Enter the code “HT MCBR” at checkout to reap the sleek, tailored, supervillainess-worthy rewards. Because we love you, that’s why.

Click here for a large slideshow of the entire Half-Light Beach editorial, featuring GHST RDR, or check out a 520-px one below.

Photogaphy: Lydia Hudgens // Featured: GHST RDR jacket and skirt , AllSaints gown // Model & styling: Zoetica Ebb // Most accessories: Miyu Decay

                          

That’s right, folks! For a very limited time you can get up to 20% off the collection, in all its strappy, badass glory. GHST RDR is perfect for these cooler months, and will keep you warm without sacrificing style, diminishing curves, or adding bulk. Rah!

And if you’re feeling extra-lucky, enter the Plastik Wrap mash-up contest - the winner gets a $200 gift card.

                          

COMPONENTS

• Boxy dolman sleeve cardigan
• Skull bodysuit – Black Milk
• Pencil skirt
• Black wedge ankle boots
• Bat skull pendant

                          

COMPONENTS

• Black tank top – H&M
• White tank top – H&M
• Leggings – F21
• Boots – Amazon.com
• Net scarf – H&M
• Hoop earrings – a hardware store in Toronto
• Watch – Loemanns
• Square bangles – F21
• All rings by Shane Case
• Nails – L’Oreal JetSet in “Jet” [discontinued] + random, tagless glitter polish

                          

All styling, makeup and photos are by me

This here is what you might call your standard Bad Bitch Outfit. Sex and violence together, ready to take on the city and take no shit while doing it. Short skirt, tight T-shirt, suspenders that double as slingshots, leather, boots comfortable enough to climb in, a sweet little bag that will knock out teeth just as well as it will hold a mobile device. The street finds its own uses for things.

And good luck to anyone who gets a taste of that ring.

COMPONENTS

• Flat ankle boots
• Sparkly socks
• Sock Garters
• Opaque grey pantyhose
• Band mini skirt
• Sheer T-shirt
• Bra
• Hooded leather jacket
• Alexander McQueen bee skull ring
• Contraptions rivet ring

                          

It’s time! As promised, GHST RDR, my collaboration with Toronto’s future fashion pioneers, Plastik Wrap, is now live. Or undead – whatever! These two pieces are available for custom orders only, and at 189.00 and 149.00 CAD, you will agree this is one fabulous deal. And I don’t use the word “fabulous” in vain, ever.

Photos – Allan Amato | Hair – Adriana Mireles | Models – Zoetica Ebb and Ulorin Vex

It’s so gratifying to finally offer this jacket and skirt to you. Having only T-shirt and commercial merchandise designs under my belt of late, bringing this mini-line to life was an exciting new experience. Though fashion design is something I’d always been interested in, I hadn’t created clothes from start to finish since, eesh, college.

Lacking tailoring expertise necessary to create the outfit of my design-y dreams,  I knew that Plastik Wrap’s Adriana was my ideal partner. I’ve known Ada and worn her clothes for years now – they always, always fit just right. We began the collaboration back in November, when I sent her two of my sketches from 2006. A multitude of emails, a dozen fabric swatches, and several curious prototypes later, GHST RDR is real.

Here’s a look at the creative process behind the jacket. We went through several fabrics, sleeves, necklines and pleats, before arriving at the final version.

If my calculations are correct, Ada [pictured above] is the owner of at least four early versions of this thing. A glance over my inbox tells me it took roughly 100 emails to complete GHST RDR, start to finish – not a single meeting or phone call needed. Thanks to Coilhouse, I’m used to collaborating remotely, but still find this amusing and appropriately Of the Future.

Now, what are you waiting for? Go on, GHST RDR is ready for you and mama needs a new jet pack.

                          

Announcement time! On Monday May 9th, GHST RDR, my collaboration with Plastik Wrap, will become available for custom orders through PlastikArmy.com. We released this preview of the mini collection two days ago:

Photo – Allan Amato | Hair – Adriana Mireles | Models – Zoetica Ebb and Ulorin Vex

From Haute Macabre:

Titled GHST RDR, the tailored top and square skirt combo is inspired by strict riding jackets of the Victorian era, Anime and the dark punk aesthetic. Classic tailoring and details such as pleats, draping and structured sleeves are vivified with modern materials and adjustable straps.

From what we can see so far, GHST RDR summons visions of cyborg nuns, sexy assassins and art house aristocrats!

These designs had lived in my sketchbook since 2006, waiting. Waiting. After spending all these years in concept purgatory, they have finally been brought to life with the help of PW’s Adriana and Ryan, who helped flesh out the concepts and select materials for my first foray into full-fledged fashion design.

I’m very fortunate to be able to work with someone[s] as skilled and knowledgeable as these guys, and can’t wait for GHST RDR to come to you! Here is another image, while we stand by:

                          

With my closet purged and organized, I’m reaping the benefits and letting go of my boots+leggings+oversize top+leather jacket uniform. Rediscovering my wardrobe is quite refreshing! I’ve found a respectable arsenal of skirts which I’ve been diligently putting into rotation. Lately, I’m especially feelin’ maxi-skirts.

I’m 5’4, and have often read that short people should avoid wearing long skirts as they shrink the silhouette, add bulk, bluh bluh bluhh. This might matter if you really care about “appearing” taller, but if it’s proportion you’re concerned about, then I assure you, this length is just fine.

