Mina...
22. Animation/Illustration Student at SJSU. Dabbler, creator, artist, model. aspiring polymath.
Proper Introductions
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By Mina Caustic, on November 4th, 2010%
Today, I want to stress the importance of fashionable, yet casual wear. Now, when I mean fashionable, I don’t necessarily mean trendy. Fashionable can be something that fits your shape, looks great on you, and feels great. That being said, the current fashion trend of 70′s inspired bohemian looks and flowy, drapey sportswear can be worked into your look (look at what Haute Macabre suggests for gothy, comfortable outerwear [click the link]), or you can just keep it simple as with a jeans and nice shirt.
And yeah, I know. Outfits like this aren’t really goth. There is nothing extreme about my look. My piercings are basically invisible. I’m not wearing make-up. Perhaps, even, I should dive into the leggings trend full tilt… but I really do love these jeans. I feel good in this outfit. I’m comfortable, these jeans are old-reliables, and then there are my throwbacks: silver and black jewelry, purple scarf that feels exotic and old, a shout-out to my love of alternate brands (Lip Service shirt). And, seriously? Think pragmatics, here. I live in California. In November, we still have many 75 degree days where people walk around in t-shirts. We don’t get the weather necessary to dress how I really love without sweating out everything I own.
Casual wear is important. Think about it: many of us are busy, working on school projects, work, entrepreneurship, personal projects, what-have-you. Having something that looks good that you can grab and finish in five minutes is perfect on days that you have 10,000 things to do. Don’t forget: casual wear is comfortable! Being comfortable when you’re on the go helps keep your stress level manageable and helps keeps you focused.
Sometimes, make-up isn’t an option. I am personally fine with that. Some of you don’t feel comfortable walking out into the world with very little going on on your face, and personal beauty is a topic I want to shelve for another day. But you’re gorgeous without the make-up too, I promise.
When I have the time for make-up, it’s often very simple. Eyeliner, mascara, eyeshadow to set the liner. Sometimes I’ll wear lipstick or gloss, and sometimes I’ll wear foundation. Finding a good balance that doesn’t take much time in the mornings can be a really big help, if make-up is a part of your daily routine.
The Outfit:
Make-Up: Today, I wore no make-up. The camera shows very little difference either way.
Clothes: Mossimo jeans, Lip Service shirt, Forever 21 scarf
Accessories: Forever 21 bangles, head scarf, earrings from Mom
Shoes: Payless flats
I really want to drive home this idea: Goth is not all about the fashion. Yes, it is a huge, huge part of what makes us distinguishable. Yes, it is something we really, really like. We can find each other in a crowd and we’ll generally agree on aesthetics. But when you look at the giant umbrella that is Goth, you’ll find all the amazing variation. You can find two people within the subculture with absolutely nothing in common, save for the love of black and graveyards. When you can be that different, who cares? What matters is what you love. If all you do is focus on what other people think of you, are you really following some of the basic tenets of these ideals we hold in this subculture? Dress for yourself. Don’t dress for attention, don’t dress for others. It will make you happy, confident, and awesome, no matter what you wear.
Something entirely unrelated: I passed my portfolio review! I am totally stoked.
By Mina Caustic, on October 31st, 2010%
Friday evening saw me in a costume contest for my major, wearing simply what I own. I didn’t win anything, but I had a lot of fun!
Now now, I know what you’re thinking. “Goth isn’t a costume!” However, Halloween is where whimsy and theatricality are their best. Why not play it up in your wardrobe? Of course I’d wear extravagant outfits like this more often if I could. And yet, I’d lose 2-3 hours in my day taking care of it all. The hair pieces, the make-up, putting the outfit together, making sure everything sticks and works? It’s not easy. For those of you who can commit that time to your looks, I bow to you, because I love to dress from my imagination, and I’d love more opportunities to do so.
