Link Round Up : Etsy

Random candid photo for fun!

Oh, I haven't done a Link Round Up in quite a few months, so here's some fun etsy shops to oogle at!

+VintageGaleria has some awesome Dia de los Muertos items like skirts, dresses and bags.

+Definitely a wardrobe budget buster, yet Chrisst has some amazing eye candy.

+Delightfully Deviant's Bat Wing Bow it too cute for words!

+I absolutely love Madame Talbot's artwork, we have some prints that live on our walls!

+Von Erikson has some awesomely creepy accessories.

Thanks for reading!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Shoes! OMG! : Women's Kicks

I purchased the Women's Kicks in black leather by Airwalks from Payless Shoes last week and I'm very happy with my purchase. I have been in desperate need of walking shoes that looked stylish and well, something I didn't completely hate. These leather sneakers are so comfortable and cute, I can't wait to wear them on our next vacation or when I'm running errands. Happy feet equals a happy girl!

Happy Shoes! OMG! Thursday!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Wardrobe Swap : Fashion Show

I got distracted from my seasonal closet swap to try on a few things (make sure they still fit) and rediscover some pieces buried deep in my closet. So, I got gussied up to experiment with some items....for fun!

Skirt from Retroscope Fashions

I had been thinking about this skirt for quite some time. I used to wear it all the time, but alas it has not seen the light of day in a while. I love Victorian-esque clothing, but lately I haven't been in the mood for 'fussy' clothing like large skirts or corsets. I think this look is the right balance for the 'current' me! I may or may not have been twirling around in the skirt. *Wink*

Spider web skirt by Switchblade Stiletto (older style, hard to find)

I have a love/hate relationship with this high-waist pencil skirt. Well, it's spider web print, so you know my eyes bugged out of my head when I first saw it online, yet the fit is just off. It's a little too high waisted, the zipper is terrible (sorry Switchblade Stiletto, your zippers suck) and the material is stiff and weird. Frankly, I'm afraid I'm going to have an Incredible Hulk moment and suddenly be bottomless due to my mistrust of this garment...then again I'm usually wearing lump-sucking-in-under garments to protect me. Oh yes, I love Spanks.

And of course, the best outfit of all! Check out those couture fuzzy leopard slippers. Me-OW! Haha!

Do you ever play dress up in your own closet?

Thanks for reading!!!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Kitsch Picks : Beauty For $6 or Less

+e.l.f. Essential Brightening Eye Color in Day2Night +Wet n' Wild Mega Liner in black

+NYX Round Case Lipstick in Snow White +Rimmel London Match Perfection in Fair

Hello readers! I'm excited for this week's Kitsch Picks as I love a good deal, especially a good deal on inexpensive make up that I enjoy. I have personally tried all the items I am featuring and they get two enthusiastic thumbs up.

 

Giant photo of my face, ahhhhh!!!!

On my face:

I am wearing the Rimmel Match Perfection concealer and highlighter in Fair which is the only drugstore concealer that I have tried that matches my skin. I did a happy dance as it goes on smooth when paired with my e.l.f. face primer and blends out wonderfully. I used the product under my eyes, on my blemishes and eyebrow area. 

On my eyes:

I am wearing the e.l.f. Essential Brightening Eye Color in Day2Night using the e.l.f. Eyelid Primer and the Wet n' Wild Mega liner in black. I have used many black liquid eyeliners from expensive to cheap-o and the Wet n' Wild Mega liner is the best for me. The liner goes on smoothly, it doesn't crease or flaky off and it's not shiny, plus it usually retails around $3.

Wearing NYX Snow White

I love NYX Round Lipsticks because they are moisturizing and inexpensive. I'm not big on lipstick, so generally when I find a brand I like I stick to them. The Snow White is an awesome red, not too orange, not too brown, and not too pink. The red is for a perfect old Hollywood lip or if you're rocking a Robert Smith pout.

Thanks for reading this week's Kitsch Picks!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Trousers!

Going to a one of Tiki group's birthday party

In yesterday's post I mentioned how much I hate jeans shopping and well...I still do, yet I wanted to share my $2 trouser purchase from Goodwill (it's a thrift store). The brand is AB Studio and I believe can be found at stores like Kohl's. I haven't worn a wider leg trouser as a casual pant in a long time since jeans creeped into my closet due to working at a trendy store at the mall some years back. I think these trouser style jeans are very flattering on me and for $2 it makes my wallet quite happy.

I will get a lot of use out of these pants and I'm going to include pants in my thrift store hunts as I'm not completely fed up with skinny jeans (or treggings or jeggings or whatever-eggings), I just need to think outside of the box and try on different styles.

So Meagan, why do you hate pants shopping? 

The main reason why I hate shopping for pants is because I'm pear shaped, though the modern world tells us woman are no longer shaped like fruit, I am old school and I say I'm a pear. *Wink*. 

I am a slim woman, but I am shapely. I have my 'taco tummy' to mind as I refuse to give myself muffin top, I have wide hips, a small waist and muscular thighs. I'm not complaining about my shape as my issues are a common among woman, I just have a struggle with pants that are flattering and comfortable. I don't like pants that are too low waisted. too tight in the seat, too tight in the waist, or that accentuate my hips. I'm also in between a juniors and a misses sizing, so the cut of the pants can be tricky....I don't want saggy bottom syndrome.

Thanks for reading about my pants saga! Hahaha!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Casual Look of the Day: Happy Fall Equinox!

Ahhhhhh, Autumn is in the air. The stores are putting out Halloween and Thanksgiving Day merchandise, Starbucks is serving their pumpkin latte's and the smell of cinnamon permeates through the craft stores. I love Autumn, yet it goes by too quick in neck of woods and then it's dreaded winter. Blech.

I dove into my fall/winter storage boxes under my bed and pulled out the long sleeves, the sweaters and winter leggings. Believe it or not, I don't own that many clothes, so it wasn't huge piles to go through as my closet doesn't get a full rotation like some of my girlfriends wardrobes. The sundresses, short sleeve tops do get stored away for the season, along with the bathing suits and Tiki gear.

One my favorite everyday fall tops, thrift store buy for $2

I also realized I'm not wearing much jewelry as I'm running to Target.

Those damn geometric leggings are new from Forever 21-$8.50. I went to their website and loved them and then made a trip to the store (a few weeks ago) to find them, I asked 3 sales people and they had no clue. D'oh! On Monday I forced myself to go buy some jeans (I HATE pants shopping) and these babies were hanging in a corner. See, it was meant to be!

Oh and about my pants shopping, I was "successful" in buying a pair of cheap-o stretchy jeans from Forever 21 (they are jeggings, but I hate saying that word. Ick. Ick. Ick.).  I really needed something that would pass for pants and I've bought the style before which surprisingly lasted for quite a while, perhaps its predecessor's will be winners too. Gosh, I hate buying pants/jeans, did I mention that before?

Do you do a complete wardrobe change over from season to season?

Thanks for reading!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Gloomth Designer Feature : Auxiliary Magazine Part II

 Additional online content seen here: Auxiliary Online

It's still a little surreal to see photos of myself in a publication and online, even though I've worked Auxiliary Magazine as a stylist for three years! It's a great crew behind the scenes that creates amazing images, the model and the photographer always get praised, yet it's the make-up artists, hair stylists and wardrobe and creative directors that help to pull it all off. I don't look this good from day-to-day. Haha! It was a hot one that day, but I'm glad my non-model modeling helped to feature Gloomth's awesome designs.

There is also a great interview about Gloomth featured in the magazine, be sure to read as Miss Vanity Kills is a good friend of mine and an excellent interviewer. 

Credits:

Photographer : Ian Gattie

Creative Director : Jennifer Link

Fashion Stylist : Jennifer Link & Meagan Kyla

Makeup Artist : Leane Steck

Hair & Model : Meagan Kyla

Thanks for reading! Check out Auxiliary Magazine www.auxiliarymagazine.com

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Shoes! OMG! : Amery Flats

Fall is in the air and I've started to pull out the long sleeve shirts, jackets and thicker leggings. It's not that I don't like summer, I just look forward to the autumn scents, pumpkin flavored everything and HALLOWEEN! Though some goth's wear velvet all year round, I prefer to keep it a fall/winter (seasonal) item, as I've learned velvet is extremely hot in summer! Check out the deep burgundy Amery flats by Rocket Dog, wearing velvet on your feet just looks luxurious and rich. These flats remind me of something a Renaissance maiden would wear, so romantic and chic.

Do you wear velvet in warm weather?

Thanks for reading!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Casual Look of the Day : Hand Me Downs

Despite my sinus/allergy issues, I was a happy gal that it rained Tuesday and I was able to wear some cooler weather items from my closet. To know me is to know that I am a little more than jacket obsessed, I love to layer! Any who, I am wearing a black Issac Mizrahi for Target black dress that my friend Julie Ann gave to me, paired with a studded belt and one of my many blazers. I love when my friend's donate to my closet! The dress is simple and it's incredibly comfortable, I think this dress will be come a staple in the rotation. 

I just recently went through my closets and drawers and donated some items to my friend Natalie's closet. I think it's a nice gesture to give things that you don't use (or doesn't fit) to a friend. I always give people things I think they would use or enjoy, I don't want to just dump my junk off to them, that's not nice. Hehehe! Friend's don't give friend's ugly clothes!

Do you have a favorite hand-me-down?

Thanks for reading!!!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Accessorize That Waistline

I love belts, well I love accessories in general, but I love belts. I got to thinking about wanting a studded belt for my natural waist and searched the stores and came up short. I thought about studding an elastic waist belt, cutting down a larger belt, etc. etc. Then it dawned on me, shop in the little kids section! Lo and behold I found what I was looking for at Kmart for $8! Of course this look can be achieved with an adult sized belt, but I wanted a slim design and little kids items generally means less expensive.

Wearing one of my favorite over-sized shirts, aka goth sacks

Ta-Da. Look at that goth sack chic!

I have been looking in the mirror and thinking, "Wow, I'm making myself look frumpy in these tunics", so this belt will help me achieve a waist line in my comfy looks. Now if I could only find a little belt with bats on it, perhaps that's another DIY project in the future. *Wink*

Thanks for reading!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Kitsch Picks : Under $10 Bucks

I'm often internet window shopping and I thought it would be neat to share my finds with my darling readers, thus 'Kitsch Picks' was born! This first installment of Kitsch Picks is some spooky finds for $10 and under, I just love a good bargain.

+Dead Girl Bone Socks +Ruff Rider Nail Stickers

+Sinister Sparkles Skull Necklace + Skelli Valley Girl Patch

Thanks for reading!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Monday is Laundry Day!

image source: Cozy Biscuit

It's another week here at the Coffin Kitsch house and that means Monday is laundry day. I know it sounds a little weird, but I don't mind doing laundry, I just hate folding it and putting it away. Haha! I wanted to take the time to talk about how to care for the those little bargain gems that you find at the cheapy stores and how to prolong the life in them. The biggest complaint I get from people that I offer budget shopping advice to is that the garments fall apart so quickly, my first question is how do you launder them?

I recommend two things to acquire for your laundry, mesh garment bags (or lingerie bags as they are often called) and a folding drying rack. These are the not-so-secret secret to my success!

Items from Kmart.com drying rack $9.99 and lingerie bag $3.00

Am I boring you yet? I do have a point, I swear! These tools above are going to help you prolong the life of your clothing (expensive and non-expensive) while doing wash. I use the drying rack for t-shirts, sweaters, pants, bras, hosiery, etc. The lingerie bags are used for lingerie, delicate lace items, anything frilly or ruffly that may get caught on zippers while in the laundry cycle. The lingerie bags have kept my bras in excellent shape, I barely ever have to replace them from year-to-year!

I hang dry most of my laundry as it's cotton and cotton shrinks in the dryer and that is why it's my enemy! I recommend hang drying most of your budget items as it prevents; fading, shrinking, stretching, etc. The things I do put in the dryer are; socks, cotton underwear, cotton leggings, pj's, Derek's t-shirts, towels and sheets, all these items can get blasted with dryer heat and come out unscathed. Also, if you have doubts about washing anything read the washing instructions! My best plan of attack is cold water and hang dry. 

Check out Miss Bane's tips and tricks on this blog post.

Do you have any tips and tricks for laundry?

Thanks for reading!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Transmission : Back To School

I'm not going back to school (even though I still have dreams about being told I have to go back to high school), yet one of my favorite dance events that happen in Buffalo is Transmission. Transmission is an indie dance night in which they play indie electro, post punk, some goth and indie rock, I always have a good time. It's also awesome to know the dj's and guys behind the event in which I have been going to for the past ten years. I love going to Transmission for the music, but I have to admit the manners of the attendants really irk me. The failing arms, screaming and spraying beer everywhere is not my idea of club etiquette. Grant it, the kids were having fun and it was a lively crowd, I just wish there was a little more drunken self control. Oh well, I think I'm getting old. Haha!

I love this leopard blazer, it's a nice stretchy knit.

My camera was acting stupid last night.

And of course I am always acting stupid. Yay!

The lace bottoms are little stretchy shorts, I picked them up for $10. I love wearing them, but the elastic waist band sucks due to the cheap nature of the garment. I am definitely on the hunt for a higher quality replacement, but for now the suckiness was hidden by my cute peplum top.

Thanks for reading! 

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Shoes! OMG! : Kailey Patent Boot

You could say I've had boots on the brain lately, I think it's due to all the Halloween shopping and wishes for Autumn. I know I'll regret those urges when winter hits I'm on ankle deep in Buffalo snow. Any who, there was a buzz going around in one of the Facebook groups I belong to about the Kailey Patent Boot by the Target brand Xhilaration. I saw the black version in the store and I thought they were pretty neat and at a $34.99 price tag, wasn't half bad either.

Since everything I love is in-style now (I joked with Derek that it's like walking into my closet), I wanted to share this Ruffled Animal Print dress by One Star that caught my eye in the store. I think it would darling with the boots. There is a black version which is great too!

Thanks for reading and Happy Shoes! OMG! Thursday.

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Coffin Kitsch's New Decor

I gave my blog a little update which included the background and my newest banner by Melanie Beitel design, who happens to be one of my bestest friends in the world. I LOVE the new banner as I'm a sucker for that creepy font.

Since I'm in the decorating sort of mood and Halloween is almost here, I wanted to share a little bit of my home with some photos. It's definitely "Everyday Is Halloween" in our household, but we don't keep our Halloween decor out all year long....we just sorta live it. I'm very much into Victoriana, Memento Mori art and making Mid-Century Modern creepy. I'm always moving things around in our apartment to keep things fresh and since we have such a small place it keeps me from going mad. There are a lot of photos, I hope you enjoy my passion for DIY home decor.

That 50s shadow box was picked up by Derek at a garage sale for $10! 

Bones, skulls, Gorey books and taxidermy. We love books too! 

Framed vintage medical instruments, Madame Talbot prints, and various memento mori items

Closer look of the shelf with the Boney Bunch

Closer look at the wall

50s corner table that we got for free from a kind lady at a garage sale. Cleaned it up and it's perfect!

The Elvi are Derek's creations, he makes satirical Elvis busts under Suffering From Elvis Disease.

The red and black striped Skullvis was made for me <3

This is a small space right by our apartment door. The little box reads "In case of monsters, Break Glass"

Thanks for visiting my living room! I'm looking forward to shopping the stores for Halloween items to add to the kitchen and bathroom. I really like to use spooky hand towels, oven mitts and glasses all year round. If it's got a bat, coffin or spider/spider webs on it, it's like my kryptonite!

Photo of my first Target haul. The spider web item is a mini throw rug for $2.50!!

How do you like to decorate your home?

Thanks for reading!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Thrifty Fashion : Dresses

Thrifty fashion? It's like music to my ears! I have to admit that thrift shopping is one of my favorite activities. I enjoy the hunt, but I like to shop smart not hard. I go to store with a mental thrifting check list and I also explore my wallet to make sure I keep myself in budget. Trust me, just because it's a good deal doesn't mean it's 'good' if you're not going to use it. Let's not be hoarders, hoooray!

The way I navigate a store goes like this:
1)Coats/Jackets
2)Dresses
3)Skirts
4)Tops---I often find most tops are sorta 'worn out' and I don't bother looking

I also love to shop in the furniture section as well as home goods, but this blog is about thrift fashion. *Wink*

I wanted to share some of my recent thrift store scores as well as some outfit ideas. Dress up time!

Score! Cotton dress with pick-ups = $2.50

Casual look is paired with white vinyl bow belt, fly-a-way cotton cardigan and skull cameo

Evening or club look is paired with cotton ruffled jacket, vintage brooch and second hand string of black beads. I would wear some patterned stockings and witch boots for a completed look. This outfit (pictured) cost me about $20.

Grey and black cotton dress=$3.00

Sourpuss Clothing Corpse Hauler hoodie paired with bat necklace and Dungaree Dolly web spider rosie scarf

Dress paired with leopard vest, multi-cross necklace and DIY bone bow.

If you're not a seasoned thrift store pro, it can be very overwhelming, just breathe! You have to put your thrifter goggles on and stay focused on what you are looking for, it's a lot of trival and error. Second hand shopping can have a big pay off for little money!

I hope I gave you some ideas and inspiration to shop the thrift store/charity shop scene, I really find it to be rewarding. What is your best and/or favorite second hand score-or-Why do you avoid second hand shopping?

Thanks for reading! 

XOXO-Meagan Kyla