Shoes! OMG! : Creeper Wedges

Uh oh, I bought another pair of shoes. I've been wanting a pair of creeper wedges and I jumped at the chance to buy these creeper platform wedges from gojane.com. The store was having a President's Day free shipping sale and now there are mine! Mwahahaha!

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you'll know that creepers are my favorite style of shoes, I'm sort of obsessed. *Dreams of creepers* I was pleasantly surprised to find these creeper wedges were not only super comfortable, but light weight and the 7.5 fit great!

In hair news-I went for mohawk maintenance, which included more orange parts in my hair. My stylist cut my hair shorter than I was expecting (eeeeeek), but I always love what she does. I'm feelin' sassy, hehe!

Thank you for reading!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Don't Be Ashamed of Your Style Evolution

Photo explosion

I see a lot of talk in the internet land about people's 'baby bat' years, or how they came into their particular style and it got me thinking about my own style evolution. I wasn't born a bat (darn it!), so thus I never identified with the baby bats years. *insert humor*. I understand internet terminology a little better now than I did a few years, but I still 'don't get it', in other words: who cares (about the labels). 

middle picture : high school 

I personally love old photos of people and where they were, what they were doing and who with, it's also fun to see their style at that period in time. It's all part of life, evolving and thus fashion generally is a part of it! I know I get a good chuckle out of my old photos and it also brings back a lot of great memories.

I did some weird things to my hair; like turning it four different colors on accident, shaving it myself : badly, wearing some odd fake hair combination. I also experimented with red/silver eye makeup which made me look possessed, waxed off part of my eyebrow, wore too much glitter.....all over me, etc. I'm actually laughing out loud, because I'm not ashamed, it's all apart of the girl you see today.

I used to put rules on myself like; I'm never going to wear low boots with a mini skirt (haha, broke that), I hate pointy shoes (I love those pointy witchy boots!), I won't wear flat shoes to the club ("yeah right", say the old lady knees), I'm always going to wear a collar as my neck is weird (I next to never wear one any more). My tastes changed, my lifestyle needs changed and I evolved.

But some things may never change, I still love; platforms, stripey tights, hair wraps, shiny accessories, patterned bottoms, leggings, buckle boots, etc. I will always have a soft spot for certain things, even though I may not currently wear particular styles.

I'm not trying to be a preachy jerk face, I'm just saying that it's okay to evolve, it's okay to have those "OMG what was I wearing photos". It's all a part of you and your life, enjoy yourself. :)

Have you experimented in your style evolution?

Thanks for reading!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

It's in the Details

I realize in my outfit posts I don't often  focus the photography on my accessories as I could dedicate a whole blog just to my love of jewelry, hair accessories, handbags and shoes. I just can't get enough! The photograph above is most of my necklaces, some bracelets and earrings, I try to keep everything organized... key word is try. I often buy jewelry from clearance racks, etsy, antique and thrift shops. I buy things that tickle my fancy, but I really like silver jewelry as I like the way it stands out against black outfits. 

Just a few examples of some of my pieces.

I like to 'frankenstein' things together, essentially I buy pendants and/or chains an add or subtract things to make them my own. My little pliers get a good workout in our house, old rosaries make for good necklaces, I take the cross off, shorten the beads and add a new pendant (like the Sisters of Mercy pictured).

I need a better system for earrings.

Accessories were always something I could afford when I was really struggling financially, it was my way of freshening up an outfit. When I'm stumped about what to wear, I put on a black dress and fancy it up with some accessories, fun stockings and a handbag = I'm feelin' pretty good. Let's not even get started on shoes, I need to be stopped, "Hello, my name is Meagan and I can't stop looking at shoes".

Accessories make my world go round, how do you like to accessorize?

Thank you for reading!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Kitsch Picks : Period Dramas

image sources: www.imdb.com

This week's Kitsch Picks I wanted to share my love of Period Dramas, which include some based off history and/or books. If it's a period piece set in Victorian England, I will want to watch it. In fact, I will probably watch it over and over again. I love getting lost in the characters, costuming and drama. If there's a little romance in there, I will probably tear up. Shhhhh, don't tell anyone!

Some of my favorites include:

Elizabeth

Elizabeth: The Golden Years

From Hell

Interview with the Vampire

Pride & Prejudice

Little Women

Sense and Sensibility

Dracula

Emma

The Age of Innocence

The Young Victoria

and so many more.............

I also like to watch BBC mini-series', I'm always hunting on Netflix for new ones or just re-watch favorites. Downton Abbey just ended, so I'm going to have wait for season 4, hrmph!

Do you like period movies and/or mini-series?

Thank you for reading!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Club Time : Big Hair Strikes Again!

It was time for Buffalo's monthly goth/ebm event, where the heck did the time go?!

 I busted out the crimper and hair spray, tease....tease....tease! 

Big hair! Wooo!

My outfit consists of the skirt I altered, button up collared shirt paired with leather collar with chains (worn under the shirt collar), spider web tights, and vinyl belt to match my shiny spiked creepers. I really liked my outfit, I thought of this pairing one night while drifting off to sleep, which is when I tend to come up with ideas. "Go to sleep Meagan, stop thinking about clothes!!!!"-which is what I tell myself.

Funny tidbit from last night, I had to keep lifting the front of my hair up while drinking my wine (I don't want  hair in my wine glass!), then Derek plopped his straw in my glass. VOILA! Isn't he so smart!?

Thanks for reading! I hope everyone has a great weekend!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Shoes! OMG! : Victorian-120 Boots

I have a very soft spot in my heart for anything Victorian and that includes lovely shoes like the Victorian-120 by Pleaser. I've owned a few "granny boot" styles, but my favorite are the classic pointy toe and low heel. The one tip I have is that you may have to go up a size for toe comfort, no one wants squished toes!

In my old granny boots posing with Ice Bat.

Those boots went to that big shoe place in the sky......

Thank you for reading!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Meh is for Monday's : My Goth Attire

Someone's gotta case of the Monday's AND I had to wash my hair.

Meh. Hehe!

Monday is usually laundry, grocery shopping and other household tasks. Being an adult sucks sometimes, why can't I just sit around a listen to records all day?! WHY!?

This outfit is an example of what I wear when I'm not showing 

my blog friend's my more "exciting" attire

The cool part about what I'm wearing is that about 95% of what I'm wearing was given to me by friends! I think that's pretty rad. Dress is from Julie Ann, stripey top from Melanie, leggings from Jenny.

In other life news, I purchased our tickets to see The Mission UK on September 6th! We'll be seeing them at Lee's Palace in Toronto, ON in which I saw Peter Murphy over ten years ago. I know I've been to Lee's Palace since then, I just can't think of which show......hrmmmmm.

I'll leave you with a Mission UK video :)

Thank you for reading!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Kitsch Picks : Alchemy Gothic Jewelry

+Large Gothic Bat Pendant +Mort Etoile Bangle

+Mori Noir Ring +Cortege Earrings

I was inspired by my love of Alchemy Gothic jewelry and Sophistique Noir's wonderful blog post for this week's Kitsch Picks. Do you have any favorite Alchemy Gothic pieces?

Thank you for reading!
XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Three Different Outfits, Same Pose

I was laughing while I was going through my outfit photos for this week, I'm striking the same pose! I just have gotten into the habit of snapping off photos and knowing what looks better than the 10 other photos in which I'm posing like a total goof. Hey-you gotta have fun, right!?

I decided to lump some outfits together this week as working at Cats Like Us is a good reason to reach into the closet and wear my clothes! I often get into cycle of wearing certain things and neglecting the other gems hiding in the back of the wardrobe. I find myself on certain (what I call) style cycles. For example, I've been wearing more skinny jeans and tops this week, rather than pairing up dresses and leggings. Do you ever get into style cycles?

What I'm wearing, from left to right:

Valentine's Day

-lace print blouse, Forever 21

-skinny jeans, thrift store $3

-wool sweater, thrift store $2.50

-crossbone loafers by Y.R.U (I got them on mega sale)

Work 

-red striped dress by Shawna Hofmann (featured in this blog)

-wool sweater, thrift store $2.50

-cowboy boots

Work

-bone sweater by Too Fast Clothing

-skinny jeans, thrift store $3

-collared button-up top, thrift store $2

- my ancient Demonia creepers

-stripey socks, I love to show off some sock!

