Don't Forget: September One-Day Theme Tomorrow!

Just a reminder that the September 1 Boots theme day is tomorrow, September 1, beginning at midnight Pacific Time. For those of you in other time zones, check the left-hand column of my blog to see the time I am going by.

I will leave the Linky open for 48 hours to give everyone more time to get their posts linked up. However, remember that the earlier you link up, the more people will see your post! :)

Get the complete details and rules.

Blog Round-Up for August

Continuing my monthly appreciation of my fellow bloggers, here are some of my favorite posts from August!

• CookingChinchillas, who happens to be an AMAZING nail artist, posted a brilliant tutorial on creating a gradient effect with nail polish. I can't wait to try this one!
• The Ultimate Goth Guide shared fashion tips from some amazing vintage women in her post on 1940s Hollywood Fashion.  Fashion tips from none other than my all-time favorite, Gene Tierney?  No way!  Yes.  And her favorite colors were exactly the same as mine.  *swoon*
• Mental Pirate put many of my own thoughts regarding the power of music into words in his post, When Music Speaks, You Should Listen.
• Le Professor Gothique went above and beyond on my August Hat Theme, with a series of posts taking us on a tour of her extensive and stunning hat collection.  Browse her blog to see all three posts, and you will no doubt become a dedicated hat lover (if you aren't already).
• The Walrus Room penned the coolest post ever.  This outfit post features her biggest fashion influence: her mom!
• Last but not least, Still Dark @ Heart created a new monthly themed event called Movie Monday.  Brilliant idea!  Be sure to check out the details on her blog, see the posts from August and get ready to join in the fun in September.

Perfect Top for Skinny Jeans at Work

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You guys voted on your favorite look for this top, and I listened! I present to you... the skinny jeans!

Usually I rebel against Jeans Thursday at work by dressing extra fancy. This week, we’ve been doing some clean-up and reorganizing around our offices, so it’s been Jeans Week at work. Today I donned my only pair of jeans so I could help out. These happen to be a bit too tight in the caboose for work... This top from Boston Proper was the perfect solution, as it covers all of the questionable bits. It’s also loose and flowy around the middle, which balances out the form-fitting legs. Snug on top and snug on bottom would get me too much attention at work!

The top is extremely low-cut, as you saw when I wore it for the weekend. For work, I added a lace bandeau in soft grey. You can’t see the lace in the photo, and I didn’t get a close-up. But trust me; it’s quite lovely.

I bought the silver cuff bracelets on my one visit to Mexico. I found that the prices for silver were not nearly as “amazing” in Mexico as rumor had lead me to believe, but these were worth it anyway. The iron cross pendant came from Shrine of Hollywood. In case you were wondering, I brought gym shoes so I didn’t have to move boxes around the office in 4” heels. :)

Undercover Goth Invades Local High School

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This is an outfit I photographed early in my blog days, but never got around to posting. You'll recognize my old, boring photo format, no doubt... :) But I thought the outfit still had value (in fact, I quite like it!), so here it is!

I should probably warn my readers that when I wear this gray herringbone pencil skirt, I’m seriously going undercover.  This corporate goth outfit was a quick-change after work the day I wore the rule-breaking sparkle a few months ago.  My husband and I, both graphic designers by trade, were asked to sit in on an advisory panel for the local high school district’s graphic design program that evening.  I was afraid the sparkle would distract the school board from my professionalism.

I had a feeling that the only exposure to Goth most of these people have had was in the form of rebellious high school kids, which would surely be reflected in their first impression of me.  In most cases, I let enough Gothiness creep in to help change people’s perceptions, but since these people would be complete strangers to me I thought I’d be most comfortable fitting in a bit more.  I was nervous enough about sounding intelligent speaking in front of a crowd…  And I felt it was important to be taken as seriously as possible, as I really do want to be a positive role model in the development of teens in the community.

So this is me, undercover and a little boring.  I still have a sparkly flower in my hair, nice tall heels with an abundance of straps, and a couple of artsy accessories.  I like to think that taking a short break from my “true” style was for the greater good.  It was worth it, because I had by far the most professional appearance of anyone in the room.  And the cutest shoes.  :)

Do you have occasions where you feel that it's worth it to dress a bit more "normal" in order to be taken seriously?

