alt.gothic.fashion.faq [part 2]
Trystan L. Bass
1.6a Some Helpful Hints For Frightening Fabrics
From: Christabel La Motte
So, you're in love with that lovely piece of velvet or silk chiffon or
leather or PVC, but you've never sewed anything like that and you're
afraid to give it a try? Well, a little caution is a good thing when
working with delicate or pricey textiles: it can help keep you from
making stupid mistakes. But total paranoia isn't necessary. A little
forethought and maybe some special accessories, and those difficult
fabrics may just end up being your favorite things to work with.
A few general hints: first of all, just because you've got an old
sewing machine doesn't mean you can't work with spiffy fabrics. While
you may need to make adjustments or use special attachments or
accessories, most home sewing machines should be able to handle
everything from sheers to light-to-medium vinyls, suedes, or leathers.
If you have problems working with the material you've chosen, consult
your manual: you may just need to do something as simple as use a
special needle, switch threads, lengthen your stitches, or loosen your
tension, or maybe just take your machine in for a tune-up. If you don't
have a manual for your machine, try to get one. Machine dealers often
can order manuals for their older models.
Secondly, test everything beforehand. Run test stitches on scraps of
your fabric, to make sure any problems are dealt with BEFORE you begin
working on the garment. If you're making something from a new pattern
that you're unsure of, you may want to invest a little extra time and
money in making a mock-up out of the cheapest stuff you can find, so
you're prepared for any alterations BEFORE you start chopping up that
$60 a yard brocade...
Finally, invest a little extra in your tools. If your scissors and
pins and seam rippers are old and dull, they may snag or damage your
fabric. Make sure you're using the right size and style of machine
needle for the weight and type of fabric: old, dull needles may snag
your textile, while too-small ones may break and bend, or too-large
ones may leave unwanted holes. I prefer the German-made Schmetz
needles; they're very high quality, and have a wide variety of styles,
including weights for extremely thin or thick fabrics and a nice range
of leather/vinyl needles. They cost a bit more than domestic needles,
but IMO they're well worth it. Good-quality thread will also make a
surprising difference in the quality of your stitching and the
performance of your machine. I usually use European long-fiber poly
threads, like Metrosene or Gutermann. They're fine, smooth, and very
strong, and they seem to work much better in my Pfaff than "wrapped"
domestic threads like Talon or Dual Duty. Your mileage may vary: I've
known machines that seemed to love the wrapped stuff. However, I'd
advise you to stay away from that 4-for-a-dollar cheap poly thread you
can find everywhere: it's thin, linty, and very breakage-prone. You do
tend to get what you paid for, after all...
Now, some specifics:
***Delicates -- chiffon, organza, lace, light silks, and satins, etc.***
The main problems you'll run into here are puckering and snagging.
Make sure that all pins and sewing needles (machine and hand) are the
appropriate light weight, preferably new-ish, and very sharp. Be very
careful when pinning, as even fine, sharp pins may leave snags or
holes if you pin in visible areas: you may wish to use pattern
weights, or try to keep your pins in the seam allowances. If your
fabric still snags, even with a fine machine needle, you may wish to
try something like Schmetz' "Universal" needle rather than a normal
sharp; it's a little easier on snag-prone fabrics. Also, if at all
possible, try to avoid getting into situations where you have to rip
out large sections of stitching. Even with a good, fine, sharp seam
ripper, it's all too easy to slice up the fabric instead of the
stitching. Work slowly and carefully so you can try to avoid mistakes
in the first place.
Thin delicates have a nasty tendency to get sucked down inside the
throat plate, especially near the edges of a piece. If you work with
them a great deal, I'd strongly recommend getting a straight stitch
throat plate for your machine. As the name implies, this can only be
used when doing straight stitches on seams, hems, etc.; it has a much
smaller needle opening than your standard zig-zag throat plate.
(Matching straight-stitch feet are nice, but the throat plate is what
will help prevent the fabric-clots-under-the-presser-foot syndrome.)
One warning: be very alert when you use this plate, as it's all too
easy to forget you have it on, switch to a zig-zag pattern, and end up
with a broken needle flying in your eye, and possibly a machine in
need of a tune-up...
Delicates also tend to slide around a lot under the presser foot as
you sew. Judicious pinning and/or basting can help out here. Another
valuable aid is an accessory known as a walking foot. (If you have a
newer Pfaff, their built in "dual feed" serves the same purpose.) This
sliding is caused by the top layers of fabric lagging a bit behind the
bottom layers, which are directly contacting the feed dogs. The
walking foot (or dual feed) helps to keep the fabric layers advancing
evenly: in effect, they work by feeding the fabric from both the top
and the bottom. I'm a big booster of walking feet. They're an enormous
help for working on slippery silks, satins, sheers, and velvets; they
can help thick or oddly textured fabrics, such as quilted pieces, move
through evenly; and they can help you keep those carefully matched
stripes and plaids properly aligned as you sew. If you don't have one
of these puppies for your machine, I'd STRONGLY suggest looking into
purchasing one.
***Velvets, velveteen, stretch velvet***
Much of the information for delicates applies here. Be careful with
pinning and use a walking foot, since these fabrics are notorious for
creeping around in unwanted directions as you sew. They tend to be a
bit sturdier (especially cotton velvets), but you still don't want to
rip out things unless it's absolutely necessary. If you're working on
a non-washable velvet, make sure that any markings will not show on
the finished side: some chalk pencils, etc., may not brush off cleanly,
and may become set by dry cleaning. You may want to consider thread
marking for dry-clean-only velvets.
Be especially careful when cutting out your pattern. Velvet is a nap
fabric, and all pieces must be laid out and cut in the same direction,
unless you *really* want your garment to look like it's made of two
different shades of fabric.
Stretch velvet is basically a knit with a velvet-like pile. It can be
handled like most ordinary knits of the same weight: just make sure
that you're careful of the nap when cutting it out, and once again, a
walking foot may make it easier to work with.
Use a delicate hand when pressing seams or the finished garment. Too
high a heat, or too heavy a pressure, will leave very visible marks.
