The New Victorian Gothic

Check out this FB page for lovers of Black Flowers and Plants!

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 01:55:00 -0700

Check out this FB page for lovers of Black Flowers and Plants!:

This page is for fans of naturally black, and near black flowers, plants, shrubs, and trees! Pretty cool! Time to fill my garden!

Sopor Aeternus - In der PalästraLyrics:As through the pipes the...

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 15:22:11 -0700

Sopor Aeternus - In der Palästra

Lyrics:
As through the pipes the waters fell
down to the bottom of the well,
in listless apathy I gazed
at the cold waters … - as he bathed.

I half beheld that scenery
and its most sensual masculinity.
Yet, disappointment, oh, can’t you see,
is still the cause and the cardinal symptom
of my sick, sad reality.

Silver equals chill, but that suits me just fine,
I’m shyly sipping water … while he drinks whole jugs of wine.
He likes all kinds of women, and I …I only HATE …men.
He marvels at all things new to him … -
and I only wait … for all things in this sick world … to end.

The water pouring down his spine,
caresses his strong physique, oh, so well-defined,
calm like a rock he stands,
oh, behold his beautiful body and soul
a friendly God must have built this man
to an well-balanced whole.

What sad bewilderment this brought,
physical clearness, alas, still so much abhorred:
an ancient ghost awoke and fiercely arose in me:
it was that old, savage, yet half-forgotten ideal
of perfect neutrality.

Silver equals chill, but that suits me just fine,
I’m shyly sipping water… while he drinks
whole jugs of wine.
He likes all kinds of women,
and I … I only hate … men.
He marvels at all things new to him,
and I only wait for all things
in this sick world to end.
I somewhat envy this naturally beautiful man,
he never knew or encountered
the hatred and shame that I bare.
The doubt, the cloak of disgust
and the all-devouring dread,
and if I told him about it, he might only
shake his head with kindly amused,
melodious laughter, he then would perhaps
merely smile at my … oh, so stupid silliness … and the beast
that is raging inside.

The Antique Corset Gallery!

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 23:24:21 -0700

The Antique Corset Gallery!:

This website is neat!

“Take a guided tour through the last 250 years of corsetry and undersupports. Discover the fascinating ways in which our ancestors managed to achieve those fashionable figures. The Antique Corset Gallery has arrived, allowing you to view in detail those rare and unique items which were previously kept well covered up!”

The Aokigahara Forest is the most popular site for suicides in...

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 01:29:00 -0800

The Aokigahara Forest is the most popular site for suicides in Japan.

Very interesting place! I must visit some day.
Warning, images of actually dead people in this video.

Gothic Pallor Makeup Tutorial - aka “White face”...

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:45:00 -0800

Gothic Pallor Makeup Tutorial - aka “White face”

Have you ever wanted to do “white face” with out streaks, and goofy looking clown whitish makeup? Then please feel free to check out my video!

I finally did it!
I made my first makeup tutorial, and I made my first video using Imovie.
I hope someone finds enjoyment from it :)

Yay Valentines day gift!

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:12:41 -0800

Yay Valentines day gift! :

My significant other purchased an antique mourning brooch for me for Valentines day!
Yay for buying a dead persons hair as a token of affection! hah

The Woman in Black - and Mourning atire.

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:33:00 -0800

I saw the new adaptation of “The Women in Black” tonight.

I was actually quite impressed by how historically accurate the mourning gowns were in this movie! You saw everything from the dark “Deep mourning” Crepe fabrics, to a women dressed in “Light mourning” wearing a purple shirt and a skirt that I believe was edged in Crape.

The Victorian/ Edwardian era was VERY particular about what was worn during a woman’s period of mourning. Women in the family were the bearers of the emotional weight for their family when there was a passing. Men on the other hand, (with the exception of a few days after a funeral) were expected to bounce back and go bring home the proverbial bacon. So, men often did not have much of a dress code in any manner during mourning after 1850. Children often wore white at a funeral in their innocence. So this burden was the women’s duty. She had to carry the weight of the family’s grief. These women were expected to be the symbol of the house hold, that if someone were to look at her, they would not only know someone died, but they would know who (a friend/family member) and how long ago it had happened depending which garment she had on.

The general English rules were as follows:

If it was a friend who passed or relative of a friend who passed, your mourning period for respect was considerably shorter, often in the rage of just a few weeks or months.
But, if it was your child or relative you would be in “deep mourning” for 1 year and 9months. Which meant you wore a non-light reflective fabric that was typically of Crepe. Crepe is a crinkly matte fabric that if you were to stand in the sun in it, you would see no light coming off it. A “black hole” of fabrics, if you will. You would also wear a bonnet, or hat with a black veil lined with crepe. Even your jewelry during these periods was regulated of black jet. Or Brooches that contained locks of hair from the deceased, or photos, or cameo pendants. But, many typically had a black enamel around the brooch, or were solid black.

Here is a photo of “deep mourning”

After that, for another 9months you were allowed to go into a “moderate” mourning, which was for two reasons.. after almost two years of wearing crepe, the black fabric will start to diminish into a rusty bronze color and will give off a very strong odor. So, wearing this full time becomes very unattractive. So, during moderate mourning in the first 6months of this stage you are allowed to wear other dark black fabrics that were trimmed heavily with crepe, then less crepe for the remaining 3 months. Also in this last stage of mourning women were permitted to wear some colors of grey, lilac, and violet.

But, for women who lost their husbands and were widowed, would often never end their mourning period… and typically wore black as the main color in clothing for the rest of their lives.

This all started to lighten up a bit after Queen Victoria passed away, then into the Edwardian era which believed that being in “deep mourning” for nearly two years was far to “self indulgent” and unnecessarily elaborate.
After That, with WW1 and then on, death was such a mechanized process due to war, the structured mourning rituals just became to much of a tedium to ritualized to such an extent. Which with time and even more decreases in death ritual eventually brings us up to speed now. Where we would rather ignore this part of life (or the end of it) then acknowledge it, and pretend that we are immortal.

Fascinating, huh?

But, I digress back to my original topic.

I was quite impressed by the accuracy in clothing for the new Movie.
If you are as intrigued by mourning fashion as I am, I do suggest giving it a peek.

I am actually planning on dressing in “deep mourning” as The Woman in Black for a Convention in April. I almost have the full outfit (though sadly not in crepe).
I am waiting on my veil, and a better bustle, and I am trying to get my hands on a mourning brooch!

Yep, this is me. Like I said, not the whole outfit, but, it is a work in progress!

But, I will say, if you want to sell/give me any antique mourning/funeral paraphernalia.
I would be happy to add it to my collection and post about it, so feel free to contact me!

Thank you for reading!

-Michelle

So, to kick things off… Here are a few postmortem photos...

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:04:00 -0800

So, to kick things off…
Here are a few postmortem photos that I like.

How can you tell if a photograph is postmortem?

“There are tell-tale signs to watch for when determining whether a photograph is postmortem or not. In early photography, a person had to remain perfectly still for extensive lengths so that the picture could be taken. In photographs of the living, there are almost always “blurs” near the hands or the head, where the person moved slightly during the process. Postmortems will have none, unless they are taken with the living. If the eyes are open, they will look glassy and distant, as if there is no soul behind them. They may not be open entirely, but there will be no blurring as a result of blinking. Rigidity is also something to watch for. If the body is bizarrely arranged or seems stiff (especially in the fingers), this is probably because the person is dead and rigor mortis has set in. Keep in mind that people were often propped or stood up. There are some photographs that show the dead being held by stands and positioned to look alive. If you can see a stand, pillows, or someone holding up the body, the person is likely deceased. Once decomposition has begun to set in, the eyes will sink into the face. Other facial features may do the same, but it is most noticeable with the eyes. The fingernails and lips will turn black, in time. This seems to occur most often in pictures of babies - possibly because of their smaller size. If the skin looks discolored, it may be a sign of death when accompanied by other features.”

I personally find it a little weirder when they are in standing positions, or if their eyes are open.. or both! Still amazing none the less!

My First blog entry.

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 02:07:00 -0800

I am fascinated with Mourning/Funeral practices, and surprise surprise… Gothic/Punk culture.

Name: Michelle
Age: 27
Music I like: Opera/Classical (Vivaldi, Franz Schubert), 80’s trad-goth/post-punk (Siouxsie and the Banshees/Sisters of Mercy), Old school Experimental industrial music (Throbbing Gristle/Neubauten), Experimental Rock (Tom Waits/Leonard Cohen), Darkwave (Die form), Deathrock (Christian Death, .45 Grave), Crust/Peace Punk (Dirt, Antischism, Crass), Stoner Metal/Sludge Metal (Eye Hate God/ Corrupted), Black Metal (Bathory/Darkthrone).
So, I really do run a bit of a gambit.

I like wearing white face and Victorian/Edwardian mourning garb for fancy occasions. But, my street clothes resemble sorta oldschool goth/punk and crust.
So, perhaps I am a bit of an anomaly. Vegan feminist, but spooky corseted tea drinker. Whatever. I am just me.

But, Anyway… What will I post about then?

I plan to post about the interesting funeral rites/rituals over the years/centuries. I am particularly intrigued most by the Victorian and Edwardian era’s. But, I will try to run a bit of a gambit and learn more about other practices along the way.
I want to post videos that I will make! Videos on long lost Victorian Edwardian crafts.
I want to post makeup tutorials, because I feel very sad when I see White face done poorly. I want to post things on etiquette, and teas. I am Vegan so I want to post about foods that I make and want to share! I want to post about music and play lists for occasions! I want to post inspiring things for women of our century! … and so much more!

So, maybe you will join me on this journey!
I hope you do. :)

-Michelle
Yeah. That is me right before work.