Thursday, January 28, 2010

Lest We Not Forget Life...

No fashion today. It can take the day off for more important things.


Rest peacefully, J Rivet. Your energy lives on through all those who knew you and saw you perform live. Your fans will carry you forever. Behold a man as he becomes a legend.

x*
R

Note: I had a disgusting typo in the second sentence here. I fixed it.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

A Corset that Won't Break the Bank? No Such Thing!

I wanted to keep this little gem a secret from the mass public, but it's really too awesome to keep between myself and friends. Recently, I stumbled across Naughty Design Studio on ebay, and was skeptical about the quality of their corsets. They had stunning designs, but the price point worried me. I talked about this seller with fellow models Lily Lisa and Chloe Von Creepy who both had ordered from this seller. I was too impatient to hear if they enjoyed their purchases and ordered my own. I picked the style below.


Image (c) Naughty Design Studio / Model: Bernie Dexter

Isn't Bernie Dexter beautiful? Seeing her as the spokes-model for this brand gave me confidence that the quality would be good, and it was a great gable to take. For the price point, these corsets are of outstanding quality for the casual wearer.

These corsets are made of organic cotton and have 12 flat steel bones on standard models, 20 flat bones on a waist training corset, and include thick vintage style removable garter straps and ribbon to lace the back if you don't want the cord it comes laced with. They claim the corsets are hand made, but they are tagged as "Made in India." Boo. But, the quality is quite good and the bones are strong and solid. The front busk closure is very solid and the back lacing is supported by heavy grommets and flat steel bones.

Here's me in my corset. I achieved a 4 inch reduction with my roommate lacing me in quickly. We didn't lace it as tight at it could go at the top or bottom. I apologize for the low quality. The shot is from my cell phone.

 

My torso is a bit short, so this standard length corset became a long line for me. On someone with a longer torso, this corset would hit mid-hip.

These corsets are not cut to fit and come in standard sizes with 2'' increments and starting at 20'' and going up to 38''. Their introductory price range is from $50 to $70 dollars for under and over-bust corsets. Their waist trainer is $110. Check out the full catalog for all their beautiful styles. They even have amazing sequin covered ones!

A little about corsets for those of you who have never owned one or are used to the mall-bought plastic boned bustiers:

Corsets were traditionally undergarments worn by both men and women from the 16th to 19th century. The main purpose of a corset was to shape the figure by creating a tapered waist. There was a period during the 1800's where the smaller the waist, the more beautiful a woman was seen as. This is where most of the myths concerning the dangers of corsetry come from. Today, many women and some men continue to wear corsets to achieve a slimmer body shape. However, caution should be taken when wearing a corset, especially a steel boned one. A good rule of thumb for wearing corsets is that if it hurts, you're doing it wrong. When a corset is tightened properly, you should not have shortness of breath or any pain in your ribs. Over-wearing corsets for extended hours on a daily basis can be dangerous if you lace them too tightly. Also, waist training is a process that shifts the organs and ribs to permanently create a smaller waist and should only be attempted by those with an extensive knowledge of corsetry and with heavy boned corsets made for the wearer. If you try to train too tightly or with a mass produced corset, you can put excess pressure on your organs and ribs.

Like anything, wearing a corset is only dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. There are many websites out there which have very extensive descriptions of the proper ways to wear different style corsets.

Come this week, an interview with S. Jenx of The Fall Studios!

x*
R

Friday, January 22, 2010

Carny Trash... For A Day

I don't know about you, but I love the carnival/Beetlejuice feel of black and white stripes. I'm always on the lookout for awesome garments in this classic pattern with an awesome alty twist. I mean... let's face it, black and white striped pants are just a little too, "One. Big. Dark. Room," for most people. But, that never stopped me from pushing the carny envelope.


Image (c) Forever 21 / forever21.com

Not only is this skirt a chip off the Beetle block, but it's f*cking cute too! The vertical stripes will make your legs look longer and at only 18'' from the waist to hem, this skirt is actually a bit shorter than it looks. The flared top of waist also helps to hide any awkwardly tucked in blouses. The pleating also sits nicely over the hips, even wider hips, a rarity for Forever 21, where the clothes are all on some bizarre unregulated size scale. I managed to find one of these skirts at my local F21, but it's also available at Forever 21.com. Try calling your local F21 to see if they have it in stock before venturing out, as their retail stores are notorious for being a clusterf*ck of confused fashion. At only $19.80, this adorable skirt will get you far! But wait, there's more!



Image (c) Sarah May Photography / Love Child Boudoir

Wow! This opera-style shrug from Love Child Boudoir is stunning! Love Child Boudoir, one of my favorite Etsy sellers, has lots of shrugs and tie on bustles at wonderful prices for custom made garments. I fell in love with this shrug long after discovering Love Child, but have always been a fan and own a few of their pieces. More on those later, but now... the shrugs! These faux collars wrap around the neck and over the arms and tie with ribbon at the middle back. While some shrugs on the market are more like jackets, these shrugs are fully adjustable to any size, so there's no worry about it not fitting. Check out Love Child Boudoir on Etsy for more of their great products ranging from $20 for tops and shrugs to $120 for jackets and specialty items. This particular striped shrug weighs in at $40 because of the detailing. Most items ship for around $10 to the States from the UK. Not a bad deal for some awesome custom made pieces that are sure to stand out!

Coming soon! An interview with Philly photographer and progressive dark artist S. Jenx, mastermind of The Fall Studios and Obscura: In Counter Culture We Trust. See what he has to say about art and the rumor that he doesn't even exist. S. Jenx launches his new book, "The Desecration Diaries," tonight at Digital Ferret Records off South Street in Philly.

x*
R

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

No Mystery Here, Scully!

Who doesn't like a good pair of heels, right? These sequinned wonders are not only eye catching, but, decked out in digiskulls, they also have an edge that is sure to cut.


Image (c) IronFist / www.ironfist.com

Available in green with purple skulls and black with pink skulls (above) these shoes from Iron Fist are not subtle footwear. While they are wonderful for adding a spark to any outfit, I wouldn't recommend them for office wear unless you have an amazing job.

Available from ironfist.com, these shoes retail for $45. Eh... I don't think so. The bargain: hottopic.com or your local Hot Topic store may have these stellar heels in stock, along with other Iron Fist beauties, starting at $32.99!

What's your say on light reflecting sequin and rhinestone heels? Vote on the poll to the right!

x*
R

That Sh*t's Ugly...

...and I f*cking love it.

Being a model, I have been a thrifty shopper for several years. I love finding adorable clothes at amazing prices. And I love sharing those finds with my friends. I literally find dozens of amazing clothes and shoes every day, either at the mall or online.

Now, I'll be sharing all of that here for anyone who cares. Not only will I have up my own personal fashion picks, but also their price range and where to find them. And, since I buy more clothes and shoes than is practical, I'll also have reviews of what I personally purchase, so you can check out whether it's worth your hard earned dollars too.

Yes, there are tons of save-money-look-good blogs out there, so what makes mine any different? I'm catering specifically to my people, the alternative community. Anyone who's lived in the underground knows that it doesn't come cheap. Things like latex and corsets are not only hard to come by, but are expensive. Fetish shoes, also can cost a bundle. I'll be posting my favorite places to get these coveted items at the best prices I can find, to save everyone else the search.

Looking for something specific? I probably am too! So comments and emails about specific items are welcome any time. And since I love shopping so much, I won't hesitate to start a new search.

While this is a new blog, expect a fashion find later today!

x*
R