If you do a lot of work with velvets, invest in a "velvet board" or
"needle board" to help preserve the nap as you press your garments. If
you only work with them occasionally, a scrap of velvet can serve the
same purpose. The needle board or velvet scrap go on your ironing
board, needles or nap side up. The garment is laid over them,
nap/right side down. Gently pass your iron over the back of the
garment; don't bear down. Light wrinkles may be removed by hanging the
garment in the bathroom to steam while you take a nice, hot, steamy
shower.
One final note: if you've never worked with velvet before, you'll be
surprised at how much !#%^$!@^#$^ LINT it produces when you cut it. If
you've got a little hand vacuum, get it out: you'll be needing it.
***Leather, suede, vinyl, PVC***
Unless you have a very heavy-duty industrial machine, stick to the
lighter weights. Once you put a hole in these materials, it's there to
stay, so be extra careful: use pattern weights, or only pin in the
seam allowances. (I've actually used scotch tape to lay out pieces on
PVC.) Also, be careful when transferring pattern markings, especially
on leathers or suedes: if at all possible, keep them on the wrong side
of the garment, so it won't be a problem if they don't come out.
(Vinyls/PVCs, on the other hand, wipe clean easily. I actually use an
old kohl eyeliner pencil for quick, temporary markings on the right
side of my PVC yardage.)
Make sure to use the appropriate machine needle: leather/vinyl needles are
sturdier and have knife-like edges to pierce through properly. As a
general rule, you'll want to use longer stitch lengths than usual:
too-close stitching may leave the material prone to tearing along the
stitching lines. Yet again, a walking foot can help move the thicker
layers around more easily. Vinyl and PVC has a nasty habit of
sticking to itself, the machine, or the presser foot when you don't
want it to. A walking foot or special Teflon-coated foot can help
somewhat; placing a thin strip of tissue paper over the seam line and
under the presser foot as you sew may be simpler. Just rip it away
when you're done.
1.7 What about making a cape/cloak?
From: Waz from Oz
Easiest cloak I made was to get four rectangular pieces
of cloth, each as long as the cloak and half its width.
You stitch two of them together lengthwise, and then the
other two likewise:
cloak length (shoulder to ankle, for my height, 5'10")
------ ---------------------------------------------
: : : : : :
: : : : : :
: height: : A : B : C : D :
: : : : : :
: 5' 10" : : : : :
: : : : : :
: : : : : :
------ ---------------------------------------------
Then you fold A over B and D over C... these are the front
panels so don't sew seam A-D. You then cut the outline of
your shoulders (right shoulder over folded panels A-B and
left C-D.) This gives a simple unlined cloak with flowing
lines. Remember to leave a hole for your neck in the
shoulder-top seam.
Hope that's clear. I made mine from $4-a-meter fine black
corduroy and it looks pretty cool.
From: Lorelle Anderson
The easiest cloak pattern I've seen is a half-circle cloak.
You use a piece of string to measure how long you want the
cloak to be on you, then use it like a compass to mark a
half-circle on a piece of fabric. Cut it out, cut another
half-circle in the middle of the straight line for your head,
and hem.
From: Trystan L. Bass
Most commercial pattern companies have a basic cape pattern.
Butterick 3084 is a pattern for a really pretty lined cape
with collar, caplet, and hood options. Also comes with a
pattern for a long, straight skirt. McCalls 6774 is a basic
cape with or without a hood, and it comes with a pattern for
several wrap cloaks. Both patterns are marked "very easy" in
sewing level. Also check in the "costumes" section of the
pattern books -- some superhero and vampire costume patterns
have very simple cape patterns included. For a fancier cape,
look for Folkwear's Kinsale Cloak pattern, available at some
fabric stores and by mail order from AlterYears.
Update -- this Folkwear pattern is no longer in print, so any
where you find it, snap it up!
From: Christabel La Motte
The British pattern company Style has another nice lined cape pattern.
The pattern number is 2377, and it comes with all sizes from "small"
to "extra-large" included. It has some collar variations that the
Butterick pattern doesn't.
From: Cairo
Capes are extremely easy and most, if not all, mainstream
pattern companies stock them (maybe not year-round). Just
follow the directions included with the pattern. The one thing
I can tell you that perhaps will not be included with the pattern
directions is that you should hang your cape with some
clothespins on the hem for weight for about 4-5 days before
hemming. This will allow the cloth to stretch on the bias,
and you will get a better fit and more even hemline.
1.8 What about making chain-mail?
From: Hardrock
Instructions on how to create chainmail can be found on the
web at http://www.primenet.com/~johnj/HowtoChain.html.
The Society for Creative Anachronism has some other
interesting info. on its Arts & Crafts page at
http://www4.ncsu.edu/eos/users/s/sfcallic/SCA/Crafts.html.
---------------------------------------------------------
2.0 Hair:
2.1 What should I use to dye my hair an unusual color
like purple, green, blue, etc.?
General info.: If you have naturally dark hair, you will
have to bleach your hair to some extent if you want to get
truly bright colors. Putting purple dye on dark hair,
especially untreated hair, will result in pale highlights or
tints at the most. If you have never bleached or lightened
your hair before, you might want to have a professional do it
for you at first. After you bleach streaks or your bangs or
whatever, then you can apply the purple hair dye and it
should show up. Most unusual color hair dyes are temporary,
though some may permanently stain very pale hair.
From: Sande
Manic Panic and Directions are pretty much the same thing.
The color that Manic Panic has on its guides is what you
would get if you had White Hair. So don't even bother
thinking you can get that color with your ultra-dark hair.
Manic Panic will also lovingly dye everything else but your
hair. To help Manic Panic take, don't rinse it out for a
long while, and then when you do, use conditioner afterwards.
From: Gnat Hammerstrom
With Directions and Manic Panic stuff, the darker colors have
a better chance of showing up on dark, natural, or otherwise
healthy hair. Just be sure to layer the stuff on thick and
leave it in as long as possible. Normally, this stuff is
supposed to work for weeks at a time, but on healthy hair,
you're lucky to survive two washes.
From: Trystan L. Bass
Another interesting dye is the Clairol Torrids series.
They're permanent dyes that you mix with peroxide, tho' the
colors don't veer *too* far away from natural hues. Their
Bodacious Burgundy is pretty cool, and the blue-black has a
lot more blue than any I've seen. The rest of the Torrids
are variations on bright reds and blondes.
From: Christabel La Motte
I've been dying my hair with semi-permanent (Natural
Instincts) red shades for about two years now. Reds are
particularly notorious for fading quickly. However, I've
had noticeably good luck in keeping the colour brighter
longer by using hair products, like L'Oreals Colorvive
conditioner, that contain a UV block. If you're tired of having
to do touch-ups before your roots have even grown in, look
into using a conditioner or styling product with a similar
UV blocking effect.
From: insijma
I have got relatively boring darkish brown hair and
have been trying to dye it purple for years. I have found
the solution Stargazer 'magenta' (2 bottles) stayed purple
for 2 washes then faded to a pinkish red colour that lasted
a month. There was no need to bleach it. I did however
be a tad naughty and leave it on for and hour and a half.
I can get in Glasgow and Edinburgh only.
From: Julia
I just tried Punky Colors hair dye which is a US brand
but you can buy it in England too I think. Anyway,
my medium->dark brown hair usually laughs hysterically
at hair dye and ignores it. However, one container of tulip
red and half a plum have dyed my hair dark reddish pink
and purple. Mind you, the dye is still bleeding when I wash
my hair (3rd wash) but the color is staying in and looking better.
I left it on my head for 14hrs which may explain why it's in my
hair so well. Put a plastic bag on my head and slept on it, which
I highly recommend doing. Also, for people in the US, use
Apple brand pectin conditioning pack. Makes your hair
happy after making it sad by chemically abusing it.
From: Otterley
My hairdresser uses Farmesi hair colouring... it comes in
primary colours (i.e. red, green, blue) and you mix them
together to get whatever colour you desire! It's also
supposed to be at least semi-permanent. She used it to dye
her son's hair a nice shade of blue. Her son is 7! :) She
says they import it from Italy, and that it's virtually
impossible to get unless you run a salon.
From: blue girl
i have another method for dying hair. it lasts longer
than anything i have tried before, stays in darker and
dyes over darker colours of hair. (all except black)
it might seem a little odd and strange that someone might
even try this. but i have been using biological and chemical
indicators intended on testing the pH or to staining cartilage,
tissue and bones. i know it doesn't sound safe, but so far
i have found that the methylene indicators such as methyl
green and methylene blue have worked wonders. of course,
this is only available to people who have a way into biology
and chemistry labs. the best way is to get the concentrated
powder form, mix it with a little bit of water and brush in.
leave it in for an hour and you have vibrant hair. i kept
it dark dark purple for a month before stripping it and
doing it another colour, while things like manic panic
only last a few days.
Some brand names that have been suggested on a.g.f.
(particularly in reference to burgundy and red hair dyes)
include:
Castings, Cellophanes, Clairol Naturalistics, Colorations
by L'Oreal, Jazzing, Natural Instincts, and Prisms. Many
of these are available in either drug stores or beauty
supply stores.
2.2 How can I dye my dark hair white?
From: Wozzeck
I have been dying my hair white (from dark brown) for
almost two years. Last time I went into the beauty supply
store, the girl working there asked my advice on what to
use, so I thought I'd share the method I use.
Needed:
Rubber Gloves
Cheap Towel
Wooden Stirrer
Paul Mitchell Conditioner (leave-in style)
Clairol 20 Volume Ultra Blue Creme Developer
Clairol Tint and Tone Applicator
Clairol Born Blonde
Clairol Lightening Activators (3)
TreSemme 4+4 Hot Oil
TreSemme 4+4 Hot Oil Shampoo
TreSemme 4+4 Hot Oil Conditioner
Shimmer Lights Original Shampoo (Purple)
Shimmer Lights Original Conditioner (Purple)
Beautique Anti-Static brush
Clairol Toner 5 Levels Lift Violet (Platinum Blonde)
Take the leave-in conditioner and put it on the ends of
your hair. This minimizes hair frying. Put on rubber gloves,
have cheap towel nearby, and then pour all three
Lightening Activators into the Applicator, 4 oz. of the
Creme Developer and 2 oz. of Born Blonde. Stir with the
wooden stirrer. Apply to hair: be sure to cover all of
your hair. If you have really long hair, you might need
to double up on the ingredients: better safe than sorry.
When applying, try to keep off of scalp as much as possible.
Use the towel to wipe off any that gets on your skin,
ears, etc. 20 volume is the weakest developer, thus safest
for your skin and hair.
Leave in for 45-60 min. Continue to reapply or add
developer as necessary (when your hair stars drying, keep
it wet with or if one area isn't lightening as fast as
the surrounding area, hit it). If your scalp starts to
really burn or hurt (a very mild discomfort is OK):
STOP IMMEDIATELY!
Wash out the mixture. Apply heated hot oil treatment
(leave in a minute) and rinse.
Now the shampoos: 4+4 shampoo is great because it is
thick and heavy and protective of your hair. Purple
shampoo will wash out yellows and get that white look.
I use about a 50-50 to 75-25 of 4+4 to Shimmering Lights.
Condition with a similar mixture and then apply more
leave-in conditioner. Conditioner is your friend.
Anti-static brushes are the least likely to tear brittle,
tangled hair, so use them.
At this point, if you have brown or lighter hair, you
should have yellow gold hair. If you have dark hair,
you might need to repeat the above: wait at least a week.
To get yellow gold hair to the platinum white, use the
Clairol Toner and Creme Developer. I would wait about
week after doing the Born Blonde routine.
Continue to use the 4+4 as your shampoo/conditioner and
end with leave-in conditioner. Use a hot oil treatment
once a week or as needed. Paul Mitchell makes an excellent
"Super Charged" conditioner you might want, if needed.
What do I mean by if needed? Your hair should always
feel soft, heavy and oily. It won't look greasy, because
it will be white, so don't worry. Use the purple shampoo
as needed. Continue to use it until your hair takes a
faint purplish tint (very faint) and then hold off
until a yellow tint returns, etc.
I would never do this to permed or other damaged hair.
Colored hair might take longer to strip (Effasol strips
dye out of hair, and leaves hair a bozo orange).
I am not, was not, and never will be a hairdresser:
I am only conveying what I do to myself and what works
on friends. Do this at your own risk and don't sue me
[or the faq maintainer!] if you fuck up.
---------------------------------------------------------
3.0 Make-Up:
3.1 What are some good make-up brands?
From: AngelsFall
I find that the MAC brand works very well if you want your
make-up to stay on all night and for the next three nights...
the mascara is lovely... it is very thick and never comes
off.... the eyeliner pencils are fun.... they also never come
off and look very nice.... they smudge very well.... they
also have a liquid eyeliner that you use like water colors
(painting them on with a paint bush) ...it looks ever too
nice....very nice lines can be done.... (they sell the
brushes there).
From: Miz Stewart
I've been using some of that Makeup Forever, and it is
fucking cool as all shit. I got some really nice black
lipstick and "multi-purpose" body paint -- it can be used as
fingernail polish (with a top coat of clear), eyeliner, lip
color, hair paint, the list goes on and on and on. I would
recommend it because it comes in every color of the rainbow,
and a few unnatural ones as well. They have some pretty
neat-o metallic stuff too. It is pretty spendy though, about
$15 for lipstick and $18 for body paint. According to the
saleslady, Nordstrom sells it "exclusively." They have a lot
of other stuff too, green and lavender foundation, funky fake
eyelashes, and many other fine wares.
From: Louise Fong
Clinique is good if you have sensitive skin or you don't
like scented cosmetics. The loose powder is good for getting
a very pale look and they also have something called Beyond
Shadow, which is a cream eyeshadow. It layers on much better
than regular pressed powder eyeshadow, and doesn't rub off
(req.'s an eye makeup remover).
From: Cairo
I like the water-based white face by Kryolan. It's
professional stuff and last time I bought it, it was $5.00.
Really easy to apply and since it's water-based, you can thin
it out and it's not likely to clog pores. Check local
theatrical supply shops for it. Oh, one more thing, you
should moisturize you skin before and after application.
From: Emeraldas
Shiseido makes a foundation that makes the skin actually
lighter (temporarily). It's called "whiteness" or something.
Also, Manic Panic makes a good white foundation *and* white
powder. They also make foundation that's blue, yellow,
violet, green, or pink toned, to counterbalance one's skin
tone. They even make white lipstick and eyeshadow!
From: Marla Brunker
There is a type of very light green make-up that is used as
an undercoat for "regular" foundation since a thin layer
tends to even out reddish spots (zits, broken capillaries,
etc.). It also makes one look subtly paler.
From: Trystan L. Bass
Many department store make-up brands are coming out with
varieties of these concealer/foundations. They're designed
to even out the undertones in your skin. Experienced make-up
salespeople will know what color you should get to go with
your skin tone. I know MAC has this stuff, and it looks
really good. Cheapskate that I am, I use Bonnie Bell White
White Concealer either alone or under palest ivory
foundation.
From: Mistress Cat
foundation: Estee Lauder's "Lucidity light-diffusing
makeup," color: porcelain, is the lightest normal
foundation I've found.
powder: L'Oreal's "Mattique," color: soft ivory, is
practically white, but just enough tan to be skin tone.
From: Rosaleen Dhu
I've had the best luck with Shiseido Natural Matte.
I can't remember the color code... just ask the person at
the counter for the lightest one (yes, it's in department
stores). It has the added benefits of being oil free and
SPF 8 sunscreen! Pair it with Shiseido Translucence Powder.
From: max factor
[for dark skin tones] use a foundation/powder only two
shades lighter than your own... goth is originality,
not conformity,(you don't need to be white). try max
factor makeup for a strikingly flawless finish. line
eyes in black (try doing cat eyes). use mascara or fake
lashes for a lush richness. trash the black lippy,
instead line lips with black eyeliner (kohl not liquid)
then apply a matte burgundy lipstick (try revlon's
colorstay) to heighten cheekbones use a bit of foundation
one or two shades darker than your natural under your
makeup.
3.2 What are some good eyeliners?
From: Blk0rchid
I would recommend Almay eyeliner. It has major staying
power (16 hours), and I find it to be less harsh on the
ol' contacts than many of the other brands.
From: brendan
i use pretty much the cheapest available black liquid
eyeliner, artmatic, i think it's called. it stays on no
matter how much you sweat while dancing, and it doesn't run
smeary around the eyes. to get it off you pretty much have to
use a cold cream or a q-tip with warm water on it though.
From: Heidi Evans
I use Maybelline Lineworks. It looks great, but occasionally
has to be run under a tap if it gets clogged with eyeshadow.
It also costs $4.50 a tube, which seems pricey to me...
From: Malkavian
My personal fave eyeliner so far is the L'Oreal Superliner.
The felt-pen-like brush is much easier to use than bristle
brushes, and the liner is one of the best i've seen.
3.3 What are some good lipsticks?
From: emyly
wet 'n wild -- i just discovered their halloween "fantasy
makers" line, with three shades of black lipstick (creme,
shimmer, pearl) and a black liquid lip color, blue lipstick,
glittery face & body paints...
From: Jillian Sutter
I went and got a tube of the Vamp lipstick. Great color,
stays on well...and Chanel uses rose oil in their lipsticks,
so they smell really neat.
From: Mooncrow
The best black lipstick I ever used was Almay's liquid
black eyeliner! Stays on until you take it off, but does tend
to make your lips feel (but not look) dried-up. Great if you
like matte black lips.
From: Verotika
I always found that MAC Media, with some black liner works
wonderfully. Plus, unlike other lipsticks, the media stays
put for hours (seriously).
3.4 What are some good black nail polishes?
From: Estelle
I have this nail polish called "Midnight" by Estee Lauder.
It's really pricey.. I don't remember how much it cost
(probably blocked it out of my memory), but it gives this
lovely dark purple effect. It is a dark.. dark purple that
looks black from afar, and to really get that dried blood
affect you have to apply about two thick coats. If you got
the dough, and want a high quality nail polish.. then go get
some 'cause I *love* it and think it's worth every penny.
From: Walter Keighron
My absolute favorite black polish is a shade called Black on
Black, manufactured by Mirage cosmetics under the brand name
Sinful. Also, even Wet n' Wild stays on a good long time
without chipping if you make sure nails are clean, buffed if
you have the time, and you apply a good base coat (as well as
top coat). Any old Revlon or Sally Hansen base works quite
well. It's really not as much work as it sounds. The polish
lasts ten times longer at least.
