad haul.

I've been having a crisis of confidence in myself for ages, feeling like there was no common thread running through my wardrobe, no connectivity, and no real link to the side of me that loves all things Alternative. I was starting to feel a bit mumsy, which is a disaster for someone who doesn't plan on having mini mes!

I went out on Monday night to our local rock venue to see our mates play and I wore my red tartan kilt, black vest and my corset, with the magical tights, with some super cool fishnet type tights over the top, knee high socks and New Rocks, and felt good. Really good, which is a feeling I haven't felt about myself for a while.

Style Icons

I've been involved in an online discussion about style icons/idols recently (that is what sort of started this blog thing off) and it was interesting how many of the girls who replied cited Dita von Teese as their style icon.

Personally, I love Dita's look, but realise that its not exactly practical for everyday wear, so content myself with taking elements here and there to mix and match with the rest of my outfit.

I suppose I have 3 or 4 style icons, all musicians incidentally.

First up: Angela Gossow of Arch Enemy. She is gorgeous and has a great voice to boot! I love her simple jeans and t shirt style, sometimes veering into a bit wacky and wonderful. I also love how she manages to remain feminine and sexy, highly important when your voice sounds like that!

Next, Cristina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil. Ever since I saw them live a few years ago I had been lusting after a pair of below the knee black trousers teamed with some boots. I finally got them last January. All I need now is a well fitting white shirt and bingo, I am done. Ms Scabbia has a simple style, and is a chameleon of sorts - on stage she wears more practical boots and trousers, but in magazine articles and promo shots she can be in amazing heels and revealing attire.

Thirdly, Sharon den Adel of Within Temptation. I'm a sucker for a good corset and the more classic gothic attire of flouncy skirts and big dresses, and she does it beautifully. Always coupled with a pair of comfy boots, Ms den Adel eptiomises my ideal dress - if I had the time, money and reason to wear such garments!

Finally, Annie Lennox. I love her androgyny, and the fact she is quite simply beautiful. And very real.

That gives you a little insight into my style icons. At the weekend I'll start a tour round my wardrobe (which physically is about as far from gothic or alternative as you can get, but I likes it!), outfit by outfit. I'll also hopefully be able to show you the progress from my sewing endeavours.

My very own blog!!

I'm new to this, so bear with me!!

I decided to set this blog up after trawling the internet looking for style blogs for alternative folks. I found a few, but a the were mostly blogs for shops and creators, so didn't really offer what I was looking for. So, if you can't find it, do it yourself!

The main idea here is to post a regular blog about goth/punk/alternative fashion, including photos and ideas. I don't think I could do all the content myself, so send me contributions!

This is a non judgemental blog, so anything goes as long as it fits with the remit of alternative style. This is not about fashion, its about style, so if it looks good, it might get a mention.

Clothes, jewellery, body mods, tatts, shoes, boots - I want to see them all!