cupcake_goth: A lady always carries a handkerchief. (dainty cliche)
( May. 28th, 2019 01:58 pm)
This year's VMB was the best Nicole has ever put on. It was in a new location; the Portland Art Museum, and everything about the event leveled up to match the venue. The main performance was vampire themed, of course, and not only did the lovely vampire creature belly dance trio dance to my favorite Chelsea Wolfe song ("Carrion Flowers"), but the aerialists had a powered winch that pulled them 20' into the air, which let them swoop and swing out directly over the audience.

Ice Princess has come up the best description for the event: it's the Met Gala for goths. People (including myself) plan and work months in advance on our outfits, and when we're there, we're able to glory in the gorgeousness of everyone around us. One of my favorite things about the VMB is that the crowd spans all ages, cultures, and body types; it's not exclusively young thin white people, which is a very nice change.

It's a working event for me, as I'm the MC, which means I don't get to socialize as much as I'd want. I never caught up with

[personal profile] trystbat, much to my sadness, and I only get fleeting bits of conversation with the folks I do catch up with. But even with that, the event is still my favorite of the year.

I had told myself I wasn't going to purchase goodies, even at Powell's. I, uh, failed at this.

 

  • A vintage stretch lace Betsey Johnson skater-style dress for under $20 at Buffalo Exchange. I plan on modifying it into a duster, and feel no twinges about this plan, as I owned the same damn dress back in the 90s.
  • A black notebook with we gladly feast on those who would subdue us screen printed on the cover. I am incapable of resisting things with the family motto.
  • And my moment of weakness at Powell's: The Saint Germain Chronicles, by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro. The Count Saint Germain novels aren't big favorites of mine, but here, this photo will explain why I had to own it:






I feel so called out.

---

I am already vaguely planning my outfit for next year. Expect shallow fashion planning posts. :D
I am rethinking parts of my outfit for Vampire Ball.

...

. . .

I know. I KNOW. I am ridiculous. But while I liked the burgundy lace dress and burgundy skirt at Bats Day, I don't think it will be elaborate enough for VMB, even with the addition of the sequinned lace collar/breastplate. Also, I cannot find the antique sequinned velvet & lace overskirt that I was planning on wearing over the burgundy skirt. The house has eaten it.

The outfit I'm kinda-sorta planning, and will do a test-run of tomorrow:

- Ankle-length, accordion-pleated A-line metallic silver skirt, worn over a petticoat, which means it won't be pleated anymore, but have interesting textural details.

- Ankle-length black tulle skirt, which has 3 layers of wide tulle ruffles, trimmed in black lace.

- Black satin overbust corset.

- Black lace dress, which I will do a quick bit of gathering to two points in the back so it has a sort of polonaise effect.

- Black sequinned lace collar/breastplate thing.

- Hair pulled up (with a teased fall to add a lot more volume without having to completely backcomb my real hair), sprayed with micro-glitter spray, and a black and blackened-burgundy rose crown.
cupcake_goth: (impishcliche)
( Apr. 13th, 2014 08:42 pm)


The best comment someone made about this outfit was something along the lines of: "Oh wow! Your outfit reminds me of the videos from this one album, The Black Parade? By My Chemical Romance, have you heard of them?" Oh precious child, YES, I've heard of them. Now deliver them to me.

MOAR PHOTOS )

I had a wonderful time. Every time I think there's no way it can be more elaborate and lovely than previous years, and every year I am delighted to be proven wrong.
Throwing the horns

If Kerry points a camera at me, I throw the horns. It's almost an instinctual response at this point. After this photo, the StuntHusband turned to me and said, "Really? It's a thing with you, isn't it?"

More photos under here )

The event was spectacular. Lady Raven does a wonderful job in organizing and creating the Vampire Masquerade Ball, and I'm very grateful she does. And yes, I've already started thinking about next year's outfit. What?
Soooo, over the weekend was the 11th annual Vampire Masquerade Ball down in PDX. This is THE event I look forward to every year; it's a fancy-dress event for gothy types, which means that for one night, almost everyone I see is Dressed Up.

Photos!

Throwing the horns

If Kerry points a camera at me, I throw the horns. It's almost an instinctual response at this point. After this photo, the StuntHusband turned to me and said, "Really? It's a thing with you, isn't it?"

Also, YES, those are our matching jackets made from platinum silk dupioni. The Infamous BlueJay is insanely talented. And insane, but those are other stories and I won't go into them here.