From: Sande
If you're in L.A. area, try NINA and look fer it in Whittier.
If you're in Boston, try Topstone Industries Professional
BLACK nail polish and look for it at Oona's (Newbury St.,
Hahvahd Sq.) $3.
From: melissa
I went out to get some Revlon Vixen polish, which is such
a lovely blood-red. I also spotted some cheapo-but-good
Brucchi polish in Silver Foil. Try this:
Put on a few coats of the Vixen (or other suitably bloody
shade). Then add a VERY thin coat of Silver Foil (or other
silver polish), leaving some of the red edges showing through.
You will look like you used your stainless steel nails to
eviscerate something and didn't clean up well enough. As
the silver wears down, the look gets more gruesome.
---------------------------------------------------------
4.0 Other Resources:
4.1 What other gothic fashion resources exist
on the Internet?
alt.gothic FAQ -- basic goth info., plus some fashion stuff
ftp.maths.tcd.ie/pub/music/gothic/gothic-faq
http://www.vamp.org/Gothic/Text/gothic-faq.html
alt.sex.fetish.fashion FAQ -- extensive suppliers lists
(England, Europe & Far East, North America) including
resources for leather, bondage, PVC, corsets, shoes, toys
http://login.dknet.dk:80/~pg/fetish/
Dark Side of the Web -- probably all the gothic web links
you'll ever need, hundreds of 'em, updated frequently
http://www.cascade.net/darkweb.html
Dye It Black FAQ -- pretty good instructions for dying
your clothes black, plus dye resources and books
http://www.cs.ucl.ac.uk/staff/b.rosenberg/goth/dye.faq.html
Greater Bay Area Costumer's Guild Home Page --
has a good list of historical clothing and costume links
http://www.toreadors.com/costume/
Make-up Tips for the Bleak -- clever suggestions on how to
look oh-so-gothically pale and lovely
http://www.vamp.org/Gothic/Text/makeup.html
Take a Bite -- gothic e-zine with lots of fashion tips,
both silly and serious
ftp.maths.tcd.ie/pub/music/gothic/TAB
http://www.crg.cs.nott.ac.uk/~rji/Gothic/TAB/tab.html
Vampyre Stores -- a small, yet international, listing of
gothic clothing and vampire oriented stores
http://www.vampyre.wis.net//vampyre/shops.html
---------------------------------------------------------
5.0 Credits & Disclaimer
CREDITS:
Any entry not followed by a name in brackets or preceded by
a name was written by Trystan L. Bass (tr...@toreadors.com).
The following people contributed information to this FAQ,
either directly or by posting to alt.gothic.fashion and
alt.gothic. I did not get express permission from all of
these people to reprint their words. If anyone wishes to
be deleted, please contact me and you will be deleted in
the next revision. Usually *several months* pass between
revisions, so be patient.
Contributors:
AngelsFall
blk0rchid
brendan
Cairo
Carole Backler
Christabel La Motte
Dark Dragon
dejavu
dogcow
Emeraldas
emyly
Erhnam Djinn
Estelle
falon
feline
Gnat Hammerstrom
Hardrock
Heidi Evans
insijma
Jane Shaw
Jen Fausti
Jillian Sutter
joolz
Julia
Juliet Wisner
katydid
kirsten
Lana Michelle
Lorelle Anderson
Louise Fong
luna
M. Giordan
malkavian
Margaret Rhodes
Marla Brunker
Michael Saint
Mistress Cat
Miz Stewart
Mooncrow
nbrao
Niniane
Otterley
Peter T. Caffin
Philip A. Wilk
PirateTwin
platypus
Rosaleen Dhu
Sande
Scary Gary
Sunshyn
Thom
Verotika
viper1
Vips
walter keighron
Waz from Oz
Wozzeck
Wraatha
---------------------------------------------------------
DISCLAIMER:
I disclaim absolutely everything. The contents of this
article might be totally inaccurate, inappropriate,
misguided, or just plain silly and foolish. I take no
responsibility for the veracity of any information here,
although I did try to check stuff out first. As always,
buyer beware, look before you leap, etc. And remember,
folks, this is a work in progress!
--Trystan L. Bass (tr...@toreadors.com)
---------------------------------------------------------
goth...@aol.com
well...if you call me a sell out...i dont blame ya. heres the deal
i finally look through the folder that ive been downloading stuff to. i
find two issues of "fashionstance"... somehting advertised in here long
ago. they ssaid they were doing an article on goth fashion, so i wrote a
little thing about how i feel on the subject. and guess what? they used it
as the opener for the article. reading over it again, i was rather proud
of what i said. but then i got to the article... AGGG! ive never sEEEN
such crap about us! i suggest you all read this qwik so you can see what
they must be thinking..... im almost ashamed that they used my name now...
i dont wanna be attached if its like THAT!!!
.....}|{
(today was 80's day at school.)
"no, im a glam rocker. no, not cyndi lauper.
no, _GLAM_ rock. no, afros are 70's!
damn you children! when did you grow up!?!"
slchen
goth...@aol.com writes:
>i finally look through the folder that ive been downloading stuff to. i
>find two issues of "fashionstance"... somehting advertised in here long
>ago. they ssaid they were doing an article on goth fashion, so i wrote a
>little thing about how i feel on the subject. and guess what? they used it
>as the opener for the article. reading over it again, i was rather proud
>of what i said. but then i got to the article... AGGG! ive never sEEEN
>such crap about us! i suggest you all read this qwik so you can see what
>they must be thinking..... im almost ashamed that they used my name now...
>i dont wanna be attached if its like THAT!!!
And where's the article?
lXs
listneing to Rollerskate Skinny
--
=======****> "What! No rat salad?! This is a day without sunshine."
If you are in the film/video/music industry and would like to request
a director's reel, please do so at http://www-scf.usc.edu/~slchen/
lisette
>slchen wrote:
>
> goth...@aol.com writes:
>
> >i finally look through the folder that ive been downloading stuff to. i
> >find two issues of "fashionstance"... somehting advertised in here long
> >ago. they ssaid they were doing an article on goth fashion, so i wrote a
> >little thing about how i feel on the subject. and guess what? they used it
> >as the opener for the article. reading over it again, i was rather proud
> >of what i said. but then i got to the article... AGGG! ive never sEEEN
> >such crap about us! i suggest you all read this qwik so you can see what
> >they must be thinking..... im almost ashamed that they used my name now...
