Shallow fashion ponderings, and some other stuff.

[cupcake_goth]

Other stuff first: why had no one told me that Living Dead Dolls had done a Beetlejuice doll? (clicky-link!) C'mon, people! I discovered it thanks to Tumblr and Twitter, and the Amazon munchkins delivered mine today. I wonder what Lucretia Evangeline will think of him? (Probably be terribly confused.)

I am working from home again today (sleep issues, whee). One of life's simple pleasures? Brewing herbal tea containing catmint, and watching all three of the cats get Very Excited.

Shallow Fashion Pondering: I don't know what the other "fast fashion" mainstream stores (like Forever 21 and so on) are offering right now, but let me tell you: H+M and Target have set the Wayback Machine to 1984. Mini skirts with layers of drapey mesh ruffles, lace leggings, lace-trimmed bike shorts, little cropped jackets, oversized tunics (some in lace) to wear over leggings, necklaces that are tangles of costume pearls and chains ...

I'm not kidding. I looked around the offerings in the Target Misses/Juniors department, and spotted at least 3 items I wore regularly in 1984-85. Which means that all of those confused babybats writing to GCS asking where to find gothy clothing because their parents won't let them shop at Hot Topic? Just need some instruction on how to browse the racks and combine things.

(In fact, I'm idly thinking of creating a couple of Polyvore sets that are made up of items from basic mainstream stores, just to have some visual examples for the babybats. Hmmm ...)

Comments

[staxxy.livejournal.com]

I do believe that Lucretia Evangeline will need a new red wedding dress, ala Lydia...

[blackrosemortal.livejournal.com]

Most of my work clothes came from target & h&m. I love it since I was such an 80's baby

[water-of-fire.livejournal.com]

Eek. Cute Beetlejuice doll is cute! And I agree that Lucretia Evangeline will require a red wedding dress.

[trilliumgrl.livejournal.com]

Last time I was at H+M I was eyeing the piles of cameos in the jewelry section and the cute little military jackets that don't work on me, but would look lovely on others, especially once decked out.

[silversaffyre.livejournal.com]

AIEE, I didn't know about the Betelgeuse doll either! Want want.

Ah, the little baby bats have a lot to learn. Once upon a time, there was no such place as Hot Topic. We haunted Halloween sales and stocked up for our black lipstick, or, our eyeliner became double duty with a bit of lip gloss. You wanted arm bands? You sewed them. You wanted arm warmers? You did awful things to socks and stockings. You molded cool jewelry from clay and painted it, or if you were really awesome, you made it in jewelry class. You would go to vintage stores and dig out old frilly things from grandma's closet that you RIT dyed.;)

Those were the days, right? =)

[rikibeth.livejournal.com]

I can actually do this riff in the cadences and pacing of the Python "Four Yorkshiremen" sketch, and have. Excellent way to amuse and annoy my teenager.

Other details: if we wanted a T-shirt or poster for one of our bands, we had to go to a record store that was half head shop, and while you could stock up on fishnet tights at Halloween sales, fishnet STOCKINGS were practically nowhere -- seriously, even specialty places like Parklane Hosiery didn't have them, I got my first pair in PARIS in 1987. Maybe if I'd tried a Fredericks' catalog, but good luck getting that past my mother.

There's also a bit about how schools didn't have GSAs, and we had to rely on drama club and Rocky Horror, but this may not be relevant to the babybats you know.

[silversaffyre.livejournal.com]

My teen stares at me when I suggest a theater shop for pan (cake) makeup. Oh yes, I went there. Yes, I did.

Honestly, very much the same, t-shirts and posters were a rarity if we were so lucky! Half-head shop, and a "smoke emporium", let us not forget! (Those are really vases.) Always hated the smell in those places.

Sheesh, if we could've ordered from Fredrick's we all would've had more interesting accessories. And been truly dead bodies to boot. *chuckle*

[blutsauger.livejournal.com]

Heh, I'm usually passing by H&M with a sniff and a huff, as their current fashion is so Not My Style. I just think it's ridiculous, people making fun of how their parents looked back then and a mere year later they're all streaming into fashion shops to get the latest "fashion". C'mon.
Maybe I'm also a bit put off by military style jackets that don't look good on me, though they look fabulous on the rack. Humph.