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Goth modeling at Whitby Abbey! Dracula Victorian fashion, vampire makeup & hair.

steampunk model, corset

Happy Halloween, pirates! Are you dressing up for the spookiest day of the year?

To celebrate October 31st, I’m pleased to share my latest magazine cover for Carpe Nocturne — shot on location at Whitby Abbey, the church that inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula!

goth girl makeup hair portrait

As you might remember, I went to Whitby Gothic Weekend in spring 2015. (See my guides to the Goth festival, in part 1 and part 2.)

Photographer Joey Wong and I couldn’t resist shooting a vampire-inspired fashion editorial, right in the ruins that inspired the famous Dracula novel.

horror magazine cover, goth magazines

And here’s the cover, for the fall issue of Carpe Nocturne magazine! Thank you to the team for featuring me — they were kind and professional the whole way through. (You can order the issue through their site, link is above.)

gothic model, female goth modeling

Carpe Nocturne is a magazine dedicated to alternative subcultures and creativity. Their headline is “other than the norm,” which resonates with my whole approach to life.

steampunk goggles necklace, corsets

Makeup details: I’m wearing decadent eyelashes from Velour Lashes — their quality is far and above regular plastic falsies.

My lip gloss and eyeshadows are from Anastasia Beverly Hills (get it here)I swear by my Sigma Beauty makeup brushes, which come in travel size and let you blend and contour like a pro.

asian goth, japanese gothic

I’m standing in front of Whitby Museum. Inside, you’ll find display of artifacts found in the ruins, and other objects linked to the British town’s long history.

la carmina makeup, face, eyeshadow

It’s always a pleasure to shoot with photographer Joey Wong — he also did our recent Love Japan magazine cover, on the frozen beaches of Iceland.

My hair color is by the one and only Stephanie Hoy of Stratosphere Hair Salon in Vancouver, Canada.

goth magazine cover model

Inside this issue of Carpe Nocturne, you’ll find more fashion photos and an extensive interview with me. Each of the Feature Editors asked me a question based on their section — meaning that I spoke about Art, Entertainment, Fashion, Film & Literature, Life & Style, Music, and Technology/Gaming.

la carmina model, hair color

My entire outfit is by Dracula Clothing, who came to Whitby Goth Weekend with me. I adore this black off-the-shoulder Victorian style dress, gold steel-boned corset with a Da Vinci design, and steampunk goggles.

goth editorial fashion shoot

I stood in front of Cholmley House, also known as Whitby Hall. Now a museum and reception area, this building dates back to 1672.

whitby abbey, ruins

We continued shooting inside Whitby Abbey itself. One glance at the crumbling Gothic arches, and you’ll know exactly why it inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula novel.

victorian mourning dress, goth

Whitby Abbey is a protected historical site, and there’s an admission fee of about $10 US. Here’s the visitor info — be sure to note the closing times, since if you arrive too late, you won’t be able to get inside.

purple hair bangs, goth hairstyle

Could there be any better place to shoot this long-sleeved Victorian mourning top and tiered skirt? (They’re also from Dracula Clothing.)

dracula abbey windows, architecture

Whitby Abbey dates back to 657 AD, when it was a monastery founded by the Anglo-Saxon king. The second version of this monastery was destroyed by Henry VIII in 1540, and fell into ruin.

vampire photoshoot, england

The Benedictine abbey was further damaged by storms, and a German naval shelling in 1914.

gothic girl, dracula dress

Despite the wear and tear, Whitby Abbey has retained its Medieval Gothic glory. The intricately carved arches and mouldings have stood the tests of time.

whitby dracula abbey church

Whitby Abbey became famous for inspiring author Bram Stoker, who lived in the seaside village as he wrote his 1897 novel, Dracula.

gothic vampire modeling, photoshoot

In “Dracula,” the vampire is shipwrecked on his way to London on the Russian ship, Demeter. The vessel broke apart while near the coast of Yorkshire, England…

whitby goth weekend abbey

… so Count Dracula took the form of a big black dog, and climbed the 199 steps of the Abbey. And so, the terror and blood-sucking began.

church windows portrait girl

The character Mina wrote a journal that described the ruins.

“Right over the town is the ruin of Whitby Abbey, which was sacked by the Danes, and which is the scene of part of “Marmion,” where the girl was built up in the wall. It is a most noble ruin, of immense size, and full of beautiful and romantic bits; there is a legend that a white lady is seen in one of the windows.”

outdoor natural portrait fashion lighting

(I didn’t see any white lady in the windows that day, but visitors got to see an Asian purple-haired lady lurking around!)

dracula vampire girl, victorian goth dress

Tip: if you want to take photos at the Abbey, arrive as soon as it opens (we came at 10am). If you come later, there will be too many people mulling around and getting into your shots. Don’t bring a tripod, as it’s not allowed.

And be prepared for people to look at you and take their own snaps as you are shooting!

goth whitby abbey fashion

Walking around the skeleton of the abbey, it was easy to understand why Bram Stoker made this the setting of his horror classic, Dracula.

whitby uk cityscape, scenery

The location is as dramatic as Mina describes it, in the novel. Whitby Abbey stands on the East Cliff, overlooking the North Sea. 

staircase to whitby abbey

There are indeed 199 steps that you must climb, to reach Whitby Abbey from the town. It’s a steep but scenic trek.

whitby gravestones, cemetery

Before you reach Dracula’s Abbey, you’ll come across the Church of St Mary. This graveyard also inspired one of the settings of the Bram Stoker story.

St Mary’s is a Norman church constructed around the year 1110, and modified over the centuries. The King of Bernicia, who signed the Magna Carta, is buried here among other notables.

old british tombstone, burial ground

Bram Stoker wrote: “For a moment or two I could see nothing, as the shadow of a cloud obscured St. Mary’s Church. Then as the cloud passed I could see the ruins of the Abbey coming into view; and as the edge of a narrow band of light as sharp as a sword-cut moved along, the church and churchyard became gradually visible… It seemed to me as though something dark stood behind the seat where the white figure shone, and bent over it. What it was, whether man or beast, I could not tell.

whitby abbey graveyard, tombstones

While it may be tempting to take fashion photos amidst the fascinating tombstones, the church and town asks you to respect this space and refrain from posing in the cemetery. However it’s okay to photograph the stones from afar, as we did.

pink purple hair, dyed hair color japan

Details of my makeup — I swear by my Anastasia lip gloss and brow pen

whitby church arches

After seeing the Abbey in person, it makes absolute sense that Whitby is a world-renown Gothic destination.

whitby goth church, dracula abbey

I wouldn’t be surprised if there were ghosts haunting the remains.

vampire girl makeup hair

I hope you enjoyed this fashion editorial for Carpe Nocturne magazine. Let us know what you think of the photos.

dracula location, setting

I encourage you to visit Whitby and see the Abbey for yourself — especially if you’re a connoisseur of vampires and Victorian horror.

whitby abbey, horses

Don’t forget to say hi to the horses, as you descend the 199 steps back into town! I hope these photos get you into a Halloween mood. Comment below, and let me know what costume you wore this year.

PS: check out my other Whitby Goth Weekend guides, including tips for where to stay and fashion and music reviews. The festival happens twice a year, and is going on right now.

SHARE & COMMENT

45 Comments

  1. Valeria
    Posted October 31, 2015 at 11:20 pm | Permalink

    FIRST! Happy Halloween LC!!

  2. Charles
    Posted October 31, 2015 at 11:20 pm | Permalink

    Come back soon!

    • lacarmina
      Posted October 31, 2015 at 11:24 pm | Permalink

      I want to! I love the UK and want to see more of it.

    • lacarmina
      Posted October 31, 2015 at 11:24 pm | Permalink

      Oh and maybe Romania and the Dracula castle there!

  3. Aaron
    Posted October 31, 2015 at 11:21 pm | Permalink

    I love errrrrything about this.

  4. BloggingNa
    Posted October 31, 2015 at 11:21 pm | Permalink

    WOW your hair so beautiful

    • lacarmina
      Posted October 31, 2015 at 11:24 pm | Permalink

      I want to grow it out again, and the color will change in mid November!

  5. JOAN
    Posted October 31, 2015 at 11:21 pm | Permalink

    NICE!!

  6. 殺された夢
    Posted October 31, 2015 at 11:22 pm | Permalink

    yes, please

  7. Leny
    Posted October 31, 2015 at 11:22 pm | Permalink

    I was a black cat for Hell o Ween, boring I know but I love cats.

  8. Xibee
    Posted October 31, 2015 at 11:37 pm | Permalink

    Gorgeous hair!!! Wow!

  9. Charles
    Posted October 31, 2015 at 11:38 pm | Permalink

    Oh, wow, I bet you absolutely LOVE Halloween, La Carmina.

  10. Sophie
    Posted November 1, 2015 at 1:08 am | Permalink

    Looks amazing-

  11. Jarede
    Posted November 1, 2015 at 1:08 am | Permalink

    Woo Dracula

  12. Brandan
    Posted November 1, 2015 at 3:25 am | Permalink

    love that pic :)

  13. Arte
    Posted November 1, 2015 at 3:25 am | Permalink

    Happy Halloween everyone.

  14. Wllen
    Posted November 1, 2015 at 6:54 pm | Permalink

    Love the hair so much. Goals.

  15. Ashley
    Posted November 1, 2015 at 9:36 pm | Permalink

    looks great!

  16. Hank
    Posted November 1, 2015 at 9:37 pm | Permalink

    Great goggles! ;)wink emoticon ;)

  17. Shirou
    Posted November 1, 2015 at 9:37 pm | Permalink

    I spent my Halloween working :(

  18. Bats Sue
    Posted November 1, 2015 at 9:37 pm | Permalink

    guhhhh i love

  19. Whitby Dracula Society
    Posted November 1, 2015 at 9:43 pm | Permalink

    This is a lovely set of pictures, and a very comprehensive piece. Thanks for sharing .

  20. San
    Posted November 1, 2015 at 9:46 pm | Permalink

    This year I was a puppy for Halloween..

  21. Barbarella
    Posted November 1, 2015 at 10:43 pm | Permalink

    my Halloween was cool! First time I tried sugar skull makeup, wasn’t as easy as it looks! ;

  22. lady .nancy
    Posted November 2, 2015 at 3:35 am | Permalink

    Great location! Happy Halloween!

    xx

    Retro-electric

  23. Manny
    Posted November 2, 2015 at 4:45 am | Permalink

    Happy Halows eve! I love this month dont you

  24. Kathy
    Posted November 2, 2015 at 4:46 am | Permalink

    Huge shout out to the wonderful Dr’s and entire staff at university hosital rehabber u unit I got to see my dogs today they understand how fur therapy helps and went out of their way to make it happen Donna and Paul you rock!!!!!!

  25. Wendy
    Posted November 6, 2015 at 8:14 pm | Permalink

    Beautiful photos and creepy buildings.

  26. Cecilia
    Posted November 6, 2015 at 8:14 pm | Permalink

    so artistic and elegant and sexy!

  27. Tom Hull
    Posted November 7, 2015 at 2:23 am | Permalink

    Beautiful photos, and beautiful model. :-) And I love your commentary. It’s very personal and makes me feel like I’m there with you a little bit.

    • lacarmina
      Posted November 7, 2015 at 9:58 pm | Permalink

      I’m glad to hear this! I’ll do more like that soon then, if you enjoyed it :)

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