Pretty girls!

Look at all the pretty ladies I know!

Laurel

Laurel, in her fabulous outfit that she designed and the Infamous BlueJay created.

VMBAlexiaJilliMarc

With Alexia and the always-dapper Marc17.

VMB2013onstage

Onstage, doing the emcee thing. (Oh yeah, did I mention? This is the second year in a row I've been asked to emcee the event. It is SO MUCH FUN.)

The event was spectacular. Lady Raven does a wonderful job in organizing and creating the Vampire Masquerade Ball, and I'm very grateful she does. And yes, I've already started thinking about next year's outfit. What?

I told you that the Stunt Husband and I were going to match.

And yes, these vampires will probably hurt you.

The event was wonderful, as always, and I got to see my darling [livejournal.com profile] kambriel!

And now, since it is 2:40 AM, I should try to get to sleep. Especially since check-out is 12:30.

Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone.

Tomorrow I get on a BoltBus to PDX, because the Vampire Masquerade Ball is Saturday night! Today I did the full test-run of the outfit the Infamous BlueJay made, and it's AMAZING. She outdid herself. Even more astonishing: the StuntHusband and I will be matching. Yes, fear us, we're those ElderGoths. Here's a hint: platinum silk dupioni.

The Vampire Ball is my favorite gothy event of the year. This year will be a little odd because my darling [livejournal.com profile] cass404 won't be with us (and I won't be staying with her, because she's not a PDX resident anymore), but I'm sure the evening will still be delightful and full of eye candy. Yes, I will try to take many photos.
cupcake_goth: (Default)
( Feb. 24th, 2013 02:36 pm)
I may have just figured out what to do with my hair/wear on my head for Vampire Ball at the end of next month. It will involve modifying an existing fascinator, but that should be easy enough. Now to find gray velvet roses and feathers ...
cupcake_goth: (tidycliche)
( Mar. 27th, 2011 10:43 pm)
Thanks to [livejournal.com profile] keonei! (Also, pumpkin, please look at the tag in the jacket you were wearing at the event and TELL ME WHO MADE IT. Ahem.)



StuntHusband, me, [livejournal.com profile] cass404, [livejournal.com profile] icprncs. I love [livejournal.com profile] cass404's mask, and I covet [livejournal.com profile] icprncs's hat. It's heart-shaped! I must make one!



The same group as above, with bonus throwing the horns! Look, it was my second glass of very good Trillium absinthe. Plus, if you point a camera at me often enough, I will inevitably throw the horns. My tragic hair metal past, you know of it.
Last night's Vampire Masquerade Ball was wonderful. Here, have some quick phone photos that were taken last night.

Yes, posted elsewhere last night. )
I'm already looking forward to next year's event. And yes, I'm also already trying to think of what my outfit will be.
Courtesy of [livejournal.com profile] keonei


OMG your hat plays music! OMG your hat plays music!
Not only was Domestinatrix's top hat made of metal, it had a tiny music box that played "Here Comes The Sun". I am consumed with envy.
Behind the cut, full-length photos of the dress, and a photo of the Stroppy One! )

In packing for the Vampire Ball, the main compartment of my giant suitcase was filled SOLELY with mine and [livejournal.com profile] cass404's outfits for Saturday night. Hoop skirt, petticoats, skirts, overdresses, and corset. Giant dresses for the win!

Posted via LiveJournal.app.

cupcake_goth: (black-border sepia)
( Mar. 15th, 2010 11:33 am)
It is particularly frustrating that I went to bed at a "decent" time last night AND took sleeping meds, and yet feel like my sleep was wholly defective. Enough so that I am taking advantage of the ability to work from home today. I know I'll be more productive at home than I would be at the office, and if I need to go take a nap, I CAN.

[livejournal.com profile] torreybird is a genius. I already knew that, but yesterday she helped me figure out the solution to my "What am I wearing on my head?" and "What jewelry?" dilemmas for Vampire Ball. Yay! (There will be photos AFTER the event. No, no pictures before. Yes, I know, I'm silly.)

Also for Vampire Ball, tonight I have another fitting for my outfit, which also means I get to spend time around the Infamous BlueJay, which is always a good time.

(Note to Self: decide which boots you are wearing to the Vampire Ball.)

Okay, back to editing documentation bugs. And more tea, ohgoodnessyes.
I have no idea what sort of thing I'm going to wear on my head at Vampire Ball. Well, I have a vague idea, but I don't know if it's beyond my skills to make, and since it is only THREE WEEKS until the event, I don't really have time to commission anything. Argh!

