chateau bizarre: hardcore glamour & curious finds, reviewed daily » vanity

Cerise UK

lilah wild — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:50:47 +0000

A British accessory emporium specializing in bits of handmade, carefully curated, modernized yesteryear from about eighteen or so indie designers. Funky retro kissclasp purses, flowered fascinators, pinup playing card makeup bags, tattered scarves made to be worn every which way, gold and silver jewelry that keeps the skulls understated – or crowns them with antlers. A good place to pick up fripperies that work double-duty with both vintage and contemporary stuff.

Pro Pierce

lilah wild — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:03:55 +0000

Body jewelry from Australia, which offers the standards in a wide range of elements: glitter plugs, nip shields, titanium flesh tunnels, a Trojan line which weaves eyeballs through your skin, Blackline navel tombstones, UV everything, all the basics rendered in surgical stainless steel, molten glass, silver-inlaid buffalo horn, polyester lucite, and other materials. The Voodoo Rising page is not to be missed if you’re into mean, nasty biker rings.

Tribaltique

lilah wild — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 21:28:11 +0000

Bellydance fashion from the Netherlands, mostly traditional gear with flashes of tribal fusion. The skirts feature both patchwork wrapped and modern asymmetrical minis with the by-now standard page of flared dancing pants, and there are mitts and hooded scarves for further accessorizion. Also a good place for all the adornments: belts of mirrors and draping chains, spiky cuffs, flowered tiaras and fascinators and metal tassels to secure into the hair, and lots of great big jingling bits.

Birch Place Shop

lilah wild — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 18:50:27 +0000

Fantasy costumes that push way past Halloween-in-a-bag getups into the realms of maximum frill. Trans and plus-size friendly, the designs are an explosion of lolita/french maid/cosplay ruffles – this is a great place for packing on some serious petticoat volume – with some more grownup occupational attire in PVC flight attendant dresses, boss-lady puff-sleeve blouses, military caps, and satin nurse masks. The lingerie is just as frothy, and accessories include tulle hair flowers, heels, wigs, and little lacy bags to match the outfits.

Altered States

lilah wild — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 20:37:09 +0000

Dreadlock dressers from the UK, who have brought their haircare products online. Divided between Knotty Boy and Dreadhead, the goods include shampoos and conditioners, fragrance sprays, tea treatments, waxes, combs, and the very thoughtful inclusion of a scalp massager. As far as adornments, there are tams and wraps, cuffs and beads to pop onto the locks, Directions hair dye to turn everything pillarbox red, and the scrunchies at this joint come outfitted with felt bobble tentacles.

Audrey K

lilah wild — Tue, 25 May 2010 16:07:50 +0000

Retro fashion heavy on the wiggle, with a bit of swing and some contemporary designs as well. A great source for dramatic body-conscious silhouettes that play well with both the modern and yesteryear accessories offered in the handbag and jewelry sections. They also carry bath and body goods from Lollia, Tokyo Milk, and Dolce Mia, scented candles from Voluspa, oversized sunglasses, and mini hats for cocktail hour.

Geek Soap

lilah wild — Mon, 24 May 2010 20:02:02 +0000

Handmade soap inspired by video games, SF characters, and The Internets, where one can purchase bars shaped like 20-sided die, social networking icons, keyboard commands, and other vegan-friendly dollops of nerdish delight. Custom is welcome in colors and fragrances, including scent-free soaps for sensitive schnozzes. Thanks, Miko!

Body Modification Ezine Shop

lilah wild — Tue, 18 May 2010 16:21:16 +0000

The retail offshoot of a long-running body art site, a catalog that feels chosen on the basis of all the good – and bad – designs they must have seen over the years. Glass, mother of pearl, brass, wood, stainless steel, stone, and silicone, with an emphasis on clean craftsmanship whether in basics or spiralling off into ornate pieces. Also, piercing supplies and sensory toys.

Mekanikal Angel

lilah wild — Thu, 13 May 2010 23:19:38 +0000

Dreadfalls that turn cyber in a most unexpected direction: the past. Lightweight chainmail joins plastic lacing and rubber tubing as a fake-hair material of choice, orderable in fierce straight metal or woven with more industrial elements. The materials page offers a good range of color accents, and custom is very welcome.

Annabelle’s Wigs

lilah wild — Thu, 13 May 2010 01:10:09 +0000

A catalog of hairpieces that fall on the more naturalish side of things, presenting 20’s curls, flipped highlights, and Godiva-length locks with a few deviations into color, for those occasions where that inverted bob *must* frame the face in cherry red.

TattooBrite

lilah wild — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 17:25:18 +0000

This “cosmeceutical” tattoo aftercare product purports to brighten the colors of subdermal ink while protecting against long-term fading. The SPF 20 certainly doesn’t hurt against the damage of sunlight, and the two formulas include a gentler p.h. for sensitive skin and, ahem, delicate areas. While I haven’t personally tried this product, it sounds like a decent possibility for skin art that’s gone dull, especially when the price tag isn’t too bad for giving it a trial run.

Hawleywood’s

lilah wild — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 21:00:15 +0000

This tiny chain revives the barbershop atmosphere of the 40’s, offering straight razor shaves and “the cleanest haircut in Southern California.” For those too far away to get their pomps, puffs, boogies, or waterfalls maintained at the source, their hair goods can be bought over the ‘net – the pomade comes in a convenient bulk size, and the aftershave looks like a choice retro scent for the dudes. Thanks, Andrew!

Poison Candy Fashion

lilah wild — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 20:00:26 +0000

Pinup dresses featuring tumbling dice, sugar skulls, and old-school tattoo flash, with a nod to the cards of Alice in Wonderland. The rest of the catalog is a little of this, a little of that, in tops, skirts, hair flowers, and bags, and guardians of small dogs will find a section of shirts made to coordinate to the vampage for a picture-perfect walk in the park.