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

Just a reminder that the December 1 Outerwear theme day is tomorrow, December 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.

Mr. Linky will close at 11:59 PM PST on December 3. However, remember that the earlier you link up, the more people will see your post! :) Also the Linky box at the bottom of my post will tell you how many hours you have left until it closes.

Get the complete details and rules.

Veil Giveaway Winner and Blog Round-Up for November

I'm pleased to announce the winner of my Veil Giveaway: Smashed Doll! I'll be sending you an e-mail so we can work out the shipping. Congratulations!

Thank you so much to everyone who entered. I truly enjoyed reading everyone's different ideas on how to style a black veil. We had suggestions across the board from a full Victorian outfit, to Gothic Lolita, to a corset and Halloweeny t-shirt, to striped tights, and more. I love that this group is so diverse even while all falling under the "Goth" label. I hope we'll be seeing some of you attempting this veil project in the future and sharing your take on it!

Blog Posts of the Month

Now, on to my picks for best posts for November!  There were several this month that I just had to include.

• Traicetrak of The Airstepper's Adventures wrote a wonderfully thought-provoking piece on the inevitable urge to try fitting in while trying to stand out.  I think we've all felt this way at some point!
• AngelShinigami of Sweet and Simple presented a simply logical answer to the age old question of "Why do you dress like that?"
  
• The Irish Phantom Cat of The Phantom Cat's Otherworld showed us her Budget Beauty Tips.  Personally, I am loving the egg yolk moisturizing mask!  Mr. Kitty and I only eat the whites anyway, so this is a great way to avoid wasting those cholesterol-laden yolks.
  
• Trystan of This Is CorpGoth gave some great tips on how to prepare a functional and fashionable travel wardrobe.
  
• Sabayon of Ruffles Not Diets demonstrated some elegant but simple updos for work.
  
• Captain Morgan of Mental Pirate introduced us to a talented new old-school Goth/post-punk style band called The Rope.  You have to check these guys out!
  
• Amy of The Ultimate Goth Guide proved that the Goth subculture has no racial boundaries, complete with photos of gorgeous black Goths!

This month I am introducing a new way to show my appreciation for other Goth fashion bloggers by picking an Honorable Mention of sorts.  So, out of all the lovely outfits you ladies wore this month, one of my favorites was by Sary of The Walrus Room:

• Outfit: Flail (for lack of a better name)

And my personal favorite of my own outfits for November was:

• Black and White Party

VNV Nation!

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Mr. Kitty and I recently spent a weekend in San Diego rocking out with VNV Nation. We usually prefer to see shows in San Diego over Los Angeles, because the crowds don’t seem as crazy and everyone is a bit more low-key. Of course, it’s partly an excuse to spend time with a sweet couple who are amongst our very best friends, to enjoy what is usually some lovely weather and to re-hydrate in the moist air. The climate in San Diego couldn’t possibly be any more different than the desert wasteland we call home just a couple of hours away.

VNV Nation is very new-school for a Bauhaus-loving girl like me, but the driving passion of their music and the profundity of their lyrical compositions are impossible to deny. Ronan Harris always seems to be pulling the very words out of my own heart and soul, and presents them with such conviction and relentless determination that I cannot help but be deeply moved. Nothing beats seeing them live, because they truly appreciate their audience and interact with sincerity and emotion. The passion and enthusiasm are contagious: you can’t help but leave a VNV Nation show feeling like there’s someone out there who “gets” you and nothing can stand in your way! This was my third time seeing them live, and it was glorious. Additionally so because I had the opportunity to meet Ronan before the show, sitting in on an interview he did with my music reviewer friend over at Mental Pirate. In listening to Ronan speak, you become immediately aware that the intelligence and depth in his music are 100% genuine. He is gentlemanly, professional, composed and unassuming, without a hint of egotism. It was a truly delightful half hour spent in his presence.

Not to turn this into a music review blog, but VNV’s latest album, Automatic, reaches new heights for a band that was already worlds beyond what others in their genre are doing. VNV Nation awakened in me an interest in dark synthpop, which is exactly what I needed to complement my love of deep, dark old-school Goth. Few modern artists succeed in recreating that 80s Goth sound, and I needed some new stuff to enjoy and relate to. VNV Nation and their peers fill that need.

I try to tailor my wardrobe to the overall feel of an event, so a synthpop show calls for a bit of PVC. This is a Gallery Serpentine underbust corset, paired with a criss-cross backed sweater from Bebe (I bet Bebe never thought their stuff would be paired with anything from Gallery Serpentine!) and a lace skirt from Forever 21 that I just recently found on sale. The boots, of course, are Pleaser.

You absolutely must check out Mental Pirate’s write-up of the interview with Ronan Harris and this amazing show, as well as his review of Automatic.

What band speaks most deeply to your soul?

