Joker Style

If you don't live in a cave or comparable rock, you are perfectly aware that the summer's most anticipated move, The Dark Knight is opening at Midnight.
Christopher Nolan's stylish and gritty take are key, and of course, the most buzzed and tragic performance of Heath Ledger.
With so many different takes on the Batman comic, what inspired this particularly dark vision? The concept of this film was cited to be the Joker's first two appearances in the comics and one of my favorite all-time comic arc, Batman: The Long Halloween.

As for Gotham fashion? Renowned costume designer Lindy Hemming helmed this movie's threads. She set the look for all of the modern James Bond movies since Goldeneye, the Royal Shakespeare company as well as the previous Batman Begins. For the Joker's look in this film, she described him "he doesn't care about himself at all"; she avoided designing him as a vagrant but still made him appear to be "scruffier, grungier", so that "when you see him move, he's slightly twitchier or edgy. Hemming drew inspiration from artists like Pete Doherty, Iggy Pop, and Johnny Rotten.

For the Kitchen of the High End Witch

Designer Tord Boontje, known for his funky laser-cut home decor pieces for Artecnica has created an exquisite collection of kitchen tools for the wicked chef. This art set / cooking utensils features carved sustainable wood pieces with sinister-looking shapes and names like "Spoonchela" "Spork" and "Dagger". Also part of this collection, are carved, elegant mini-cauldrons and Claw-like salad tossers. While the designer price tag of $770 is steep for those without a fortune spell in their arsenal, it goes to support the Design With Conscience project. This organization promotes humane and environmentally friendly production and employs skilled artistans of undeveloped countries into self-sustaining communities.

It's Showtime for Punk, Goth and Emo clothing at 3rd and 56th

UK-based online store, 3rd and 56th Street Clothing has a great-looking site. It has an old Grand Giugnol theater look to it and a tongue-in-cheek approach to their merchandise. It carries some of th familiar Goth labels to the U.S. like Hot Topic and Emily Strange, but what you really want to check out is their selections of great dark graphic tees and fun punk/goth dresses.

What's your 'Desir' ?

"
Before Moulin Rouge, before Folies Bergere, there was DESIR, the jewel of Paris...".

Down at Spiegeltent at the South Street Seaport in New York City, is a glittering and sexy show for the lusty patron. It is a dark and glamorous exhibition of burlesque, trapeze, vaudeville in retro-glam carnival glory. Last year, the same group presented show La Vie and Absinthe to much fanfare. This is a terrific show to put you in the mood, take a date, or meet a new lover. The setting, in a velvet draped tent gives a very intimate ambience, so canoodling is much-encouraged. Tickets are $59, but with the Courtesan's favors, you can purchase them for $25 via Goldstar.com

Eat Me Drink Me... Marilyn's Mansinthe

Ok, it doesn't exactly shock you that edgy Goth Shock-rocker Marilyn Manson has produced and marketed an absinthe liquor inspired by, well, himself. It seems to be the perfect gimmicky product for this artist to sell a libation that is supposed to induce hallucinations. What IS surprising, is the fact that this Switzerland-produced drink has impressed critics and won the gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The official site promises this is the real thing, not the tourists "sans wormwood" version. The label featues his ethereal nightmarish artwork (a painting imagining himself as an old man). You can't exactly pick up a bottle at your local store too easily yet, as it isn't quite legal in the U.S. but it IS available online.

Dances of Vice...

Now for a little glamour this summer... Gorgeous club Dances of Vice hosts parties and an upcoming festival described as "Rococo, Victorian and Jazz Age Time Travel" where the guests are dressed exquisitely in period/theme garb. Everything about the ambience, atmosphere, etiquette and makeup are sexy as hell. The festival, which has a "Baron Munchausen" them this year, will feature fantasy fashion shows, art exhibits, baroque and neo-classical music. Don't miss the short plays inspired by the quotes of the Marquis de Sade... Even their website is beautiful!