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?