With that out of the way, here’s my outfit breakdown:
Make-Up: MAC fluidline blacktrack eyeliner, MAC studiofix foundation, Covergirl blue eye shadow palette, Hot Topic palette, Palladio blush, Urban Decay lip stain, MAC Ruby Woo lipstick, Clinique lavender eye shadow, Clinique black eye shadow, Palladio mascara
Clothes: RetroScope Fashions long bustle skirt, Bodyline (Japanese brand) jacket, Tripp NYC bodice (underneath), In the Starlight petticoat, Hand-made petticoat purchased from EGL Sales, Forever 21 purple stockings
Accessories: Hot Topic Octopus Necklace, miniature top hat***see end of post, Forever 21 shawl/scarf, headscarf (to cover my hair color), misc. silvery bangles from Forever 21, lace fingerless gloves (not pictured)
Shoes: Dexter brand from Payless Shoe Source
Hair: Handmade dread falls and tracks. They are pinned and tied in. These are made by me, with yarn. They are very easy to make!
Here is a close-up of the make-up and a better shot of the octopus necklace/dreads.
Washable Wear:
One thing I feel really, really strongly about and try to adhere to with 95% of my wardrobe is this: Find clothes that are washable. Especially mainstay pieces that you wear time and time again. Every item that I am wearing in the above photos are hand or machine washable. This saves time and money. From my experience, well-made, affordable clothing that is washable will also tend to be very durable. You want your clothes to last a long time, and you want to be able to keep them clean.
For damage control, consider this: even some “dry clean only” items are hand washable. Most people in the US have at least a few pieces that are considered non-washable. To find out if your fabric is water-friendly, test a small area that’s not visible. Try it on the thread and on the fabric and see what it does. Generally, natural fibers can be gently washed in cold water—perhaps it is listed as dry-clean-only to maintain its shape, or its particular dye. Some items are dry clean only because they use different types of thread that shrink easily when washed with more traditional methods. Some items disintegrate. There are many other reasons for dry-clean-only, as well. When you can, do your research before you touch any delicate, expensive, sensitive items to water. I always cross-check before I take the plunge with pieces I want to wear another day. The last thing you or I want is something ruined.
As a side note, unrelated: Both photographers from the last couple events/shoots I did have been busy or have had no access to the internet. I have photos, and I have done recent relevant modeling work. I just can’t show it to you. I apologize! However, I don’t hold it against them, and neither should you. They will surface eventually.
***This hat is a cheap replica of GypsyLadyHats beautiful work. I bought it when I was browsing the mall and didn’t realize at the time that this particular company or supplier ripped off a hard working independent artist. I couldn’t return it due to damage that occurred in transit home, so I decided to keep it. I wear it now with a veil wrapped around it, and I may do more to it so that it echoes her work less. But, if you see something and you know it’s a cheap rip-off, don’t buy it. Credit the artist. The hats she creates are investments; they’re affordable when you consider that they are all hand made, and above all, they are gorgeous, original designs.
By Mina Caustic, on October 30th, 2010%
Hello dear reader! It’s the end of the week, and I’m on my way to a costume party. I didn’t dress in costume, because I’m tired. I have no other good excuse. I went to Monterey today with Hope, spent the day wandering through dark and interesting shops, picking vegetables at Monterey mountain homes, and playing with a crazy child.
Anyway, I did it! I put together the black sweater dress. Yes, the bed is unmade. You should see the rest of my apartment.
Make-Up: MAC inkpot eyeliner, MAC foundation, Palladio blush, Clinique lavender eye shadow, Clinique black eye shadow, Hot Topic palette, lip gloss
Clothes: Forever 21 stockings and sweater dress.
Shoes: Doc Marten’s 1942’s
Accessories: Forever 21 fingerless gloves, black Hot Topic bow, Hot Topic Octopus necklace
With the amount of make-up I’ve listed, it sure would be nice to find a way to show what I’ve done. Sigh, cameras. Also, if my teenage self got wind of me buying anything from Hot Topic or Forever 21, I would be berated. Oh, how the tides have changed (and thankfully, the fashion sense)!
By Mina Caustic, on October 27th, 2010%
I have a love for certain kinds of sweater dresses. Cheap knitwear from Forever 21 that has black and grey, and fit nice too? Not to mention, this dress keeps me *warm*? Sign me up.
This is not the best photo. I’ll spare you my camera complaints this time. However, please excuse the messy hair; I had just returned from the outside world when this photo was taken. But I hope it gets across this simple yet cute outfit: colorful leggings+ neutral dress that has dramatic accents (the collar, the dark matte red of the stockings). This look ages me a little in this form as it’s rather professional. However, with a few simple tweaks this ensemble would be totally age appropriate. Watch out for my black sweater dress paired with purple stockings, perhaps with combat boots. I’m pretty stoked. Bangles included, this particular ensemble cost less than $25. Sales are your friends.
