Fashion inspiration: studded pointed shoes by Frankie Morello

One word: stunning....

New items on the website: Black long sleeved lace gown

I can't remember if I mentioned here about the photoshoot I had recently (I definetely did on my facebook page, if you don't follow me, please, do ;)
This is one of the pics of that photoshoot (more pics coming soon) and I designed this gorgeous gown just before the shoot so I wanted it to be included. I think it will be a gorgeous piece for any smart occasions, including weddings. It is sooo darkly elegant, it is sure to be a staple piece in Morticia's black wardrobe. What do you think?

The stunning model is Whiskey Raven and the photographer is the talented Glo Mason from InaGlo Photography. (Links to their facebook pages are on their names).

Click here to see more pics and info on my website: http://www.theblackwardrobe.com/Shop/product.php/76/black_long_sleeved_lace_gown

Morticia Addams' dress

December is just round the corner so I am very busy making new pieces for the website. I am particularly interested in evening wear at the minute as it is what people are demanding right now for Christmas. I just finished several pieces including a stunning 30s/40s lace gown and a dramatic velvet pencil number with a breathtaking lace piece going across the chest. I will post them here as soon as they go on the website.
In the meantime.....

 I want to show you the real Morticia Addams dress! I came across it while checking my polyvore page (feel free to check out my sets, here)

It is for auction! The starting bid is from $2000 (not cheap) on liveauctioneers.com (this is the link, in case you want to have a quick nosey).

This is the description: 900. Angelica Huston "Morticia Addams" dress from Addams Family Values. (Paramount, 1993). A full-length form-fitting black gown with cobweb motif on the sleeves worn by Angelica Huston in the role of "Morticia Addams" in Addams Family Values.

This dress looks fantastic. Much simpler than I thought, despite all that beading work on sleeves and godets.

However, I have to say, being a cinematographic piece, I was expecting something more complex and extravagant, more haute-couture- inspired, like the other design shown in the pic below. Maybe, layers of lace, ripped/unfinished chiffon, jet black jewels sewn into the bodice?... I still love it, thought. 

I always wanted this dress, since I was little. I love the shape, so 30s. I am starting to wonder if I should make something like this for my label.
What do you think? Do you like it or like me, expected more? Would you wear it to outside of Halloween or Whitby/Treffen Gothic Festival?

Here is a link to a blog devoted to Morticia Addams. Very good pictures and graphics.
http://fymorticiaaddams.tumblr.com/

Gothic fashion windows

Loving the Dark doesn't mean loving to be dead.

While everyone in the fashion world are still coming to terms with McQueen's death, tributes to his persona are being held in most of the key fashion places such as the fashion weeks (London and NY so far...) and London department stores such as Libertys.
Mcqueen was one of my favourite designers because he was a master of theatrical and phantasmagorical outfit and stage creations. A master of the Haute Macabre. He combined a complex and amazing mix of haute couture out-of-reality pieces with wearable elements. Obviously, his creations (at one time very very gothic and alternative) became stated, commercial -yet still creative- pieces that some people confided me that were mostly made by students and apprentices....

Because of his death, there are some testimonials that have brought out, yet again, some false stereotypes about Goths and other Dark enthusiasts, like me, like McQueen! and I want to clarify them. I am sure most of you who read this blog will agree, but as usual, I welcome and encourage! any comments or opinions. For instance, I have read that Karl Lagerfeld said:
"There was always some attraction to death, his designs were sometimes dehumanised..."
"Who knows, perhaps after flirting with death too often, death attracts you," he apparently added.

No Goth, I think, or at least the few I have met in my life are dreaming of killing themselves. An enthusiasm for the Dark, means just that. There are cases and there always will be of people who are attracted to the Dark because they are depressed (or freaks!), so they find it easier to connect with Gothic because they already are "living in the gloom" but that is not usually the case! I have always loved Gothic and I didn't know such a thing existed as concept until I met two girls in high school and told me..."actually, this thing you like and admired so much is called Gothic".. Back then and still now, I have no intention of killing myself, despite still enjoying having quiet walks down the cemeteries, admiring the gorgeous stonegraves.
McQueen was in a state of depression, he even left a note, and his mum (the closest person to him in life, it has been stated) was just gone. I bet you that when he did kill himself, the last thing he would be doing was choosing what fabric would go in his coffin. There is nothing romantic about Death, Robert Smith once said. How true....


