I’ll admit it. I realised I was somewhat of a goth when I was a small child, when my primary school friends noted that my wardrobe was nearly devoid of colour.

I was chromatically challenged.

The problem was I was also somewhat fashionably challenged. I was on the grunge/metal end of goth… which is to say plain black Tshirts and jeans from K-mart, with some hard wearing boots, and maybe an all purpose leather jacket or coat.

This did not suit certain people in my life, who decided I needed to start going and seeing what “better” clothes I could be wearing… So for the last 3 years, I was getting dragged off to Circa Nocturna to see if there was something I’d like to wear that didn’t come from Tshirt Hell.

There was a lot, but most of it was well out of my price range once regular maintenance (read: weekly dry cleaning) was factored into the cost. Until I saw PurPur Fashion designs at the 2009 show.

However, it wasn’t until June that I got off my lazy arse and actually commissioned Kate to do something for me.

Kate Musina, the adorably Russian lass that is PurPur, has easily been the best thing to happen to my wardrobe in a very long time. While the whole process took just over a month, this did include the fact I had a very limited schedule for fittings, and made some difficult requests in regards to buttons and shoulder pips that needed to be factored in. During the whole process, she was the consummate professional, doing her best to make me feel at ease with the fitting and tailoring process (something I am admittedly not, as I hate having people wait on me. I’d be a terrible Dom).

The attention to detail was stupendous, with all my requests clearly taken into account. Possibly the only draw back is that I prefer my clothes loose and billowing, and Kate likes men to wear tight things… My physique does not agree with her sentiments, but we met halfway I believe.

The outfit, pictured, is pretty much inspired by fascist military uniforms, and was one of the set pieces at Circa Nocturna 09, and something I wanted in particular to have not just as a piece of regular clubbing attire, but also something to wear to Manifest.

The reception there was rather good. People consistently asking which anime/manga I was from, to which I would reply “No no, this is my weekend clothing”, only to be met with blank stares about the idea that someone could either not be in cosplay, or would actually wear something like that out in public.

All in all, a fantastic outfit, and great value for money.

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4 Comments »

1. 

   You are EVIL!!! Now I want to spend even MORE of my non-existent funds on pretty things!! Very nice work though, I want so bad!!!!!

   Comment by Arriahne — September 15, 2009 @ 2:38 pm

2. 

   People really have trouble with the idea that you could wear stuff like that? Why? *tilts head* I think more clothing should look like that, instead of the bland stuff that gets pushed out.

   Comment by Zero — September 15, 2009 @ 3:47 pm

3. 

   Arriahne: Then get a credit card

   Zero: The problem is that it didn’t come from K-mart, JayJays or Dangerfield. There are people out there that can’t wrap their head around the idea that there are places that will still make individualised clothes for individuals.

   Comment by Egofreaky — September 17, 2009 @ 12:41 pm

4. 

   Haha! Already have one, and it’s all I can do not to commission her right now. I think I’ll wait and buy myself something for Christmas

   Comment by Arriahne — September 24, 2009 @ 5:05 pm

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