Make-Up: The usual clinique and palladio combination
Clothes: Forever 21 stockings, Forever 21 sweater dress
Shoes: Mossimo, courtesy of goth swap
Accessories: Bracelets from Mom, Bangles from Forever 21 (they come in a set)
Oh! My portfolio has been submitted. Now, we wait.
P.S.: Winter Leggings. That is all.
By Mina Caustic, on October 23rd, 2010%
In the midst of crunch time, I managed to eek out one interesting outfit this week. My knit cap+red lipstick got favored reviews. After this crazy weekend is finished, I think I’m going to reward myself with some new knitting. This colder weather is starting to finally feel like autumn, which means wetter, cooler, cloudier times in California. Let’s just hope that November doesn’t heat up to the 80′s again, like it did a couple of years back.
Make-Up: My usual. Clinique eyeshadow, Palladio eyeliner/mascara, MAC Ruby Woo lipstick
Clothes: Target jacket (from 2010 fall catalogue), Coolwear polka-dot blouse from goth-swap, jeans from unknown source (probably Sears)
Shoes: Payless (see a trend?)
Accessories: Spider heart pendant obtained from goth swap, hand-knit beret that I made myself
Thank you, autumn. I missed you. My love for accessories, dark, sumptuous colors, and layers isn’t appreciated by arrogant, selfish seasons like summer.
By Mina Caustic, on October 19th, 2010%
Several serious links, nerdy links, and girly links this week.
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Gala Darling: One of the more popular blogs I’ve run across. She gives sound advice and consistently tries to please her readers. Inspiring, really. I purchased her year’s work of podcasts.
Americans Are Horribly Misinformed About Who Has Money: Whatever your political leanings, I find it always good to look over charts like this. It’s good to know the facts.
Neocon Like Me: An amazing article on ridiculous spending on the American University in Iraq and the gross incompetence of many of the people working there. Why is it still there?
The Billion Dollar Home is Complete: For gawking, more than anything else.
Six Dangerous Products Men Use Daily—And What To Use Instead: I know that men aren’t the targeted audience of this blog. I do know that my male friends sometimes happen by it, and they may be interested in this link.
Molly Crabapple: Another amazing blogger. She’s putting out illustrations of artist monkeys right now in alphabet shapes. I love it!
By Mina Caustic, on October 18th, 2010%
Last week I did other things instead of sit in front of a computer. I worked on homework (naked people post will be up shortly), went rock climbing, and had company over a lot.
I baked with my friend Anna yesterday, which resulted in cupcakes that look like this:
Not too bad, if I say so myself. I’m gaining a taste for cream cheese frosting (although I still love buttercream more). This is a nutella frosting/chocolate chip/chocolate batter cupcake, and it is *decadent*. I’m so happy with them.
For something completely meta: I found my cat hiding in my closet on one of my shoe shelves.
Classy.
Outfits from last week:
I felt really swank in my getups. I put together one for each day, but only remembered to document three. I’m starting to notice now how often I wear black leggings or black tights. I think I’m going to have to make a purchase soon at Sock Dreams.
However, that does lead me into my next point. When working with a budget, try to make many outfits using a few important accessory “staples”. I have many different photos of me in black tights or leggings, the same two or three pairs of shoes, etc. While I’d like to expand on a few items, such as my sock collection, it’s good to have items that will last a while with neutral (or almost neutral) hues.
Also, I like the versatility in certain footwear. Payless shoes is a bargain shop, but they have the occasional awesome pair of shoes that last me about a year. The suedette booties I wear below are a beautiful example of that. They’re brand new, fairly comfortable, and I hope to get good wear out of them.
The other pair I’m wearing in the below photos is a Madden Girl pair of kitten heels that still look adorable, even with all of their scuffmarks. I’ve had those shoes for, believe it or not, 4-5 years. They also go with almost every outfit I own, which is crazy useful.
I’m wearing two pairs of shoes in the three outfits below, and the same tights twice. They all produce a somewhat different effect when paired with different outfits.
Make-Up: the usual Clinique/Palladio mash-up.
Clothes: Super Low Fat, from goth swap. Express tights, a nameless tie from Singapore
Shoes: Payless booties
Make-Up: MAC lipstick, Clinique eyeshadow, MAC eyeliner, ULTA mascara
Clothes: Lip Service dress, footless tights from Target, scarf turned ascot
Shoes: Madden Girl, removable shoe clips from unknown source
Jewelry: Earrings from a set procured by Mom, basic 0g titanium tunnels
Make-Up: Clinique Eyeshadow, Victoria’s Secret eyeshadow, Hot Topic brand eyeshadow. Urban Decay lip stain with MAC Ruby Woo lipstick over it. Palladio eyeliner and mascara.
Clothes: Banana Republic top, FanPlusFriend waist cincher, Metamorphose skirt (with an In the Starlight petticoat)
Express tights
Shoes:
Jewelry: Michaels-bought cameo frankensteined onto a choker, matching earrings
Shoes: Payless booties
That’s it for me tonight. Falling asleep at your kitchen table is the exact opposite of fashionable, if I do say so myself.
By Mina Caustic, on October 17th, 2010%
My friend Rachel is an amazing artist. She also has a her own fashion sense that while isn’t goth, flatters her and displays her individuality. I was able to grab her in the hall Wednesday, and I managed to get a photo with my phone. She wore a floral dress with a black vest with cowboy (girl?) boots. I would probably never pull this off; it doesn’t suit me. But it does suit her, and the moment I saw her in the hallway I asked if I could get a picture. The next time I see her in something photo-worthy, I’ll get a small interview going.
By Mina Caustic, on October 11th, 2010%
I’m not in my first class today because my schedule just didn’t work out right. I blame Mondays. However, this gives me a little time to talk budget outfits!
My hair is pulled back into two tiny pigtails today. I’m growing my hair out and cutting hair-dye use for a while to enjoy long, healthy, super-cared-for hair. It’ll be cut much less, now. Bring on the split ends (well, actually–don’t).
I’m wearing some make-up that the camera decided to wash out. Good job, Kodak (this is entirely my fault. One source of bright light + discreet make-up = very plain face).
Make-up: Clinique black eyeshadow, Palladio black eyeliner
Top: Coolwear, courtesy of goth swap
Skirt: Found by my mom.
Petticoat: Handmade lovingly, bought at a great price from EGL Sales.
Shoes: Mossimo, courtesy of goth swap
Accessories: All items were given to me by friends or family. The tiny striped bow in my hair was made by a great lady named Jasmine, who hopes to be selling them soon. I love it, and it’s small enough that it doesn’t clash with the polka dots.
Today, I’m going to touch a little bit on my relationship with my mom, and talk about the benefit of hand-me-downs and finds from relatives.
My mom likes to help me out whenever she can (as moms do). She always likes to find me things that are decorative, things I can use, and things I can wear. Sometimes, she’ll come across items at yard sales, things her friends don’t want anymore, etc. and she’ll bring them to me to see if I’ll like them. The skirt I’m wearing today in this photo made it into my wardrobe that way, as have several other key items and jewelry that I wear. She’s not actively looking for things for me, but she keeps it in the back of her mind when she’s out and about.
If you don’t have a family member or close friend who does this for you already, it’s a great supplementary way to add items to a budding (or expanding) wardrobe.
I understand that sometimes family members are not so willing to participate or help with your wardrobe goals when you dress more goth/alternative/punk/artkid/indie/whathaveyou, and that’s when you start planning thrift store dives, swap meets, and set up pacts with friends that everyone will keep a passive eye on items that may belong in somebody’s closet.
If you think up any awesome budget ideas that I miss, or you have your own twist on something, feel free to comment!
By Mina Caustic, on October 4th, 2010%
I like dressing well. I think I still have a lot to learn, but my love for darker fashion has blossomed. I haven’t gotten a true grasp of seasons and trends yet, but I think I’m getting there. And I’ve said it before: the only problem with being an art student at college is… dressing well can be expensive. I aim to write this not as an advertisement, but as advice and ideas for friends and new readers. I’m not paid to link any of the places I’ve suggested. On to the exhibition!