Here is the blog where I got this wonderful picture:
http://thegothicclothing.com/archives/alexander-mcqueen-style

Here is the article if you want to read more:
http://uk.fashionmag.com/news-88216-British-fashion-designer-McQueen-hanged-himself

Glamourous draped front soft-jacket

Hi everyone! I-ve just finished a beautiful jacket so I was dying to post the pics on the blog.
As you can see, it is a very feminine and flattering jacket with the "somehow retro feel" trademark of TheBlackWardrobe... ;)
It has a beautiful waterfall of drapes at the front than can be cinched with a satin ribbon and the neckline is adorned with a discrete frill of satin (lined with jersey).
It will look perfect on a pencil skirt or any other fitted bottoms. It's on sale on the website for £60. (plus £8 shipping for Europe, for overseas, please ask). It is handmade by me (like everything else).
There are more pics on the website, have a look, give feedback or place an order!
theblackwardrobe.com

More fashion tips for your daily black wardrobe: BE CLEVER

When you are in your spare time (in a night out, at home, with your friends in the city...), dress as you want. No-one should have the right to insult you or tell you off. (Although some twats still think they do have that right...)

Another thing is when you are at work.....or in any other daily-life situation where your attire could get you into trouble or, in the worst cases, into pure discrimination. (Which is illegal BUT it happens).

Here is where you have to play the clever game. We already know that ignorants associate gothic fashion with ripped fishnets, badly dyed hair, vampire makeup and any other grungeness in general. However, although you are dressed in your beautiful and modern fantastic outfit you´re still a "Goth" or a "evil-worshiper" for them. And for them, head to toe Gothic IS still more frightening than fabulous.

The plan is to look as simple as you can. Tame down the textures (minimize the use of luxurious textures such lace, velvet and satin to details or key pieces). There are more tips on this post: http://the-black-wardrobe.blogspot.com/search/label/gothic%20fashion%20tips OR if you really want to wear that dramatic piece (a lace blouse, those studded pointed shoes), coordinate it with a casual-neutral piece like skinny jeans or a very plain black skirt. If you don´t mind wearing a completely neutral look, keep the drama just in the accesories (pvc shoes, a stunning brooch, long leather gloves)

COLOURS:

remember there´s more than just black. Experiment with grey, navy blue or the classy black&white combination. The trick is to semi-hide yourself, if they´re that clever, they will know you are a Goth or Goth lover. But usually, people are not that clever...and at some point, they start asking questions....leave them in the doubt. Other colours that would really be interesting too are plum, cream (it enfasizes the pallor of your skin because of its pastel shade), and burgundy. However, never wear purple! never, never, never. Besides being a very easy stereotype, it´s been proved in psychological studies of colour that purple´s an unsocial colour. If you want to be the distant, "no-one wants to be near person" that is the colour to go for. But we don´t want to be that, do we? We need to pay bills....

What NOT TO WEAR to work (all together): pointed shiny shoes (aggresive-sharp lines, and strong sexual connotation), a satin piece (very evening and again, sexual connotation), dramatic make-up (again, sexual connotation-"femme fatalle"). There´s a stunning mix of luxurious textures, sharp lines, combined with a super-shaped feminine siluette (due to a super fit mini)....All that combination of things screams "goth"! Again, choose one thing as the main stand-out piece of your look.

What to wear to work: here are two examples of key pieces combined with flat ones in order to minimize the drama of your attire. In the first pic, what it seems to be a heavy-weight brocade skirt is been tamed down with a plain matt shirt and the look it is been finished with a thin piece of jewelry that will not distract the attention to the skirt. In the second pic, a decadent ruffle shirt is been combined with plain black pants, in this case, skinny that gives more volumen to the upper part of the body. In both pictures, the make-up is been kept to the minimal which is a good trick if you skin is extremely pale.

5th look, all pics are blurred sorry....

Here comes the 5th look!
Long sleeved victorian shirt with lace panels on the front. Collar in satin.
If you look closer, you will see satin seams between the lace panels. It is meant to create the effect of a cobweb.
The pencil, high-waisted skirt has sating "legs" that stand out from the surface.
I do apologize for the quality of the pictures, again....
I´m sorry....

Fashion tips for your daily black wardrobe

I´ve been searching everywhere for a interesting and practical list of gothic fashion tips without falling into the obvious topics: "wear velvet...wear silver crosses". I don´t dismiss the traditional look at all but this blog, my work- it´s aimed at the practical Goth: how to dress Goth without making people scream in your workplace and other daily-life places in general......
The following list is been written by Christine Stoddard, writer and artist from The States, whose work has appeared in numerous publications both print and online.