Thank you for the opinions about the bow headband I was wearing yesterday. I am still undecided about how it looked, AND the dratted thing gave me a headache. I am back to my usual top hat today.


A side view of the skirt, and pink lace tights with black boots )

Last night I was sufficiently cranky about assorted things (yes, including the unhappy news from MCR) that I sulked on the couch and watched Jennifer's Body. It holds the same sort of place in my affections as Gingersnaps, and watching it did make me feel less like wearing my Crankybloomers.
I'm busy with Stuff, so don't have time at the moment for a long post. Therefore, this is a reminder!

This Sunday! February 7th, from 12-6PM! I'm vending at the Mourning Market!. Books, art prints, a few pairs of "cranky" bloomers (you know you want them!), and cute stripy heart pins. Come visit me and the other vendors!

---

March 27th is the Annual Vampire Ball! You know, the event I look forward to every year, full of fun people in pretty pretty clothing, amazing performers, and a very tempting vendor room. You (all of you) really want to make a trip to Portland for this, trust me.

Vampire Ball 2009, showing off the outfit Katie of Dark Industries made for me Vampire Ball 2009, showing off the outfit that was made for me by Katie of Dark Industries.
Taken by [livejournal.com profile] mineke

cupcake_goth: (Default)
( Mar. 29th, 2009 09:52 pm)
The weekend in Portland for the Vampire Ball was wonderful. We stayed with [livejournal.com profile] cass404, and spent time with [livejournal.com profile] flyingtapes, two of my chosen family. We made the traditional pilgrimage to Powell's, where I purchased some new vampire books (mmm, genre fiction), and went up to the Rare Book Room to visit the signed 1st edition of Dark Carnival by Ray Bradbury. (Dark Carnival was the first book Ray Bradbury ever published.)


The Vampire Ball was lovely, as always. A venue full of people dressed up in dark-themed finery? One of my favorite things, and this year the eye candy was even better than in previous years. (Well, there were some outfits that made me want to gently shake the wearers while muttering "What were you thinking?", but I did not give in to those evil urges. Yes, the Stroppy One took photos (he was in charge of the camera), but (a) not a lot of them, and (b) we haven't downloaded them yet.

[livejournal.com profile] mineke outdid herself on my outfit. Katie, I promise I won't make you sew anything involving velvet and bazillions of covered buttons again.

There's a bunch of other stuff I want to write about, but I'm tired. And tomorrow, I must start working on the 2nd revision pass of the GCS manuscript, because the deadline for it is very tight. (By the way, have I recently mentioned that I have my advance uncorrected proofs? BECAUSE I DO, WHEEEE!)
cupcake_goth: (Default)
( Mar. 23rd, 2009 04:32 pm)
I have been rather lax for a while now about going for walks during the day. Yes, I have been using the Wii Fit (off and on), but I need to get back in the habit of a half-hour walk every day. Today, I couldn't bring myself to leave my office, but I did pace around my office for almost the entire length of an episode of Pushing Daisies. And then my iPod battery ran out. But, it was a walk (of a sort), and I think I'll find briskly pacing around my office while watching Pushing Daisies is something I'll be willing to find time for every day.

Earlier today, while staring forlornly at a topic one of my writers had handed off, there was a knock at my office door. The super-cool senior editor I work with had gone to run some errands, and brought back cupcakes. Mmmm, cupcake.

---

Tonight: start writing the next GCS on the bus home. Dinner, then possibly watching Let The Right One In (yay vampires!), and writing an email concerning perfumes.

Sometime before Thursday, I need to go through my petticoat collection and find the few that are mid-calf length, because my skirt for the Vampire Ball is above ankle-length. Yes, people will be able to see my feet, which is not my usual standard at a fancy dress-up event. But my black leather granny boots with the pink ribbons will be perfect with the outfit, so yay.
Today [livejournal.com profile] mineke came over and helped me sew buttons onto the dress she made me for the Vampire Ball. Black taffeta, with a faux vest of pink satin in the front, black velvet lapels/trim, and beeeelions and beeeelions of pink satin buttons down the lapels and on the trim. (Plus a b&w striped full skirt, but there are no pink satin buttons on that.)

Eeeee! Oh, it turned out beautifully, and I can't wait to wear it next weekend! Thank you, [livejournal.com profile] mineke!
.

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