Veil GIVEAWAY Reminder

Don't forget to enter my giveaway before the end of the day Tuesday, Nov. 29 for a chance to win this lovely veil.

This is my first contest, so I might not have written the rules clearly.  Just to clarify, there are two requirements to enter:

• You must be following me on Google Friend Connect or Facebook, 
  
  AND
   
• You must leave a comment in this post sharing your ideas on what you would wear with this veil.  

I think I made it sound like the comment wasn't required, but I only want to enter truly interested people in the contest so I won't be automatically entering all followers.  Just those who comment.  :)  However, WHAT you say in your comment won't influence who wins.  Winner will be selected randomly from all comments.

You can double your chance of winning by ALSO sharing this contest on your own blog.  If you do that, be sure to leave a second comment on this post with a link so I don't overlook your post.  However, this second entry is purely optional.

This contest is open to anyone, anywhere. :)

Tutorial: Black Tulle Veil (and a GIVEAWAY)

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As promised in my Lace Theme Post, I present a tutorial on how to make a simple, inexpensive black veil.  Nope, you don't have to be getting married (or going to a funeral) to wear this.  A veil lends an extreme degree of dark romanticism to a club outfit, or whatever special occasion you desire.  I wear mine whenever I please, and I did so even when I was single.  :)

I have a little surprise for you: I am GIVING AWAY the veil I made for this tutorial.  Be sure and look at the end of this post for instructions on how to enter!

You will need:

• Black tulle – approx. 1.5 - 2 yards (available at your local fabric store, sold by the yard, usually for less than $1/ yard).
• 3” wide blank hair comb or barrette (available from most craft stores)
• Black thread
• A needle
• Scissors
• Measuring Tape of some kind (a long piece of string works in a pinch)
• Hot glue (optional)
• Black roses or other embellishment (optional)

Measure from the top of your head to where you want the end of the longest layer of the veil. Measure again from the same point on your head to where you want the shorter layer to end.  I chose 36" for the bottom layer and 18" for the top.

Add those two numbers together (my total was 54", or 1.5 yards). Cut a length of tulle that is the total length of both layers. Do not cut the width. Keep it the width that it was when you bought it at the fabric store (usually either 45” or 60”; either will work).

Fold the tulle at the point between the two layers so each comes out to the desired length.

Using a needle and long piece of thread (doubled), run a stitch loosely through both layers about 1” in from the fold. Stitches should be about 1/2” apart. Pull this tight to bunch up the tulle to the width of your barrette or hair comb.

Wrap the thread around each edge of the tulle tightly, because just a regular knot will pull through the tulle and the whole thing will unravel.

Prometheus is on-site providing Quality Control.






Use the needle and thread to wrap stitches through the tulle and around the barrette or comb. For added durability, you can add a small line of hot glue* before stitching the tulle to the comb or barrette, but this isn't crucial if you don't have a hot glue gun.

Finally, attach some black roses, beads, bows or other decorative element along the top edge of the veil, if desired. This makes it a bit more fancy. You can attach them using hot glue* or the needle and thread.

I used a glob of hot glue plus a couple of stitches in each rose for added strength.





You could also sew narrow trim around all the edges of the tulle if you want. I opted for raw edges to give it a more airy, ethereal look.

If cleaning is ever needed, gently swish the tulle in cold water with a tiny bit of Woolite without submerging the roses or barrette.

* Use caution when using hot glue on tulle. The glue can easily go through the mesh of the fabric and burn you unexpectedly.

Thank you to Mr. Kitty for photographing this project!

Want to win this veil? Here are the rules.

• You must follow my blog using Google Friend Connect or on Facebook. And please don't just “unfollow” after the drawing, because that's not in the spirit of the thing. :)
• You must leave a comment describing what outfit you would pair this veil with if you win it.  There are no right or wrong answers: this is just a fun way to express your interest in entering the contest. 
• For one extra entry, post a link to this contest on your own blog or Facebook page. Be sure to leave a separate comment here with a link to your blog post so I can be sure to enter you twice.
• Winner will be chosen ON Tuesday, NOV 29 via a random number generator (random.org). I will then contact the reader to get their e-mail address so we can arrange shipping.
• IMPORTANT: If you do not have a blog with a clear way for me to contact you, please be sure to let me know how to find you.

This giveaway is open to anyone, anywhere. :)

For Sophie

For Sophie.

Batwing Drop-Waist Dress

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I was delighted to find that it was going to be 65 degrees today, so I had a chance to wear this dress before it gets too cold out. Call it batwing or dolman sleeve; this style is always comfortable and elegant. Newport News happened to call this dress batwing, I believe. Sometimes I almost think they are actually trying to sell their stuff to Goths… ;)

The drop-waist of this dress is ruched to hug the hips in a very flattering way! The dress is jersey knit, so it’s a cat hair magnet, but at least it’s cut in such a way that there is no stretching over the pressure points.

