OOTD 2: Robert Smith joins the Army

I can post pictures of what I wear every day now, so I can post that when I'm not filled with inspiration.

So, I have one full length mirror in my dark room. The lighting in my bathroom is much better, but my mirror is only waist up. I apologize. I was also making a weird face, so it's smudged out.
I am wearingggg

• Paramore Misguided Ghosts t-shirt- Hot Topic
• Secondhand camouflage military jacket with patches- it's not actual military gear, my stepdad made it in the 80s, when he was 14.
• Secondhand black super skinny jeans- from my mother
• Black Creepers- eBay

 Here's a close-up of my top half and my necklaces.

• Extra long weathered cross pendant- Claire's
• Black ankh necklace- cheapo flea market

 This is my...left? wrist.

• Knotted skull bracelet- Claire's
• Leather ball studded cuff- Independent leatherworker

This is my other wrist. Obviously.

• Two ponytail bands
• Skull bead bracelets- Claire's
• Cross bead bracelet- Claire's
• Secondhand silver bangle thing- Mother

 My stepdad has recently discovered The Cure's frontman's hair, so today he said I looked like Robert Smith in the Army. He also wanted his jacket back, but that isn't happening.

I'll be posting these  alot now, so yeah.

More on the Evils of Hipsters Invading Goth and Grunge

That title is completely facetious. There is nothing wrong with Hipsters, nor their interest in Grunge and Goth. The post that still has more views than the rest of my posts combined (Pastel Goth, Nu Goth, and Hipster Goth) still holds a lot left unsaid. I just described their differences, how they could be considered Goth, and a vague little 'be nice to them'.

Look at this outfit. Is it that bad, if you get past the label of 'Nu Goth'? I don't think so. Could it be Goth?
Well, look here.
There's the big question.
Could it be Goth?
Who's to say what is and is not Goth? Why, it's the person wearing it! If they know the basics of Goth and consider yourself one, no one can tell you any different. These Basics of Goth are something lots of people have disagreed with me on. I think it would be very, very helpful if you knew the minimum, the most basic smidgen of knowledge:

• The History- No, not as far back as the Visigoths, silly goose. I mean the modern movement with big hair and ripped pantyhose pulled over heads. My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult was the first band where the followers were called "goths" in an interview in 76-78 (this entire sentence was taken from a Facebook conversation with another blogger). Then, Bela Lugosi's Dead came up and the sound was called Goth. The rest is history. 

If Ashley Joncas (the Nu Goth pictured) identified, she could be a Goth. She could have a skewed idea of it, but she could still be one. She wouldn't need to know the history; there are no requirements because we are all accepting. Well, we are supposed to be.
I'm being sidetracked.

 I don't know anything about the original Grunge movement, but I'm sure it had little to do with pastels. BUT (you knew there would be a but, didn't you? You are all VERY smart) the adjectives 'soft' and 'pastel' are used. An adjective is 'a word or phrase naming an attribute, added to or grammatically related to a noun to modify or describe it'. Notice the modify. The style, as far as I can tell, is somewhat influenced by grunge fashion.

If you have a tumblr account, you'll know about the 'geeks girl' controversy. Male geeks will approach females wearing comic book related clothing or buying comic books will be harassed about knowing everything about these books, or games, or cards. You don't need to know everything about Goth or grunge. It would certainly be helpful, but it's very near impossible to know everything. In my opinion, you should know some very basic things and you should definitely have an interest in your subculture (if you don't, you need to rethink your motives).

 In short, hipsters being interested in Goth and grunge isn't a bad thing, whether they identify as part of the subculture or influenced by it. This is society becoming more accepting of us black-clad spooksters; accept it. 

If you have any questions, comments, or flame wars in the making, please send them to me here. 

