BENE-DICTION

Rick Owens A/W 2012... the perfect wardrobe for Reverend Mothers.

AAAHH!!! REAL MONSTERS

One of my favorite things about the irrepressible Daniel Palillo is his knack for combining the creepy with the cartoonish. How psyched am I for his A/W 2012 collection, titled The Enterprise? I'm taking a page from the Oblina-esque fifth from the top left and grinning ear to ear--uh, armpit to armpit. Next on my wishlist, the "Fuck the Police" sweat and eyeball dropcrotch...

DEAD BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

Hey err'body!

It's been just under a year since I last updated this blog, so I don't know how many people (if anyone!) is still reading the nonsense I post on here... for anyone who's stuck around this long (weirdos!), come on over and follow my Tumblr blog, which I promise is much more frequently updated with a whole variety of strange things.

I kind of phased out posting on Hammer because I haven't heard too much good new metal, but I thought I would throw this video up here after catching to this song on the radio last night. It's classic-style doom (a perennial fav of mine), classic-style Pallbearer, and most importantly, heavy enough to herald my return to Blogspot. I've got some stuff to post in the next few days, so if you're out there, hang on to yourself! I'll be back! Edited March 2018, hello from the future and follow my other other blog... love and kisses!

PRINCESS, MORTAL PRINCESS

I fell out of the habit of checking personal style blogs a few months ago. Something about the nouveau-pop-Goth look--you know it, piles of rings, leggings, Jeffrey Campbell platforms, drapey layers, "esoteric" symbols, etc., etc.--becoming omnipresent and overly trendy... in the end, who cares? I'd rather see crazy-ass ladies working it out in whatever their hearts' desire, no need to consider if it's KVLT enough.

So with that in mind, you can imagine my amazement and instant full-blown love affair when I stumbled across this previously unknown-to-me style blogger. Everybody, here's Princess Paolina of Calur Villade.



My reaction upon seeing this gif? SKEET SKEET SKEET. Gimme those mescaline-gypsy robes, gurlfran. Wowza. Then there's this handmade "yarn web thing":



WHATTTTTT. I'm dying. FROM PREMATURE EJACULATIONS. Sorry, but this is too good.

Thank you for validating my lust for hair-as-accessories:



Thank you, from the bottom of my little black heart. This is kind of giving me new life. My blog is like a wizened old Nosferatu, slurpin' up some fresh young blood.... ahhhhhhhhhhhh! Liquid refreshment!

CYBER SNEAK

Not sure of the provenance of this image (Tumblr, yo), but I couldn't let such blatant use of terrible, hulking, fantastical Millennial cyber-goth-candy-raver (a proud and noble community no doubt) footwear go unnoticed. I only hope these have little rollerskates that pop outta the bottom, of they can blast off into space under their own power, or something like that.

Rave on!

GAY YOUTH

I just came across these incredible styles on the equally inspiring Chateau Thombeau.



Fluffy yeti pants just make sense for March weather, you know? And there is seriously no wrong time for matching your significant other in satin Poiret harem suits. And domino masks!

WEIRD SCIENCE

Whoa! So right after hitting post on that last entry, I did a little Google image search on liquid crystals. I was intrigued when I read in Style.com's review that the Kanes were inspired to come up with 'a textile that's never been used' in their new collection. Turns out... they were totally scooped!

Check out this 2007 article on Cleveland-based technology firm AlphaMicron Inc. In addition to the hybrid sunglass/goggles with color-changing liquid crystal lenses, this dress with liquid-filled fringe is currently blowing my mind.




According to the article, they hadn't yet gone into production in 2007. I'm thinking that for A/W 2011, their time has finally come.

SQUISH

photo from Vogue.com

Christopher & Tammy Kane really know a thing or two about liquid crystals.

IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING

...Yes, I'm still alive (as long as you count Dead Alive) and still deeply interested in horrible shoes.

If you need a more up-to-date-version of my interblogs complete with more terrible cyber footwear, check me out on my Tumblr.

MY PONY, RIDE IT

These Opening Ceremony x Dr. Martens boots are giving me blue balls for Fall. Nnnnngh, I can't wait to wear real gear on my feet and not have them immediately melt off the ends of my legs!

FIRE WEATHER WARNING

Guys! I hope you all had a good Solstice. I was too busy feeling bummed about my current relationship situation (read: troubling lack of diq) to do anything more mystic than my usual moon meditations, but I think this weekend my friend Dan and I are going to try to summon up some ritual spirit. You know, there's no need for 'fashion' when you're skyclad.



So dudes, I know I haven't posted anything in a loooooong time. Usually I don't have a good excuse for this type of slackery, but in my own defense, can I just say--bless me, it's summah! I haven't been that interested in style or fashion too much... my idea of summer dressing is basically just gigantically oversized t-shirts, the shortest cut-offs I can get away with, and billowy harem pants (gotta let my balls breathe). So I'm basically dressing like this Oak model 24/7:



(except I'm a lady) (love that Crowleian unicursal hexagram, though)

Anyway, if you want more evidence of my day-to-day magickal activities (not), feel free to check out my tumblr, Banji Realness. It's kind of more trashy-90s-hip-hop oriented than this blog (I guess this one's for the metal side of my brain), but there's some crossover when it comes to, uh, mystic crystal revelations and stuff. Oh, and Pokemon.

RAYON, SILK, OR MAYBE EVEN DENIM

I had to put this classically cheesy jam on right after that last post... I guess I can't not post it.

AT LEAST TWO PAIRS

Although I'm usually a silver person, since the beginning of summer I've been adding more gold to my jewelry regimen. So far I've invested in a few new pairs of earrings from the dollar and thrift stores down the block.



Not pictured are my classic bamboo bangers (all you 'round the way girls know the ones I mean) and a pair of simple gold hoops with little telephone charms. Although I'm pretty much satisfied with what can be scrounged up for $.99 apiece at the Family Dollar, I'm still tempted by the tacky vintage splendor of gaudy earrings past: these two are from Etsy store The Moon and the Sea...





And this vintage Kenneth Jay Lane pair--literal doorknockers!



I don't really wear rings, but I love seeing people with a handful of them on. This Kemetic style would be a knockout among some big turquoise stunners.

CLAP YOUR HANDS

My Thursday is all about this video. Who are these people, all vigorously working Tadashi/Esprit realness? Check out that hot-pink crop top and matching Barbie shoes.









Not to mention this guy:




Now believe me when I say it's even better in motion. Sia, Diplo, and about fifty yards of stretch bandage material, together at last.



Thanks Christeric!

PULP HOPE

There's been a lot of talk on blogs, websites and magazines about the 90s/millenial revival that's showing no signs of slowing down just yet. Amanda of Is Mental (possibly the best style blog... ever?) in particular has posted some great remembrances of things past recently. But for me, nothing brings back those sweet n' sticky summer memories of junior high quite like Paul Pope's comics.









Paul Pope draws the cutest girls ever--the kneesocks! the full lips! those skinny 90s eyebrows and chunky-soled shoes!--and not only are they gorgeous space-age cartoon cuties, they also fight the bureaucracy on Mars. You know, with robots. And also make-outs.



If you haven't already read THB, Heavy Liquid, P City Parade, Escapo et al, check them out immediately--and even if you're already a fan, I think it's time to reread some of these classic gems. And even better, get them right in time for Free Comic Book Day!

SUMMER BUMMER

One more note about potential summer gear, as I continue to watch the rain run down my window... this neoprene bralette by Alexandra Cassaniti might be headed to the top of my wishlist. Love that Klein blue, the reversibility, and the way it'll totally protect you from any coral reef-related tit injuries. This is probably as versatile as a surf-inspired bra top can get.

SHEER MADNESS

The weather here is still vacillating between days of genuine summer sun and intermittent thundershowers. Right now we're in the midst of another rain storm, of course! It's really put a damper (no pun intended?) on my search for spring/summer clothes--I'm still piling on the scarves and trench coat to keep warm, while attempting to scope out the ideal wedge sandal that'll last me all the way through September (a topic for another post, but right now I'm feeling these, these, and potentially these guys).

One of the great things about all the sheer/net pieces I'm seeing more and more of these days is their fantastic layering possibilities. Think of the options! On a hot day (and ugh, let's hope we get some of that high-summer hotness back soon), just throw them on over a black lace bra or tank and gooooooo. On a gross, rainy, cool day like yesterday and today (and the rest of this coming week... you can guess my feelings on the matter), pile them on together and put a leather jacket or sleeveless vest on top. Instant outfit! The best.

In that spirit, check out these great sheer pieces from Kimberly Taylor. The sheer pants might look a little crazy as-is but over the right tights (and with an incantation to ward off the static electricity), they'd kill.

And hey, if you're in the midst of preparing a summer wardrobe, you can pick some of these guys up for 10% off through May 1st! Enter the code WITCHFINDER at checkout, and enjoy your ventilated sheer-back dress. Compliments of the witch-finder general!

DROP TROU

When these guys arrived in my mailbox, I was so psyched to finally get my hands on the floral drop-crotch monster pants of my dreams that I had to bust out my camera immediately!



Excuse my beauty/inability to take a full-length shot of myself. Here's what they look like on Pixie Market's website:



Made by the Australian geniuses behind My Pet Square, they're much more light-weight and soft than I was expecting--meaning I'll be wearing them alllll summer. As I said in a previous post, I'm really feeling these new pant silhouettes for spring... which means I'm now seriously considering investing in the black-and-white print version too.

SWEET TRANSVESTITE

Kind of a bittersweet post, since these amazing earrings are already sold out at Pixie Market... but forget about the material, just check out the detail on that mini-talon clutching its pearls.



Nothing says 'Spring' like a dangling jewel stolen from a bird of prey.

Earrings from the difficult-to-Google Transvestite, which seems to come out of Japan (naturally enough).

ABSOLUTE PANTS

Dai Fujiwara's new collection for Issey Miyake is hands-down my favorite so far this season. The silhouette that's being pushed in the majority of the shows I've seen is something I'm getting heartily sick of--it all starts to blend into one stretchy body-con mess after a while. Even some designers whose prints and other surface techniques I admire are just not looking as fresh when they put them on an unchanging rotation of slim-fit mini-skirts and shift dresses. Minis on all of these stick-thin legs are just not doing it for me at all anymore. So despite my longtime belief in the talismanic powers of the dress, I am setting my sights for the first time squarely on PANTS.

Seriously! I'm sort of bummed by the sheer lack of them this season. Every time I see the faintest hint of pant in a little thumbnail on Style.com, I click without fail... only to be rebuffed by leggings.

Fortunately, Fujiwara has totally delivered on my need for trews. Pants please!



(pics from Style)

How good are these? The printed ones are particularly sick, but I wouldn't say no to the ruched style either.

And I am completely feeling these awesome coats.

LOVE. I'm okay with this ovoid, shrouded, kind of butch-cum-batcave (maybe more Batcave than in the literal sense... the frayed-yarn pair of trousers there looks like a perfectly fresh interpretation of found-in-the-attic finery, in that slightly boyish shape) silhouette remaining unpopular for the time being. It's only a matter of seasons before everybody gets bored with the omnipresent Balmain look, after all...