Pigtails and Pink (But Not Pink Pigtails)

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Although pink pigtails would be quite cool, I think I will stick with black for the Goth hairstyle and pink for this awesome corset-esque top. This fun piece is by Tripp, purchased at Hot Topic. I used to buy my deep purple hair color at Hot Topic, and one day I saw this masterpiece hanging on the wall while I was paying. Unlike most of the clothing items stocked by the HT, this one seemed decent quality and was the perfect style for me: unique, but not over the top; feminine, but not fussy; youthful, but not immature; inexpensive, but not cheap. There is absolutely no boning, and the lacing is not functional (there is a zipper in the back) so this is not a corset even though Hot Topic says it is. :) I’ve worn this top to the clubs before with a steel-boned corset underneath, as I did with my red Frederick’s “corset” but it’s also nice as day wear without a corset underneath.

The capris were originally pants, but they shrank the first time I washed them. Go figure: I always wash in cold and line dry, but sometimes things shrink anyway! So I chopped them off and added a double row of lace trim. Now they are even cuter than before. And they are my first and only pair of capris. The shoes, of course, are Pleaser. The velvet blazer is a Forever 21 purchase that I embellished out of necessity. I didn’t end up wearing it much with this outfit, as the evening didn’t get as chilly as I expected.

I wore this outfit to a barbeque with a bunch of my parents’ friends. I think I was a hit with the mainstream elders. :) Luckily, most of them have met me before and knew what to expect!  If they had been complete strangers, I probably would have left the giant pigtails at home this time.  It was traumatizing enough running in to a co-worker at the supermarket in this outfit, and I didn't even have the blazer on.  Oops.  I've been outed!  :-D

Where Did That Old Trunk Come From?

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The old trunk, which I bought at an antique store ages ago, is currently stuck in the loft that houses my photo studio. We just got a new bedroom set, and the old trunk just doesn't fit (physically or stylistically) any more. Seeing as how it has been displaced into the loft until we determine its fate, I figured I'd use it as a prop. Prometheus really liked that idea, as you will soon see!

I didn't really plan on taking so many photos of this outfit, but when you have a gorgeous AND cooperative kitty in the scene, it's hard not to take full advantage of the opportunity. So this post is more about a woman's love for her Maine Coon than her love of fashion!

The hook-and-eye top came from Body Central (or Venus... I get them confused sometimes!). It required some alteration, as it was generally too large for me. I took the easy way out and just brought the sides in. Sleeves/shoulders are a mystery to me so I wasn't about to touch them. I don't mind some extra room in the sleeves, anyway.

I don't go for these plain stretch pants often any more. They just don't seem mature enough for someone my age... But this outfit was for a day of projects around the house, so the high comfort factor was just what I needed.

I actually got about 20 cute photos posing with this giant sweetheart. Consider yourselves lucky I didn't spam you by posting all of them! ;-D

Summer Shoes!

Seems like most Goths are cat people. Which are you? Cat, Dog, or Neither?

Simple Hair Styles for Work or School

Ages ago, a reader suggested that I do a tutorial on hair styles that are simple, classy and appropriate for work or school.  Yes, it took me months to get to it, but I did not forget!  :)

All of these styles require at least long-ish hair. I don't mean to be biased, but I've never had short hair so I'm just not much help in that area. :( However, I highly recommend hairpieces if you want to "fake" it.  I frequently wear chignons and other artificial pieces to create looks I can't achieve with my own hair.  See the last two styles in this post for a few details and resources for synthetic hairpieces.

Side Bun with Flower
Brush your hair all to one side, then gather it up into a side ponytail close to the head. Use a cloth-covered hair elastic for the base of the ponytail (I prefer the kind with no metal!). Then twist your hair one direction and wrap it around itself as you would for a regular bun. Pin securely. I love to use the spin pins (link), as they hold much better than standard bobby pins in my slippery hair. My bun tends to frizz throughout the day, so I use a black hair net over the bun. Then I like to add a hair flower or two (or more!).

Braided Side Bun
Same style as above, but after you put it in the side ponytail, braid it loosely. Then wrap it around without twisting. This style will require more pins, as a braid doesn't seem to hold itself in the bun as well as loose hair. You can still use the hair net over this one if needed.

Loose Side Braid
This looks especially nice with very long hair. Even better if your hair is thicker than mine, as it gives you that lovely Rapunzel look. ;) Brush your hair all to one side, but this time don't put it into a ponytail holder. Just gather it up and braid it loosely. Finish with a tiny fabric-coated hair elastic or a small decorative clip.






Side Braid Wrapped Over Head
You definitely need long hair for this one – waist length at least. Create a side braid as in the style above, but braid it fairly tight. Then wrap the braid over the top of your head and pin it with double pins near the base of the braid, at the end, and somewhere in the middle (six pins total; maybe more if your hair is very thick). You can tuck the end of the braid under a head wrap or clip a flower or barrette over it.

If your braid tends to frizz while in this style, apply some hair wax before braiding and finish with a touch of hair spray after it's all pinned in place.












Magic Hair

One of my new favorite tricks is Magic Hair. These hair pieces are made of two wires covered in bits of synthetic hair, attached to a comb.  They can be purchased here for about $13 USD.

An easy way to use these is to put my hair in a bun at the back of my head (secured into a ponytail first, as the Magic Hair pieces are a bit heavy and will slowly pull the bun out otherwise) and then slide in the comb and wrap the wires around my bun to form a circle. Then add some decorative bits, of course!

I have a tutorial for a fun “clubby” look using these hair pieces, also.

Synthetic Chignons

There are also many styles of synthetic chignons available, which make it appear that you spent hours on a fancy style but you really just pin them over a plain bun!





To see more ideas, view my Hair Styles labeled posts. Every hair style I've worn on this blog is featured once under that label. There are 25 as of today!

Thank you, Ms Little Black Riding Hood for asking me to do this post.  Hope you enjoy it!

Theme for September 1: Boots

The theme for September 1 is: Boots

I did a poll this time, and 50 out of 102 people chose Boots!  I decided to start announcing the themes two weeks in advance to give everyone more time to prepare.


Be sure to come back on September 1 and submit your post.  It can be photos of yourself or someone else wearing boots, or any inspiring images you find, a review of a certain brand, a story, a movie review, artwork or anything (as long as it's about boots!).  Just be sure to cite your source if borrowing photos or content that are not your own original work!  :)

How It Works
On the first day of each month, I will post my theme post with the Mr. Linky sign-up form at the bottom. You can link to any post you’ve done that day or previously, as long as it matches the theme. Be sure to add the icon to your post, and link your post to mine using the

You can post your theme post earlier than the first of the month, or link to an old post, but you must add it to Mr. Linky on Day 1 of the month. You can’t post it after the first of the month, as I will close the Mr. Linky sign-up form on the second of each month so I don’t have to continue monitoring them for spam. :)

You don't have to participate every single month. Feel free to join in whenever you wish. Just be sure you get your post linked before the second day of the month!

Also, let’s keep the posts appropriate for all ages, in terms of both language and imagery. Thanks!! :)

Posts that are linked up without including the icon will be removed from Mr. Linky.

HTML for the icon: (The icon and the HTML will remain the same each month)

<a href="http://www.sophistiquenoir.com/search/label/Monthly%20Themes"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYQ249TqTbcQqDIMNEFn4-i86sH_mCPygLy8joT6s5mRPOVlTNR98J9pLIzKwuhO6z5rTM-DSHBDax9ecdw0DTsO0yZR2PrUlCoOMVpQxHdOACZjKezy3z8A-S8fjktvIPftUD-6eXu4U/s1600/monthly-theme-icon.jpg" border="0"></a>

Please pass this invitation on to any bloggers you know who might be interested, and feel free to share the announcement on your blogs.  Of course, it's a good idea to follow my blog to be sure you don't miss any of the themes.  ;)

Questions? E-mail me!

Want to Suggest a Theme?
Leave a comment on any post at any time, or e-mail me. If I use your suggestion, I will credit you on my theme post for that month and in the theme announcement the week before.  No promises that I will use every suggestion, because the themes have to be things that I would be able to do a post about.