> >i dont wanna be attached if its like THAT!!!
>
> And where's the article?
>
> lXs
>
I looked for it too, but couldn't find it. Their ideas for polish mixing were ok
though. Not much else of use there.
Lisette
goth...@aol.com
In article <560a9q$4...@castor.usc.edu>, slc...@castor.usc.edu (slchen)
writes:
>And where's the article?
>
>
in fashionstance magazine.... should i post that part? okay.. i will...
hang on....
*******************************************************
GOTH! a special section to commemorate the darker side
of fashion for October ....
In response to our post asking Gothic users to define
"Goth Beauty"....
gothbeauty..... sexual. asexual. androginous. feminine.
masculine. religious. athiestic. its all this. and its
not to be paraded as a new look. not for some melrose
shop to make a billion off. its a lifestyle for those
who live their dreams. for those who live IN the
moment, not for it when it finally comes. im not even
sure if anyone has the right to determine what is and
is not gothbeauty. i think its about gathering bits of
your life...of past lives, and gluing them (with black,
glittery glue of course) together into an outfit... a
look.... a room... a hairstyle. you can walk out on the
street where many goths play and find one all in black
velvet and chains, with big black boots (yes i love you
spider) and then turn to find another goth in a white
lace corset and gown. i believe ive said this in
alt.gothic.fashion before, but thats part of whats so
wonderful about the "movement". you are as goth as you
want. the drama queens and the street squatters. the
fetish boys and the drag queens. the innocent and the
slut.... youre gonna find it all, and ill be damned
(pun?) if they arent all wearin' eyeliner!
......}|{........ gothfAEri
"the faerie girl with a heart of.....
say, has anyone ever asked
WHAT her heart's made of?
---------------------------
"What Makes Good Gothic Style?"
To answer this question, I surfed the Internet.
Beginning with our Web Watch column, I accessed the
alt.gothic.fashion faq's,
(http://www.toreadors.com/gothfashion.html) and from
there a new universe opened up which I had absolutely
no idea existed. There are HUNDREDS of Goth sites.
After becoming tangled up in the myriad of web pages,
links and lists which abound in this area, I finally
decided that a crash course was in order. And so, I
stopped at a great set of web pages entitled, "How to
Be Goth in Less Than One Hour," created by a devotee
named Eric.
http://www.scenario.com/eric/goth
Eric organizes a Goth transformation (and explanation)
into six easy steps.
Step #1 Basics for hair, face and skin.
Long hair is best but short hair will do. The object is
to make it look spooky. He even adds that your style
doesn't need to make sense. Just do a little shaving
here and there and dye your hair black.
"Your skin tone should be ghostly and really, really
creepy." Use eyeliner and remember black. Black adds an
eerie effect to pale complexions.
Step #2 Expressions and attitudes
"It is very important to look anguished and filled with
despair.... The weight of the world and society is on
Goths and you must make your audience believe that you
are to blame."
Never, never smile. "Smiling," he advises, "would be
equal to Robert Deniro acting like Daffy Duck. It won't
work...."
Step #3 - Accessorize that spookiness!
He suggests that you select things which are out of the
ordinary, can be dangled from a pierced body part and
be some sort of metal. He goes on to add that he likes
to dangle keys from his pierced nipple and a tire gauge
from a very personal spot you will have to read about
yourself. He also mentions internal body organs but I'm
sure he's spoofing about that.
Step #4 - Practice some basic mannerisms
"It is very important that you look good in subdued
light." He suggests getting a candle and looking at
yourself in the mirror in a darkened room. Pose.
Practice hand gestures which cast eerie shadows, make
slow movements and close your eyes slowly.
Get a cape as soon as possible.
Step #5 Social situations can be fun!
Goth dancing. "It doesn't matter if it is slow or fast
music, the moves are the same. What a deal.... Do Kung
Fu moves, only slowly....Pretend you're a ballerina.
This works for men, too!"
Step #6 Rate Yourself.
"You should feel comfortable by now. All you need to do
is just practice....
*Do I feel spooky?
*Would I frighten my friends and family?
*Do I look like The Crow?
*Could I dress like this for Halloween?
"If you answered yes to any of these, you are Goth!"
P.s. Having a rodent for a pet helps....
---------------------------
Makeup Tips for the Bleak by Lord Damien Star
[taken from Ghastly Magazine, Issue 3]
Done badly, Gothic makeup and dress can look painfully
stupid. The following are some suggestions for how to
do it well.
1. Whiteface should create the illusion that you really
are that pale, and not that you have a bunch of makeup
from Wallgreen's caked all over your face. Use a good
base: not even the most gifted makeup artist can get
the necessary coverage from inferior makeup. If you
have dark skin, don't try to do whiteface unless you're
going for a very stylized harlequin look or are willing
to put makeup on all exposed skin areas. Try using a
base just one or two shades lighter than your own
color, and then put white powder over it. This will
give you an ethereal, almost grayish cast.
After spending money on a decent base, take the trouble
to apply it evenly. It's appalling how many Goths
overlook something so basic and vital to their entire
aesthetic. Equally bad and unfortunately as common is
the tendency to over powder and to end one's pallor at
the jawbone. Such mistakes are just inexcusably stupid.
Don't make them.
2. On the subject of eyeliner, liquid is better, but if
your hands shake, by all means use the most expensive
pencil you can afford. Cheap pencils go on faint and
will smudge after an hour. Do something original with
your eye makeup: cobwebs or bat wings drawn across the
cheek look silly on anyone over the age of fifteen.
3. Find a shade of lipstick not everyone else is
wearing. Theatrical supply stores are the best for
really deep shades of congealed-blood red. Apply it
with a lip brush for a more precise and severe effect.
4. Strive for originality in your costume. For those
doing vintage looks, realize that both the eighteenth
century and the Victorian era have been done to death.
The Twenties, Thirties, and Forties are largely
untapped by Goths and have great potential.
Also remember that black is not the only color. Deep
blues, grays, and greens, as well as blood-red, purple,
and ivory, can be equally striking.
