Macabre Travel: Vampire Cafe in Tokyo

If you find yourself traveling to the frenetic and chic city of Tokyo, why not stop by for a lovely evening in the Ginza district? The Vampire Cafe is a gorgeously sexy spot filled with blood red decor, velvets and Gothic decor. The menu is a feast of Gothically inclined dishes which are all plated beautifully. Look for a steak that is 'staked', sauce-drawn crucifixes, red wine 'blood' cocktails and edible coffin salads.

D.L. and Co. Online Sample Sale Wednesday, Super-Luxe Gothic Decor

Do you need to outfit your home in super-luxurious tabletop trinkets? Is your fine dining table missing some handcrafted sterling silver place card holders or claw foot candelabras? Does your mantle lack the scent of hand-poured scents named after the seven deadly sins and vintage poisons? The elegant, upscale brand of D.L. and Co. makes luxurious items for the most glamorous of Gothic homes. Their collection of "modern alchemy" and "curious goods" can be purchased at Sak's Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Barney's New York. However, you can snap up these goodies at an online sample sale Wednesday for 36 hours, (BIG discount) by registering to shop here.

Steampunk Fashion, Taxidermy and Vampire Lit in BUST Magazine.

Color me surprised. This month's issue of women's lifestyle mag, Bust Magazine featured several stories for those of gothic sensibility. I usually associate this publication with crafts, tongue-in-cheek style and profiles of unique women. This issue, did that, but did in a delightfully dark way. One feature profiled taxidermy artist Sabrina Brewer and her delicate, creepy sculptures. Next up, Charlaine Harris, author of the Sookie Stackhouse book series, (and inspiration for HBO's "True Blood".) The dessert of this magazine was a gorgeous fashion spread of Steampunk fashion with an Edward Munch color palette. Get your copy, or take a sneek peek online.

Paris Couture: Alexander McQueen Fall 09

Fashion's bad-boy and genius, Alexander McQueen produced another beautiful spectacle this season on the runway. His dark and twisted sense of humor and Gothic references are mingled with subtle digs at his fellow designers and the current economic climate. Edward Gorey parasol hats and "Brazil" movie-inspired makeup accessorized the models. Escher prints adorned a few dresses, a Poiret cocoon silhouette, snakelike coils, tubes and exaggerated Dior-like shapes rounded out this cheeky macabre collection. A heap of darkened props of runways past sat in the middle of the stage like the corpses of excess past.

The Courtesan's Playlist: Rasputina

Calling themselves a chamber-rock band, the haunting sounds of their voices and cello have made their way onto the soundtrack of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". Rasputina has toured with Porno for Pyros and Marilyn Manson. They pay their respects to history with references to Howard Hughes and the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire in their music as well as with fashion, wearing vintage corsets and garb in their shows. More recently, they had a song, "Coraline" on a Neil Gaiman tribute album.

Steampunk Trunk Jewelry

Looking for feminine, pretty, yet industrial steam punk-inspired jewelry? An artist from Oneida, New York has set up a beautiful shop of her wares online called the Steampunk Trunk. Most of her pieces are priced at a reasonable $25 - $75 and are high on stylish detail. Lacy filigree meets vintage Swiss watch movement pieces with gilded insect motifs.

NY Fashion Week: Severe, Dark and Stormy at Chado Ralph Rucci

This Fall 2009 show by Chado Ralph Rucci seemed to have a strict, severe, dominatrix in mind. A woman who demonstrates she is boss by any means necessary, but still needs feminine, mainstream clothes for the day to day. This beautiful collection had very wearable clothes for civilians, but with some subtle edgy details. Leather straps braided into a web-like top to frame the body of a black widow. Asian gargoyles and statues printed on black sheer fabrics to tease the onlooker. Slashed soft fabrics to mimic a decaying iceberg that is breaking apart. The makeup was dramatic. Eyes were done in dark, heavy eyeliner for a smouldering effect. Hair was slicked or pulled back severely. Message here: Don't mess with Chado Ralph Rucci's divas.