Tuesday, May 15, 2012

JustFab! (Store Review)

You may have seen their ads all over the web lately, and as annoying as they may be, they are worth a look! JustFab is just that! A fabulous online store to get really kick ass shoes. However they seem to hate men...


Sorry guys, but if you're of the female variety, then you might just love what this store has. Right now they are advertising an offer for free shipping on all items. (Very rare to see online). And the prices are very reasonable. It's not a steal but they are waaay more affordable then some of the more popular goth clothing stores out there.

Speaking of which, this is not a goth store, and as far as I have seen the closest they are going for is "rock star". But that's fine, because a lot of the styles can go perfectly with the average goth outfit because your style is what you make it! Within some limitations of course... hence that whole debate about what goth is... which is a little harder to understand than what goth isn't. But another topic for another time.

The items this store is centered around is SHOES! My one weakness.

See those awesome prices I was talking about? 

Anyways, the site is set up in order of "collections" which are a combination of shoes that are organized together according to their style. There is also a big catalog you can look through that I assume shows the entire bunch. But when you first sign up to the website it takes you through a test to try to understand what your style is. My results showed me that my style was most compatible with Avril Lavigne's new collection "Abby Dawn". And I LIKEY!

Not only did I instantly get a million ideas of what I could wear with theses shoes but I also loved that they all have different names. Maybe I'm just weird but I love the idea of going to my closet and saying "Time to pull out my 'Metal Heads' *evil laugh*"

I am in love people, just call me Mrs. MFP Boots! And they're on SALE! But, my heart also belongs to another. There is one more collection that adheres the goth... *ahem* I mean "rock star" style. And that is the "Iron Fist" collection. (Back by popular demand) And it's no wonder!



You should check this website out! It's definitely worth the look see, and while you're there pick up this megababygoth something too! K?  Just go to http://www.justfab.com/index.cfm and have a look for yourself! Go! RIGHT NOW! What are you waiting for you silly goth!

Friday, April 13, 2012

Some Literature

So I'm working on this English project and its about the Modernist era, for those unfamiliar (lucky people who have a life beyond school) allow me to explain: We are basically talking about the years following WWI when everyone was for the most part depressed as far as poetry goes. Our assignment was to rewrite a romantic period poem and make it gothic modern. Its a re-creation of Percy Shelley's Ode to the West Wind. I like his poetry but I am more in love with his wife's work. (Mary Shelley who wrote Frankenstein). But here ya go, it took me a few hours but I finally came up with the finished product. hope you enjoy!

 
Dear Mr. Chesterfield, I guess it’s lucky I have no wife
None closer to me than the box in my coat pocket
None to linger on with me in agony and strife
No picture in some special locket
It’s unfortunate that my life was not the price of resolution
I pay fifteen cents to stay sane
Instead of dying like my comrades for our constitution
No, I’m still here every day mundane

Though the wind howls like a vile banshee in the night
Still I stand at the grim train station
That’s when the woman walked up to me asking for a light
Unfortunately she started the conversation
I don’t get stuck on every woman I meet and talk to
But she could not be compared to a summer’s day
A beautiful presence that demanded attention
But she was Maya and therefore not to stay
She was an illusion, everything she said a lie
I have no future further then picking up Mr. Chester everyday
I could never provide a decent life, I was not her guy
And yet I concentrated on everything she’d say

It’s just like me to see a pretty woman
Talk to her about art and imagine us middle aisle
But obviously she was too swanky
I was most certainly in denial.
But that was the case all too revolting to view
Her beauty was false, just there to torment me
Like long ago when I used to sit in a pew
There false women came, two or three
Every time she smiled at something I said
The wives of Thomas, Jim, and Fred
I saw their faces, and my stomach rips
The ones they lived for died for them
This woman represents that sorrow
She said she was going north
Things here today and gone tomorrow
As she spoke she swayed back and forth

Yes Mr. Chesterfield you are all I need
I failed and didn’t die when I should
It’s better that I didn’t pass on my seed
My friends died in front of me and there I stood
Shadows creep over the roof as the train slowly passes
The woman thanked me and went aboard
I nodded and adjusted my glasses.
Promptly after the train left the rain poured
So cruel, so unyielding, and almost with disdain
For those with no home, no roof, no comfort
But one little box keeps my thoughts plain
When lies all around me the truth contort
I’m glad she’s gone, away from my filth
Shakti is here restoring my faith
The soil of my mind has none to tilth
The smoke dances like gypsies
I exhale and sigh long
That’s when he asked me for the time
His voice interrupted my trace like a gong
I told him then he ask me for a dime

If he had caught me before I met Mr. Chesterfield
I probably would have fifteen cents to spare
But this was not a time to give what would not yield
Regardless I was not in no mood to share
And since I am not I would much rather be dead
He beat his gums about “important” business
I was more than sick of the sludge that he fed

Important men who do important things are atrocious
They think they are everything but are something less than nothing
Always talking and trying to sound precocious
Making ambitious plans while the ground they keep stuffing
The bodies are stacked high until they’re six feet under
As he spoke I relished the idea of a warm coffin
I’d be warm nowhere near this thunder
Zeus’ bolts ripped the sky like white jagged stripes
It reminded me of a sound I was all too familiar with
Planes I flew with bombs attached, all types
Dropped death from above, I wish it was pure myth
But legend they will say it was
A noble cause to fight and die for your country
They did it for honor, for pride because
Of that and this, but most didn’t live to twenty.

The man could see I was not interested in engaging
He walked off to the other end of the station probably saw
My temper was building, temperature raging
He soon spotted someone else and their ear he would gnaw
It’s fine that he leaves like all the others
Solitude is a lovely jacket that Mr. Chester and I share
Anything I can do to relieve myself of my fallen brothers
I still see them every time I close my eyes if I dare
The train engine roars as it speeds down the track
I slowly walk forward to the edge of the pier
One false step and there would be no coming back
I snicker and inhale deep looking down at my expiry that sweet dear
My fear extinguishing out of my body like the smoke from my mouth

The train was coming up fast, people were starting to realize
How ironic that this would be the end of how everything went south
Instead of dying where I expected, this is how my death would be directed
It happened in seconds and I felt nothing
My body went stiff as the train blurred by at full speed
Mere Inches in front of my face, my heart thumping
It was not my fate, not ordained creed
If I died it wouldn’t be today
There was one more thing keeping me connected
Something that made me stay
Even when I am rejected
Mr. Chesterfield is my closest ally
Near to my heart and keeping me sane
So again I puff and sigh
For now I remain


Background Information:

The first thing I did when I set out to rewrite this poem was to get a sense of what the original poem is about. So I went over the lesson that analyzes Shelley’s Ode to the West Wind. I realized what a major role Wind played to the speaker it was so important that it was worthy of a poem being written about it. Then I thought of how someone in the modernist era might have an inanimate object play such an important role. This is where I got the idea of “Mr. Chesterfield” Chesterfield was a cigarette brand in the years after WWI in the early 1920s. Like the speaker from Ode to the West Wind, something that cannot speak is personified as if it is a person that can speak. The character of the story is addicted to cigarettes and has become loyal to his favorite brand that he buys every day. Instead of romancing his relationship with “Mr. Chester” I decided to depict a scene in which the speaker is attempting to kill himself. The speaker is cynical about many things and disappointed with society. Some areas of the poem point out that he fought in the war, he feels guilty that he did not die in the war and has internal thoughts and struggles that torment him.
He is alone and alienated although two people come to speak with him to pass the time, which reflects the modern world he lives in, even with people around him he is still alone. Also I employed references to diverse cultures, belief systems, and histories by the speaker making reference to the Hindu goddesses Maya (means illusion) and Shakti (who slays demons and restores peace), and of course Zeus from Greek mythology who is the god who shoots lighting. The language is experiment and none traditional. Most of the poem fits the rhyme scheme of the original but doesn’t fit a specific structure and goes back and forth from the speaker relating the events to his personal thoughts.

Monday, April 9, 2012

Not so "Sunny" Easter Sunday

As you all know yesterday was Easter Sunday...

I would have posted ON Sunday but I was too busy being the dark cloud at the party with the distant relatives. Well... I only looked dark, but I didn't rain on anyone, ironically enough I am a very upbeat, outgoing and social person. But despite that the esthetic appeal of goth has always intrigued me and my interests continue to become more and more dark in nature to complement my dark and sometime "naughty" humor.

But back to that party I was talking about. Presently I live with my Aunt, Uncle, and Cousins. My Aunt is related to me by marriage and so their family in Indiana lives close by and they have a celebration for almost every holiday.... well the ones most Americans celebrate anyways, including Easter. Now my uncle and I are not Christian so we don't celebrate Easter. But he is obligated to go since he's married to my Aunt. I however am not married to her and are not obligated to do anything.

At first I was going to stay behind and enjoy the peace and quiet that loneliness brings but in the end I changed my mind and decided to tag along as a chance to try a low level goth look on the in-laws' side of the family, to see what would happen. Some of them had remembered me from the New Years Eve party where I appeared like a "normal" young adult without daddy never loved me issues. (Note the sarcasm in that last sentence...) It was a very simple experiment that required very little supplies.

Simply eye liner with clear lip gloss

I wasn't in very creative mood so nothing exciting going for the eyes. Just some graphite shade eye liner.... wow now that I think of it, this was an EXTREME low level goth getup... I wasn't even wearing black eyeliner...

My hair was back in a neat bun. *Scary*

I don't have anything that is most definitely goth on its own and I have very few black clothes to help the look get across but I think I did a pretty good job. This would have looked even better with my long black skirt with the slit up the leg but I decided to go with blue jeans to tone the look down.

Baby nails, nothing impressive yet....


Surprisingly enough nobody seemed to be directly avoiding me I was one of the few black people there which made me stand out, and then on top of that I was the only person wearing so much black on such a hot day. They didn't even seem to notice my claws where pointed. It might be to far for me to assume people would be afraid of me while wearing so little goth attire, but my claws should have inspired at least ONE inquiry as to whether or not I was a werewolf.

I was actually in a good mood, can't you tell?




But a las....

There was not. And my upbeat nature led me to talk, socialize and have a great time like I normally do at parties. And I suspected nothing. And so I deem the experiment a failure because I think many factors were not set up in order to prove my hypothesis correct. I wasn't looking for criticism or ignorance but I expected it and it was no where to be found. I am almost sure that I will be proven right when I go to college in August but maybe I should be looking on the bright side by being optimistic and expect most people I meet to be accepting of my darkness. That's not my style, I normally am the first to spot or expect the worst in people and in myself but maybe I'm not entirely right. But I am interested in hearing the opinions of others.

Was I not dressed "goth enough"? Was my attitude contradicting my appearance so much that it prevented negative receptions to the way I looked? (Is it the same for other goths who are shy or tend to not talk at parties?) Or was it because I was among mostly so called "family members" instead of total strangers.



A Gothy Gradutation

Greetings babybats,

Recently most of my time has been devoted to making preparations for my high school graduation. In August I will be going to Columbus Ohio for the celebration and as a girl I can't help but wonder.... What to wear... and as a goth I can't help but wonder.... How to make it devilishly dark....

However I am presented with some restrictions... or rather guidelines for myself. In normal society in America it is a custom for girls to dress like beautiful plastic flowers... This is obviously not my style so I intend to represent myself in what makes me happy. But this is the first time most of my friends, family members, and teachers will see me in anything so "rebellious". Not that I care about that TOO much, but I don't want to send all the children running away in fear. I would rather easy people into my goth look step by step.