Your Gothic look should be as opulent, decadent, and
original as possible. If you're not up to making the
necessary effort to carry off this most
high-maintenance of affectations, try wearing plaid
shirts and listening to Nirvana instead.
[this article has been edited for FashionStance.
Editor]
--------------------------
There's also a web site called, "Gorgeous Goth Guy of
the Week."
http://www.ts.umu.se/~yisca/hunk.htm
At the top of this site, there is the following quote:
"Beauty is a which against whose charms faith melteth
into blood. " Shakespeare.
*******************************************************
slchen
How to Be Goth in an Hour is meant to be a joke, though.
lXs
WEARing BLACK and white
goth...@aol.com
In article <563l25$g...@castor.usc.edu>, slc...@castor.usc.edu (slchen)
writes:
>How to Be Goth in an Hour is meant to be a joke, though.
>
>
yes, but they were so stupid, they didnt know!!!! thats probably the
funniest part!
what do you guys think of what i wrote? agree? any additions?
.....}|{
Kat:"like, it's Areni's harpsichord"
me:"Areni, ....roleplayin' Areni?"
Kat:"yeah... Ari's sister. why?"
me:" then it's a LARPsichord!!!"
just julia
goth...@aol.com wrote:
: well...if you call me a sell out...i dont blame ya. heres the deal
: i finally look through the folder that ive been downloading stuff to. i
: find two issues of "fashionstance"... somehting advertised in here long
: ago. they ssaid they were doing an article on goth fashion, so i wrote a
: little thing about how i feel on the subject. and guess what? they used it
: as the opener for the article. reading over it again, i was rather proud
: of what i said. but then i got to the article... AGGG! ive never sEEEN
: such crap about us! i suggest you all read this qwik so you can see what
: they must be thinking..... im almost ashamed that they used my name now...
: i dont wanna be attached if its like THAT!!!
Well, part one was a joke. How to be goth in under 2 hours or something
like that. It's pretty funny. The other bit was something by Sexbat.
Let me see if I can find it.
julia
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Frequenters of lunatic asylums are familiar with the person who, being
convinced he is a poached egg, continually demands to be put on hot
toast, and is continually unhappy because no one will put him on hot toast."
--Arnold Benner -==- http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~jstarkey/julia.html
goth...@aol.com
In article <328777...@scenario.com>, Eric Rice <er...@scenario.com>
writes:
>Does anyone know where I can get a copy of this magazine? This needs to
>be framed on my wall. I never thought simple humour could be taken so
>far.
well... its an email magazine, but i could send you a copy of the article
or the whole thing...
.....}|{
"goffaeri...did he do anything romantic?
like serenade you outside your window?"
"of course not, lilfruit. goths can't do that....
the harpsichord would wake the neighbors!"
Eric Rice
Does anyone know where I can get a copy of this magazine? This needs to
be framed on my wall. I never thought simple humour could be taken so
far.
Eric
That "Devotee"
er...@scenario.com
http://www.scenario.com/eric/goth/
Rhiannon
In article <19961109211...@ladder01.news.aol.com>,
goth...@aol.com wrote:
> In article <560a9q$4...@castor.usc.edu>, slc...@castor.usc.edu (slchen)
> writes:
>
> >And where's the article?
> >
>
> in fashionstance magazine.... should i post that part? okay.. i will...
> hang on....
Heya... Eric, creator of "how to be goth in less than an hour' is a
freind of mine. Is fashionstance an online magazine or print mag... if
so, where can I pick up a copy for him?
PS: The how to be site is, in fact, a humorous poke at our gothy selves. ;)
Thanks,
--
--Rhiannon rhia...@netgate.net
A Woman of Questionable Taste & Dubious Origin
*Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc*
*We gladly feast on those who would subdue us*
http://www.netgate.net/~rhiannon/
Never have I been a blue, calm sea. I have always been a storm. - SN
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Rev. Moses Moore
In article <rhiannon-111...@d86.netgate.net>,
Rhiannon <rhia...@netgate.net> wrote:
>In article <19961109211...@ladder01.news.aol.com>,
>goth...@aol.com wrote:
>
>> writes:
>>
>> >And where's the article?
>> >
>>
>> in fashionstance magazine.... should i post that part? okay.. i will...
>> hang on....
>
>freind of mine. Is fashionstance an online magazine or print mag... if
>so, where can I pick up a copy for him?
>
>PS: The how to be site is, in fact, a humorous poke at our gothy selves. ;)
>
>Thanks,
>
>--
>--Rhiannon rhia...@netgate.net
> A Woman of Questionable Taste & Dubious Origin
>
> *Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc*
> *We gladly feast on those who would subdue us*
> http://www.netgate.net/~rhiannon/
> Never have I been a blue, calm sea. I have always been a storm. - SN
>---------------------------------------------------------------------
>
Newsgroups: alt.gothic.fashion
Subject: Re: oooooooh mygod. oh, my, god.
Summary:
Expires:
References: <560a9q$4...@castor.usc.edu> <19961109211...@ladder01.news.aol.com> <rhiannon-111...@d86.netgate.net>
Sender:
Followup-To:
Distribution:
Organization: University of Waterloo Computer Science Club
Keywords:
Cc:
In article <rhiannon-111...@d86.netgate.net>,
Rhiannon <rhia...@netgate.net> wrote:
>Heya... Eric, creator of "how to be goth in less than an hour' is a
>freind of mine. Is fashionstance an online magazine or print mag... if
>so, where can I pick up a copy for him?
>
Waaaaait a minute. I thought this looked familiar.
[reprinted from Fab, "Toronto's Gay Scene Magazine", Nov 7th issue:]
[send flames to R.A. Gechas @ Fab magazine]
HOW TO BE GOTHIC IN AN HOUR:
Clothing:
Wear ALL balck being careful not to clash Blue. Black with True Black.
Long Hair:
Not a prerequisite but it helps.
Short hair:
Holds the right degree of messiness longer. (If shaving patches out is required go for the random buzz and chop approach)
Accessories:
There is no such thing as to much silver jewelery.
Make-Up:
The paste white face can be achieved with expensive MAC powder or even baby powder. Line your lips with black eye pencil and layer the lip colour, darkest shade first. Elaborate your eyes, your face is a blank canvas.
