HALLOWEEN VAMPIRE MASQUERADE BALL IN NEW YORK CITY. FRINGE FACE MASK, H.NAOTO GOTH SKULL DRESS & BLUE FEATHERS.
Announcing TWO Los Angeles Cute Yummy Time book signings! I hope to see you on Saturday, Nov 28 and and Sunday, Nov 29 from 2-4pm. Come to Kinokuniya Bookstore, 123 Astronaut S Onizuka #205, Los Angeles CA. If you’d like to cover the event or interview me for a publication, please contact me.
Onto Day Two of Halloween (Oct 29). I was invited to attend Lady Victoria’s Vampire Masquerade Fetish Ball — and the promise of darkness and decadence was too strong to resist. Her NYC-based company, Killer B’z Productions, specializes in events with dark themes — such as the upcoming “Gothic Vampire Anti Christmas Party” in December.
I’m fascinated by haunting Venetian and Eyes Wide Shut masks (remember these photos?). I went to a few West Village costume stores but was disappointed by the uncomfortable, badly-made masks on display (not to mention the price tags). When all fails, you’ve got to DIY! So I headed to my beloved New York fabric district. $15 bought me a meter of black fringe and blue feathers. The glittery black skull tinsel is from a Tokyo dollar store. A couple of twists and bobby pins and voila — a spooky veil for a Vampire Fetish Masquerade.
Skull dress: h.NAOTO, from Closet Child Shinjuku. One of my favorite new purchases.
Glossy black purse: a gift. My h.NAOTO Hello Kitties and a Gloomy Bear dangle from the handle.
(All photos below by Efrain Gonzalez and Pepper Negron.)
Funny story: I got into the F train and bent down to check the subway map — and the woman sitting under it nearly had a heart attack! (I didn’t mean to freak her out, I swear. I simply forgot that I was scary-looking.)
Inside the Lower East Side venue (Element/Bank), I was warmly greeted by Lady Victoria and her friends. I’ve been to hundreds of Goth parties, which range from ultra-friendly to snub-snobby — and let me tell you, I felt at home from the moment I arrived. Pepper Negron’s Goth/fetish photography danced over the stage, Efrain Gonzalez showed me his pictures and videos, and others introduced themselves like old friends. Before long, we were twirling to the 80s, darkwave, industrial sounds of DJ Krieg.
Later in the evening, a woman swallowed swords and lay on a bed of nails and put other oddities down her gullet (I’ll spare you the details, as they may make you choke!) There were some extremely creative and intricate outfits in the room, and I took home a New Goth City t-shirt in the Costume Contest. If you’re in NYC, check out Lady Victoria’s site for upcoming Goth theme parties.
Need a break from work? Come read my new CNNGo article: 6 embarrassing travel moments for Asian celebrities. Have you found the CNNGo website useful? What are your favorite features?
Song of the Day #234: The Phantom of the Opera – Masquerade (“Masquerade! Leering satyrs, peering eyes… Masquerade! Run and hide – but a face will still pursue you!”)
This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 16:39 and is filed under Fashion, How-Tos, Nightcrawling. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
November 10th, 2009 at 17:15
ccofthewest says:Laying on a bed of nails? Damn. x-x
November 10th, 2009 at 19:17
Wendy says:I love New York too even better with Goth photography!
November 10th, 2009 at 19:17
android says:hehehehehe, nice
November 10th, 2009 at 20:51
Murbela says:Didn't think New Yorkers could still get scared of unusual things. And you weren't so scary looking either. Fringe veil = cute.
November 10th, 2009 at 20:56
lacarmina says:It was a bed of nails shaped like a cute lady in a corset, too! The most feminine bed of nails I've ever seen. ;)
November 10th, 2009 at 21:57
Pepper says:AWESOME !!!!! … XOXOXOXO ..
November 10th, 2009 at 23:10
Gili says:the post looks so cool and way to go for coming up with a butt-kicking costume!
November 11th, 2009 at 00:27
Lemon says:Ohh Masquerade…it gets stuck in my head too easily!!!
November 11th, 2009 at 09:42
MoonMaiden90 says:I luv ur veil! ^-^
November 11th, 2009 at 09:42
stillprince says:New York City = <33 I wanna go to a Goth party haha it would be a lot of fun since you get to dress up however you want and appreciate the… “odd”, yet, beautiful things that happen there.
By the way, you don't look scary at all!!! I actually like the veil thingy.
November 11th, 2009 at 09:45
Lindsay says:how cool! love the fringe a lot:}
November 11th, 2009 at 09:45
Dixie says:i love the gothic lolita fashion
November 11th, 2009 at 09:46
stargrrrl7 says:Yay, I hope to see you when you come to LA. I'm excited to read your new book and try out the recipes.
November 11th, 2009 at 10:19
chaoticLady says:nice nice very nice
November 11th, 2009 at 11:57
lacarmina says:Thanks! I might use it as a choker, as a bracelet… the possibilities are endless!
November 11th, 2009 at 11:57
lacarmina says:hahah I also was surprised at the extent of the woman's reaction! I guess she was just dozing and taken by surprise.
November 11th, 2009 at 11:59
lacarmina says:All the Phantom of the Opera songs… way too addictive!
November 11th, 2009 at 12:02
lacarmina says:Yeah!! Some awesome Goth photographers in Gotham City!
November 11th, 2009 at 19:52
stillprince says:I would've just been like “O.O *point* veil face thing… give me nao!!” =D lol Where did you get it?
November 11th, 2009 at 19:52
lacarmina says:New York fabric district — they have all sorts of trimmings and lace!
November 11th, 2009 at 21:09
stillprince says:I used to live in New Jersey and NYC was only 2 hours away from me. I would visit there all the time for weeks at a time haha Maybe I should move up there lol
November 12th, 2009 at 14:05
ccofthewest says:Wow, that's so cool!
November 12th, 2009 at 14:15
Francisca Hagen says:Do you have thick hair? I'm thinking to let my hair growing again en cut a fringe, but I'm afraid it will not be standing great at me, because I have thin hair. (if i'm correct in my 'great' English)…
November 12th, 2009 at 14:28
lacarmina says:I have excessively thick hair! Whenever I go to the hairdresser, I get it thinned out.
I think there are benefits to thinner hair — it makes it easier to stand out in a spiky Visual Kei/punk look! Maybe ask your hair dresser for suggestions, as he or she knows your hair best. Let me know how it goes.
December 5th, 2009 at 13:55
lovingtokyofashion says:Hey this makes me ask a question that Im hoping you could answer! Where In the Usa could I find Lolita Clothes? ( Sounds like Where's Waldo *-^) I konw theirs some in LA and I found a place in N.Y. but are their any more? Or ordering internationally my best option.? Sorry for the questions but im curiouss. Love the Blogg
December 5th, 2009 at 21:55
lovingtokyofashion says:Hey this makes me ask a question that Im hoping you could answer! Where In the Usa could I find Lolita Clothes? ( Sounds like Where's Waldo *-^) I konw theirs some in LA and I found a place in N.Y. but are their any more? Or ordering internationally my best option.? Sorry for the questions but im curiouss. Love the Blogg
June 30th, 2010 at 01:34
tomcathat says:Wow great site love the girls costumes will they have it again nest halloween. Thanks for the hard work La carmina keep it up
weird halloween costumes.