This is how I really felt Wednesday morning. Haha!

In hair related news, while giving myself a 'little trim' with the clippers I had an "OOPS". Well is was more like an "aww shit", so the sides of the head are now almost hairless again. Not a big deal, it's just cold out and the side fuzz makes a big difference! Oh well, should have waited for my hair appointment next week. D'oh! I do feel strangely naked, but at the same time I feel a lot more tiddy and my head looks a lot smaller. HAHAHA! 

Thank you for reading!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Shoes! OMG! : Valentine's Day Shoes

Whether you love it or hate it, Valentine's Day is here...today. I personally don't care too much for Valentine's Day-or-I should say I don't put much emphasis on it, but I do love the color red! So this week's Shoes! OMG! is dedicated to red shoes. *Wink*

Do you own any red shoes?

Thank you for reading!
XOXO-Meagan Kyla

This is CorpGoth Mid-Status Report : Love What You Do

Yeah, what the hell do you do Meagan? Well, over the past few years I've been working as a stylist, blogger, lead retail sales, and running my own etsy shop. Though I'm not rolling in the dough, so to speak, yet I am really doing what I love!

It's been a long road to get to the place where I am right now, lots of frustration, tears, confusion and self-doubt. I always loved fashion, in fact I wanted to go to school for menswear and got excepted into the F.I.T fashion department at age 17, but stayed home and went to school in Buffalo. Unfortunately I never finished any sort of degree, but had been working since the young age of 14, so I had built up a lot of life skills and good work ethic. Let's just say I didn't do things easily in my youth.

After working a few really good paying management jobs, I got sick of retail and went into office work....which I was unhappy with, I just felt like I am floating into the sea of 'I'm just working to pay the bills'. During this time a group of my friend's talked about starting up an alternative fashion magazine, later named Auxiliary Magazine and the rest (as they say) is history. The magazine helped me hone in on my love for fashion, from retro styling to punk to goth to everything in between, a lot of times meshing them together. Fashion is art after all!

One of my favorite editorials I styled 'Anticipation' 

Photography by Jennifer Link

My experience with Auxiliary Magazine built me a great portfolio, introduced me to a lot of great designers and encouraged me to work on other stylist projects. My only regret was not being more boastful about it, I'm not an egotistical person, but I do believe that a person should be proud of their accomplishments. Perhaps one of my downfalls is being too modest. I'm an awesome stylist, there I said it. Haha! After 3 years of being the Fashion Editor, I decided to concentrate on my own path, but I still support my friend's as they continue to put out amazing work! 

Recent vest listed on etsy

So, there you have it dear readers, a little insight as to why I love what I do! I really enjoy blogging, sewing for Coffin Kitsch, and helping people look and feel good. Plus I get to work at Cats Like Us and play with pretty dresses all day, can't complain about that! 

I hope you love what you do!

Thank you for reading!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

The Professor's Monthly Homework Assignment : Date Night

This month's homework assignment from The Professor is what would you wear on a "date". I decided to dive into the closet to find something fun to wear.

What a fun tulle dress to wear out dancing, or dinner, or drinks, or all three with Mr. Derek!

I choose this older style Purple Net Dress by Hell Bunny, a dress that I have never worn! When I got the dress I was blogging for Too Fast Clothing and soon after receiving the dress I changed my hair to red, I just thought my bright red hair didn't suit the purple dress-not that red head's can't wear purple!

I paired the dress with a vintage clutch, leopard print stockings and wedge booties. I added a shiny pleather belt that I have been wearing as of late to accent my waist. I gave my hair a good tease and added an eyeball fascinator that I made.

Close up of some of my accessories.

Derek made the eyeball and I made the rest of the fascinator.

What do you like to wear on a date with friend's, a loved one or a romantic interest?

Thank you for reading!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

An Exciting Weekend : Happy Birthday to Derek

Fun with friends!

Saturday was Derek's 39th birthday, so we celebrated in style at Transmission Dance Party, which is a bi-monthly dance event dj'ed by our friend's Jason and Bill. This particular Transmission was their annual The Cure vs. The Smiths, so you know we were happier than pigs in mud (or bats in a belfry). Transmission is one of my personal favorite dance events, it's a mix of indie dance music, post-punk and goth classics. I like that the crowd is diverse and that all my friend's just dance like manics all night long!

