Underworld

 

We just endured the hottest week of the year (so far) so I thought it was fitting to feature the Underworld dress from La Femme En Noir. Unlike the place this dress evokes, the Underworld is a light and airy piece perfect for all my fellow summer goths. I may be uncomfortable in this heat but this dress and matching cauldron bag make me feel like a dark enchantress roaming a haunted forest.

Dress- c/o La Femme En Noir

Shoes- Steve Madden

Hat- The Beheaded

Bag- c/o La Femme En Noir

Bracelet- c/o Forever 21

The Underworld dress is made from a light and breathable georgette material and features a gathered crossover bust, tiered flutter sleeves and a three tier ruffle maxi skirt. The matching waist sash is attached to the dress and allows you to cinch as loose or tight as you'd like. I love that the neckline is open but not plunging, I feel glamorous but not exposed. I'm wearing my usual size small and I'm very comfortable in this size. Without the sash it would be a little too loose in the waist but the sash creates the most perfect silhouette.

I had to create a witch look (of course) by adding my favorite bruja hat and cauldron bag. This is pretty much a normal outfit for me but while taking these photos a man and his child literally stopped their car and rolled down the windows to see what I was up to! I guess seeing a witch before October is something to gawk at.

You can find the Underworld dress and the cauldron bag on the La Femme En Noir website now. The dress is available in sizes XS-5X and also comes in a wine red color.

xoxo

Ashley

Summer Goth

 

Happy Summerween! I love that we're just one season away from my favorite time of year but that also means I have to dress for extremely hot weather. As someone who prefers to wear black I can find it difficult to find summer ready pieces. Blackwood Castle is one of my absolute favorite brands and I was overjoyed when they created these Mabel bloomers. They're comfy, lightweight and a perfect piece for your summer goth wardrobe. Can you tell I'm obsessed?

Top- H&M (old)

Bloomers- Blackwood Castle

Shoes- Dr. Martens

Sunglasses- c/o La Femme En Noir

Necklace- Disturbia

Bracelet- Disturbia

Hat- old

The Mabel bloomers are a linen/rayon blend fabric, which means they're lightweight and cool to the touch. The tiered ruffles at the bottom are adorned with lace and they also feature deep side pockets and a drawstring at the waist and towards the bottom of the leg. You can tie them to create more of a ballooned bloomer silhouette but I have them relaxed here. I'm wearing a size XS, which is my usual Blackwood Castle size and I love them so much! This piece is extremely popular, so many of the sizes are currently sold out. You can sign up for restock notifications (that's how I got mine) and they are ethically made in sizes XXS-5X.

I just wanted to give a special shoutout to my daughter Bianca because SHE TOOK THESE PHOTOS. She's been showing an interest in photography lately and I've been teaching her here and there. She has never handled my camera before (she's very responsible but she's also scared of breaking my most expensive toy) but she did such a wonderful job! I want her to be able to try out any and all interests she may have but I've got to say, I feel super excited that she is finding interest in something I love to do as well. Let's hope we get to see more of her work on my blog in the future!

xoxo

Ashley

Glamour Ghoul

 

If you know me at all you're well aware that I don't like being out in the sun. I don't sunbathe or swim *but* I'm the mother to someone who loves to swim. There are definitely times where I am reluctantly making trips to the pool so I figured I might as well look cute while I'm there (hiding in a cabana). This La Femme En Noir swimsuit is inspired by the one and only Vampira's gothic swimwear. It makes me feel great while still being pretty covered up. This is going to be my summer pool outfit going forward!

Swimsuit- c/o La Femme En Noir

Sunglasses- c/o La Femme En Noir

Shoes- C Label (old)

The Vampira Glamour Ghoul swimsuit is a one pice with a mock neckline, cap sleeves, an open scoop back and a snap closure at the back of the neck. It comes with this faux leather belt but you can absolutely wear the suit without it. I love that the front is pretty covered but when you turn around you see the open back and the cheeky leg cut. At the time, my usual size small was not available. I ended up taking a medium but honestly, I really do need a small.

This swimsuit is also available in a black and white stripe and they're both available in sizes XS-5X.

xoxo

Ashley

Summer Ambrosia

 

As a self-proclaimed "hater" of summer I can't say that I'm happy that the temps are rising and the green mountains are slowly fading away. I will admit that I love a great summer dress though! The Ambrosia dress from La Femme En Noir is not a new addition to my closet (you can see my original styling last year HERE) but it's one I'm always to happy to have on hand when it gets warm. It's fitted in all the right places and feels like the dark cottagecore dress of my dreams.