TIP #1
"Wear black the right way: In small quantities, black is stunning. In large quantities, black is morbidly unattractive. You can achieve the slimming effect black brings without shrouding yourself in all-black outfits. Pair black with navy, forest green, dark brown, deep violet, charcoal gray, burgundy and similar drab colors or use them as complete alternatives to black. Also remember that black and scarlet or black and purple are two popular Goth color combinations".

I partially disagree with this statement, you can still wear black from head to toes without looking over-dramatical. You have to options: keep it black but plain, or if you go for accesories, use one dramatical statement piece (a pair of shoes, a nice piece of jewellery, a contrast belt, a dramatic bag....etc)







TIP #2
"Wear silver jewelry: Silver charm necklaces and bracelets are popular Goth accessories. Look for charms like lockets, birdcages, crosses, skulls, suns, moons, stars, owls, unicorns, and fairies. Avoid bright gold-colored jewelry. Faded gold jewelry looks best if paired with silver pieces. Try putting some lightweight faded gold and silver chains together with a scoop neck or V-neck blouse. Silver chandelier earrings with beads are also classically Goth. Just remember, that the dressier the jewelry, the subtler the clothes should be, at least for day".





TIP #3
"Wear textured hosiery: Hosiery can make an outfit. For a sophisticated Goth look, go for fine fishnets in black, charcoal, chocolate, burgundy, and forest green. Avoid fishnets with giant holes, as they reveal too much flesh in an unflattering way. (If you’re aiming to show off a little skin, better unbutton your blouse for some cleavage instead or simply go barelegged.) Pair textured hosiery with plain skirts and dresses---no competing textures or patterns, like reflective silk or floral. Opaque tights in black and interesting shades of wine and plum are good for more intricate dresses and skirts".

I would also like to add that if you are going for the plain-black look, a pair of lace tights will not only add the gothic bit to it but it would make it look very very elegant without looking too-dressy. Another colour that would really suits the gothic skin-types is cream. It´s a very romantic colour that works very well with black, adding a softness to the somehow harsh black and it emphasizes the pallor of white skins.




TIP #4
"Wear dark velvet: Everything-even lounge pants-looks elegant in velvet. But as tempting as it may be to drape yourself all over in this comfortable fabric, try to add variety to an outfit by mixing in other materials. Wear a velvet hoodie over a cotton tee or a velvet skirt with a fitted wool sweater. Also search for jeans with velvet details, like velvet embellished embroidery or velvet covered pockets. If real velvet is too expensive for your budget, search for polyester or rayon textured like velvet. They give the same effect for far less money and most people cannot even distinguish between the two".

My tip is, avoid velvet unless the piece is plain. Because it´s a very luxurious and shiny fabric, you would end up looking too dressy with it and the Gothic look is VERY easy to overdue. If you still want to wear velvet in your outfit, use a key piece for it (a burgundy or black blazer, a skirt or a top).



TIP #5
"Wear lace: Lace is the most feminine of fabrics, which is why it’s so hard to wear well without seeming like you’re in a period piece. The key is to mix lace with more gender-neutral or even masculine fabrics to offset its inherent flounce. That’s why black leather and lace are such a classic combination. Another idea is throwing a casual fitted cardigan over a lace-trimmed camisole (or two or three layered camisoles). Black or burgundy lace trim is also a classy trim for jeans and denim jackets. Lace chokers are graceful touches to any outfit, but to avoid looking too dressed up during the day, throw on some jeans or a casual top. Also shop for lace headbands for girly panache".







TIP #6
"Wear pearls: Pearl necklaces, long or short, are classy additions to any outfit. Pearl bracelets look very Victorian, but for a modern touch, stack them up with short-sleeved or sleeveless tops. Also search for buttons and jackets with pearl buttons. Be careful when shopping for peal earrings---they can easily look too matronly. Tiny pearl studs are usually the freshest, most modern size. Small pearl drop earrings are also lovely. Look for pieces in black pearls, too, which are gorgeously Goth when paired with black lace".

Don´t look for pearl buttons! Just thinking of it, eeeeeegk!, it would make the piece look SO old fashion, but in the bad way! I would prefer to see pearls only on jewellery.