This is what I wore, minus the shoes since we got dumped on with snow, so I wore my Docs instead to keep my feet dry and for the traction. I would have slipped and fell in my new spiked creeper platforms, ouch!

The dress is a new wardrobe addition, purchased from Forever 21 online. I styled the dress with a shiny pleather belt, some knit tights, my favorite silver cross necklace, spiked hoop earrings, and assorted bracelets. I tied my hair up in a hair scarf to get it out of my face. I'm really glad I bought the dress, it's so easy to wear and the stripes are fun! I wish they made this dress in black or grey or both, I really love the cut! I'm also glad I bought it when I did since the black and white stripes are all sold out! 

Yeah, I love dresses. 

But the fun doesn't stop here!

On Sunday we went up to IKEA in Burlington, Ontario Canada. As silly as it sounds, I've only been to IKEA once before while visiting Philadelphia, PA so I was really excited! We don't have an IKEA in Buffalo, so the closest one is about an hour away, which includes having to cross an international boarder and all the jazz. We had a blast and managed to get some new useful household things for our apartment and the guys enjoyed their Swedish Meatballs, hehehe!

On our way home, before going back into the States, we dined at Happy Jack's Chinese restaurant. Derek and I had never been, but we now understand why our friend's love their food so much. Mmmmmm! We even drank out of ceramic pineapples! 

Birthday wishes, dance party, friend's, IKEA and Tiki drinks! Good weekend for sure!

Thank you for reading!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Kitsch Picks : Handbags

+Don't Cross Me Handbag +Sanrio Hobo Bag

+Lacey Vintage Handbag +Anatomical Bat Bowler Bag

I love handbags, this is no secret amongst my friend's. Though I usually only carry my friend's Dungaree Dolly designs, I do like to oogle at all different styles of handbags, both new and vintage. Please check out my purse collection right here, I've acquired more since this post. Oh my.

What sort of handbag do you like to carry?

Thank you for reading!
XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Mod Monster Snow Party

Here's my new dress from work, the Retro Monsters Maria Dress by Sourpuss Clothing, which I wore on Friday despite the giant snowstorm that was brewing. The way I layered and styled the dress made me feel like a creepy 60s Mod. "Ready, Steady, Go!"

The cotton dress is really comfortable, but really short, so leggings were definitely in order. The dress is also pretty low cut, so I paired it with a button up top that has a peter pan style collar, and added a clip-on ribbon tie for fun. I love ribbon ties, they're not just for cowboys (and cowgirls)!

I switched out the belt that came with the dress for a slim shiny belt which matched my Docs perfectly, I slapped on a hat for an extra touch (plus I didn't feel like doing my hair), and wore my stripped button earrings. I felt really cute which lifted my spirits for the day and Derek exclaiming that I "looked adorable", so I took that as a very nice compliment. (Smile)

I hope all my East Coast friends are staying warm and safe during this snow storm! 

Thank you for reading! 

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Outfit of the Day : A Dress to a Skirt

It was a beautiful day Tuesday, though it was cold, the sun was shining and it put me in a very productive and happy mood. I tackled a sewing project that puzzled me for quite some time, turning a dress into a skirt. The dress in question is one that I wore to my New Jersey wedding reception (side note: we got married in Buffalo, but since most of Derek's friends and family live in New Jersey/New York City area we had a small second reception. Thanks to my awesome in-laws), which I wasn't too thrilled with even when I purchased it.

Doesn't even look like us!

I decided to cut the top off completely, take the side zipper out and sew on an elastic band. My plan worked, but I have to pull the skirt over my head in order to get it on. D'oh! I could have sew on a new zipper, but I just wanted it done!

I've seen a lot of fellow blogger's rockin' the tucked-in look and I wanted to give it a try! The new skirt is the perfect for the look, I added an elastic waist belt to add some visual interest to my waist. The top I'm wearing is a ruched lace and cotton t-shirt from Forever 21, paired with my hearse necklace, lace tights and my Docs. 

I'm also excited about my new back drop, what a difference it makes by tacking a fancy table cloth on the wall. Haha! I can check that off the 'to-do' list, which is an added bonus! 

Thank you for reading!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla