Galliano — thefashionatetraveller.com

Gothic Lolita outfit & make-up for the Pandimensional Halloween Syndicate

I haven’t dressed up in aaaages, and this club certainly warranted it. The flyer said to come dressed in 15th to 19th Century Halloween gear – but said that aliens and time travellers would be allowed in. Hence, pretty much any costume would fit in OK!

For my make-up I channelled a bit of Pat McGrath (MUA for Dior, Galliano etc), a bit of Johnny Depp as Mad Hatter, and a lot of Japanese goth.

The outfit was sort of Neo-Victorian Spooky Gothic lolita, with big pouffy PVC ballgown skirt and puff-sleeved Victorian shrug from Artifice Clothing. AC is just amazing, so if you’re into clubwear and PVC, or just out there fashion, go take a look. I wore a big tutu skirt underneath to puff the skirt out more.

Nymphette Skirt and shrug: Artifice Clothing

Frilled collar: No Wear UK

EGL brooch at throat: Fan Plus Friend

Corset: Louise Black

Victorian Boots: Pleaser

Cosplay wig: eBay

Straw hat with beaded lace overlay: me

I will do some follow-up posts – one a make-up tutorial to ‘get the look’, and another on the club itself, with pics of other patrons, the performers and fab band “Barons of Tang” (who bill themselves as ‘Gypsy deathcore’!)

The John Galliano Spring 2010 RTW Collection

http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/S2010RTW-JNGALLNO

I won’t go into the overall direction here, as fashionistas worldwide will be dissecting the collection shortly. For me, it was all in the details.

Mesh
There was the incorporation of spotted mesh and netting into the garments. More often seen on millinery, or dated mother-of-the-bride frocks, in Galliano’s hands the black spotted mesh is layered over or under coloured for a more avant garde feel. I’m not sure how I feel about it, but prepare to see spotted mesh EVERYWHERE in Supre and chain stores soon. Wear it early before it gets old. Head thee to Spotlight pronto.

Lace
Coming from a goth and Victorian perspective, I’m always gonna love the black lace gloves. But notice how he layers coloured sheer gloves underneath – ya gotta love that! And possibly borrow the look?

Pearls
Pearls are not normally my thing. The Sloane Ranger era still makes me shiver. Galliano uses pearls like charms, dangling them off shoes, straps, and headpieces. Or plonking huge ones on the front of shoes or stacking them in descending size to form cone heels. Multi-stranded on bracelets and on necklaces too – but only asymmetrically and paired with acrylic floral jewellery for a modern edge. And sometimes in gunmetal.

But it’s the shoes and the make-up that grab me most.

Shoes
I’m only 155cm; I LOVE platform shoes. Continuing the trend of embellishment, Galliano uses lace and mesh (again) for a very feminine look, along with the pearls already mentioned.

I’m a sucker for black & white too, so this one made me drool. The little bow on the side and tiny pearl and buttons give it a tailored, dainty look. WANT. Then again, don’t I have a pair of platforms I could embellish myself to approximate? (Hrmm…)

Bump Toe
Can I just say I love the bump toe detail too? I don’t know if I’m the only one to have noticed this, but it reminds me very much of the tennis-ball shoulder silhouette we’re seeing on Balmain and other “IT” jackets. Quirky.

Make-up
The silent-movie era goddess look is still here. The little rosebud/geisha lips are too. But they’ve been a little darkified – perhaps with Halloween around the corner? And I even detect a whiff of the Corpse Bride in some of those eyebrows. Do you see it too? Or have I been just too Tim-Burtonised lately?

I’ve been getting into the mega-smokey black eye make-up recently, and am very inspired by this lot. Especially with Halloween make-up to think about 🙂
Even if you DON’T go to alternative clubs regularly, anyone can get away with this at halloween.