Facial Expression:
Anguished, imagine walking on millions of very tiny, very sharp thorns.
Dancing:
Play A Gothic Rock compilation wihle you watch a Kung Fu movie in slow motion -- you'll get the idea.
Gothic Pick-Up lines:
Hey baby, your coffin or mine?
Is you heart as black and cold as your eyes?
Excuse me, but your veil is caught in my handcuffs.
Gothic Break-Up lines:
You're just not evil enough to have a serious relationship with.
You make me too happy. Go away!
You wore pink last Tuesday?!!! Get out of my sight!
[end. Page 18, fab Magazine, issue 52]
---
Moses Moore: stories told, fortunes known and evil supervillians spanked.
- Have you met TinGoth yet? irc://us.undernet.org:6667/#gothic -
For more info about me: http://www.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/u/jajmoore/
--
Moses Moore: stories told, fortunes known and evil supervillians spanked.
- Have you met TinGoth yet? irc://us.undernet.org:6667/#gothic -
For more info about me: http://www.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/u/jajmoore/
goth...@aol.com
In article <rhiannon-111...@d86.netgate.net>,
rhia...@netgate.net (Rhiannon) writes:
>Heya... Eric, creator of "how to be goth in less than an hour' is a
>freind of mine. Is fashionstance an online magazine or print mag... if
>so, where can I pick up a copy for him?
>
>PS: The how to be site is, in fact, a humorous poke at our gothy selves.
;)
>
>
its an e-zine. and we all know it was sarcastic.. but dont tell the
normals!!!
nosey-wiggles...
.....}|{
"the thing is not WORKING!!!
technofear! all the machines
are ganging up on mee!
DAVYD!!!!!"
unreadable
Rev. Moses Moore (jajm...@calum.csclub.uwaterloo.ca) wrote:
hey mozai *lick*
: Waaaaait a minute. I thought this looked familiar.
: [reprinted from Fab, "Toronto's Gay Scene Magazine", Nov 7th issue:]
: [send flames to R.A. Gechas @ Fab magazine]
hrm. i guess they read usenet/mailing lists alot because i've been getting
mailing list stuff entitled "goth pick-up lines" and "goth break-up lines"
for awhile now (these texts were more extensive, and have the same lines
you quoted in the article in them)...
either that or nothing is truly original 8)
Peace Love & Eternity
Carcajou de MalcaV
...who wishes his account hadnt been wiped with those files...
Eric Rice
It's funny. I looked up fabmag.om and it said 403 Forbidden. I can see
a lot of 'compilation' effort went into this piece and wanted to see it
online.
It's just that plagaristic detector I have. Can anyone help me out in
contacting these people? Strictly for commentary, of course.
Originally yours,
Eric
er...@scenario.com
http://www.scenario.com/eric/goth/
Hmm, maybe I should do, "How to Rip Off Content in less than One Issue"
--
Rev. Moses Moore wrote:
> Waaaaait a minute. I thought this looked familiar.
> [reprinted from Fab, "Toronto's Gay Scene Magazine", Nov 7th issue:]
> [send flames to R.A. Gechas @ Fab magazine]
>
> HOW TO BE GOTHIC IN AN HOUR:
> Dancing:
Rhiannon
In article <56anjj$i...@calum.csclub.uwaterloo.ca>,
jajm...@calum.csclub.uwaterloo.ca (Rev. Moses Moore) wrote:
>
> Waaaaait a minute. I thought this looked familiar.
> [reprinted from Fab, "Toronto's Gay Scene Magazine", Nov 7th issue:]
> [send flames to R.A. Gechas @ Fab magazine]
>
> HOW TO BE GOTHIC IN AN HOUR:
Not the same thing...but close. Thanks tho. I saw that Eric Himself(tm),
posted asking for a copy of the text so....
Best,
Margaret Rhodes
In article <19961113030...@ladder01.news.aol.com>,
goth...@aol.com says...
Look, I write for this e-zine and work closely with the publisher. Everyone
*knows* it was meant to be humorous...and sarcastic.
Margaret
> DAVYD!!!!!"
--
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Ten years before its time, a fashion is indecent; ten years after,
it is hideous; but a century after, it is romantic." --James Laver
alt.fashion faq -- http://www.mindspring.com/~jstoner/alt.fashion/
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Margaret Rhodes
In article <328B81...@scenario.com>, er...@scenario.com says...
>
>It's funny. I looked up fabmag.om and it said 403 Forbidden. I can see
>a lot of 'compilation' effort went into this piece and wanted to see it
>online.
>
>It's just that plagaristic detector I have. Can anyone help me out in
>contacting these people? Strictly for commentary, of course.
>
>Originally yours,
>Eric
>er...@scenario.com
>http://www.scenario.com/eric/goth/
>
>Hmm, maybe I should do, "How to Rip Off Content in less than One Issue"
>
>--
>
to post something for the e-zine regarding goth for Halloween. I was moving
that month and though I had promised to help her with that issue, I didn't have
time. Whatever she published was what people in this newsgroup sent her,
and she had no reason to believe that it wasn't original content unless it was
stated as such or was properly identified as being quoted from another
publication. Unfortunately, this article wasn't...
Margaret
goth...@aol.com
In article <564217$5...@decaxp.harvard.edu>, jsta...@fas.harvard.edu (just
julia) writes:
>Well, part one was a joke. How to be goth in under 2 hours or something
>like that. It's pretty funny. The other bit was something by Sexbat.
>Let me see if I can find it.
i know now, but suprisingly only one person has said ANYTHING in response
to my qwesthtin in the post. i wanted to know what you guys thought of it,
so i posted it for all to see. then everyone got so caught up in trying to
get a copy of the zine, they didnt care anymore. so here... its an ezine,
so you cant buy a copy, but ill send you the issue or just the goth
article if youd like. email me.
....}|{
"ecrivez vous les
livres de S et M?"
(thanks for the "mad props" lacrima!!!)
goth...@aol.com
In article <56hjkv$8...@camel0.mindspring.com>, jst...@mindspring.com
(Margaret Rhodes) writes:
>
>Look, I write for this e-zine and work closely with the publisher.
Everyone
>*knows* it was meant to be humorous...and sarcastic.
>
>Margaret
i wrote you privately, so no comment here....
..}|{