Dress- c/o La Femme En Noir

Shoes- Swedish Hasbeens

Hat- c/o La Femme En Noir

Bag- Olli Ella

Bracelet- Disturbia

I wanted to feature this dress on my blog again is because the fit has been updated! I had an issue with being between sizes the last time I wrote about it but now the fit is more like their other pieces. While I had to size up to accommodate my bust, I can easily wear my usual size small in the revised version of this dress. They've also extended their sizing to a 5X. I think inclusion is really important and I'm glad that they also understand that people in all types of bodies deserve to have beautiful, fun and well-made clothing. The Ambrosia in black just restocked and you can also find this exact dress in a beautiful pomegranate print as well.

You know what? I realized that I do enjoy just one thing about summer: it's one season away from spooky season!

xoxo

Ashley

Jawbreaker

 

I enjoy taking dresses that would normally be considered more formal and styling them for something casual. This incredible Vixen by Micheline Pitt Jawbreaker dress was supposed to be the star of an outfit for a red carpet event that I unfortunately did not attend. It was much too pretty to retire it to the back of my closet so I decided to build a summery ensemble around it. With the blazing heat we're experiencing these days, this outfit kept me cute and cool.

Dress- c/o Vixen by Micheline Pitt

Shoes- Swedish Hasbeens

Hat- c/o Vixen by Micheline Pitt

Bag- c/o Harvey's

Bracelet- c/o Forever 21

This version of the Jawbreaker swing dress is made in a beautiful red, shimmery fabric. It's stretchy but stiff so it holds its shape really nicely. Since I was thinking about comfort, I did not wear a petticoat of any kind and it maintains such a lovely silhouette. The pleated bust and lining provide an incredible amount of support. You can seriously forego a bra and be completely comfortable! I'm wearing my usual size small and it is the perfect fit.

I think adding this red sunhat really pulled this outfit into a more casual/summery place. If you know me, I hate being in the sun so I love any opportunity to wear a big hat! I finished the outfit with one of my favorite Harvey's bags. This Lolita bag is also red and shimmery... Can you think of a better match?

I know it's only July but Halloween is peeking its way into my mind (it never really left). I managed to grab a bunch of cute tableware at Home Goods last weekend and found Reese's pumpkins at the supermarket! Maybe some of y'all aren't ready but my favorite stores and I are!

xoxo

Ashley

Summerween Plaid

 

Well... I think this is the longest hiatus I've taken on this blog. It was something that was on my mind for months but just couldn't find time for. Thankfully, work projects have finished and Bianca is currently on summer break so I've had time to document my outfits! This Ebone and Ivory dress has been in my closet for some time but I don't think I've ever actually worn it out. It was made specifically for me and this summerween plaid is everything I need to get my mind off this heat and onto my plans for spooky season.

Dress- Ebone and Ivory

Shoes- Lotta From Stockholm

Hat- old (similar)

Bag- La Femme En Noir

I picked this plaid fabric from Joann's (RIP) so Ebony could make me a western inspired summerween dress. Because our summers last so long, a dress like this can be worn well into October with ease. I love the statement neckline, lace detail and huge side pockets. It pairs perfectly with my cauldron bag and works well with a summery boater hat. I'll definitely switch over to a witch hat once we get into spooky season! Unfortunately, Ebone is not taking commissions at the moment but I will continue to love and wear her creations from the past.

Here's to hoping I don't have another unexpected blogging break! I really enjoy the creativity this place inspires and I can't wait to show you more of my spooky summer wardrobe in the near future.

xoxo

Ashley

Jack-O-Lantern

 

I'm fully settled into my Summerween wardrobe thanks to Unique Vintage! Every year they're one of the first clothing companies to drop their Halloween collections and as usual, it's pretty great! One of the first pieces I picked up was this jack-o-lantern pinafore. I'm a huge fan of the spooky pinafores they've offered in the past and this one is just as cute as the rest. Bianca immediately had to try it on just in case it fit her. While she still has a few more years before she can start raiding my dress closet, she has already claimed this one as her own!

Top- Vixen by Micheline Pitt

Pinafore- c/o Unique Vintage

Shoes- Madame Zombie

Socks- Amazon

Bag- c/o Collectif

This pinafore is made from a corduroy fabric and features a pumpkin bib, skater skirt with front exposed pockets, adjustable straps and a back zippered closure. I sized up to a medium for this piece because I like a little extra length in the straps and waist room for when I wear a chunky sweater underneath. I'm overall happy with the fit and I adore how I can take this piece from summer to fall with some layering pieces. The jack-o-lantern pinafore is available in sizes XS-4X. Make sure to check out their *huge* Halloween collection on their website HERE!

Have you started planning any spooky activities yet? I'm looking forward to the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice movie and the in-person experience here in LA next month. I haven't planned my outfit for it yet but I'm sure my closet is filled with spooky inspiration!

xoxo

Ashley