In reality, no skirt is going to actually transform your natural construction no matter what, so I wouldn’t worry about it too much. Besides, pairing a long skirt with a fitted top will add structure and ensure you don’t look like an adorable tea cozy. Unless you’re going for that look, of course. I know I am, on occasion.

This particular skirt comes from Harajuku and I love it. It’s ankle-length and has a bustle/flap you can wear any way you like, because the waistband is elastic, and there is no appointed front or back. The flap can also be transformed into a pocket, which further feeds into my love of modular clothing. The best part? This thing cost under $20.

On to the rest of the outfit, bottom to top!

COMPONENTS

• Ankle boots: mine are vintage, by Steadfast Shoe company, circa 1919, I think? They’re men’s, a perfect fit, and were a generous gift from a friend.
• Patterned socks: Target. Same as these, but a different color combination.
• Pinstriped skirt: random shop in Harajuku, Tokyo. A little hard to track down, but here is a comparable style super cheap on eBay.
• White v-neck T-shirt
• Black hoodie
• Gray arm warmers – cheapies from Tokyo
• Pattern scarf: was a gift to Ales from my mom, and it’s by United Colors of Benetton, I think. Came with these amazing gloves.
• Coilhouse limited edition buttons, designed by me.
• Holster-purse: I love this little bag! Can’t remember for the life of me where I bought it and the lining is in desperate need of repair. It comes with a removable elastic strap which makes it more holster-like. Sometimes I wear it under a jacket. I tried finding an exact match for you guys, but no luck. However, the folks at Darkwear Clothing have been making great holster bags for a decade. Peep their Etsy shop here.

Dass all! If you have any recent long-skirted outfit photos, or long skirt outfit inspiration images, please share them in the comments section. A few more photos below.

                          

Lat year, I declared war on Too Much Stuff, consisting of a vow to buy no clothing for the duration of 2010, leaving my apartment of ten years, and shedding tons of accumulated crap in the process. As far as the Spartan Resolution goes, it was… Fine, actually. I bought two pairs of shoes [which was allowed], and that’s all. I only felt the cruel pangs of desire maybe twice the entire year, and enjoyed wearing the things I already own more. It was SO EASY. In December, I was even able to rid my closet of MORE stuff, thanks to the help of my friend Annah, so you can expect hawtt eBay action sometime soon.

My old closet, during one of my many failed organizing attempts. Should have downsized long ago!

Overall, I’d say I got rid of close to half my clothes, and I miss none of them. None! Moving forward, I’m enforcing a strict one in – one out rule. Any piece of clothing [lingerie and hosiery exempt] I buy must replace something I already own. I’m applying similar principles to our home, getting rid of stuff almost every day,  and think that last year’s resolution has actually become something of a lifestyle choice – quality over quantity por vida. I’m definitely not there yet, but getting closer all the time. I don’t ever want to feel the pressure of Stuff again!

Image by Ellen Von Unwerth

                          

Colder days are here in SoCal, which means 60s and 70s F, which also means it’s safe to dust off hats, sweaters and my beloved arsenal of arm-warmers. This might sound hilarious to those of you living in four-season climates, but believe me, after ten years in LA you’d be spending your “winter” days wrapped up Eskimo-style, too.

Or close to it. No jacket here, because this was a warmer day! And so:

COMPONENTS

• Knit hat – mine is from a random Koreatown shop
• Cowl neck sweater – mine is H&M, last fall. The cowl is a hood.
• Faux leather leggings – I think mine are F21
• Knit fingerless gloves – Mine are from SockDreams.com
• Combat boots – Ales’ boots I borrow sometimes
• Studded bag – mine is Zara
• Extra-long striped scarf – mine is from Tokyo

These vintage military boots actually belong to Ales and are a little too big, but I love them anyway because they make me think of Chaplin.

I’ve been wearing pieces of chain in my gauged ear piercings, because I like the look of long earrings, but hate the weight. This is a light, cheap alternative.

The vintage silver necklace wrapped around my writ is one of my favorite pieces of jewelry to date. It was a gift, and is made of hundreds of chain loops wound together.

All photos by Debbi Rotkowitz.

                          

This is an outfit I wore last week to a shoot. When I take pictures of girls, it generally involves a lot of time spent crawling around on the floor and getting into all sorts of bizarre positions to get just the angle I want. This means very casual, verging on hobo, dress code. I don’t usually document these outfits, but it’s only fair that I do, every once in  while. Besides, I love hobo days.

COMPONENTS

• 3/4 sleeve thermal top
• Gray scoop neck T-shirt
• Drawstring wait cropped pants [Mine are from H&M, 2 years ago]
• Striped socks
• Knit legwarmers
• Jenny Holzer’s “Protect Me From What I Want” Keds
• Satchel I got on a Tokyo street corner

Zo, you might say, can one really wear legwarmers with pants? “Just view them as an extension of the shoes”, I’ll reply. Though I dig these Keds, the high tops just aren’t high enough for me.

MAKE UP

• Face: Bare Escentuals
• Brows: Sugarpill Poison Plum
• Eyelids: MAC Contrast
• Lashes: CoverGirl’s LashBlast Volume
• Lips: a random coral lipstick with E.L.F. gloss over it

                          

Last week, on the day I was leaving for San Francisco, photographer Lydia Hudgens reached out to me about shooting one of my Style Dispatches.  Though my bags were already packed, I’d literally just seen and dug her photos of my friend Gala, so I agreed. Which reminds me! Photographers: if you’re in LA and want to shoot one of these installments, email me. I’d forgotten how fun it is not shooting them myself.

