This Blog has Moved!

My blog is now located on my own server at www.SophistiqueNoir.com! This location will no longer be updated, so be sure to head over to the link above.

Anyone who's already subscribed (before July 21, 2012) through Google Friend Connect (GFC) and/or Google Reader will automatically get my posts from the new blog. You don't have to do anything. :)

New subscribers, unfortunately GFC doesn't support WordPress (my new blog system) but you can still subscribe to my blog using Google Reader by clicking this link. Select "Google" from the drop-down at the top of the page, then click "Subscribe Now."

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All images and text © Sophistique Noir Gothic Fashion Blog. Do not use any photos or text from this blog without providing a credit to me and a link back to the original post.

A Quick Hello

Hello, dear friends in Blogland!

I just wanted to take a moment to say hello and let you know I'm not out of the blog scene just yet.  ;)  As I've mentioned before, adjusting to the new job and the new commute has been incredibly challenging.  Add in a whole slew of things going on this summer and I find I barely even have time to check Facebook once or twice a week!  Much less take great outfit photos and create quality blog posts.  I don't want to squeeze blogging in at the expense of quality, so I've just had to take a little break while I catch my breath.

Mr. Kitty and I recently started a Google Calendar to help us keep track of all of the craziness life has been throwing at us, and to help us evaluate what we really want to be doing and what is just taking up time that could be spend in more valuable ways.  I think it has given us a new perspective, and helped us see when we are not leaving enough time for ourselves.  And when we are double-booking, which was starting to happen a lot because we weren't looking at the same calendar before...  ;)

My semi-hiatus from blogging will likely continue for a few more weeks, as I have decided to finally make the switch from Blogger to WordPress!  The process has been more difficult that I expected, but will be worth it in the end.  WordPress offers a version that can be installed on my own server, truly giving me full control and ownership of my blog.  As a professional Web designer/developer, I feel this makes the most sense for me.  All of my photos will be stored on my own server, not Google's servers, I can automate backups instead of having to remember to do so regularly, and modifying my blog design and composing posts will be faster and simpler.  The bottom line is, I can have a better blog, and it will be easier to run.  Best of all, I should be able to migrate my Google Friend Connect over to the new blog, so those of you who are following me should experience a seamless transition.  I hope.  ;)

I am devoting some time this weekend to perusing (and commenting on) the blogs of all the dear online friends I've made since starting Sophistique Noir.  I've missed reading your posts even more than I've missed creating posts of my own.

See you soon!  :-D

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All images and text © Sophistique Noir Gothic Fashion Blog. Do not use any photos or text from this blog without providing a credit to me and a link back to the original post.

Casual Pin-Up Goth

Click photos for larger view.

It's a holiday!!  That means I'm finally taking a break from thinking about nothing but work and breaking out a fun "weekend" outfit.  Today’s polka dot halter top from Venus needed some minor alterations (so much for their consistent sizing), but it turned out to be a wonderful buy. This is the perfect summer piece because it is made from a very lightweight fabric. I love the vintage flair it gets from the dots and the halter styling.

Whenever I want my look to go more vintage, I use flesh-toned stockings (or fishnets) rather than black. They lend more variety to my wardrobe and keep me from getting in a boring uber-Goth rut. :) This look also calls for true red lipstick, such as this one from Mary Kay called “Red.” I was totally sold on the color, but I find this lipstick to be quite dry.  It's my only Mary Kay lipstick purchase so far, so I don't know if their entire line is dry or if I just got a bad one.

This is kinda what I think Goth would have looked like if it had started in the 40s rather than the late 70s. Crosses, jet-black long hair, and bold eyeliner with elegant, mostly-black clothing in very feminine styles.

This cross came from Shrine Hollywood, and the bracelet is from Macy’s.

What by-gone era influences you the most in terms of fashion?

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All images and text © Sophistique Noir Gothic Fashion Blog. Do not use any photos or text from this blog without providing a credit to me and a link back to the original post.