Here are some ways I’ve managed to work things through a budget:
Exhibit A: The gothy fashion blog. Seriously, and I don’t mean my own blog. Many of my finds have come from Haute Macabre in their $25 or $50 & under posts. Check it once a week, they usually post something bargain-oriented there.
Exhibit B: The discount stores and low priced department and clothing stores: Target, Marshall’s, Ross, Forever 21, Charlotte Russe, Payless, etc. Most items are under $40. The key to these stores is checking in on them now and then (I check out Forever 21, Charlotte Russe and Payless online). Then, see how you can incorporate what you like from those places into your wardrobe. Most, if not all, are current and in-season. What makes it work is your discerning eye. Note: A lot of Forever 21’s items are on their website for a short time, and not in the store. They don’t often restock, either. And, I’d like to note that yes, I do think some of these stores probably are using sweatshop labor to keep these clothes cheap. I don’t promote that. I simply promote the idea of dressing well at good prices. Fair-trade standards should become, well, standard. If you don’t support these companies, there are many other options listed below that you can choose from instead, or you can research the companies that are offering cheap clothes, and see if they have a good track record.
Exhibit C: Styling websites like Polyvore and ShopStyle. These are fun for building outfits that you can draw inspiration from, or for scouring for deals across a multitude of online boutiques. If you’re not careful, you can spend hours on these websites.
Exhibit D: Trade. I spent several hours on Sunday at a goth trade event and walked away with a lot of amazing items. It was a nice, intimate event hosted at a friend’s house with beverages and snacks. All the people there were friends, or friends of friends, and it worked out well. We brought items that were very gothy, basic street clothes, and everything in between.
If you know people in your area willing to give away, sell, or trade items, perhaps host something similar. It doesn’t have to be at your home, but someplace relaxed would probably be best. It gives the community an opportunity to meet in a non-club setting and most of the time, everyone walks away with something new. If it doesn’t work out that way, be kind and patient—there will always be another chance to score new additions to your closet.
Exhibit E: Thrift Shops. I don’t mean to leave this near the end. I just don’t have much luck in thrift stores. However, I know many resourceful people who make genius fashion discoveries at second-hand and thrift shops. Here in the San Francisco bay area, I’ve had or heard about luck with Saver’s, Crossroads Trading Company, MoonZooom, Good Will, Salvation Army, and a few other local shops in San Jose. The best you can do is do some searching, look on Yelp for reviews, and take the plunge.
Exhibit F: Making/Altering your items. I knit and I’m still pretending that I can sew. This helps with keeping costs down without sacrificing material quality: If I want something that’s popular right now in knitwear, I can make it myself and work with better fibers, and it generally will be a fraction of the price for an original, designer piece. Being able to alter a piece is very handy, also. If you learn how to fit a jacket to your size, you’ve opened a wide new world of opportunities from second-hand shopping and trading that you hadn’t had previously.
Exhibit G: Last but never least, DO please check out sale sections of popular gothic brands. My particular poison is Lip Service’s closeout section, and I’ve gotten many an item for quite cheap through that.
While I know many of my friends are master bargain hunters, I’d like to stress for anyone who is still learning: with all of the options above, keep in mind prices. Set a budget for yourself. See if you can afford to get this, or pay for that. If you browse a shop like Lip Service and have trouble with an itching wallet, perhaps make a limit for yourself by saying you’ll only buy 3 items. Make the most expensive $25. Work down from there. Ask yourself how badly do you *want* those shoes, or how badly you *need* that corset. This will help you keep to your budget in the long run. :]
These principles in practice: What I wore today
Make-up: Clinique black eye shadow, Black Palladio eyeliner, Palladio mascara
Jewelry: two (one black/one red) costume gem brooches, four rings, and two necklaces—all but one from the goth trade event, red earrings from Torrid (bought back in HS, probably $4.99), my standard metal tunnels
Outfit: Forever 21 striped sweater, xhileration dress from goth trade event, hand-me-down leggings from Mom
Other accessories: A hat I made myself, a small hair bow that’s not visible from this side, lace fingerless gloves from Forever 21
Shoes: Steve Madden combat boots—also gained through the trade event
I hope this helps! I’m hoping to make this a recurring topic. I want to delve into each of these topics further in other posts.
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