Outfit #28

Untitled #119 by labelleestlabete

I wanted to make a slightly fancier "day" outfit - you could also wear this clubbing, but I would swap out the Alexander Wang pullover for a more fitted top. An underbust corset like these would work really well with the line of the skirt.

I started off with the Alexander McQueen skirt, which is cut along the same lines as a lot of gothic lolita skirts, like this one (this one is punk lolita, but the two are closely related). I liked the full, tiered structure of the skirt and I used it as a base to build the rest of the set.

I used the pullover and the waterfall jacket from Miss Selfridge to add some more layers and visual interest with the different fabrics and textures. 

For accessories, I added leggings (you know how I feel about sudden breezes while wearing short skirts), a spine bracelet by
Ayaka Nishi, and the bag from Cesare Paciotti.
I used Harley Davidson boots to finish off the outfit. I think the skirt looks better with a bit of a heel, instead of flat combat boots.

Finally, I added a nail polish idea - matte black nails are an update of the classic black polish. Back in the old days, before Chanel came out with their range of black polishes, you were stuck scouring markets or Hallowe'en stores for your gothy makeup needs. Fortunately, Stargazer and Manic Panic were on hand later on to make things easier, and now black nail polish can be found pretty much everywhere.

Outfit #25

Untitled #117 by labelleestlabete

We've hit a milestone - 25 posts! It's not that many, but considering my old blogs got boring before I even got this far, it's pretty good.

Today's set started with the dress by Australian label Camilla and Marc. I chose this one because it reminded me of a Vivienne Westwood piece - for example, this one. The one in the set is made of crepe and has a much less intimidating price point!

I added the Alexander McQueen jacket and the Yves Saint Laurent boots to keep the look classy rather than rough around the edges like some (read: most) of my other sets. The studs on the jacket and the buckle of the dress's belt are both brass-coloured, so I matched the clasp on the handbag with those details. I actually chose the bag first, then added the jacket to tie it together.

I finished off the look with the gloves because I liked the unusual bow detail on them. I used skeleton cameo earrings to add some gothic flair, and a beret because I couldn't find a suitable felt hat to go with the look. There's still a lot of fedoras floating around... 

Outfit #18

Untitled #111 by labelleestlabete 

This set started with the Demobaza leggings. I mentioned Demobaza in this post, and right now, I think they're one of my favourite brands.  They have a lot in common with Rick Owens, including the price point!
Both brands are part of a new trend in goth styles - the "upper-class goth" look. Since all of the original goths from the early 80s are in their late forties to early fifties now, they've had a lot of time to build careers and get themselves a good income. When their kids are grown, they have money to spend on things they like, including high-end designer gear that fits the aesthetic.
The scarf is from EMP, which has a  big selection of clothing to choose from. Another popular shop is X-tra-x, which has plenty of outlets in Germany (including clearance outlets, which are awesome).
The boots are from Fly London, and I think they match the look of the trousers. I added the armour-look bag, and a couple of accessories to finish it off.

Outfit #9

Cashmere Snake by labelleestlabete

This is a pretty old set - they're building up on my Polyvore, so I sort of gave up naming them all after a while.

This set was based around the Theory shorts and the Rick Owens sweater. I love sweaters with extra-long sleeves, because I'm 5'11" (180cm) with the obligatory long arms. People often say they'd like to be taller, but it's not really that great. You have to choose tops and sweaters with care, otherwise it looks like they shrank in the wash. The cropped sweater trend was a nightmare of finding something you really like, then checking it out in the mirror and realising you look like you shop in the kids' section.*
Ditto trousers - capri pants are usually acceptable, but pegged or ankle-length trousers look daft unless you're wearing heels or boots.
So, that's why I like extra-long everything - it makes me look less giraffe-like. It's the same principle as the "huge bag, huge sunglasses, big floppy hat" trend from a couple of years ago: if all your accessories are huge, you look smaller in comparison. There's a hint of Lewis Carroll about the whole thing, IMO.


*(Confession: I actually do shop in the kid's section on occasion. They often go up to sizes for 13-15 year olds - in fact H&M have a lot of things that will even fit giraffes like me. You have to trawl through a lot of glittery pink gear, but there's good stuff to be found. Their boys' T-shirts are pretty awesome too. Also, if you have a Primark near you, the best T-shirts are in men's section.)