helpless + fanciful materialism

[lumivalkoinen.livejournal.com]

i'm a little bored, and thought i'd post some noteworthy links to nice merchandise for the many of you elegant ladies to browse through. they're all pretty expensive . . . *wistful sighs*

undeniably sweet corset tank
puffy sleeves/armwarmers
frilly choker with brooch
ugh, beautiful cape.
victorian jacket with fur trim
another gorgeous cape
crown with crystal balls!
another killer cape!

i'd list more but i think it's enough for now :)

Comments

[musoka.livejournal.com]

oh that corset tank, it is frilly pink heaven! *dies* and the antique dress site is wonderful, thanks for the link.

[lumivalkoinen.livejournal.com]

if i ever order it i think i'd like it in grey. pity they don't have black.
i love antiquedress.com but sometimes i really think they're immensely overpriced :)
but i am very good at finding overpriced items . . . ha.

[darkfaeryqueen.livejournal.com]

If you really do want it in black, I can help you make one (or make one for you), and it will be WAY cheaper too. :)

[lumivalkoinen.livejournal.com]

oh, that's lovely of you to offer.
we'll see --- right now i'm moving stuff (which is why i took so long to reply!), and changing the floors so all is chaotic right now. but i will keep it in mind, thank you.

[not-forever.livejournal.com]

ahhh those are some very pretty things! Thank you! Those gave me ideas. ;-)

[lumivalkoinen.livejournal.com]

hooray for new ideas! :D

[seeinglife.livejournal.com]

my first instinct was to go oooohhh! want corset top! want puffysleevearmwarmerthing!
but then i realized... "hello, i could buy a REAL corset including postage from gallery serpentine for that price, and those armwarmers? pffft, if i could figure out a pattern i could make one for like $5-10."
my family has engrained thrift in me very well.

[lumivalkoinen.livejournal.com]

tee hee.
unfortunately, perhaps, for myself --- i've gotten to the point where i don't even look at the price tags anymore. if i want it, it's mine. :P

[lumivalkoinen.livejournal.com]

good for your family, because i am completely hopeless with stuff like that ;). i am enamoured with the act of burning money, it seems, more than the items themselves.
however, i must say that the arm warmers are indeed sickeningly overpriced.
the corset top, however, i can sympathize because it is hand-dyed and decorated with very nice lace. i make clothes as well --- so i go shopping and see some very nice bolt of beaded lace and ask for the price and my stomach sinks when it says $300 a yard. and then i ask for the lesser ones, it's $30 a yard. sure, i can go for cheaper lace, i have plenty that are just $3 for a whole bunch . . . but sometimes i'm trying to lean towards the finer and it sometimes doesn't work out so well. to order them in such massive quantities (although i know they probably got it on a good deal) and hand-dye all that fabric (ugh) and stitch them up all one by one i can definitely understand why they'd want to ask that much.

[seeinglife.livejournal.com]

see, i don't really CARE if the fabric is hand-dyed or not, and i think that quite often bargain bin lace looks just as cute as expensive lace. the only time i'll spend more for materials is when the cheap version looks, well, cheap... like bargain bin satin, which is usually awful looking.
i just can't justify spending that much, especially, like i said, when i can get a functional gorgeous corset for less than that, which i have a feeling is even more of a pain in the ass to make.
i won't spend a lot on an item unless it's something exquisite and unlike anything else i have... like my $89 gown. maybe that's not a lot to some shoppers, but that's the most i've spent on a clothing item EVER.

[lumivalkoinen.livejournal.com]

good points.
it's true . . . corsets are probably even more mindboggling to make.
i did agree that most of the items are ridiculously overpriced, but i was just defendint it from the artist's viewpoint. trying to justify why my classmates charge $5,000 for a small painting. :) it's all in the work, baby . . . and amazingly, it sells.
well, keep that good thriftiness with you --- my overspending isn't exactly a godsend. ;)
i'd say the most expensive piece of clothing i ever got . . . mmm . . . $1,900. yup.

[lumivalkoinen.livejournal.com]

note of spelling error : defendint = defending

[darkfaeryqueen.livejournal.com]

You've given me sewing ideas. Thanks!

[lumivalkoinen.livejournal.com]

ideas are good! yay!

[lumivalkoinen.livejournal.com]

or you could buy a big coat whether from a thrift store or new ---
and then cut it away into a shape you want and then trim it with ribbon and lace! voila! no real sewing needed, other than attaching the trim to the jacket :)