Want to participate in the Monthly Theme? Here's how:

1. Add the Monthly Theme icon to your blog post (copy the code below and paste into your post using the Edit HTML feature):
   
   <a href="http://www.sophistiquenoir.com/search/label/Monthly%20Themes"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYQ249TqTbcQqDIMNEFn4-i86sH_mCPygLy8joT6s5mRPOVlTNR98J9pLIzKwuhO6z5rTM-DSHBDax9ecdw0DTsO0yZR2PrUlCoOMVpQxHdOACZjKezy3z8A-S8fjktvIPftUD-6eXu4U/s1600/monthly-theme-icon.jpg" border="0"></a>
   
2. Paste the URL to your post using the Mister Linky box at the bottom of my August 1 post.
   Please use a direct link to your relevant post, NOT a link to your blog’s home page.
   
3. Visit all of the other participants who have entered, and show them you appreciate their theme posts!

Movie Monday: Tribute to Film Noir

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Today is the first Movie Monday, hosted by Sal of Still Dark @ Heart.  I just love her idea for everyone to do a blog post related to movies, including but not limited to an outfit inspired by your favorite movie or TV show.

My idea for this event was to do a little tribute to Film Noir. Not only is this my favorite genre of movie, but one of my favorite eras in fashion. 40s and 50s glamour blends exquisitely with Goth, in my opinion! Film Noir also influenced the name of my blog, as you might have noticed. :)

Many thanks go to Mr. Kitty for patiently helping me with this photo shoot, which took place in our living room.

So, do I look like I just poisoned my husband for his money, and am about to run off with his best friend**? Because that’s the look we were going for. But don’t worry; I’ll get mine in the end. Most likely, my wealthy husband changed his will at the last minute, making some distant niece the sole beneficiary. And the best friend will dump me for a younger, blonde woman after turning me in to the police. That’s how these movies always work out in the end. That’s okay; I’ll be sitting in the women’s penitentiary plotting my revenge…

** In the above plot, any character's resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.  And my husband is not actually wealthy, so he is not in any danger.  ;)

This poor velvet evening gown by Jessica McClintock has served me well for around 18 years, but this photo shoot was its farewell performance. The fabric is starting to discolor, the pile is irreparably smashed in areas, and finally the slit started to rip up the thigh. I could fix the latter, but I don’t think the other problems would make it worth the trouble at this point. So, I guess I am now in the market for a new, floor-length black velvet evening gown!

This dress is SO black, we couldn’t get my camera to focus on it!

Here are a couple of clear shots of the dress without the “dark” treatment. I will miss this baby, but luckily I have two other gowns by Jessica McClintock. Can’t wait for an excuse to wear them so I can share them with you.

I hope many of my readers will visit Still Dark @ Heart and check out today’s event, and maybe even put together a movie-inspired outfit as well... :)  

Thank you, Sal, for coming up with this wonderful theme event!

Tattoo Touch-Up Day

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I was growing to truly dislike the old(ish) bat tattoo on my left shoulder, until my husband and I were brainstorming over a bottle of wine and stumbled upon a solution. Remembering how much I liked it when I first designed it, and talking over what I didn’t like about it now, it dawned on us that maybe I should just have it re-done.

My main point of discontent with this piece was that it had faded so badly. I have other tattoos that are older, but maybe because of the amount of motion this part of the body undergoes, or the amount of sun exposure, this one looked the oldest. There was a halo all around it where the ink was seeping badly, and the whole thing was a bland grey. Maybe worst of all, I regretted having the center part done in red, as people inevitably ask me if it’s supposed to be a spider. It is not. Spiders don’t have wings, last I checked. :)

We went to the tattoo shop the next day. We didn’t change the tattoo at all; just had a fresh coat of paint applied on an otherwise badly faded, blurry 11-year-old mess. Now that it has new life, I love this piece just as much as I did the first time it was executed. Best of all, once the black was re-blackened, the red became almost unnoticeable. We didn’t have the red redone, leaving it subtle and hopefully clearing up any confusion in the interpretation.

In talking to the artist as he performed my re-tattooing, I learned that apparently I’m the only fool out there who wants to go through that pain, hassle and expense just to re-apply the exact same tattoo I had before. I had decided after my last tattoo (a matching piece Mr. Kitty and I got right after we were married two years ago) that I wouldn’t get any more “new” ones, but would focus on keeping the ones I have looking fresh and clean. Good decision, I think.

Oh yeah, about the outfit… These pictures are pre-op so you can see my sad, grey bat (post-op photos coming soon). The dress is from a random mall store. It’s very simple but comfortable, and a little sexy with the lace overlay on the bodice. I accessorized it with my favorite “Arm Party.” Despite being a big fan of this look for years, I only recently learned the actual term thanks to Hexotica. And I’m still giggling about it. I added some lace bands around my ankles, because I didn’t like the shoes much. Logical? No. But it worked.

Do you have any good tattoo re-do (or cover-up, or repair) stories?

PS:  Don't forget that Monday is Movie Monday, hosted by Still Dark @ Heart.  I have my post all ready to go.  So excited!  Check out Sal's blog for the details.

Cars, Friends, and … Humidity??

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Car show season is still in full swing! We spent a day last weekend hanging out with a batch of car guys we recently met who are rapidly becoming good friends. Having a prime selection of classic, custom cars as a backdrop was just a nice bonus.

For some strange reason, I continually think it’s cute to wear my hair down or in pigtails to outdoor car shows. Usually, it’s the wind that makes me regret doing so… This time, it was a surprise visit from Mr. Humidity. In the desert. Oh, AND the wind. :) Lesson learned. Expect to see me in chignons for all subsequent car show posts!!

Hmm...  Why does my backdrop keep moving?  Ohhhhh, it's Perseus!

One thing I prefer about the custom scene over more traditional classic car groups (such as hot rodders) is the selection of vendors available at the shows. Yes ladies, this means shopping! At a car show!! Custom shows attract a huge rockabilly crowd, and while that’s not my thing per se, one thing we do have in common is a love of hair bobbles. I scored two sets of bows and a magnificent flower, all in magenta. You’ll be seeing those soon!

Rockin’ the shades, briefly, until I realized they conflict with false lashes!

This skirt is from Ross, of all places!  Yes, I know I went on about how I refuse to ever set foot in a Ross again, but a co-worker convinced me to give their home section a shot and in doing so I did encounter a couple of nice pieces in the clothing section.  The strapless top is from Wet Seal, I believe.  Parasol was eBay and hair bows are made by me.  Cool sunglasses: Hollywood Boulevard kiosk!

 

Our current car isn’t heavily customized, and probably never will be, as this car has special meaning to us (read about why in my first car show post). However, I know Mr. Kitty has a zillion brilliant ideas in his head ready to be executed whenever we start to grow our car-child family. Hopefully that will be soon, if Perseus continues his new trend of staying healthy and not slamming us with legendary vet bills. :)

You Get to Choose!

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This is the top I mentioned recently that caused me to give Boston Proper a proper chance (ugh; okay, I know that was bad!). I love the frilly sleeves and the ruched cross-over bodice. I'm not a huge fan of the super-loose empire waist cut (looser than most empire waists I own): it's not flattering, but at least it's comfortable. The cut goes perfect with the jersey knit fabric. To compensate for the loose fit in the mid-section, I thought this top should be paired with something snug around the bottom. I couldn't decide quite how to style it, so I tried it three ways.

With a snug-fitting lace pencil skirt.

With leggings featuring a zipper.

With skinny jeans.

I won't say anything about my personal feelings for any of these combinations, as I want to get unbiased input from my readers.

Which look is your favorite, and why?

Skin Care, the VictorianKitty Way

The other day, a reader asked me about my skin care routine. Since I have had years of practice caring for sensitive skin, I thought I would share my routine with everyone.

First off: about my skin. I battled bad breakouts until I was around 30. Now that I have fewer (and much less severe) breakouts I only cleanse my face once per day, in the evening. I live in the desert so my skin stays quite dry, eliminating the need to wash my face when I wake up in the morning. Also, since it is such a dry climate, I re-moisturize in the middle of the day most days. If you have blemish-prone skin or live in a humid climate, you’ll want to cleanse more often than I do. All of the products I have listed are excellent for blemish-prone skin, as they are light and fragrance free. They are also great for extremely dry skin and aging skin, which are currently my main concerns.

I’m providing links to each of the products I use, but be aware that I did not look around for the best prices on each of these (I buy most of them locally, not online). You might want to shop around if you consider purchasing any of these items.

Daily Morning Routine

• Moisturize with Neutrogena Healthy Defense SPF 45 Daily Moisturizer (untinted).
• Apply Kinerase Intense Eye Treatment (no one under 30 needs this!).
• Apply Bare Escentuals Bare Minerals foundation in Fair (the lightest shade).

Daily Mid-Day Routine

• Remove foundation using Cetaphil Fragrance Free Moisturizing Lotion and a tissue.
• Apply a new coat of Neutrogena Healthy Defense SPF 45 Daily Moisturizer.
• Re-apply Bare Minerals foundation.

Daily Evening Routine

• Remove makeup using 100% coconut oil and a couple of tissues.*
• When not breaking out, wash with Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser.
• When breaking out, wash with Povidone Iodine Solution.  Follow with a touch of tea tree oil on spots.
• Exfoliate with finely ground pumice stone every other day (I just add a bit to my Cetaphil cleanser and rub gently for a minute or so).
• Apply a thin layer of Bio-Oil.
• Moisturize with Cetaphil Fragrance Free Moisturizing Lotion.
• Apply some Vitamin E on lips (I just pierce a Vitamin E capsule with a needle and squeeze it directly onto my lips).
• Apply Kinerase Intense Eye Treatment.

Special Treatments

• When my face is very dry, I steam it for 5-8 minutes using Conair Facial Sauna  once a day for a couple of days.  Be careful any time you use steam in your beauty regimen!
• Apply a 35% Glycolic Acid Peel monthly, and occasionally weekly for a month (no one under 30 needs this). Please see my comments about chemical peels below! **
• Sleep with Frownies on 2-3 times per week to help miminize the lines between my eyebrows.
• Apply Neutrogena SPF 100 Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sun Block on face, neck, shoulders, arms, and back when I will be out in the sun for any length of time. If temperature is not too insanely high, I will wear a lightweight long-sleeve shrug or just sleeves or long gloves to protect my arms and the back of my hands from age spots.

* Coconut oil not only removes makeup better than any commercial makeup remover I have used, it also is all-natural and moisturizes the skin. I also use coconut oil as a shaving oil for my legs.

** 35% Glycolic Acid is considered an entry-level professional peel. If you purchase it for home use, please exercise caution until you are certain how your skin will react. Do a small spot test, following the instructions on the product carefully, and then wait 24 hours before applying to your entire face. I leave mine on for 10 minutes and experience a mild tingling and have no redness at all after the fact, but your results may vary!!! Peels like this do not result in any visible “peeling” so you will not have any healing time (everything that is peeled off is microscopic) but you should avoid sun for 24 hours after each treatment.

Of course, everyone’s skin is different and there is no guarantee that what works for me will work for you… But I have used all of these products for a long time, and I quite delighted with the current state of my skin.

Do you have any special skin care tips you’d like to share?

Venetian Lace Choker

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Today I am wearing a choker featuring purple Venetian lace and a purple tiger eye stone. This, along with the one I wore for one of my Red & Black posts, came from eBay several years ago. I just searched though my Saved Sellers and found that these came from Midnighte Moon. I’ve also made a third one myself with a piece of Venetian lace trim that I found online. It’s cheaper that way, if you can find the time. You’ll see that one in a future post.

I didn’t wear any additional jewelry with this outfit, as I just wanted to let the choker shine. I can’t say I’m a huge fan of wearing red nail polish with a pink top and purple necklace, but I didn’t have time to change the nail color. It seems like as soon as I paint my nails red, I am just dying to wear pink and purple!

The bell-sleeve shrug is from Arden B. It’s made from a shiny sweater knit, so it’s perfect for my chilly office days. And it perfectly hides the fact that I wore spaghetti straps to work. :)

The pink cami has some record-breaking ruching and three fun vertical ruffles.

The skirt is tiered mesh, and came from Macy’s. I’ve been wearing this one and my tiered lace one from Spiegel a LOT lately. Hope you don’t get bored, but I adore the versatility of these Goth staples right now.

What is the one staple item you wear the most?