Lolita, Steampunk and Victorian How-To's - Rebecca Brooks

Let me introduce you to one of my favorite new bloggers. Perfect for designers, DIY crafters and all manner of Gothic fashionistas, Steampunk and Lolita enthusiasts. Rebecca Brooks of Victorian Nonsense creates a lovely website filled with classic inspiration of Victorian Times. She not only shows her muses, but then creates crafts with detailed descriptions and photographs so you can follow along. Rebecca also gives great resources, like Katherine's Dress site, containing a wealth of antique patterns for those who need a proper period corset or crinoline.

The Courtesan's Fashion Library: Japanese Goth

Japanese Goth
Hitting the bookshelves this week is a gorgeous book displaying a range of our favorite looks in Victorian, punk, anime, lace, and vampire-inspired lolitas. While the mainstreaming of Gothic fashion and culture keeps getting bigger and bigger, here is a book that presents it as the diverse artform it really is.

"Gothic culture in Japan doesn't mean listening to Bauhaus and wearing all black," says author Tiffany Godoy, a Tokyo-based fashion writer who co-created the book with Ivan Vartanian. "It explores core elements of Japanese culture like the supernatural, fantasy, folklore, religion, eroticism, gender, beauty, and performance, among others."

Not just a pretty tome, the author also continues into investigating the deeper inspirations, "There are so many elements that come into play: the island culture and mentality, isolationism, the shift of culture from pre– and post–World War II. I want to truly reflect the culture and ideas of the various scenes." Click here for a slideshow preview of what you will find inside.

Click to pre-order or buy: Japanese Goth