-HRH LittleGothCat

Things BabyBats Should Be Instructed About

It's been over a month since I've written anything. I could give all sorts of excuses, but I really just haven't had inspiration. I do now.
     Let's start of with the basics of Goth. First off, I believe someone needs a basic understanding and respect for Goth culture. Everyone should know the Batcave, Joy Division, big hair, Robert Smith, winklepickers, Siouxsie Sioux and how they inspired this strange mutated creature we call Goth. Then consider yourself a Goth. You needn't tell anyone else if it makes you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Of course, that sentence does not apply to the original forefathers and foremothers; they have reached a level of Goth that is now unattainable.
     When someone starts out in this subculture, they slowly start to integrate whatever vaguely Gothy items they can into their wardrobe. It doesn't always turn out well. I would like to bring up a personal example. There is a group at my school self-titled as The Black Cloud. They wear those baggy, chained Tripp pants, Slipknot shirts, and thrift store leather jackets with odd patterns. The clog up the middle of the second floor's main hallway and the teachers are always yelling at them to disperse. I was in English a week ago and the word "gothic" was brought up. My teacher asked "Do you even use that word to describe people anymore?"
     The word gothic used as a label for people aside, I would like to point out that someone can wear ankhs and stompy boots and have teased up black hair and go to Goth clubs and listen to The Dresden Dolls and Siouxsie Sioux, but if they don't want to be labelled Goth, they aren't. No one can label anyone else.
     Then, surprise of all surprises, a football player raises his hand and says "Yeah, we use it on the Black Cloud". The Black Cloud is half emo kids and half BabyBats who aren't interested in learning about the culture whatsoever. I've asked some of them; they do not give a damn.

     Some garments you should avoid under certain circumstances. They CAN be made Goth, but you would be hard-pressed and it wouldn't always look as good as you think.

• Trilbies- These hats are marketed towards a 'Goth' market, with skull emblems, pinstripes, and morose colors. However, they are usually mislabeled as fedoras. They aren't. However, they should be worn with the same things. Hoodies aren't very complimentary. Maybe a classic button-down, tie, and skinny jeans a la My Chemical Romance?
• Phat Pants- I dislike Tripp pants. I think it takes a very special person to pull off enormous pants with an inordinate amount of chains, like LeahMouse. They're almost always on BabyBats and they're seen as immature. 
• Blue Jeans- There is nothing particularly Goth about grungy old blue jeans that don't fit. I don't think they're attractive on anyone, but some people really don't have anything else. Patches, Otter wax, artful shredding and stitching, painting, and laces can be interesting on any pants, blue or otherwise.
• Halloween Accessories- The Black Cloud has a penchant for wearing fishnet gloves and plastic vampire fangs. It takes a very special outfit to pull of fishnet gloves. I prefer the pantyhose with the ripped out crotch look myself, but if no one will give you any, wear them with something that matches. Plastic vampire fangs aren't really acceptable unless it is Halloween.
• Leather Jackets- Leather (or PVC or vegan-friendly material) jackets are an amazing addition to anyone's wardrobe. They are very expensive and very hard to find in good quality on ebay or a thrift store. If they come cheap, they most likely are cheap. It's hard to be a spooky creature of the night with quilted fake leather. If you insist on wearing a trench coat length jacket, MAKE SURE YOUR SHOES MATCH. There is a part of the Black Cloud that wears one with white Reeboks. They don't match.

Things to Wear Very Carefully

• Armwarmers- Match them with your outfit. Band shirts and lace-up lace do not mix. AVOID PLASTIC. There was another Black Cloud member who wear plastic Batman gauntlets over the sleeves of his jacket. Plastic is just not comfortable, practical, and really not attractive. I never thought I would have to say that.
• Knit Fingerless Gloves- If it is too hot to wear a knit sweater, it is too hot to wear knit gloves. 
• Extensions- Extensions are best as expensive, glue ins or wefts. Clip-ins are cheaper and much easier to find, so they're a fine option. Make sure to hide the clip under your hair.

     Please understand- it is fine if you'd like to wear these things, any of them. Think about the image some of these things send out and think about if you would like to portray yourself as such. If you do, wear it. If you don't try something else. Make yourself happy and forget what everyone else thinks. Yeah, empowerment.

Subcultures from around the Globe- Poppare

Do we all remember this post from The Walrus Room (I cannot believe that was in March)? I have done some research and that wonderful, eye-opening post it just the tip of the poppare iceberg.

Disco Princess Panda by Panda...

There are three main types of Poppare:
-Glitterpoppare
-Poppare
-Panda or Panda Poppare

 I'm going to be a bit vague around the whole style. Poppare is a Swedish youth subculture that literally means "someone that listens to pop music". They all share a love of indie pop, particularly Broder Daniel, and big hair in what I have lovingly christened "Poofy Princess Puff Puff Hair". They aren't a very strong subculture; I've noticed that it peaked in 2006-2009, right around the MySpace emo/scene days. The subculture is almost dead, excluding a few brave souls, including the panda at the top of the page, towe. It's apparently slowly reviving over Facebook and Kent festivals and such.

Let's start with Glitterpoppare

Source

Glitterpoppare is pretty much dead, according to this article. They listen to happier indie pop and are similar to the Japanese fashion decora. It is described as what I relate to the 7th grade emo phase. It occurs in the early teens and fizzles into something else.