This dress is so loaded with simple elegance that I just paired it with basic all-black beaded jewelry and lace armwarmers. The choker is just a piece of fancy trim to which I added some sequins and seed beads at intervals, and attached a clasp.

This is one dress that I love so much styled exactly like this that I don’t usually mix it up at all when choosing accessories for it. Sometimes I'll wear long, bell-sleeve sweater armwarmers under it, when it's chilly out. I’ll try to do something a little different next time, just to give the dress some re-blogging value. ;-D

Cute, But Not Comfortable

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Yes, it's time for another "fail" outfit today!  Usually when I get it into my head that something isn't comfortable to wear and ignore it for months and years, I turn out to have been completely wrong and end up loving the piece. That was not the case with this outfit. I had been ignoring this blouse for ages because it's a bit snug without the slightest big of stretch.  Even worse, it's cut very short. I can't stand it when I sit down and my lower back pops out (unless it's intentional of course). I had the foresight to wear a very long cami underneath, but after 11 hours in this blouse I was just sick of it. I really love how it looks in the photos, but wearing it didn't make me happy.  And I felt self-conscious all day long because I figured it was obvious that the reason I didn't have it buttoned up all the way was because it would not button up all the way...  *blush*  I actually tossed it in the trash when I got home! *  I'm keeping my eyes open for a similar blouse that might be a better fit, featuring the metallic threads, short sleeves and tiny pockets. If you see something, let me know!

To add to my discomfort, these bangles from H&M had nearly sawed my hand off by the time I finished taking the photos. I ditched them before I even left the house. That is a true shame, because I simply adore them. I am trying to figure out a way to insert a cushy lining in them, so there is still hope! I might try to get crafty with spray glue and some felt...  Anyway, at least the long multi-strand necklace from Target (bought on sale) is a keeper, along with my trusty beaded Y necklace with cross from random accessory store.

Do you guys have any jewelry that is uncomfortable? What do you do about it?

* I do usually donate my unwanted clothing to Goodwill (which turns out to be quite a bit), but in this case I was so irritated with this thing by the time I got home.  Yes, I took my frustration out on the blouse.  :)

Theme for December 1: Outerwear

The theme for November 1 is: OUTERWEAR

It's about to become full-on winter in the northern hemisphere, so what better time to show off your outerwear?  For this theme, let's see your coats, jackets, blazers, capes, wraps... *  Whatever you put on to protect your dark, delicate self from the elements.

* For those of you who are enjoying summer right now, feel free to feature lightweight blazers, sheer wraps, etc.  No one is excluded!

Be sure to come back on December 1 and submit your post.  It can be photos of yourself or someone else wearing a favorite coat or jacket, 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 primarily about outerwear!).  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 Mr. Linky box at the bottom.

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. It's a busy time of year, so I will leave the Linky open until 11:59 PM PST on December 3.

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: The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Take Two!

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Today is Movie Monday over at Still Dark @ Heart!

As promised in my last Movie Monday post, I put together an outfit inspired heavily by Gene Tierney’s wardrobe in The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. Naturally, I was most attracted to her mourning attire, and I happened to have a low, wide-ish brimmed black felt hat that would work perfectly with a veil. I had to remove a big, flamboyant mesh and sequined …thing… from the hat first, then I pinned on a sheer triangular scarf and added the black roses.

This blazer came from Forever 21 a few years ago. It has a wide sash that ties in the back, which I thought created a slight bustle effect. I didn’t have just the right fancy blouse, so a silk chiffon scarf tied in a bow did the trick.

The velvet skirt is from Gallery Serpentine. When I got this skirt it fit me perfectly in terms of width but surprisingly it was about 4 inches too long, even in 6” heels! Australian ladies must be extremely tall… My poor mother had to rework both of those ruffles to make it fit. And yes, the skirt was originally made shorter in the back than the front (there is a zipper and tag in the back, so it’s definitely on the correct way). I don’t know if that was a mistake on GS’s side, but I thought it looked pretty like that so we retained the effect when altering the skirt.

The gloves are from Greatlookz, and I made the bag myself from a pattern set that came with several capelets and this lovely drawstring bag. I’m still finishing the matching capelet, because I can’t seem to get my fusible interfacing to fuse!

Many thanks to Sal of Still Dark @ Heart for creating this fun monthly theme event. Now, I’m off to plan my December entry for Movie Monday! :)

Second Choice

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You voted on three different ways to wear this top, and chose skinny jeans as your first pick. The lace pencil skirt came in a close second, so for the sake of variety I gave that look a try for an errand day last weekend. This outfit is comfortable and feminine, which is really all a girl needs.

Here we have my beloved Hue fishnets in black, comfy Pleaser ankle-strap platform shoes and a fabulous black rose necklace you've seen before.

Hair style is just a side bun with a black flower.  I often wear this style to work, but not so much on the weekends, so this was a nice change.

I think I like the lace skirt with this top just about as much as the skinny jeans.

More Gray on Gray

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Here’s another Venus find that required some alterations. I’m starting to suspect that they have recently modified their sizes, as the XS used to always fit me perfectly and now in my latest order everything is too big in the sides. Anyway, it was worth the effort because the stripes are so fun, as is the ruffle down the placket. The best part is the zipper closure, which, unlike buttons, prevents any kind of gaping in the front.

Today I'm wearing the simple side bun with gray hair flower, one of the styles I featured in my Simple Hairstyles post.

Grey tights turned out to be a perfect match for this blouse, along with my trusty black satin pencil skirt that I wore a while back.

Check out the cool wide cuffs with cufflink detail.

I’m looking forward to pairing this top with my Daytime Satin long skirt, in hopes of the top making the skirt look a bit more casual.

Have you ever found trusted clothing companies to suddenly change their sizing?

Monthly Homework Assignment for November: Naked Face!

Today is Le Professeur Gothique's first Monthly Homework Assignment.

November's assignment appeals to my belief in the importance of self-confidence: Strip down to your bare naked FACE! I love this idea because it's a great chance to show that we don't wear makeup because we think we "need" to, but because we WANT to. Let's show that we are confident women who are not afraid to display our natural beauty. And yes, you DO have natural beauty! Humans are beautiful creatures, one and all: even those of us who like to be creative with our appearance. :)

A while back I posted my Skin Care Routine.  I included a couple of face shots but didn't think to photograph the post-routine clean skin results.  I now present to you VictorianKitty in her natural form!  This is after my morning routine but before starting the makeup process.

Yes, my hair is also untamed and straight out of my sleep cap in these photos, hence the random bumps.  I did brush it, anyway.  :)

Now head over to Le Professeur Gothique's blog and see all the other lovely naked faces, and post your own!

Black and White Party!

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Let me preface this post by saying that in real life, I can be quite a poor sport.  :) Usually when I attend a club or party with a theme, I ignore the theme completely. Themes are fun on Goth blogs, but in real life they usually enter the realm of Disco Attire and such silliness, and I just don’t drink enough to make things like that okay. ;) When we were invited to a friend’s birthday party and told of the Black and White theme, I knew I could live with that one. In fact, I was quite excited to wear my newest Stop Staring dress.

Upon selecting my outfit for the party, I immediately jumped on the Greatlookz Web site and ordered some white crocheted gloves to match my white scarf. Wow; who knew that whites would be even more difficult to match than blacks?!? I had three different shades of white in the end. I still was delighted with the overall end result.

I made the giant hair flower from a stem I picked up at Michael’s. It wasn’t the prettiest flower they had, but those stems can go up to more than $15!!! This one was $6, which I thought was pushing it for a DIY thing.

Nude fishnets and ankle-strap platform shoes were the finishing touches to this forties-inspired outfit. Oh, and glasses. I normally love to wear my glasses (that’s why I never got Lasik) but I don’t like them when I am trying to go glamorous. However, the morning before the party, Perseus happened to do Happy Feet right on my eyeball, and I happened to already have an eye doctor appointment scheduled for that day, so there was no hiding the “corneal abrasion.” No contacts for a full week: doctor’s orders! :(   Mr. Kitty made me feel better by calling me a “Sexy Gothic Librarian Vintage Movie Star.” I can live with that.

This dress is a prime example of why it sometimes better to save up for a few quality pieces than to blow your whole clothing budget on a lot of little, cheap items here and there.  A dress like this never fails to make me feel amazing and self-confident to a degree far beyond what I feel wearing a top from Forever 21.  Of course, I like the variety (obviously) that can be achieved by mixing these fabulous, quality items with a fair amount of more affordable things.  It's all about the balance, and right now I'm focusing on shifting the balance a bit more toward quality over quantity.

What's Better than Purple? Purple with Black Lace Overlay!

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Sometimes I don’t give Target enough credit for their clothing designs. I have to say; they win again with this purple sweater with black lace overlay. I picked this up years ago and love it still. Here I’ve paired it with a seed bead necklace and bracelets made by me, and a straight skirt also from Target.

This is Casual Thursday wear for me. We work a 4/10 schedule at my office, meaning we do four 10-hour days and then we are off Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Our staff begged to be allowed to wear jeans on Thursdays in lieu of the traditional “Casual Friday.” Human Resources finally caved in. Of course, I usually can’t bring myself to wear jeans to work even if I am told to, so sometimes I break out a more-casual-than-usual top and a very plain skirt. Other times, I wear a blazer or extra-Gothy outfit just for the contrast. ;)

Do you get a "casual day" at work?  If so, what do you like to wear?