Siren evening gown

If you are looking for a "look-at-me" dress for this christmas or just for a very glamouours night. I think you might LOVE! this dress. It's been for sale on the boutique since last week and I think the retail price is around £95.

It's completely elastic. Made with jersey (medium thick, not see-through, 100%acrylic) and gorgeous european lace (from Nottingham), I don't where exactly from, as the mill has closed down so now this fabric has become a little treasure. The neck is finished with satin at the back, and the middle panel on the bust and waist is gathered. It is high-waisted with long puff sleeves.

Size? The same size as all my dresses, medium/large.

(87cms bust, 70cms waist, 95cms hips). But it stretches very widely so if you are slightly wider, don't worry because it would still fit you like a glove (that's the brilliant thing about elastic fabrics).

Here's the boutique address and phone number:
66 Wood st.

L1 4AQ-Liverpool

(0151 7073590)

"Gothic Britain", part3 - Spiders

My apologies for not having updated the blog for sooooo long. Well, I just hope there will still be any readers out there...

Well, I have a couple of very interesting pictures from Liverpool. Although they are very old pictures (from the summer) I thought that I should still show them.

As everyone knows, Liverpool is the city of culture, this year, so lots of different shows and attractions have been held over there, specially in the summer. Two of them were of a very arachnic nature!

My most prefered one is this beautiful massive! cobweb, as you can see on the first picture. It glows beautifully in the dark and the spider (which is on the center of it) changes its colours while glowing at the same time.

The second arachnic attraction was a very impressive yellow robot-spider that was as high as a hole building. This godzilla-like spider, was driven by a group of men on the top of the head. It walked down the main streets of Liverpool and then it dissappeared inside the Mersey tunnel. No-one has ever seen it again....

Vampira mini scultpure

I'm a fanatic of Vampira. So I was more than ecstatic when I found out about this little sculpture of her. The pics are amazing. They really captured the "cadaveric" aspect of the character.
Here's the link
http://zombigallery.home.mchsi.com/vampira.htm

The Black Widow Collection

Make-up and hairstyle tips....are you too pale for the usual make-up?

Lots of people got excited with the new make-up range, designed by red-head Nicola Roberts, from Girls Aloud. It was a matter of time that this woman will ditch the fake tan. (I´ve heard horror stories about fake tan: brown bed-sheets....water from the shower coming out completely brown, stains between toes and fingers, stains on clothes....Horrible!). I will never understand it. Specially in red-heads or freckled people. It just looks stupid. It´s so obvious that is fake and is not the natural tone of their skin. Besides, fake tan makes skin look older and it really emphasizes the wrinkles! So, be careful, ladies!

I´ve also noticed that since Nicola ditched her fake tan, she has updated her wardrobe, as well. Instead of opting for "super-sexy-I-think-I´m-Beyonce" foxy looks, she seams to adopt more classy and elegant ones, which I think is great. Also, She´s dyed her hair into a more red-dish tone which is been dyed into pink. She looks like a lady. A local version of Nicole Kidman and Cate Blanchet.

If you are still desperate to find the range, here are some links:

http://www.jellypongpong.com/

http://www.asos.com/Dainty-Doll/Cat/pgecategory.aspx?cid=4788

Gothic hair-styles looks for the office

At some point, we all grow up and tend to distance ourselves from the teenage looks, I think you know where I´m getting to...Yes! Sophisticated grown up look or straight raven-hair do?

I´ve already spoken about the raven hair do (http://the-black-wardrobe.blogspot.com/2008/07/gothic-make-up-tips-alternative-to.html)

Some people like it (easy, sleek and simple) other people just find it boring and teenage. I am between both options, sometimes can look very sexy, when it´s done properly, otherwise, It makes me look like Monalisa. However, other times, it looks a bit dull and boring.

There´s a new trend that it´s been hitting for over a couple of years now, which is the intermix between Goth and Rockabilly (it sounds bizarre but they ´re somehow related, just look at fashion´s history books and you will know why). You can find the local versions of this interesting mix such as in "bobs" (yes, the Victoria´s Beckham hair do but in a sleek raven-black version) or in longer lengths with fringe (very Betty Page)

But the last branch or "evolution" that it has come out from the Gothic subculture is the retro-burlesque one. Sometimes, intermixed/blended with Rockabilly, as well!

I´m one of these people who strongly believe that ms. Von Teese was the one who started it all, back to her gothic days with Marilyn -teenage idol- Manson.

It´s a very classy, old Glamour look. Very high maintenance! Which makes not suitable for everyone but it has that intriguing dark feel to it that makes it irresistible for those girls who are in the alternative circles. It works very well on all hair colours but specially, with black! I think it really gives a bit of fresh hair to the sometimes dull, straight-raven hair-do, don´t you think?

New dress!

I'm thrilled to present one of the last looks I've just created. The satin shawl collar dress.

It's a three-quarter length dress with puff long sleeves. Satin shawl collar with pleats detailing on the sides. Feminine and flattering, it frames the neckline in a beautiful way as well as it emphasizes the dramatic shape of the shoulders. The highwaisted skirt hugs the figure and it elongates it. It's made with completely stretch lace. Hope you like it. It's for sale on my etsy shop!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15934296

All prices on Etsy are in dollars (because it´s an american website), so if you are in Europe and are interested in anything and want to pay in british pounds or Euros. Please, contact me!

My etsy.com shop

I'm thrilled to announce that my etsy shop is been opened for a while but it has had stock for sale since yesterday! Not all my collection is been posted yet, so please keep an eye on this blog and the etsy shop because I will post new items as long as I do them.
Please, have a look at it:
feedback is very welcome!

theblackwardrobe.etsy.com

Spider brooches

More spider brooches! I've been doing fimo spider brooches for my Black Widow collection. I like to decorate them with crystals (swarovski, mainly). However, the last time I was in Spain, I bought some gorgeous crystals and they're impossible to find! As you can see, they are massive (over 3cms long and wide) and they shine like mirrors, specially the grey colour.
If anyone has any ideas where to find them, please, let me know.

Are you up for the Rock-Tomboy look or the diva look? PART 2

As I said in the part 1 of these mini-post/series, the Gothic trend has been segmented into two looks: Rock-Tomboy look and Diva Look.

I´m going to explain what the Diva look is about, this season.

Unlike the Rock look, the Diva look is about sofistication, feminity and glamour. There´s no better fabric that represents all those atributes than Lace. Yes! Lace, lace, lace! It´s usually worn as an evening fabric but all those Goths or Goth-lovers out there know that it can be a gorgeous fabric for day-life as well! (Click on the "gothic fashion tips" tag, for inspiration and ideas).

The Gothic/Diva look is about going back to couture, well dressed and groomed look. There´s no space for any kind of androginity in here!

Well tailored looks that accentuate the feminine figure, very feminine and sensual fabrics (lace, silk, chiffon) mixed with wintery and structured fabrics such as tweed, tartan or wool mix. I personally LOVE! this look. It suits every single body shape, if you have the curves, they will be accentuated. If you don´t, they will be created by the mix of textures, fabrics and the volume of the siluettes.

One tip, if you really want to add an extra bit of drama to your look, wear lace tights.

They look amazing and I´ve seen very cheap ones, this season.

Are you up for the Rock-Tomboy look or the diva look? PART 1

Everybody agrees that the mainstream has decided to appropiate the goth look for itself, this winter. However, I´ve realized that the idea has been taking two different aesthetic paths, in the last weeks :

the Rock chic tomboy look (baggy tops, skinny long graceful legs) or the sleek super-femenine diva look (hour glass shape, elegant and groomed look, lots of lace. Very closed to the Cinema noir feel).

The first look is been seen on the Givenchy collection. As you can see on the pics, it has a very 80´s feel. It reminds me more of the New Romantic look than the Gothic: soft layers, ruffles, bows, black and cream pallette. There are some elements that I like and I dislike in this look.

I like it because it brings back one of the few beautiful things of the Eighties and adds some kind of interest and mix of textures to the outfit instead of keeping it just black. I like the detail of necklaces made of chains (something very "old", I know, but I hadn´t seen it for a long while) and I like the combo black-cream as an alternative option to the classical and sometimes, predictable, black and white.

What I don´t like of this look? You might have already guessed it. It´s not suitable for anyone who is under 180cms tall -6 foot high, for those british/american readers ;)- AND doesn´t have the legs for it. Otherwise, it would make you look like a shiny elephant. Or a cheap prostitute, from the Eighties....

Also, after coming to this initial and basic problem the next dilemma is:

How to wear it? Well, if you add to the "equation": leggings + shiny fabric. The solution is unpredictable.

I think that the trick is to wear it with something plain that doesn´t try to out-shine the already-shiny leggings. That means:
option A.
plain non-shiny top or shirt which can be monochrome or printed. It can be fitted (if you have the body for it) or baggy, which will cover your waist and bum (this silouette is ideal if you have the perfect legs but not so-perfect torax, yes, I mean the belly. The trick works, believe me.)

However, I have to say that this look is not suitable for people whose shoulders are wider than their hips because this look will accentuate them even more.

Option B. the risky one but the most gorgeous one! I would love to wear this shinny leggins with a gorgeous black lace top. It´s edgy, feminine and gothic! Obviously, it´s not suitable for everyone, again....
Here´s an example.

Gorgeous lace top, 65 pounds. Handmade by me, The Black Wardrobe. You can find it at the Rose And Anchor boutique, in Liverpool. (00 44) 0151 707 3590

Shinny skinny pants, 65 pounds from Topshop. (You can find more different ones and with prices which can be cheaper or more expensive, in other mainstream retailers)

Ankle lace boots. (These gorgeous pair is not from this season, sorry. Although, they´re very trendy at the minute and you can still find them in some shops).

The Black Widow Collection, for sale!

Oh yes! To all my fans out there who have been asking where to get my collection. I´m ecstatic to confim that it will be able to be purchased from tomorrow!

It will go for sale in the Rose And Anchor boutique, in Liverpool. (66 Wood st., L1 4AQ)
If you are interested in anything and can reach the Beatles city, here´s the shop´s phone number: (00 44) 0151 707 3590

Alternatively, for all of those who don´t live near the NorthWest or not even in England, Please be patient, as I will launch an e-boutique the next week. I will keep you informed.
Thanks for your interest, again.