Then there's regular poppare

Source

Poppare is hard to define in it's general form. This poppare is only known as Bobski. They're known for wearing band t-shirts with striped undershirts, which is very similar to our emo and scene. To add to that image, they typically wear lots of eyeliner, colorful children's accessories, super skinny jeans, and side parted fringe of any color. They are different from our scene girls; they glue confetti stars under their eyes to resemble their favorite musicians. The music and those stars under their eyes are the only difference between them and our scenexcores.

Last, and sure as hell not least, Panda Poppares

Source

Panda is the most recognizable and the strictest of all poppare. I don't like making things so black and white (PUN INTENDED), but this truly is a pretty strict subculture. There MUST be a perfect black or blond huge princessy bob. Though I'm not sure if it's a rule, the only colors worn are black and white, with a bit of red. I've seen it compared to mod and I'm sure it could be, but I don't know much about that subculture. Polka dots, checks, hounds-tooth, and double sided fabric seems to be popular, and possibly stripes. Shoes are kind of iffy, but lean toward Mary Janes, Doc Martens, what I have decided will be called 50s schoolgirl shoes, and the platforms pictured above. Any 50s-style shirt is fine, so long as it's modest. Tights are almost always worn. Why are they called pandas? Look at the makeup and their wardrobes. Broder Daniel seems o be worshipped by this branch of poppare the most, because they're usually seen with a BD bag and/or button.

Music is nearly all Swedish Indie Pop, but there is some traditional Goth thrown in. Popular artists include Broder Daniel, Kent, Håkan Hellström, The Cure, The Smiths, Almedalen, Timo Räisänen, Laakso, Markus Schulz, Morrissey, Belle & Sebastian, Theodor Jensen, Florence And The Machine, Mando Diao, Hästpojken, Elmo, North Pole, Lasse Lindh, Secure!, Epelectric, Sugarplum Fairy, Kristian Anttila, Franz Ferdinand, The Knife, Bob Dylan, Johnossi, Honey Is Cool, Lykke Li, and The Jesus And Mary Chain. It's actually pretty good, so listen to some of it! Source  

That's all there is that I could grasp. Enjoy!

With a teased, matted nest upon his head,

Outfit of the Day 1- Paranorman

Remember that outfit post I've been promising? Yeah, well here it is.

Traditionally, one takes pictures of oneself in the bathroom with the largest mirror. And we do it immediately after we get out of the shower.
I was going for casual but still Goth-ish with a little spooky thrown in. Now that I look at it, it seems a bit too BabyBat. It's probably the pants, but I can't give them up.

-Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland Cheshire Cat T-shirt, around 15$ from Hot Topic (My very first trip, which I remember fondly) 
-Lip Service Mens Junkie Bondage Jeans, around 80-90$ from Lip Service. (My first, and now that I think of it, only, pair of "Goth pants", bought 3 years and 5/6 pants sizes ago). They got to be too short and too big, so I cut them off.
-Demonia Fierce-130 Boots, 80-odd$ from Sinister Soles (I had problems with the soles coming loose, so they're in a boot press at a shoe repair shop now)
-Skull bracelet, 7$, black jelly bracelet, found, multiple hair ties

I went to see ParaNorman with a two twin friends. It was lovely. Eventually, my Heath-Ledger-in-10-Things-I-Hate-About-You Shower Hair dried and frizzed out. That was unhappy-time.
I almost never wear this shirt because it actually fits and I have problems with body image and I'm self-conscious beyond belief.

I'll set up some better, school related outfits when I find a suitably lighted, secluded bathroom in my school to take pictures in.

With cliched t-shirts and BabyBat Bondage Pants,

Goth Challenge- Day 7

I do have an idea for a post! But, until Halloween, that post will not be typed. Until then, I'll be doing memes and OOTDs when I have the energy to upload them.

Day 7 – Ten of your favourite goth bands.

I honestly don't like enough legit Goth music to do this properly. I like The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Jack Off Jill, and Cinema Strange. Do they even count?
So I'm going to be doing this by genres of Goth-friendly music to make it seem like I've put thought into this. And just for giggles, I'll add in my favorite songs.

I WILL ATTEMPT- TradGoth and Associated

1. The Cure (the entire album Disintegration)
      -Disintegration, Closedown, Last Dance, The LoveCats, Friday I'm In Love

2. Siouxsie and the Banshees (I like pretty much all of it, but don't have much experience with them)
      -Happy House, Kiss Them For Me

3. Jack Off Jill
      -Witch Hunt, Strawberry Gashes

4. Cinema Strange
      -Intermezzo Bright Violet Euphoria, Greensward Grey

5. The Smiths
      -How Soon is Now, What She Said, The Headmaster Ritual

6. Sisters of Mercy
      -Lucretia My Reflection

7. A Flock of Seagulls
      -Wishing, Telecommunication, Space Age Love Song

8. Skeletal Family
      -Promised Land

9. Strawberry Switchblade
      -Jolene, Since Yesterday, Being Cold, Go Away

10. Asylum Party
     -The Desert

The Cabaret-Type Things

1. Emilie Autumn (I disapprove of her, but her music is gorge, she's extremely attractive, and I own her book)
     -A Cure?, Medicate with Tea, If I Burn, Swallow, Liar, Shallott, Rose Red, Rapunzel

2. The Dresden Dolls
     -Backstabber, Girl Anachronism, Mandy Goes to Med School, Me and the Minibar

3. Amanda Palmer
     -Strength Through Music, Oasis, Astronaut, Runs in the Family, Map of Tasmania

4. Evelyn Evelyn
     -Have You Seen My Sister Evelyn, Evelyn Evelyn, Sandy Fishnets, Elephant Elephant

5. Abney Park
     -Dear Ophelia, Building Steam, Sacrilege, The Emperor's Wives, Sleep Isabella

6. Hannah Fury
     -Away, Meathook, The Necklace of Marie Antoinette, Angels and Absinthe

7. Voltaire
     -Goodnight Demonslayer, Brains!, Zombie Prostitute, The Vampire Club, Ex-Lover's Lover

8. The Sucker Punch Soundtrack
     -Sweet Dreams, White Rabbit, Where is My Mind?, Asleep

9. Rasputina
     -Transylvanian Concubine, Dig Ophelia

10. Creature Feature


The Dreaded Adora BatBrat-esque Synthare Electro Based Goth That Everyone is Scared of

1. Kraftwerk
     -Showroom Dummies

2. Assemblage 23
     -Damaged, Madman's Dream

3. And One
     -Military Fashion Show, Fehlschlag, Love You to the End, Murder Murder

4. Helalyn Flowers
     -Sitting on the Moon, Unreal, Hybrid Moments, A Sweet and Deep Bomb in my Heart

5. The Birthday Massacre (I had to put it somewhere)
     - Goodnight, Lover's End, Weekend, Red Stars, In the Dark

6. Kerli
     -Army of Love, Walking On Air, Tea Party, Strange Boy

7. Elegant Machinery
     -Process, Move

8. Hurts
     -Sunday

9. Berlin Express
     -Die Russen Kommen, The 4:08 to Paris

10. Indochine
     -L'aventurier

Just to add on a bit that don't really fit in,

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu- Fashion Monster, Tsukema Tsukeru
Versailles Philharmonic Quartet- Zombie, Aristocrat's Symphony, Antique in the Future
Tommy Heavenly6- Black Paper Moon, Lollipop Candy Bad Girl
Magenta- Eccentricity
Kanon Wakeshima- Celsimia, Still Doll, Suna no Oshiro
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts- Bad Reputation, I Hate Myself for Loving You
Babymetal- Doki Doki Morning, Kibaobuakiba
Apocalyptica- Master of Puppets, Enter Sandman

I also really like non-Goth music that's might resonate

Paramore- Misguided Ghosts, Careful, Brick by Boring Brick
Labyrinth Ear- Amber, Lithium, Snow WHite
Clams Casino- Swervin, I'm God, Illest Alive
Purity Ring- Belispeak, Lofticries, Obedear
The Pretty Reckless- Make Me Wanna Die, Under Water
Regina Spektor- Samson, All the Rowboats, Ne Me Quitte Pas, Eet, Small Town Moon
The Title- Ever So Slightly
Unicorn Kid- Buttons, Wee Monsters
Avril Lavigne- Alice, I Can Do Better, The Best Damn Thing, Anything But Ordinary
Skrillex- Cinema, Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites, Hey Sexy Lady

I think I might have lost the point of this post long, looooong ago

With Tight-Ass Pants and Monster Boots,

It's Been Almost a Month

and I haven't posted anything. Life is catching up with me. I have theatre rehearsals, school, homework, and brownie-eating.
What should I do?
Should I recommend things?
Like brands, websites, books, movies, music, artists?