Dia de los Muertos Style

Dia de los Muertos, the Mexican holiday celebrated at the beginning of November to celebrate loved ones who have passed on has become a huge aesthetic trend of late.

I first saw a flood of gorgeous beauty editorials from studios like 666 Photography.  They did a series of elaborate, burlesque-type looks with intricate floral headpieces and beautiful makeup.  I saw more and more of this as a cosmetics trend, culminating in several Dia de los Muertos fashionistas arriving at my recent Halloween party (that's Ulla in the red leather chair).

The Day of the Dead has a certain romantic appeal, judging by the many weddings that have incorporated the theme over at the Offbeat Bride.  The cakes looks beautiful and delicious!

The trend of nail art has inspired amazing works in manicures.  My favorite was the three dimensional look seen from Wicked B3eauty's  Tumblr.   Over at Etsy, designers like Kasket Kustoms are creating elegant and macabre jewelry collections that honor the skull-headed revelers.

Manicure photo from Wicked b3auty, corset/flower/beauty photos by 666 Photography, Ulla in chair by Mariana Leung, Cake photo from  She-n-He Photography, jewelry from Kasket Kustoms

Interview with Deathly Romantic Magazine

Happy Friday everyone!  I just wanted to share an interview I did with new Canadian magazine, Deathly Romantic.  They feature the best in artists, beauty and style with a darker aesthetic.

You know my persona as "The Courtesan Macabre".  In this interview, you'll learn a bit more about me when I am not writing about Gothic and Steampunk style...

Read the interview here...

Gareth Pugh - Summer Rooftop Goth

NYC has been hit with record high temperatures and unbearable sun.  Those are not exactly the ideal conditions for Gothic fashionistas, but it didn't stop them from supporting Gareth Pugh's launch of his M.A.C. cosmetics collaboration.

The season-defying black-clad guests at the New Museum's patio enjoyed having their nails in done in various wicked shades of off-black.  Many wore the designer's label.  Pugh's nails himself were a witchy iridescent green and purple. Vampire-worthy crimson lips kissed cheeks while clueless pastel-clad tourists passed by below.

Gareth Pugh had previously collaborated with M.A.C. for his "Goddesses from the Grave" runway show in 2010.  One of the reasons the designer created this line was to that there would be a product with his aesthetic that was accessible to everyone (pricewise, style-wise, etc.)  The cosmetics packaging will be a special edition in his signature palette of black and grey and will hit stores in November.

Photos By Steve Eichner

Rodarte Collaborates on M.A.C. Cosmetics and Ballet

Fans of Gothic, artistic fashion line Rodarte can now get the look without the high price tag. The dark designers have collaborated with popular cosmetics line M.A.C. for a collection to debut this Fall.

The promotional images have an undead quality about them. Names for the items include "Ghosttown". However, major controversy ensued when bloggers read other names like "Juarez" and "Factory" were part of the line. The references to Mexico were inspired by a road trip by the Mulleavy sisters. Unfortunately, many took it as a reference to Cuidad, Juarez, a site more known for unchecked femicide.

Both the designers and the cosmetics firm have issued statements of apology. They have also pledged to donate portions of the proceeds to those in need in Juarez.

The multi-tasking designers also designed 40 costumes for the Darren Aronofsky ("The Wrestler") film The Black Swan. The sexy movie stars Natalie Portman as a dancer in the title role.

Photos from Hintmag and USAtoday


UPDATE! 8/17/10: MAC Cosmetics has decided to cancel this collection altogether due to the controversy!  Wow, never underestimate the power of blogging.  NY Magazine's Cut Blog has a humorous response warning of other potentially offensive nail polish names...

Paris Vogue Gothic Beauty Spread

This May 2010 issue of Paris Vogue Beaute will feature a gorgeous spread of beauty portraits inspired by Punk, Goth and Manga themes. The shoot was styled by Julia von Boehm and shot by Ben Hasset. The full photo gallery of the looks can be seen on the site Trendhunter.

Dark and Edgy Holiday Store Windows in NYC

Who says store windows have to be full of tacky glitter and fluff for the holiday season? (Okay, many people seem to think so). Some of the more striking retail displays in NYC have a darker, humorous edge to them but still convey a great look.

Calvin Klein has a simple, dripping black window, appropriate for the chaotic shopping day known as "Black Friday" in the U.S. (the day after Thanksgiving where all stores mark down merchandise for the holiday season).
Bergdorf Goodman had an Alice in Wonderland theme. It seemed to subscribe more to Tim Burton's version than the Disney one. It had a wonderful, chaotic, nightmarish quality about it.

Creative director Simon Doonan has always had an edgy sense of humor. Instead of decorating Barney's holiday windows with fluffy reindeer and snowy happy scenes, he paid tribute to the comedy of Saturday Night Live. The over sized papier-mache versions of the show's iconic characters were disturbing and creepy, (probably intentional). The colors deviated from your typical Christmas colors and set itself apart from every other luxury store in the city.