Hopefully anyone reading will lend their ideas and those of you other babygoths trying to prepare for a classy event will have some inspiration.

So anyway, here is what I'm thinking....


This dress is a cross between Victorian and Lolita. I think its just charming! Says professional, and sophisticated. :D The style is not too dramatic for a graduation and at the same time it is not some sort of flowery mess that my mother probably expects me to show up in... oh won't she be surprised...



Despite the unfortunate background on this picture that is burning my eyes- This is a Lolita style dress. I like this one a little less then the one above but it has that baby doll high collar that I like but I'm not sure I have the waist for something like this. I might have to do an uncommon thing among goths and actually wear a corset under the outfit. I know, how dare I, the goth police will be at my door any second....


This is a black prom dress, its not goth but I was thinking a well placed jacket and headdress (when I'm not wearing the cap that goes to the gown) could totally change the look into something amazing.

 And last but not least, makeup!

It didn't take long to find something good. Here if my favorite that I found. I have done a similar look to this before but no where near this magnitude.



By the way, you should check out chienkiri's Channel
she has a lot of other looks that you might like.

And that's all for now younglings, until next time....


Wednesday, March 28, 2012

God Thinks...

Ok... right now I am stalking Voltaire, and everyone knows that whenever you impersonate a musician's shadow the first rule is: Look them up on Wikipedia and examine all their albums song by song. Thank you Industrial Revolution! (another song). And it didn't take long for me to listen to "God Thinks".

I must say its a very thought provoking song. Basically what I gather is that its about how people use God's name to say their own opinions. I was very inspired by this song because I think it represents the free minds that a lot of goths are known for.

Its not about condemning religion but about accepting people for what they are and realizing that perhaps there is a chance that you are not 100% correct in your beliefs, and that maybe you should stop being self-righteous, judgmental, and using God's name for your own agenda.




Thursday, March 22, 2012

When You're Evil

I just heard "When You're Evil" by Voltaire and... oh.... my....

This song is amazing! I am probably lowering your expectations by promoting him as awesome, but since I like his music so much I don't really care, why? Because I'm evil! If you haven't heard any of his music, as a babygoth I think it would be a good idea to educate ourselves.



But you don't have to thank me for recommending the song, however I do take donations in all forms of currency, cash, credit, tears, etc. 

Want more Voltaire? Me too! Check Out His Website!

Phase or Lifestyle Choice?

Greetings my fellow gothlings,

Just a thought that came to mind when I was reading the not so daily ramblings of a certain goth of color by the name of Dismantlynn. And that thought was "Do I really want to be goth or is this a phase?" Of course one doesn't know one is in a phase while one is in it does one? Or to put it more simply... how do you know if your 'legit' and being goth for the right reasons? Please don't ask what made me question myself, I really don't know.

Or perhaps I do... maybe it was because I have been reading about goths that have been true to themselves for years now and this made me wonder if I had what it takes to last the test of time. I tried being goth a few years ago when I was 16 but got discouraged by peer pressure (typical I know). 



This was my everyday look, and I thought I looked pretty damn good but sadly it was not to last for I quickly backed out of my "phase" since it wasn't received well by friends and family. I don't blame them because I know that I was the one who was too chicken to do what I wanted. But now that I am 18, starting college in August and back to wanting to pursue my dark nature but somehow I am still considering the opinions of others even though I generally pride myself on not caring what people think about me.


And with all this thinking I am wondering if I will eventually give up again or stay true to myself. One of the reasons that made it harder to continue with being goth was that I had no elder goth in my life to lead me or any goth friends or acquaintances, and was completely unaware of the goths populating the internet. BUT now I do know how helpful the internet can be, I plan to suck it dry for all its worth.... cheesy pun intended...

If you have had, used to have, or are currently having a similar experience with this please feel free to comment below or email me about it.