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LA CARMINA TRAVEL TV HOSTING REEL. ORIGINS OF THE NAME: ARMY OF LOVERS LA CAMILLA, LA CARLOTTA, ITALIAN OCCULT FASHION ICON MARCHESA LUISA CASATI.


LA CARMINA TRAVEL TV HOSTING REEL & FANART. ORIGINS OF THE NAME: LA CAMILLA, LA CARLOTTA, MARCHESA LUISA CASATI. Feathered japanese eyelashes, fake japan eyelashes, novelty eye makeup, innocent world dress, goth girls in club

I often receive the question: where does the name La Carmina come from? Voila the tale of my name’s blood and glitter-splattered origins. (As for La Carmina’s real name? Age? Boyfriend? That’s a mystery…)

la camilla army of lovers singer, minnie driver as phantom of the opera singer, la carlotta, opera diva, prima donna phantomn song, LA CARMINA TRAVEL TV HOSTING REEL & FANART. ORIGINS OF THE NAME: LA CAMILLA, LA CARLOTTA, MARCHESA LUISA CASATI. french opera house fashion, italo disco sweden

The name “La Carmina” was bestowed upon me in 2007 by Basil Farrow’s father. It’s a spin on La Camilla, the lead singer of Italo Disco Swedish glam camp band, Army of Lovers. When you watch the disco-Rococo Crucified music video, you’ll see why the name fits.

But there are other “La Ca___” in history, and they tend to be decadent diva types. You probably know of La Carlotta, the prima donna in Phantom of the Opera. She storms around the opera house in tiered dresses and too-tight corsets, shattering eardrums and slapping her minions with a giant feathered fan.

la casati, marchesa luisa casati, eccentric italian heiress, occult fashion icon, early goth fashionista, femme fatale, muse, flamboyant la casinelle, salon hostess

And then there’s La Casati (Marchesa Casati Stampa di Soncino), whose morbid eccentricity and spend-thrift ways scandalized Europe in the late 19th and early 20th century.

The Italian heiress lived in a Gothic Art Deco manor where peacocks and monkeys roamed freely. She threw opulent soirees that would put Queen’s Freddy Mercury to shame. Once, La Casati wore a dress of white feathers, streaked with fresh blood – yes! Another time, she draped live snakes around her neck and led two cheetahs on a leash, while being waited upon by male slaves wearing nothing but gold leaf – double yes!

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Erte, Jean Cocteau, Picasso and Man Ray called the dark lady their muse. But she frittered away her inheritance and ended up living as a crazy bag lady in London. Rumor has it that La Casati would rummage through garbage bins to find feathers for her hair, and scraps of fabric for her moth-eaten coats.

la casati, marchesa luisa casati, eccentric italian heiress, occult fashion icon, early goth fashionista, femme fatale, muse, flamboyant la casinelle, salon hostess

I leave you with two quotes from Gustave Flaubert’s Madame Bovary (HIGHLY recommended): “Lives full of drama, masked balls, orgiastic revels…” / “In the city, with the noises of the streets, the hum of the theaters, and the bright lights of the balls, they were leading lives where the heart had space to expand, the senses to blossom.

la carmina fan art, chibi, fanart, basil farrow, scottish fold drawing, picture, sketch of kitty, kawaii neko, graphic design, kawaii girls, japanese manga anime style, deviantart

Huge hug for 13-year-old Caitlyn Banfield, who sent me these adorable drawings. My Scottish Fold cat is dressed as a ghost and says “Wahh, mama is so kawaii!” I’m happy to feature your artwork / fanart on my site; just send me an email. I try to reply to as many comments as I can, so don’t be scared to leave one.

Finally, I compiled a reel of my travel TV hosting work, which you can see above and on YouTube. It includes CNN, Travel Channel Bizarre Foods, NHK, Today Show. I have more TV / hosting gigs in the works — very excited! If you’d like me to work with me in any capacity, shoot me an email.

Do you have a nickname? If so, how did the name affix itself to you?

Japanese Word of the Day: Ryoko = Travel
Song of the Day: I can’t stop listening to this New Beat / Industrial / EBM music stream. SO good, especially halfway through when the song goes “Lix! Erandeauch! Lungband!” You can hear more at Endurance club night, every second Saturday at London’s Club Alibi (more info here.)

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53 Comments

  1. Mmy
    Posted July 13, 2010 at 11:27 pm | Permalink

    Ahahahah! I knew it! I’ve long speculated on the La Camilla/La Carmina connection. I feel culturally justified. And oddly enough, I was struck by the urge to watch “Crucified” first thing this morning.

  2. Mmy
    Posted July 13, 2010 at 11:28 pm | Permalink

    Ahahahah! I knew it! I’ve long speculated on the La Camilla/La Carmina connection. I feel culturally justified. And oddly enough, I was struck by the urge to watch “Crucified” first thing this morning.

    Edit: Oops, double post! Mmmm, I think I’ll watch “Give My Life” now… everything about Army of Lovers is simply Rococo-excess perfect, no?

  3. Boredcow
    Posted July 14, 2010 at 12:08 am | Permalink

    glad to see you’re doing well! :)

  4. Shimisan
    Posted July 14, 2010 at 12:09 am | Permalink

    How did your success start? give us a bio! or like a ‘My Youtube Story’

  5. Offdutyninja
    Posted July 14, 2010 at 12:09 am | Permalink

    aww this is cute

  6. Justaprayer
    Posted July 14, 2010 at 12:09 am | Permalink

    Great video. :)

  7. Generalreki
    Posted July 14, 2010 at 12:09 am | Permalink

    <3 U!!

  8. Sakara
    Posted July 14, 2010 at 12:45 am | Permalink

    oh wow! I love the inspiration behind the name!

  9. 'sup?
    Posted July 14, 2010 at 2:33 am | Permalink

    La Casati is so interesting!

    • lacarmina
      Posted July 14, 2010 at 6:10 pm | Permalink

      I first came across her name in a book about Goth… so fascinating, her life!

  10. DenniMabelle
    Posted July 14, 2010 at 2:41 am | Permalink

    Love the inspiration! My nickname is Denni. It was given to me by my 7th grade teachers, who couldn’t pronounce my full name (Denamisbragah, ugh) Even though I told them to refer to me as Dena, my social studies teacher still called me that. It has been stuck ever since, and I used it for my unknown blog: http://visualkeifreakazoid.blogspot.com/

  11. Yukiro Dravarious
    Posted July 14, 2010 at 4:01 am | Permalink

    La Casati seems like a woman of my taste ~^^
    but she fades to nothingness if compared to the viscousness La Carmina has accomplished ~^^

  12. Mmy
    Posted July 13, 2010 at 11:27 pm | Permalink

    Ahahahah! I knew it! I've long speculated on the La Camilla/La Carmina connection. I feel culturally justified. And oddly enough, I was struck by the urge to watch “Crucified” first thing this morning.

  13. Mmy
    Posted July 13, 2010 at 11:28 pm | Permalink

    Ahahahah! I knew it! I've long speculated on the La Camilla/La Carmina connection. I feel culturally justified. And oddly enough, I was struck by the urge to watch “Crucified” first thing this morning.

  14. Boredcow
    Posted July 14, 2010 at 12:08 am | Permalink

    glad to see you're doing well! :)

  15. Shimisan
    Posted July 14, 2010 at 12:09 am | Permalink

    How did your success start? give us a bio! or like a 'My Youtube Story'

  16. Offdutyninja
    Posted July 14, 2010 at 12:09 am | Permalink

    aww this is cute

  17. Justaprayer
    Posted July 14, 2010 at 12:09 am | Permalink

    Great video. :)

  18. Generalreki
    Posted July 14, 2010 at 12:09 am | Permalink

    <3 U!!

  19. Sakara
    Posted July 14, 2010 at 12:45 am | Permalink

    oh wow! I love the inspiration behind the name!

  20. 'sup?
    Posted July 14, 2010 at 2:33 am | Permalink

    La Casati is so interesting!

  21. DenniMabelle
    Posted July 14, 2010 at 2:41 am | Permalink

    Love the inspiration! My nickname is Denni. It was given to me by my 7th grade teachers, who couldn't pronounce my full name (Denamisbragah, ugh) Even though I told them to refer to me as Dena, my social studies teacher still called me that. It has been stuck ever since, and I used it for my unknown blog: http://visualkeifreakazoid.blogspot.com/

  22. Yukiro Dravarious
    Posted July 14, 2010 at 4:01 am | Permalink

    La Casati seems like a woman of my taste ~^^
    but she fades to nothingness if compared to the viscousness La Carmina has accomplished ~^^

  23. Clare
    Posted July 14, 2010 at 5:52 pm | Permalink

    That painting of La Casati is wonderful!

  24. MoonMaiden90
    Posted July 14, 2010 at 5:53 pm | Permalink

    this was so intriguing 2 find out about…I have often wondered about the name La Carmina but never asked. definately alot of interesting La C’s throughout time…though ur the best. ;)

    & those drawings r so cute! lol

    • lacarmina
      Posted July 14, 2010 at 6:12 pm | Permalink

      haha you are the sweetest. ;)

      • MoonMaiden90
        Posted July 15, 2010 at 5:20 am | Permalink

        well thank you ^-^

    • Caitlyn
      Posted July 14, 2010 at 11:00 pm | Permalink

      Thanks I worked hard on drwing the pics ^_^

  25. Eve
    Posted July 14, 2010 at 7:41 pm | Permalink

    I want that to be my life…. why isn’t that my life?

  26. Clare
    Posted July 14, 2010 at 5:52 pm | Permalink

    That painting of La Casati is wonderful!

  27. MoonMaiden90
    Posted July 14, 2010 at 5:53 pm | Permalink

    this was so intriguing 2 find out about…I have often wondered about the name La Carmina but never asked. definately alot of interesting La C's throughout time…though ur the best. ;)

    & those drawings r so cute! lol

  28. lacarmina
    Posted July 14, 2010 at 6:10 pm | Permalink

    I first came across her name in a book about Goth… so fascinating, her life!

  29. lacarmina
    Posted July 14, 2010 at 6:11 pm | Permalink

    It fit so well!

  30. lacarmina
    Posted July 14, 2010 at 6:11 pm | Permalink

    Cute cute! <3

  31. lacarmina
    Posted July 14, 2010 at 6:11 pm | Permalink

    Heheeheh! You and me both, darling!

  32. lacarmina
    Posted July 14, 2010 at 6:12 pm | Permalink

    haha you are the sweetest. ;)

  33. Eve
    Posted July 14, 2010 at 7:41 pm | Permalink

    I want that to be my life…. why isn't that my life?

  34. Caitlyn
    Posted July 14, 2010 at 11:00 pm | Permalink

    Thanks I worked hard on drwing the pics ^_^

  35. lacarmina
    Posted July 15, 2010 at 12:55 am | Permalink

    You're very talented! <3 Do keep it up!

  36. Lauren
    Posted July 15, 2010 at 9:47 am | Permalink

    Your show reel looks great. Love the Creatures!

  37. MoonMaiden90
    Posted July 15, 2010 at 5:20 am | Permalink

    well thank you ^-^

  38. Lauren
    Posted July 15, 2010 at 9:47 am | Permalink

    Your show reel looks great. Love the Creatures!

  39. Samantha
    Posted July 15, 2010 at 6:58 pm | Permalink

    Gothic lolita rulez!!!!!

  40. Louie
    Posted July 15, 2010 at 6:58 pm | Permalink

    A string of Pearls,they go with anything !!!

  41. Samantha
    Posted July 15, 2010 at 6:58 pm | Permalink

    Gothic lolita rulez!!!!!

  42. Louie
    Posted July 15, 2010 at 6:58 pm | Permalink

    A string of Pearls,they go with anything !!!

  43. Memo Juez
    Posted July 17, 2010 at 10:46 pm | Permalink

    “The Liberty NutCase”

    It dates back to the early nineties when the web was full of Political Debate Walls and the E/N crowd. I’m a staunch Libertarian who constantly argued in minimal Government interference in the everyday lives of Sovereign Individual American’s Personal and Economic Freedoms.

    In one ongoing debate, a Republicrat or Domnican called me a Nut Case to which I replied, “yes I am about Liberty and this nut case will fight for your right to call me names when you no longer have anything of substance left to say…” (or something along those lines, it was nigh 20 years ago.)

    That’s how that Moniker was born.

  44. Memo Juez
    Posted July 17, 2010 at 10:46 pm | Permalink

    “The Liberty NutCase”

    It dates back to the early nineties when the web was full of Political Debate Walls and the E/N crowd. I'm a staunch Libertarian who constantly argued in minimal Government interference in the everyday lives of Sovereign Individual American's Personal and Economic Freedoms.

    In one ongoing debate, a Republicrat or Domnican called me a Nut Case to which I replied, “yes I am about Liberty and this nut case will fight for your right to call me names when you no longer have anything of substance left to say…” (or something along those lines, it was nigh 20 years ago.)

    That's how that Moniker was born.

  45. outdoor string lights patio
    Posted May 28, 2011 at 6:44 am | Permalink

    This is the great blog, I’m reading them for a while,
    thanks for the new posts!

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