February Swing Dance : Dress by Dead Threads

purple bat purse is an oldie by Dungaree Dolly

I wore this cute Leopard Panel Swing Dress by Dead Threads to Sunday's swing dance. I have seen the brand around the web, so when we went to MAGIC in Las Vegas (last August), Julie Ann and I decided to try the brand out for Cats Like Us. 

The dress had corset lacing on the sides that I snipped off, because it created a sort of 'maturity' look to the dress (on my shape), so off those went and an elastic waist belt was added. My only complaint is that the dress dug into my armpits, but I quickly forgot about that after a vodka tonic. 

My closet has had a sudden influx of dresses from work, so I've been enjoying sharing them with all of you.

Thank you for reading!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

I Dream of Shoes : Callay Shoes

I'm not feeling well and almost forgot it's Thursday, which means SHOES! I love the Callay Shoes by Rocket Dog, they look cute and comfy.

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

PunkCakes

I'm the type of gal that would rather eat cupcakes than wear them, but the Sweet-N-Scary Cupcake Dress by Folter Clothing has been calling my name at the shop ever since we got it in before Halloween. When you work with so many cute things, they are bound to show up in your closet after a period of time. *Wink*

(You can buy the dress here and here)

The cut of the dress is a style that I love on its own or it's great for layering. And let's talk about the fabric, too cute with the variety of punky and gothy cupcakes! Derek kept saying, "You look so cute!", personally I think he was talking to the cupcakes. Haha!

Nothing to see here, I'm not trying to eat those delicious cupcakes or anything....

Darn it, now I want a cupcake....for real! Mmmmmmm.

Thank you for reading!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Kitsch Picks : Robert Smith Necklace by Fable and Fury

This amazing Robert Smith necklace by Fable and Fury is now available for pre-order. Check out the rest of the shop, lots of beautiful and fun statement jewelry.

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Inspired by Robert Smith

When I spotted this floral top while thrift shopping, I instantly thought "Robert Smith!". I snapped up the shirt for $3 and knew I could make it work in my wardrobe. When I choose to wear loud prints, I often will tone down the other elements of the outfit in order to draw the focus to the print. In this case, I paired the top with some high-waisted black skinny pants and an oversized black sweater. A long strain of beads, 80s style half hoop earrings and my spiked creepers completed the look 'a la inspired by Robert Smith.

                                                                    Shoe cam!

I have a big red smile (Black Cherry by NYX) due to getting a wonderful hair cut by my friend Lauren. Though it's not a huge difference in style, she took a huge bulk out of my over-grown sections, gave me a cute little side bang and she gave my grown out side some TLC. Yay! When my hair is happy, I am happy.....

....so happy that I'm falling over in mid-photo. Yep, I was dancing and then the timer went off. Haha!!!

Do you find fashion inspiration from your favorite musicians?

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Lizzie Dress by Sourpuss Clothing

I am over the moon for the Lizzie Dress by Sourpuss Clothing. I had been searching for my perfect peter pan collar dress, so when Sourpuss previewed the Lizzie Dress on Facebook and Instagram, my heart skipped a beat!

When the package arrived at my doorstep, I ripped it open to immediately try on the dress. Well, my dress prayers have been answered! The dress fits like a dream (size small) and is extremely comfortable. I am impressed with the material, the fact that the dress is lined and it's not uber short on me. L-O-V-E!

PS-Derek and I found some awesome vintage sofa's (pictured-green) for the Tiki room. I'm so excited!

In my hair: Va Va Verterbre hair bow by Kustom Voodoo

Happy! Happy! Happy!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

I Dream of Shoes : Black Petite Polka Dot Flats

These cuties popped up on Pinterest via Plasticland, so I couldn't resist sharing. Check out the Black Petite Polka Dot Flats, they would look darling with the Such a Doll Dress!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Layers : A Skirt Over a Dress

I had sort of a "eureka!" movement as I was pulling out skirts from my closet this morning and pondering how to deal with this pesky and problematic skater crossbones skirt....I'm going to layer it over a skater dress. I was happy when my experiment worked! Yippie!

Problems with the crossbones skirt; slightly too big on me, very short, cotton and clingy, not to mention that fact that the skirt is strangely not cut like a circle. So, over a lace skater dress it went which created a layered effect that I quite enjoy. All those years of layering and styling my neo-Victorian club outfits helped me with this brainstorm! 

Need to wash my hair=hat day. Hehe!

Not all problematic pieces can be solved, but when it comes to something that I really like, then I try to work with it. Luckily this skirt made a use for itself as I was going to send it to Madame Guillotine (aka my scissors) to be repurposed into something else. You're lucky skirt, real lucky. *Wink*

Thank you for reading!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Kitsch Picks : Ready For Spring

(click on bold text to link to products)

+Good Mourning Dress +Midnight Doll Dress

+See Through Me Dress +Release the Bats Sweetheart Dress

The title says it all...I'm ready for Spring. Please give me all the dresses!

Thank you for reading!
XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Club Nights : On the Wire

It was cold last night and I was feeling uninspired in terms of dress, but I wanted to wear this Switchblade Stiletto Cross Dame Tie Top that I got half off during a cyber Monday sale back in November.

I really should have bought the top in a small as ummmm....it's a little too booblicious, so I wore a tank underneath to prevent any more spillage. Not that I'm overly well endowed up top, but I have a tendency to be more of a modest dresser for my own comfort. I do love the neckline of the top with the added bonus of complimenting my chest tattoos. 

I would have been freezing at the club (even though I was anyways) without a top layer, so I threw on the cardigan that I was sporting in the last outfit post. Add some big hair, darker eye makeup, pointy boots and a little bat bag and I was ready for our winter club adventure.

Oh wait, I can't forget the Derek too! *Muah!*

Thank you for reading!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

I Wear My Heart(s) On My....Legs?

Derek and I don't put much emphasis on February the 14th, but I wanted to get into the Valentine's Day spirit for work with these black and white heart tights. I picked the tights up at Forever 21 on my random trip to the mall (yesterday) for some exercise. I also came home with this open front cardigan from H&M which is already becoming a useful layering piece.

(I'm wondering if Robert Smith got my valentine...hehe!)

How ever you spend this day, just remember love can be celebrated everyday with anyone at any time!

Robert Smith kisses to you all!
XOXO-Meagan Kyla

I Dream of Shoes : I Like the Katherine Engineer Boots

I had featured the Katherine Engineer boots a while ago on Shoe Thursday and these boots have been on my mind ever since. I ordered the boots in a size 7.5 and they are a perfect fit, no pinching or rubbing and are comfortable even before insoles-I always put insoles in my shoes. I wasn't expecting much at the $69.99 price tag, but I was willing to take the risk on these leather boots. Not only are they exactly what I wanted to add to my shoe wardrobe, but I'm impressed with the quality and how easy they are to wear. I'm happy with my purchase, very happy. *Big smiles*

**Leggings are by Lip Service

Thank you for reading!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Vex : Sanctuary

In early December one of my friends let me know that Sacred Bones Records was going to re-press the 80s anarcho-punk band Vex's record. I was ecstatic and placed my pre-order for both the Vex Sanctuary record and t-shirt that arrived mid-January. 

Awesome record, so happy I have a physical copy!

Thank you for reading!
XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Kitsch Picks : Ice Bat

+Ice Bat with Ice Cream +Bad Hair Day Ice Bat (Clip)

+Fruities-Ice Bat Blueberry +Ice Bat & Wage

I have to admit I'm not very happy today. Just one of those days that the weight of the world seems like it's on my shoulders...yet, there is Ice Bat. Whenever I'm down I look at his goofy batty face and it makes me smile.

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Dress

A few weeks ago I picked up this cute little dress from H&M that reminded me of twinkling lights. It's a layered hi-lo chiffon fabric dress that seems more summer than winter, yet I layered it with a long sleeve top, cozy sweater and leggings to make it cold weather approved. I'm even rockin' my trusty old studded creepers that were fixed on my recent trip to Mr. Jimmy the magical cobbler. Oh, how I missed my old friends!

My hair is seriously out of control, over grown and in desperate need of a hair cut. I just want it out of my face. Sigh. I know in these situations I need to take a step back before I shave all my hair off and cry. Hahahahaha!

Thank you for reading!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

I Dream of Shoes : Vintage Underground Boots

I just picked up the Killed by Deathrock record. 

It's pretty good.

A few weeks ago I jumped at a chance to buy a pair of vintage Underground 6 buckle boots which are pretty much my 'holy grail' of shoes. I was planning on buying a new pair of Underground's in the lower 4 buckle style, so with the encouragement of Derek, I took a chance on the vintage boots.

I was thrilled when the boots arrive, they were in excellent condition, fit great in the toes and were pretty comfortable. Yay! There was one huge issue, I could barely buckle the top two buckles as the way the boot was designed made no sense! I saw that the previous owner had the same issue as there were extra holes punched at the very end of the straps. Ugh! 

After some brainstorming, I took the boots to a local cobbler and explained the issue which he was sure he could help me. I waited two weeks, crossed my fingers and what I now have (thank you to Jimmy the cobbler and his amazing skills) are my dream boots that I can't wait to wear all the time! 

In true 'me' fashion, I got my latest shin tattoo finished, so I can't wear the boots until I am healed. I seem to always get something that I've been waiting to wear and then a tattoo stops me, hahahaha! It's always worth it as my husband does an excellent job. 

This is my second shrunken head tattoo. It may be odd to say "I love shrunken heads", so I'll just say that I find them fascinating. 

Thank you for reading!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Kitsch Picks : Dungaree Dolly

(click bold text to go to products)

+Bonehead Mini Messenger +Asian Gardens Mini Messenger

+Carnival Pastimes Mini Messenger +Canvas Skulls

Miss Dolly has an etsy shop full of ready to ship items! I love Dungaree Dolly's mini messenger bags as they help with hands free shopping as well as being a super cute accessory. I have mentioned Miss Dolly's designs several times on the blog, but I had to remedy the fact that I haven't featured her for Kitsch Picks!

Check out her etsy shop and website. 

Thank you for reading!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Bettie Page Revels All

On Sunday, the gang and I went to go see the 'Bettie Page Revels All' movie that was screening at the (Kodak) Eastman Theater in Rochester, NY. The movie is an authorized biography narrated by Bettie herself and told the story of her life, her loves, her modeling and her ultimate disappearance at the height of her career. The woman has had a very interesting life and her bondage and nude modeling is just the tip of iceberg!

I have read books about Bettie Page as well as watched the unauthorized movie, 'The Notorious Bettie Page', but my interest in this cult icon started when I first picked up My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult's album titled Sexplosion in which Bettie graced the cover. I was intrigued!

After picking up this record, I started to take notice of Bettie's image that would pop up here and there, so I would buy anything and everything I could get my hands on. It was the mid-90s and I was a high school student, so I didn't often use the internet at home to look up information (Google wasn't created until 1998 and hello, dial-up!), so whatever little bit I could find out about this 50s pin up queen had me hooked.

Her image also had a great effect on me. I loved her smile and her hair! She represented a woman who was strong and (even when nude) exuded a confidence that was classy and natural. I admired that about her and still do. Of course, I have to credit her for crudely cutting my own "Bettie bangs" in high school, which became a sort of signature look for me that I had for years and years. I would have men and women say, "I love your Bettie Page hair", even though I was a blonde. Haha! Gee, I know what photos you're looking at! *Wink*

Bettie bangs! Me, Christina, Celeste. circa 2002?

When a time (1950s) when anything that was sexual or sexually arousing was considered bad or amoral-almost like we went back to the Victorian Era-there was Bettie Page!

I wore my leopard print blazer to the movie as my small nob to the pin up queen. 

PS-The movie is good, I recommend you see it if it rolls through your town.

Thank you for reading!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Back to (Ghoul) School?

I have this reoccurring dream that I am informed that I didn't graduate high school and I have to go back. What happens in the dream varies, but I'm always panicking and frustrated in the dream so much that when I wake up I have to seriously think if I did (in fact) graduate. I did. Phew! 

So, it was pretty funny when I got a packet delivered with my name on it from a local Buffalo Charter School. I looked at Derek and said, "My dream is coming true! I have to go back! Ahhhh!". Haha! Perhaps this outfit would be something I would wear if I had to go to school, pleated skirt and all. ---Thank you Julie Ann for the vintage skirt, I love it!---

Aren't dreams a funny thing? Do you have any reoccurring dreams?

Thank you for reading!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla