Category Archives: General

Summer Goth – Avoiding the Burning Orb

Posted on July, 2017 by Lady of the Manners

Snarklings, it’s time for a seasonal column. By which the Lady of the Manners means that in the hemisphere she lives in, it’s summer; her least favorite season. ::shudders::

Forgive the Lady of the Manners her melodramatic turn, Snarklings. There are many goths who like, nay, even adore summer! Warm weather! Longer days! More plentiful outdoor activities! There are those who are kind of meh about the whole sunlight thing. Then there are those (the Lady of the Manners included) who thanks to genetics, illnesses, medications, or who knows what else, don’t deal well with prolonged exposure to sunlight. (As the Lady of the Manners has said before, eventually she’ll develop the fun symptoms of vampirism, like mind control.) Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion, General | Tagged , | 14 Comments

A Selection of Questions and Answers

Posted on March, 2017 by Lady of the Manners

Hello Snarklings! Please accept the Lady of the Manners’ heartfelt apologies for the lack of posts the past few months; while she’s been relatively active over on Tumblr and Instagram, the ongoing chaos of daily life has meant there’s been precious little time for sitting down and answering letters. But! Gothic Charm School has returned, and will (one hopes) settle back into a routine of regular posts. However, enough with the explanations and apologies, it’s time for letters! Continue reading →

Posted in Elder Goths, Fashion, General, Growing Pains, Serious Matters | 12 Comments

Repeating Some Important and Helpful Information

Posted on January, 2017 by Lady of the Manners

(Regular posting will resume here at Gothic Charm School in February. Things have been very chaotic and stressful lately, which has led to a lack of writing.)

The Lady of the Manners gets political: The world has become a much scarier place for a lot of us, and we need to pull together. Continue reading →

Posted in General, Important Announcements, Serious Matters | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Of Babybats Striving to Become Themselves

Posted on November, 2016 by Lady of the Manners

The Lady of the Manners gets political: The world has become a much scarier place for a lot of us, and we need to pull together.

—

After the previous Gothic Charm School post about Eldergoths, the Lady of the Manners decided she should give some attention to her younger readers, too.
Continue reading →

Posted in General, Growing Pains, Important Announcements, Serious Matters | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Of “Goth” Music

Posted on July, 2016 by Lady of the Manners

This time around at Gothic Charm School, a Snarkling has a question about one of the foundations of the Goth subculture. Can one call themselves a Goth if they’re not a fan of the bands that helped form the subculture? … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Music | Tagged , , , , , , | 34 Comments

Of Writing Stereotypes and Being Exasperated

Posted on December, 2015 by Lady of the Manners

Snarklings, the Lady of the Manners is trying to rouse herself from the depths of winter hibernation, but gracious, it’s difficult. Still, she has made her way to the goblin city unwrapped herself from fuzzy blankets and brewed an extra-strong pot of tea so she can answer reader questions! Continue reading →

Posted in General, Growing Pains | Leave a comment

Gothy Valentines!

Posted on February, 2015 by Lady of the Manners

This may come as a surprise to some of you, but the Lady of the Manners adores Valentine’s Day. Chocolate! Roses! Pink and red accents to things! Giving silly cards to your friends and loved ones! Yes, it’s overcommercialized; yes, it can make people keenly aware of whatever their relationship status is, for good or for ill; but don’t give into bitterness or despair, Snarklings! Valentine’s Day is for showing affection and kindness to people that matter to you, not just for romantic gestures. Look for the silliest box of kiddie Valentine cards that you can find, then send them to people you think need a spot of whimsy in their life. Send your friends links to pictures of adorable animals that make you think of them. Valentine’s Day is what you make of it, and it’s equally about celebrating friendship and platonic love as it is about romantic love. Continue reading →

Posted in General, Holidays & Special Occasions, Love & Romance | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Nocturnal House: Prince Lestat

Posted on December, 2014 by Lady of the Manners

Go put on your finest velvet frock coats, antique lace scarves and cuffs, and pour yourself a cup of tea or a glass of your favorite libation, Snarklings. Because it’s time for another visit to the Nocturnal House, and OH! What a visit it will be. Because the Lady of the Manners has finally paused in her gleeful dancing around with her beloved cliches and actually gotten around to writing the review:

Prince Lestat, by Anne Rice. Continue reading →

Posted in General, Nocturnal House | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

Gothic Museum Exhibits! MMA and the British Library

Posted on November, 2014 by Lady of the Manners

Oh, how the Lady of the Manners wishes she could get to NYC sometime between now and February 1, 2015! The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s exhibit Death Becomes Her: A Century of Mourning Attire looks to be utterly amazing, and the Lady of the Manners would love to spend a few hours examining the details of the gorgeous, funereal artifacts and fashion. Continue reading →

Posted in General | 6 Comments

Of Goth Fashion: DIY vs. Off-the-Rack

Posted on September, 2014 by Lady of the Manners

Hello Snarklings! The Lady of the Manners has decided to rise herself from her end-of-summer torpor and resume answering questions. (August is not a good month for the Lady of the Manners, what with the brilliant sunshine, the warm weather, and so on.)

What summoned the Lady of the Manners from her darkened lair in the Gothic Charm School library? A question about the fashion dilemma of DIY vs. buying pre-made goods: Continue reading →

Posted in Being Fashionable, General | Tagged , , | 22 Comments