In a way, I preferred it being done on the fly, actually, because this is just a real outfit I was planning on wearing, not something I hyper-styled especially for a shoot.

You’ll be pleased to hear that I’m still sticking to my Spartan Resolution, and not buying clothes in 2010. Strangely, more than halfway through the year, I haven’t really felt any pangs  of desire. It could just be the fact that I have a TON of clothes, or all the moving and travel and general turmoil of the year. Whatever the case, it’s been a fairly easy and interesting experience.

One thing I’ve found is that, even with such restriction, there are things in my closet I just don’t wear. So, unless I find a way to wear some of these things before the year is done, they’re going away forever.

During our shoot, intrepid Lydia and I hoped to find a way to break into one of the beautifully-decrepit condemned buildings near the water. In my experience, these types of massive, ghostly warehouses tend to have the best light beating through dusty, broken windows. Breaking in, however, proved impossible because of strategically-placed guards, so we found other neighboring locations.

COMPONENTS

• John Fluevog Dame Agnes shoes
• Holy leggings
• Taffeta dress. I love this dress so much – feminine and utilitarian and classic.
• Striped metallic scarf
• Bag by Junior Drake
• Disco ball bracelet from a street vendor in Koreatown
• Matching stainless steel bracelets from when I was a body jewelry polisher
• Assorted bangles
• Caffeine molecule necklace by Made With Molecules
• Black heart ring by Lydia Marcos
• Eye & brow makeup by Sugarpill

Even MOAR pictures below!

                          

On Saturday, hawtt shot photographer Lou O’Bedlam and I set out for the hills [a block or two away from his place] to find the perfect fence. We were on a mission to capture a couple of new items for the Coilhouse shop.

I’d just gotten the hoodie the day before, and hadn’t had a chance to try it on before these photos, but now I CAN’T STOP WEARING IT. It’s a good thing I have several pairs of these leggings, otherwise we’d all be in trouble.

This is now my default post office/grocery store outfit. It may not be too different from my previous post office/grocery store outfit, which also consisted of canvas military boots, leggings, and an oversize top, but this one is personalized.

I still remember the AIM chat in which this Colihouse battlecry was born. I had originally envisioned the slogan being “Inform, inspire, infect – be your own architect!”.  Pfft. That is so obviously way too long. Evidently, the flatulent Commie rallying calls of my youth had a hand in my coming up with such a bulky motto. As a bonus addition to this, admittedly rambling, edition of Style Dispatch, I will demonstrate.

After a little web-scouring, I found a translation of the official list of slogans approved in 1977 by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union for the 60th Anniversary of the Socialist Revolution. First published in PRAVDA, it contains 73 KGB-approved ways to hail the Motherland and show your solidarity.

First, to put your collective ass into context, here is just one of the videos from the gargantuan parade held in 1977 Moscow to honor the anniversary. These spectacles were held and televised annually when I was a kid there in the 80s – I will always find them hypnotic, and wistfully calming, regardless of what they really stood for. Anyhow, this is October, and thousands of dedicated young gymnasts are about to perform, while the booming announcer’s voice reads off some of the slogans on the list:

A few of my personal favorites here, the rest after the jump.

Honor and praise to the historic Soviet people–the builders of communism, steadfast warriors for peace in the whole world! [LOL]

Communists! Be in the avant-garde of the national struggle to fulfill the decisions of the 25th Congress of the CPSU, be active organizers and teachers of the masses!

Long live the Leninist komsomol, the reliable assistant and fighting reserve of the Communist Party, the vanguard of the young builders of communism!

Workers of industry! Struggle for the further development and strengthening of the industrial power of our Motherland! Widen the road of new techniques and progressive technologies!

1. Long live the glorious 60th anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution!

2. Long live the Great October Socialist Revolution–the main event of the 20th century, the beginning of the worldwide historic turn of humanity away from capitalism and to socialism!

3. Long live Marxism-Leninism–the triumphant banner of Great October, the powerful ideological weapon of the workers of all nations in the struggle against imperialism, for the victory of socialism and communism!

4. Long live the Leninist Communist Party of the Soviet Union, the inspiration and organizer of the victorious October Revolution, the experienced avant-garde of the working class, of all the Soviet people in the struggle for communism!

5. Let live for centuries the name and work of Vladimir Ilych Lenin–the leader of the October Revolution, the creator and leader of the Communist Party and the first-in-the-world socialist government!

6. Let live forever in the people’s memory the unparalleled achievement of the Leninist guard of October, the glorious Bolsheviks-Leninists, all those who fight for the victory of socialism!

7. Honor and praise to the historic Soviet people–the builders of communism, steadfast warriors for peace in the whole world!

8. Long live the heroic working class of the Soviet nation- -the leading force in the construction of communism!

9. Long live the glorious kolkhoz peasantry–active builders of communism!

10. Long live the Soviet national intelligentsia–active builders of communism!

11. Long live the indissoluble union of the working class, kolkhoz peasantry, and national intelligentsia! Strengthen the social-political and ideological unity of Soviet society!

12. Long live the indissoluble union of the Communist Party and the Soviet people–the source of further flourishing of socialist democracy, the guarantee of the complete triumph of communism!

13. Long live the fraternal friendship and the unshakable unity of the peoples of the USSR–a great achievement of October and the Leninist nationality policy of the CPSU!

14. Long live the Soviet Constitution, the basic law of the first- in-the-world people’s socialist government!

15. Citizens of the Soviet Union–strictly adhere to the Constitution of the USSR, the Basic Law of our life.

16. Long live the Soviets of people’s deputies, the political basis of the USSR! Increase the participation of workers, peasants, and the intelligentsia in the management of government!

17. Long live socialist democracy, guaranteeing genuine people’s power and social justice!

18. Workers of the Soviet Union! Struggle to realize the decisions of the 25th Congress of the CPSU and the grand program of the 10th Five-Year Plan! Forward to new successes in the construction of communism!

19. Communists! Be in the avant-garde of the national struggle to fulfill the decisions of the 25th Congress of the CPSU, be active organizers and teachers of the masses!

20. Soviet trade unions! Expand even wider the socialist competition to raise productivity and the quality of work! Long live Soviet trade unions, the school of management, the school of economy, the school of communism!

21. Young men and women! Persistently educate yourselves in communist convictions! Learn to live, work, and struggle as Leninists, as communists!

22. Long live the Leninist komsomol, the reliable assistant and fighting reserve of the Communist Party, the vanguard of the young builders of communism!

23. Long live Soviet women, fervent patriots, active participants in the labor and social life! Honor and praise to mothers, warmly giving their hearts to the education of their children, the future builders of communism!

24. Long live the valiant Armed Forces of the USSR, standing on watch to guard the victories of October and the peaceful labor of the Soviet people!

25. Workers of the Soviet Union! Struggle for the successful completion of the plan in the anniversary year 1977! Persistently achieve the raising of productivity, the effectiveness of production, and the quality of work!

26. Praise to the leaders of production, achieving great successes in the socialist competition for early completion of the 10th Five- Year Plan!

27. Workers of industry! Struggle for the further development and strengthening of the industrial power of our Motherland! Widen the road of new techniques and progressive technologies!

28. Workers of industry! Staunchly struggle to increase production of high-quality consumer goods! Renew their assortment and more fully satisfy the needs of the Soviet people!

29. Construction workers! Build quickly, durably, economically, and on the basis of contemporary technology! Complete new sites on time!

30. Transport and communication workers! Develop and perfect the means of transport and communication! Improve by all means service to the national economy, more fully satisfy the needs of the Soviet people!

31. Workers of the Soviet Union! Actively fulfill the agrarian policy of the CPSU! Hasten the pace of the mechanization and chemicalization of agriculture and of land reclamation. Unflaggingly develop the specialization and concentration of production on the basis of interfarm cooperation and agro- industrial integration!

32. Agricultural workers! Raise the effectiveness of agricultural production! Make better use of land, technology, fertilizer, and all material resources!

33. Citizens of the Soviet Union! Make careful use of our nation’s natural resources! Struggle for their preservation and growth!

34. Workers of trade and social nutrition, consumer services, and communal housing management! Bring into wider use progressive forms and methods of work! Struggle for a high level of culture in the servicing of the Soviet people!

35. Workers of government establishments! Perfect the styles and methods of apparatus work, strictly follow government discipline, raise responsibility and initiative, pay keen attention to the needs and requests of workers!

36. Workers of the Soviet Union! Increase in all ways socialist labor discipline! Improve the organization of production! Conserve raw materials, fuel, electroenergy, metal, and other metals!

37. Workers of the Soviet Union! Fervently preserve and increase socialist property–the fruit of the collective labor of the people, the foundation of the development of all of society!

38. Workers of the national economy! Persistently elevate professional craftsmanship, master economic theory, and contemporary methods of management and direction! In production, make wider use of proper organization of labor, leading experience, and the most recent achievements of science and technology!

39. Engineers and technical workers! Rationalizers and inventors! Actively struggle to hasten scientific-technical progress!

40. Soviet scientists! Raise the effectiveness of scientific research, strengthen the connection between science and industry!

41. Activists of literature and art, cultural workers! Carry high the banner of the party and national character of Soviet art! Give your talent and craftsmanship to the service of the people, to the job of Communism, create works of art worthy of our great Motherland!

42. Workers of the people’s education! Teach the growing generation in the spirit of the ideals of Communism, a responsible attitude to study and labor! Perfect the preparation of cadres for the national economy!

43. Workers of public health and physical culture! Improve the medical service to the people, more actively introduce physical culture into the daily life of the Soviet people!

44. Veterans of the Revolution, the war, and labor! Mentors of youth! Actively participate in the education of the young generation in the revolutionary, combat, and working traditions of the Soviet people!

45. Pioneers and school children! Fervently love the Soviet Motherland, persistently acquire knowledge and labor skills! Prepare yourselves to become active fighters for the task of Lenin, for Communism!

46. Fraternal greeting to the Communist and workers parties–unflinching fighters against imperialism and for peace, democracy, national independence and socialism! Strengthen the unity and close ties of Communists the world over on the unshakable basis of Marxism-Leninism and proletarian internationalism!

47. Long live proletarian internationalism–the tested and powerful weapon of the international working class!

48. Proletarians of all nations, unite!

49. Communists of Europe! Struggle to achieve the tasks put forth by the Berlin Conference of Communist and Workers Parties!

50. Fraternal greeting to the peoples of the socialist nations! Let develop and strengthen the peaceful system of socialism–the deciding force of the anti-imperialist struggle, the bulwark of peace, democracy, and social progress!

51. Long live the unity and close ties of the peoples of the nations of the socialist community! Let strengthen the indissoluble fighting union of the Communist parties of the socialist nations on the basis of the tested principles of Marxism- Leninism and proletarian internationalism!

52. Fraternal greeting to the heroic Vietnamese people! Let strengthen and flourish the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, an important advanced outpost of the forces of peace and socialism in southeast Asia!

53. Fraternal greeting to the courageous Laotian people! Let strengthen and flourish the Laotian People’s Democratic Republic, starting on the path toward the construction of a socialist society!

54. Fraternal greeting to the working class of the capitalist nations–a selfless fighter against exploitation and the domination of monopolies and for the rights of all workers, for peace, democracy and socialism!

55. Warm greeting to the peoples who have tossed off the colonial chains and who are fighting for the strengthening of independence, for the progressive path of development, for the restructuring (perestroika) of international economic relations on a just, democratic basis!

56. Fraternal greeting to the peoples who have achieved liberation from the colonial yoke and who are carrying on a courageous struggle to strengthen national independence and social progress!

57. Warm greeting to the peoples of Africa, struggling against imperialism and racism, against all remnants of colonialism, and for freedom and national independence! Peoples of the world! Strengthen your support for the struggle of the peoples of Zimbabwe, Namibia, and South Africa for the complete liquidation of racist regimes!

58. Warm greeting to the people of Latin America, carrying on a courageous struggle against the oppression of imperialist monopolies, against reaction and fascism, for free and independent development, for peace, democracy, and social progress!

59. Let strengthen the powerful, unbeatable union of the three basic revolutionary forces of our time–peaceful socialism, the international proletariat, and the national-liberation movement!

60. Fraternal greeting to the courageous fighters for people’s freedom, democracy and socialism who are suffering in prisons and fascist walls! Communists and workers of all nations! More actively involve yourselves in the struggle to halt terror and repression! Freedom for the prisoners of imperialism and reaction!

61. Fraternal greeting to the working class, to all workers and democrats of Chile, carrying on a courageous struggle against fascist reaction! Peoples of the world! Strengthen the solidarity with the patriots of Chile! Freedom to all the prisoners of the fascists junta!

62. Peoples of the world! Strengthen the efforts in the struggle for the complete liquidation of the results of Israeli aggression, for the establishment of just peace for all the governments and peoples of the Mid East, against imperialist interference in the internal affairs of Arab nations! Strengthen and develop friendship and cooperation between the peoples of the Soviet Union and Arab nations!

63. Peoples of European nations! Persistently achieve full realization of the Final Act of the Common European Convention, turning Europe into a continent of peace, safety, cooperation, and social progress!

64. Warm greeting to the people of Cyprus, selflessly defending their independence from imperialist encroachment! Peoples of the world! Demand the expulsion of all foreign military forces from the territory of Cyprus and the respecting of its sovereignty and territorial integrity!

65. Warm greeting to the working class, communists, and all workers of Portugal, carrying on a selfless battle for the preservation and strengthening of democratic achievements, for freedom and independent development of their nation!

66. Warm greeting to the working class, communists, and all progressive forces of Spain, struggle for the democratic renewal of their nation, for its freedom and independent development!

67. Peoples of Asian nations! Struggle for the strengthening of peace, cooperation, and good neighbor relations, for the ensuring of safety in Asia on the basis of the joint efforts of the governments of the continent!

68. Peoples of the world! Struggle for the deepening of the lessening of international tension, for its expansion to all continents! Expose the efforts of the forces of aggression, revanchism, and reaction–enemies of peace and the peoples’ defense! 69. Peoples of the world! Strive so that the unacceptability of the use of force becomes the law in international relations and nuclear weapons are forever banned! Strengthen the struggle to end the arms race and to achieve universal and complete disarmament!

70. Peoples of the world! Decisively speak out against the production of the neutron bomb! The design and production of new types of weapons of mass destruction must be halted!

71. Long live the Leninist foreign policy of the Soviet Union–the policy of peace and friendship of peoples, the unity of all forces struggling against imperialism, reaction and war! Strive for the complete realization of the program worked out at the 25th Congress of the CPSU for the further struggle for peace and international cooperation, for the freedom and independence of peoples!

72. Long live our great motherland–the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics!

73. Under the banner of Marxism-Leninism, under the leadership of the Communist Party–forward to new victories in the construction of communism!

                          

There was an epic party last weekend that I’ll tall you about as soon as I have all the images, but for now here is an outfit! Almost entirely gray, it features what might be my least comfortable and most fun pair of boots. Crazy-busy attempting to paint in acrylics, so just it’s the photos and a breakdown today. ZOOM!

The Components

• Gray knit shawl
• Ribbed scoop neck tee
• Skirt [my skirt was supposed to be high-wasted but is a size too big]
• Armwarmers
• Leggings – I couldn’t find the ones I’m wearing because they’re F21 from at least a year ago. However!
• Custom dog tag
• Custom wedding band
• Irregular Choice Diamontina Boots

                          

This was initially meant to be a shoot for a long-overdue make up tutorial I promised Haute Macabre. However, when good friend and photo-sniper extraordinaire Lou O’Bedlam volunteered his services, we knew it had to be MORE. I’ve also been meaning to do these epic pants justice for quite a while.

Mhmm. I acquired these bad puppies sometime last year and actually can’t believe it took me this long to capture them. Perhaps I just needed the right pair of shoes, and my mom happened to give me these minimalicious-yet-witchypoo ankle boots from her collection around the holidays.

Over the weekend Lou and I zoomed down to somewhere between Pacific Palisades and Malibu, armed with a Canon, a Polaroid and a medium format camera. The day was beautiful, the cloud coverage was right and the wind was icy. The latter didn’t stop the a handful of intrepid surfers from getting into some of our shots. They’ve since been removed.

On with the show:

Outfit Components

• Knit cowl
• T-shirt
• Panel leggings, Rick Owens
• Victorian-inspired ankle boots
• Fingerless gloves
• Black chain necklace

Lest we forget the makeup tutorial! It’s now up on Haute Macabre. Indeed, black lips can be done, especially with enough gloss.

A minor note, since some of you asked: I often can’t find the exact items I’m wearing, so I link to close proximities. In my opinion it’s fine anyhow, because in most cases it’s the overall structure that makes an outfit, not brands.

                          

The purpose of this Dispatch is, in addition to showing you what I think is a pretty cute Spring outfit, to prove that, despite my hideously massive clothing collection, I wear the same things all the time. All the more reason to stick to my Spartan Resolution, I say! Which reminds me, since Issue 05 is soon to move into the design stage, I’ll begin auctioning off much of said collection next month, thus moving fast on my way to a streamlined and elegant wardrobe OF DOOM. My madness is your gain!

I snapped these  bad boys in LACMA’s Rodin garden while waiting for and installment of the Tarkovsky retrospective. It was a perfect day – the sun was out and the wind was just cold enough for it to be official jacket weather. Is there a place where it’s this way all the time?

The Ingredients

• Woven scarf
• Fitted faux leather jacket
• Draped gray skirt
• Black shiny leggings
• Engineer/motorcycle boots
• Fingerless knit gloves

I’m letting my hair do what it wants, mostly out of curiosity. Since I’m no longer straightening it regularly , it rewards me with soft messy curls and serious volume. I’m hoping for enough patience to get it looking a little like this mane of yesteryear, but blue.

                          

This will be kept brief and image-heavy, as I’m in the midst of working on an illustration and wrangling an interview for Coilhouse 05, operating at half brain-speed because my blood is at least 50% spice lemonade thanks to the MC, sending off the last of the sticker orders, and standing on my ears while doing so [the standing on ears thing is an old Russian idiom]. Without further ado, I give you speeding-through Style Dispatch, featuring a day to night outfit of sorts, with a teensy bit of Valentine’s flare, topped off with a make up breakdown.

I was waiting to conduct a photo shoot at Lumi’s beautiful apartment, and took the opportunity to shoot another one of these. The time was right for climbing chairs and being generally rambunctious while my friend was getting dolled up for her shoot.

Possibly the most adorable earrings ever, partially because of the way you put them on. One has to literally thread the hair-thin silver chain through their earlobe.

Ehehehh.

This fairly innocent, every-day ensemble turns into a party/streetwalker outfit as soon as the jacket and scarf come off. We did end up at a party that night, where this seemed appropriate.

Outfit Breakdown

• Long pinstriped blazer
• Gray woven scarf
• Cap sleeve dress
• Garter skirt
• Black stockings
• Motorcycle boots
• The black heart pendant and ring are both by Marcos. You can get them by contacting the folks at New High (M)art and at Church Boutique here in LA.

Make up Breakdown

1. Eyebrows – MAC eyeshadow in Contrast
2. ELF mineral eyeshadow in Seductive, highlight is the same brand, in Sweet
3. Powder foundation by Bare Escentials
4. Red lip gloss , borrowed from friend, I think by LipFusion.
   

                          

The first Style Dispatch of 2010 is a bit rushed, so I hope you will excuse this cross-post from Haute Macabre, A Spartan Resolution:

I have decided that, having as much clothing as I do should preclude me from adding anything to my obese closets until next winter. That’s right, a whole year without shopping.

It might sound insane at first, especially if you consider that, until now, I shopped almost monthly. However, in recent days my longing for order and a sort of zen sensibility has amplified. My soul screams each time I gaze into the wardrobe abyss before dressing. The epithets may change, but the meaning remains the same: I HAVE TOO MUCH STUFF.

And it’s true. I don’t know what I own anymore and it’s nearly impossible to locate whatever I feel like wearing in the chasm. I have been battling with ways to organize, to catalog, to make sense of it all, but until a massive culling occurs, the problem shall remain. So, can a rabid fashionista abstain from acquisition and evade the lure of the shiny and the new?  This is my experiment.

I have no idea as to how this will play out. Perhaps my fashion blogging will get desperately enthusiastic, strung high on longing. Maybe, in an effort to shop vicariously, I’ll beg you to buy new things and post photos of yourselves in them here. I might start a folder on my desktop dedicated to a very few select things I simply can’t live without and will buy once my fashion fast is over. Because I haven’t had much need for innovation, I’m especially looking forward to getting into the wardrobe remix spirit and finding new ways to wear things.

The last few clothing items I purchased were from H&M’s first round of [admittedly awesome] fall fashion and I stopped there, pledging to spend no more, not counting undergarments. My goal is to actually get rid of stuff throughout the year, hopefully resulting in a streamlined, organized collection of nothing but créme de la créme. Quality over quantity, at last.

Sometimes I even wonder if I’m slowly developing a Cayce Pollard-style fashion allergy, at the apex of which I will reduce my wardrobe to pure basics, removing anything that even hints at trends and embellishments. Then I look at my small collection of Fluevogs and know in my heart I am safe.

Un-official mini-update! It’s been one month and I have purchased nothing. There have only been two items that tempted me – a new leather jacket and a pair of intensely ornate lace tights, but nothing overly painful. Sadly, I haven’t had time to get rid of anything either, but I hope this changes in February.

Allow me to preface the rest of the post by saying that I was in a hurry to leave, it was night time, and my landlady has locked up the roof, so these photos were super-mega-quick and dirty. This is a slight augmentation of the everyday uniform, generally consisting of tights, layered tops, leather jacket and boots. The chief difference here being the addition of a pattern and accessories.

There was once a time when I was filthy with pins, clips, rings. bracelets, etc, but no more. these days I prefer one or two strong pieces. Not a big fan of Valentine’s Day, which is fast-approaching, judging by too-rosy window displays and overabundance of candy at the grocery store, so huge black heart jewelry makes me extra-happy. Those aren’t stones, but silky stained wood, soundly wrapped in silver.

The Components

• Leather jacket
• Draped cardigan
• Lace trim top
• Argyle tights
• Riding boots
• The black heart pendant and ring are both by Marcos. You can get them by contacting the folks at New High (M)art and at Church Boutique here in LA.

                          

I’m just going to stop apologizing for taking too long to post this or that. So what if it’s been two months since the last Style Dispatch? You’ll take it when you can get it and you will love it. YEAHH! Wait… Where are you going? I was just joking. Please, come back. I took some photos of an outfit for you and everything! Was saving them for the holidays, but here they be now because I will have bigger news to share later in the week, anyway.

I call this look, The Chimney Sweep’s Daughter.

[the filth is on the inside]

The draped funnel neck shape I hold so dear is acquired here by draping and pinning of a light cloak over a thin sweater, mixed with a skirt+sock combo and rounded off with a  pair of sturdy Victorian-era-inspired ankle boots.

This silhouette is fun and relaxed, but still allows for a glimpse of  femininity. The loose cloak shows the body’s shape by revealing tight sleeves and part of the torso. Wearing this combination with a skirt and heeled boots highlights the legs and balances the purposely-lumpy top. It’s a nice break from formfitting garb on colder days, when oft-eschewed comfort appeals more than ever.

The Components

• knit cloak [draped and pinned into obedience]
• off the shoulder sweater
• Anglomania asymmetrical pocket nylon skirt, Vivienne Westwood
• pattern socks
• Rococo Dame Agnes boots, John Fluevog

                          

As mentioned a while back, I decided to finally dress as Major Kusanagi from Ghost in the Shell for Halloween. Last year I boycotted the holiday altogether so it was definitely time to do it up. In retrospect, I realize that this differs very little from the way I usually look; in fact, I owned all of the items except the leotard before deciding to dress at the Major. I don’t know if that makes it a lazy costume and I suppose it doesn’t really matter. I already had the hair, too. Ftt.

I’ve wanted to dress up as The Major ever since I dyed my hair blue a few years ago. This outfit isn’t really exact, but more of a blend of Kusanagi’s combat suit and her more salacious outfits. It was a tough call since, on one hand, skankin’ it up for Halloween is lame/cliche, while on the other hand this character is designed to be super-sexy. My costume was sort of a compromise between bad-ass and hawtt.

Though this Halloween was fun enough, I wish I could have been back in Japan wearing this. The outfit doesn’t quite have the same effect mingling at a costume house party as it might were I tucked into a tenth-level red-lit bar somewhere in the heart of Tokyo. Still, the costume was incredibly fun and comfortable to wear. After spending two solid days in Kusanagi mode, I’ve gained a new appreciation of bodysuits that will likely affect my wardrobe in the future.

My favorite part of the costuming process was that it became somewhat interactive. I asked my Twitter friends to help me pick between a heavy leather motorcycle jacket and a cropped shrug. Major Kusanagi wears different jackets throughout the GITS manga, films, and series and I couldn’t decide which I liked best. Thanks to the magic of good old-fashioned cam-whoring,  Twitpic, and @ replies the day was saved.

Details:

• Shrug – Plastik Wrap
• Leotard – American Apparel
• Leggings – F21
• Thigh-high socks – Sock Dreams
• Utility belt – Lip Service
• Boots [not pictured] – “Oriana” by Ralph Lauren

                          

Nothing like a bit of Rick Owens to make one growl “I’m Batman” from a rooftop. As I type this, the glass in my sliding doors sounds like it’s about to shatter into a million slivers and  all the light bulbs are blinking in unison. Yes, the winds are back with a vengeance here in Angel City, which means, inevitably, one thing: long drapey things ALL THE FUCKING TIME.

I make special Batman face for you. And speaking of Batman, have you seen the H&M fall collection? Too heavy on the shoulder pads for my liking, but hawt dayumn! I made out like a bandit with the tight zipper pocket trousers you see here, a mega-hood-cowl sweater, a shmancy rouched zip-up top, and a cape. Oh yes indeed, a real cape,  complete with hood and arm holes. I’m sure it’ll make an appearance here in no time at all.

On to this T-shirt. Let it be known I am extremely picky when it comes to tees. I buy one design from Threadless  annually and that’s about it. However! I think this might be the coolest new shirt I own. I dig the protruding spine, the pale pink it’s printed on, and, most of all, the article printed on the inside. It was designed by Knotan for T-post and it’s called “Sexy Apocalypse“.

T-post is doing something neat: they publish what they call a “T-shirt magazine”. From the “About” page:

Every six weeks, subscribers receive a new t-shirt in the mail. News story on the inside, artist interpretation on the front. All-around conversation piece. Our subscribers don’t know what the story is about or who’s designed until they get it. The editorial process of T-post works much like any other magazine except we can only pick one current news topic a month.

Part micro-magazine, part fancy secret T-shirt club, ya hurrd? I like that the peeps at T-post call their tees “conversation pieces”. Since the articles are printed inside the shirts, one would have to undress in order to properly discuss the issue’s topic. Conversation piece, indeed.

The details:

• Cardigan – Rick Owens
• T-shirt – T-post
• Trousers – H&M
• Ankle boots – I forget, but they were cheap and are very comfortable!

                          

Before I kick off this Style Dispatch, I wanted to direct you to an article Lou O’Bedlam wrote about me for Manolith.com. Lou, an outstanding photographer and wordsmith, told me he was using me for an article last week, but I thought he was talking about one of the many photos he’s taken of me since we’ve been friends. That lovable scamp! In the article, Lou describes my philosophy on person vs. persona, and us all having the power to become anything we want.

You know who I thank for that? Count Monte Cristo, who escaped imprisonment and returned to the world as someone else. Book I read when I was 7. On with the show!

Pre-ripped jeans: they’re in. When I first noticed this I was overcome with righteous rage, refusing to accept them. Now I own a pair, and I’ll tell you why. Pure, unadulterated nostalgia. When I was thirteen and stylistically trapped somewhere between a tomboy and a Lolita, I bought a pair of used Levis for an outrageous forty bucks. I wore those suckers to death.

The bottom hems were the first to tear off, then the holes that had formed under each butt cheek expanded until there was nothing left to do but to turn the pants into inappropriately short shorts. I wore the remnants proudly with a pair of big black boots and my long, poorly bleached hair topping the Courtney Love-inspired look so popular in the mid-nineties.

When I saw this particular pair for sale on the Wet Seal website, with their decidedly un-hip boot cut and low-rise, I just couldn’t help myself. I tell you what – I regret nothing. They’re probably the most comfortable pair of pants I own and they look awesome on my ass, god dammit.

A veil of cool fog has gently settled over LA, which, among other things, means it’s finally sweater and arm warmer season again. Though I do own a few light summer arm sheaths  it’s not the same–so very happy to finally dig into my collection. I love thin, spider-webby knits and really dig the strategically-placed see-through bits on this long tank top. I accentuated them by layering over white.

About the shoes. Just last week I wrote about ridding my closet of almost all the platforms accumulated over the years. However, I was on my way to a Fever Ray concert the other night. Concerts require big, comfortable shoes if you plan on seeing anything over other people’s heads and aren’t very tall, which I am not. Fortunately, platforms happen to look amazing under my  boot cut jeans. Outfit success! I wore these for over five hours and danced for at least two, not feeling any pain until after the show was over. And what a supernaturally beautiful  show that was, might I add.

• Scarf – Purchased somewhere on Melrose Ave. for Lou O’ Bedlam to wear in a Coilhouse 3 fashion editorial
• Arm Warmers – Luxury Divas via Amazon.com
• Boots – [gasp] Demonia
• Jeans – Wet Seal
• Knit top – F21
• White top – not sure, sorry!

                          

Sunday’s outfit is a franken-beast made all of my favorite things: enormous scarf, tight dress, big boots, black. Oh, black. I love you. There was a time a few years ago when I, after wearing black almost exclusively since my teenage days, decided to open my heart and my wardrobe to color. Like all hare-brained experiments this was fun at first. Of course it was – there was shopping and dressing up to be done! However, as my shelves gradually filled up with splashes of olive, burgundy and blue, I began to feel… Wrong, somehow.

I realized that regularly wearing anything outside of the gray-scale spectrum felt like wearing a costume, just as dyeing my hair anything other than blue makes me feel like I’m wearing a wig. Though I wasn’t thrilled – the concept of not being able to comfortably switch sartorial direction at will frustrated me – I’ve since come to accept and embrace my darque exterior anew. Expelled are the colorful closet invaders that had accumulated during my ill-advised experiment and the shelves are filled with shades of coal once again. All is well.

My most recent wardrobe-altering endeavor involved ridding myself of almost all thick platform shoes. Reason? I hate the way I walk in them. My usual walk is that of an agile man on a mission – whereas the massive clunker platforms with a flat sole slow me down and make me wobbly in a way I don’t appreciate. Big shoes are still my favorite, I’m just far more picky about the heel and  platform shape these days.

Have you ever had a personal wardrobe revelation? How did it happen? Were you blown away by a heroine’s style at the movies, mesmerized by a stylish passerby or did it come to you in a fevered dream?

• Knit dress – Ross
• Sparkly black scarf – H & M
• Boots – Ralph Lauren “Oriana” Motorcycle boot
• Bag – Junior Drake