TIP #7
"Wear tall boots: boots don’t have to be high-heeled, but they should cover the majority of the calf. Look for leather or suede or convincing vinyl and details like laces and subtle buckles. Black, gray, brown, red, and purple are the ideal colors, especially in darker shades. Find sleek cuts and steer clear of anything that screams ‘high school punk rock concert,’ like mega-platforms".

My tip is, wear any shoes you want. Pointed, rounded, modern, old fashion (eg, Mary Janes) as long as you feel comfortable with them. But remember! Don´t over-do, if you´re going for astonishing shoes, keep the rest of the outfit plain or with minimal expression.








Hope you liked this list ot tips, here´s the link to the website where I sourced it from:
http://www.ehow.com/how_2180536_add-gothic-flair-wardrobe.html

If you want to know more about the writer, here´s another link:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/christinestoddard

4rd look

Here it comes the fourth look!
It´s a jersey jacket with a high-waisted pencil skirt.
The interesting bit is, if you look carefully at the pictures, you will see that the ends of the satin collar are twisted in such a way that they create the optical effect of pointed spider legs. Tricky, isn´t!
The skirt is also interesting, the main panel on the middle is jersey lace and on the sides there are satin pieces that look like spider legs! I do apologize for the bad qualities of the pictures, as soon as I got a spare moment I will take a proper picture of every single of my looks.

3rd look

The 3rd look had been finished ages ago but I couldn´t post it because my computer doesn´t seem to recognize my mobile anymore. Therefore, I had to take new pictures with a digital camera so I could transfer them to the computer. Enjoy your browsing.

Vampires video!!!

One of my college friends have just sent me the pics from my second year at college. I completely forgot about that video! I made a winter, 18th century style collection: very baroque, inspired by the nature. However, the destiny keeps dragging me back to the dark somehow and the collection turned out to be dramatic, in the obscure way. The graphic designer who made the video was this kind of guy who was into japanese, manga, gothic stuff so he shooted the video adding an obscure ambient to it. The video was shooted with the song "How Soon Is Now?" by the Smiths (the T.V. series version, which is not as great as the original one). The location where it was shooted was a very gorgeous baroque room, with burgundy jaquard walls and baroque furniture that dated back from the 18th century. It also had a bed that was a gift from Napoleon (I think), it´s a shame I didn´t take a proper picture of it. I really regret it now......
Here are some more photos of the video shoot. Hope you like them.....

Better pictures of the first look

I know I am a pain on the arse and a bit too obsessed with my first look but, I truly believe this pictures do more justice to my look.

2nd look, finished!

Thank god my boyfriend managed to fix my computer problems. (I wasn´t able to transfer my pics from my mobile to the pc!)The second look is a pencil, high-waist skirt with two godets that look like spider legs and a sleeveless top. The interesting thing is the cobweb piece on the top. Have a look at the pic with the detail. I REALLY like it, I think is my favourite look. It has such a beautiful and intricate gothic detail but on the whole, it doesn´t scream "goth!", it shows it in a subtle way....

First look, finished!

Hi everyone! I´ve already posted some pics of the look I´ve been working on. Well, it´s finished!! It´s one of my most loved ones. Despite looking a bit too victorian I´m still proud of how it looks, specially on a person, not on the mannequin. Have a close look at the textile details! As soon as I finished the rest of the collection, I will post more pics.

The Black Widow collection, first sketch

I can´t remember if I said something about the collection I´m working on at the minute. I´ve started doing brooches with fimo (yes! the fimo spiders!) and now I´ve gone to the clothes. The progress is slower than expected because I rather make a sample twice or even three times until I get the perfect fit and explore all the textures and ideas that the fabrics give me, than doing it "easy" and quick way.

I don´t know if whoever reads this blog has an idea of how is the process of a fashion collection, but I will explain it anyway....There it goes:

The first picture is the sketch, a simple flat ilustration with the fabric samples and the techniques that would be used on them for that design. I usually draw a very simple sketch and as long as I investigate and work on the finishings and the patterns I updait the sheet by adding more and more specific details about its construction.

When the patterns are finished I cut them and place them on the fabric in order to cut off the pieces of fabric.

And now is when the most interesting part starts: the final construction of the sample. Every time I join a couple of pieces together I place them on the mannequin to see how it looks like. I think it gives a brief idea of how it would look like on a body. Once the garment would be completely finished I will post the picture on the blog. ;)