>> September 20, 2007, 4:17 pm
by
La Carmina
in
Fashion >>
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I never shop at H&M or Forever 21 because the quality is atrocious (and I’m horrified by the notion that I’m wearing the same brands as mallrats). But if we all played by the rules, we’d live in a world without Bjork or Bowie or Bennie and the Jets. So I gave myself a challenge: can I put together a Gothic Lolita outfit using ubiquities from "disposable" clothing chains? Here’s what I came up with:
Blouse: Forever 21; $20; 100% polyester. Horrid material, but the ruffled front hangs in a not-unappealing manner. I tied the bottom of the blouse together instead of buttoning it up. The lacy sleevelets, a.k.a. eyesores, are pushed back.
Tank top: Shady Limited; 100% cotton. A freebie from August’s Magic Tradeshow in Las Vegas. I looked up the brand and guess what – it’s Eminem’s clothing line!
Skirt: H&M; $20; 64% polyester, 33% rayon, 3% spandex. The fabric looks a tad cheap, but I dig the silhouette and the three tiers of ruffles.
Boots: my old Doc Martens, which I re-laced with two different shades of green suede.
Pig: Monokuro Boo. A gift from the Sanrio Shop. He’s squishy.
Not bad for $40, wouldn’t you agree?
>> September 20, 2007, 2:52 pm
by
La Carmina
in
How Tos >>
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Perhaps what I love most about Gothic Lolita is the way it juxtaposes “eww” and “aww.” What more fitting way to play than with creepy-crawly toys?
You too can have an insect stuck to your chest. Assemble the following: 1) hardcore glue (Krazy works); 2) thread (black, or whatever is least distracting); 3) an unwanted flat promo button/pin ('Al Gore for President'); and 4) a plastic toy insect (preferably Insecta or Arachnida ). I found my cockroach and spider in a Canadian dollar store.
To make the accessory: 1) apply glue to the surface of the button; 2) firmly press the insect on top; 3) create a seatbelt by winding thread around the pin and the insect’s torso.
The brooch can be heavy, so it works best on sturdy fabrics. For extra fun, remove the pin before meeting friends and throw it on the table at an opportune moment. Naughty, naughty!
