Category Archives: Being Fashionable

A Review of MAC’s Black Lipsticks

The Lady of the Manners wants you to know, Snarklings, that this is not the giant Goth fashion edition of Gothic Charm School. No, because the Lady of the Manners is still collecting clicky-links and discovering that while she has oodles of advice about Victorian-esque and darkly elegant gothwear, she needs to do a bit more searching around for helpful words and links to give to those of you who favor a more punk-tinged aesthetic.

So! The Lady of the Manners is going to answer a reader question about makeup! Jaleesa asks:

I have to ask you something. What is your thought’s on MAC’s newest products from the “Style Black” collection? Also, what is your thought’s on plus size goths? Other than, I love your book and your site. thank you

Oh yes, the MAC Style Black collection, chock-full of black lipsticks and nail polishes. Haven’t you noticed, Snarklings? The harder-edged/punk side of Goth is a big deal in the fashion world this autumn, which amuses the Lady of the Manners to no end, (even if her stylistic preference is for the more Victorian side of Goth). The Lady of the Manners, being a complete push-over for this sort of thing, scampered down to her local MAC store to ooh and ahhh over the goodies, and ended up getting the Mattene lipstick in Midnight Media, and Glimmerglass glosses in Blackfire and Blackware. Continue reading

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Of Parents Disapproving Of Your Evolving Style, With A Short Tangent About Emilie Autumn

Goodness, Snarklings! The Lady of the Manners is sure that all of you have seen the photos all around the Web of President Obama and his family with the Spanish Prime Minister and his family, including his two gothling teen daughters. The Lady of the Manners thinks the photo is adorable, and fervently hopes that the Spanish Prime Minister has been keeping his daughters out of the media spotlight because he wants them to have some privacy, not because he is possibly embarrassed by the girls’ Goth appearance. Because (by the Lady of the Manners’ logic), if the Spanish Prime Minister was apprehensive about his daughters’ gothy tendencies, he would have done what parents of Goths have done for ages, and informed his daughters that the were not going to attend the event dressed like that. But obviously he didn’t, and the whole photo just makes the Lady of the Manners beam fondly.

Speaking of possible parental disapproval, Continue reading

Posted in Being Fashionable, Growing Pains | 1 Comment

Of Goths Of Color

Snarklings, remember back in early July, when the Lady of the Manners asked for your help in answering a reader question? No? Here, let the Lady of the Manners refresh your memory about what a Snarkling named Oni asked:

Dear Lady of the Manners,

I’m new to your site and would like to say that this is a very reliable source for the Gothic lifestyle and for the onlookers. You don’t choose sides and its nice and equal. Although I face one MAJOR problem in the lifestyle. I’m of African-American descent and have noticed that I cannot find good makeup tips and fashion for us goths of a darker shade, which makes me feel left out. Not only that but many other goths that I have encountered have tended to have a very “racist” attitude toward goths of a darker shade things like “Oh! I have never seen YOUR kind” or “I didn’t know there were black goths around”. There absolutely needs to be more diversity in the subculture and someone needs to break the mold in fashion.

At that time, the Lady of the Manners replied with:

Oni, you are absolutely right, there needs to be more diversity in the Goth subculture. The Lady of the Manners cannot stress that strongly enough, and is sad to read some of the attitudes and comments you’ve had to deal with.

However ”¦ the Lady of the Manners is a well-intentioned white girl, who wants to give helpful advice, but is operating from a position of cluelessness. Which is why, Snarklings, she is turning to you. Other Goths of color, please speak up!

Well, the time has come, Snarklings! The Lady of the Manners has read through all sorts of interesting mail from helpful Snarklings, and hopes that the following advice is what Oni (and other readers!) were looking for. Continue reading

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Portland! New Gothic Charm School Merchandise! And When Not To Explain That You’re Not Wearing A Costume.

Forgive the Lady of the Manners if this post seems a little scattered, Snarklings. The trip to San Diego Comic-Con was amazing, but just the teensiest bit overwhelming. But oh yes, the Lady of the Manners wants to go back next year. Be sure to scamper over to the Lip Service Webzine to read the book tour diary installment about all the hijinks!

Thank you to all of you Snarklings who came to the Gothic Charm School autograph session or who recognized the Lady of the Manners in the Exhibit Hall and said hi! Meeting the people who read Gothic Charm School has been the best thing about the book tour. The Lady of the Manners wishes that she were able to visit more cities and meet more of you, but alas, a book tour budget only stretches so far. Continue reading

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Of New York, Lip Service, And Answering Reader Questions!

Busy times, Snarklings! Busy busy times! So the Lady of the Manners is going to give you several updates in a bullet-point style, and then yes indeed, answer some questions from readers! And finish up with a reader question that she intends to address more fully, but needs your help to do so. Continue reading

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Of Finding Supplies For Gothy Projects, And Of Finding Other Goths

Yes, Snarklings, the long-promised Gothic Charm School post about where to find supplies for gothy crafts and to embellish your wardrobe of gloom! Plus a tangent about finding other Goths in your area. Why the tangent? Well, you see, the letter that prompted all of this asks about both things. Continue reading

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More Advice For Aging Goths. And Clicky-links Of Coveting.

Snarklings, the Lady of the Manners has been quite touched by the flood of complimentary mail about the previous column on Aging Goths. Mail from fellow ElderGoths, and from younger Goths who are glad for the reassurance that Goth doesn’t have an age limit. Because the Lady of the Manners does tend to get letters like the following one from a young lady named Carrie: Continue reading

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Of Goths And Aging Gracefully

Oh Snarklings, you do know how to cheer up the Lady of the Manners, don’t you? Sending in questions about how to age gracefully and still proudly display your shadowy tendencies; a topic near and dear to the Lady of the Manners’ heart, indeed!

A Snarkling who is a fellow ElderGoth wrote in to ask the following:

Dear Lady of the Manners –
I have, alas, reached that awful age of (shall I say it?)… maturity. In fact, this year I shall be forced to celebrate my 21st birthday for the 32nd time..

I know you gave advice on dressing to a professional who was turning 37… ah, those were the days.. but what about a home-bound Goth who’s a great deal older. Makeup, yes – but how much is too much for the eyes that are gaining crows-feet and just when does one give up and start letting the grey streaks appear?

I don’t want to look like a silly old bat who can’t see the mirror too well anymore, but I don’t want to give up being a romantigoth either. What does an elder Goth do??
Continue reading

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Of Conflicts About Cosmetics, Requests For Fashion Advice, and Dealing With Copy-Cats

Hello Snarklings! Goodness, the Lady of the Manners has a whole bundle of letters to answer from readers. Yes, the Lady of the Manners had intended to sit down and write up replies to them in a slightly more timely fashion, but was distracted by such things as squee-ing over a new sewing machine and needing to bake gingerbread bats. Not to mention that whole day job thing. But! The Lady of the Manners has resolved to resist the siren calls of new fabric (pink skull brocade!) and a recipe for absinthe-flavored marshmallows, and instead focus on answering Snarklings’ questions. (Because she does like doing that just as much as sewing or baking; it’s just that sewing and baking require a smidge less concentration.) Continue reading

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Of Returning To One’s Gothy Roots

Oh Snarklings, the Lady of the Manners really did intend to have this lesson at Gothic Charm School be about the basics of a Goth wardrobe, really she did. But the Lady of the Manners received letters from a few … Continue reading

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