Outfit of the Day

Dressing up in fun clothing is absolutely delightful. This is my first attempt at fashion blogging, in terms of having an outfit that I am pleased with, and telling the world about the pieces that I am wearing and so on. Here is the outfit that I wore while I was at the Telus Spark Science Centre.

I kind of arbitrarily threw this together, but I really liked how it turned out. I keep dressing like an AWOL hippie or something. The outfit is compiled of a few pieces that I picked up yesterday, on sale. 

Camouflage vest- I bought this vest at Urban Outfitters. I've never been to Urban Outfitters before, but I found so many things that I absolutely adored. In the sale section, I found this cool vest. Normally, I wouldn't buy camo, because my brother is in the military and I think that it's sometimes a bit cheesy to wear camouflage when there isn't a point. However, because of the studs and embroidered strips that make it look pretty cool. I've come to really like it. I paid $10, but it was originally $50 or so.

Frontier Hero t-shirt- Also from Urban Outfitters, this is a cool t-shirt. It has a really Americana design on the front, and says 'Frontier Hero' on it. It's a really comfortable t-shirt, and the design just fits to my personality. Old West and Western themes for the win! The shirt ended up being $5, normally $20 or $30.

Galaxy leggings- $10 from Ardene's. 

Denim cut-offs- Made these this morning. Jeans were ripped and I've had them forever. 

Combat boots- Vintage, inherited from my mum. There's beautifully worn, and continue to be the most comfortable shoes I've ever owned.

Style Influences

It's been quite a while since I posted on this blog, hasn't it? I was just sitting on a pile of blankets (in a pseudo-Princess and the Pea fashion, perhaps?) and going on yet another Rob Zombie binge. I've been listening to a lot of Rob Zombie lately, and I may be judged, but whatever. I like Rob Zombie, dangnabbit! I can't really watch any of his movies all the way through, of late, but I'm going to get through them. Even if I have nightmares. 

Any ways, shall I get to the point now? Yes, I think so too.

I was listening to Rob Zombie and drawing a picture of him, based off this photo

which is from the music video for one of his newer songs, Dead City Radio. I've been listening to this song at least one a day since I heard of its existence, and I love watching it. I love how Rob Zombie looks, and I want to dress like him. Maybe a slightly more feminine version, and without dreadlocks (because I'm lazy. I do love his dreads, though. I'm fairly jealous of Rob Zombie's hair. It's just such a marvelously chaotic tangle!). This led me to realize just how many of my style and fashion influences are men. Actually, a great deal of my influences in general are male. From arbitrary scenes in film, to the way a musician is dressed on their album cover, to the words they weave in novels. Ultimately, my only strong and constant female influence is Alison Mosshart. There are others, but Alison Mosshart is just beautiful and a creature of wonder. Even then, I am equally influenced by Jamie Hince, the other half of the band The Kills.

Fun Fact: A combination of Alison Mosshart and Andy Warhol is what prompted me to wear Wayfarer sunglasses before it was trendy.

Other than Alison Mosshart, most of the influences that I can think of offhand are male. Just to name a few...

Astronautalis- A rapper from all around the United States (mostly Florida). His lyrics are absolutely beautiful, and his music is perfect. He's also one of the most well-read people that I've ever had the pleasure of speaking to and meeting. His style seems to be pretty laid back, but I have so much respect for it. From his worn-looking leather shoes and thick wool sweaters to his tattoos and jewelry. 

Probably one of the better dressed musicians I've ever seen. And man. If I could write lyrics like him...

Hunter S. Thompson- I adore two authors. Hunter S. Thompson and Charles Dickens. I've always been an avid reader, and I do have a lot of adoration for Brothers Grimm and L. Frank Baum. Recently I've been reading as much Hunter S. Thompson as I can find, and I bought a pair of aviator glasses with yellow lenses. Even if there isn't a lot about his clothing that influences me, he still does. Not to mention the fact that his writing is a curious kind of masterpiece, where the world takes drastic turns. I'm currently reading The Rum Diary. I bought it a couple of days ago and I'm already half way through. Not a big book, so I'm trying to savour it. 

Andy Warhol- Where would I be in life without Andy Warhol? If I could meet any artist who ever lived, it would be Andy Warhol. The reason I love Pop art, and why I painted my chair silver. And, as mentioned, one of the core reasons I started wearing Wayfarer sunglasses. I love everything about the man. His view on the world, his silver hair, his black clothing and his odd films. Sometimes I wonder if his song Coca-Cola is the reason I wanted to play music. And no, you cannot listen to that song. It's impossible to find and seemingly only exists on vinyl, in the collection of a person in Montreal. What I wouldn't give to hear that song again. Though, it's nice having it in my head. It's like a precious treasure. A delicious secret that has nestled close to my heart and will never let me go. Sometimes I think that people don't believe me when I tell them about it. It seems that most people don't believe that it exists. But it does. I don't know what it is about Andy Warhol that caught my heart and soul. I think that ultimately, I just want to be like Andy Warhol. 

There are so many others. Jack White, Eugene Hutz... And I've realized that I keep going off style and just influence in general. If I keep going that way, I'll never stop writing this. Still, if someone influences the way that you create and think and see the world, they must influence the way you dress. Even if it's a subtle way or means that you have buttons or patches on your clothing. At least in my world that's how it works.

Day 211: Best intentions

Okay, okay, okay. I had the best intentions of sitting down and making something really great, and really different. However, I decided to be more productive in the long run and do laundry and clean my room. This will make me more productive in the long run. Though I can longer safely open my closet. Whatever. It was doomed any ways. I managed to clean off the majority of my work table. Both on top and underneath. I now have the option to dismantle it and set up my wake table if I want.

Can you believe that this is what it looks like to be clean? Yeah. Me neither.

Now, I will discuss what I thought about making.

1. A 19th century marionette. I was inspired by amazing marionettes on the V&A website. Ones like...

 

Both of these were made by Tiller Family, in the 1870s. Aren't they fascinating? Especially the one with the three heads!

2. Paint a buzz saw blade. I have one... So why not. I'm thinking something side-show ish. Or something cheeky.

3. Make shorts. My pants have a hole in them. I am thinking that I will now shorten them, and add lace. 

Good news is that tomorrow I will be able to come home from work and do all kinds of wonderful things. Hurrah!

High time...

I thought that it was high time that I actually post photos of a couple of my steampunk outfits. Both of these photos are from steampunk meet-ups that I have attended recently. I cropped out other people out of one photo (mostly because I'm pressed for time and didn't want to assume that it would be okay. Though the photo is on the internet any ways...).

The tall and skinny photo to the left is my Tim Burton- Dickensian outfit, that I wore to the very rainy Summer Skirmish at the Military Museums. Very few steampunks showed up (because of the pouring rain), but it was enjoyable. Just a tad wet. I'm just delighted to spend time with my beloved friends and fiancee, eat cozy pub food, and find a wake table (I'm so delighted about it. And even better- no more ghostly encounters than normal!).

Last night was this month's steamup, and it was absolutely lovely. It's so nice to be in a funeral home turned pub surrounded by dear friends, all decked out in beautiful costumes. My fiancee and I took a Lovecraftian route. He was a professor, researching idols relating to the Cthulhu mythos. I was a person turned a little mad by looking too far into the eyes, and attempting to read the text. I think that I am going to do a full-on mental patient outfit for October's steamup. Something with a medical corset and a disheveled nightgown and full make up. Last night's outfit was merely a hint. Not remotely obvious.