chateau bizarre: hardcore glamour & curious finds, reviewed daily » 80’s, emo & electro

The Vintage Doctor

lilah wild — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 21:11:54 +0000

The name sounds like the transformation of beautiful old dresses into reconstructed creations, but not quite. The “vintage” here is in the use of 80’s and 90’s cartoon prints – the typical grist of rave-era phat pants – for corset tops and sweet little side-cinched swing dresses. My Little Pony, Space Invaders, Gremlins, Strawberry Shortcake, and the Nightmare Before Christmas are among the motifs, with some wanderings into tattoo flash, monster movies, and Alice in Wonderland. They don’t do custom, meaning it’s all dresses and bodices for now, but you’re welcome to get them in the print of your dreams – and if you don’t see it on the site, they’re happy to help you find it.

TeeShirtsRock.com

lilah wild — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:57:38 +0000

Literally thousands of t-shirts that tilt towards the vintage-inspired, although it’s possible to get the Batman logo made over in Afflictionlike tangles, if that’s your thing. Sections include 80’s and 90’s pop culture, band shirts which make sure not to stint on the metal, fantasy and skull images (which is also where they put all the tattoo designs), superheroes, and video games which cover everything from vintage Atari to chat acronyms. Lots of stuff for kids, too, and some of the graphics pop up on hoodies as well.

Purrfect Pineapples

lilah wild — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:11:11 +0000

Handmade lingerie that throws 80’s/emo prints onto pinup staples. Rufflebutt panties, lacy garters, triangle bras, and waist cinchers in leopard print, diamonds, hearts, skulls, and mesh solids, liberally trimmed with bows and lace and retrofemme frill. The hair clips are full of cupcakes and ice cream cones, and there’s a special section for veg-themed skivvies.

Killer Kitty

lilah wild — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:20:59 +0000

Baggy-tee revamps split between 80’s emo brightness and grindhouse cinema. This is the kind of place you can find both bright little apple hoodies and Blood Feast lounge pants, where pink polkadotted ruffle skirts exist peacefully beside Suspiria halter tops, and striped can-can drawstring purses share the page with Misfits hobo bags. Custom welcome.

Coco Career

lilah wild — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:26:06 +0000

A UK boutique specializing in emerging designers of the bold and conceptual variety, where one can find velvet rompers, “braided” trousers, plaid jumpsuits, art tees, and other mod-to-modern flauntables among party dresses, separates, swimsuits, and lingerie. The accessories section gets kitschy with 80’s piano-key belts and poofy unicorn necklaces, also going retro in a wide selection of flapper headbands and fluffy hairpieces. Commissions are possible for certain pieces, contact for more info.

Cobweb Clothing

lilah wild — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:37:23 +0000

A catalog that gets right to the gothic point, eschewing the neutrals in favor of mesh, leopard print, fishnet, cut-outs, tie dye, the occasional paisley, and good old solid black. Versatile for layering and snazzing up a plain outfit by sheathing the limbs in a wild pattern, through tops long and shortsleeved, stockings, and fingerless gloves.

Shrinking Violet

lilah wild — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:18:13 +0000

A fifties-eighties-zombie-punk rock’n'roll riot. Skeleton skinny jeans, pop art longsleevers and cocktail cardigans, flowered aprons, velvet frock coats, skirted swimsuits, page after page of pinup dresses in prints both sweet and psychotic. The bags feature dead girl gravestones and glittery brass knuckles, there are jewels and hair things from Kreepsville 666, and don’t miss the shoe section, which splatters neon animal prints onto everything from maryjanes to winklepickers.

CutesyGirl

lilah wild — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:51:00 +0000

An enormous array of skimpy clubwear and some actual practical stuff too, tunic turtlenecks among the plunging necklines and metallic minidresses. Leggings, rompers, pleather motorcycle jackets, denim skinnies and flares, plenty of separates to play with, a ton of costume jewelry, 20 pages of Halloween costumes, and what looks to be Leg Avenue’s entire catalog. Particularly good for scrunchy ankle boots and platform pumps and all the other fun 80’s-esque styles in materials that are not leather.

Geek Bouteek

lilah wild — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:47:00 +0000

Nerd pride splashing internet shorthand, pixellated hearts, and 20-sided die across tees for men and women. Available both traditionally baggy and babydolled, the shirts flaunt computer prowess along with bits of math and Latin and the occasional ninja, with 80’s arcade culture throwing in a little nostalgia.

80’s Purple

lilah wild — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 01:13:00 +0000

With a name like that, one shouldn’t be surprised there’s an entire section devoted to leggings. Draping tanks, plaid bubble skirts, oversized sunglasses, scrunch boots, superlong earrings, Patrick Nagel tees, chain-draped bowties, glitter bikinis, houndstooth fedoras, hobo bags, gigantic cocktail rings, thick cincher belts, the all-important “layering basics,” everything updated for seamless blending with modern wardrobes. And a decent-sized men’s section!

3rd & 56th Street Clothing

lilah wild — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 15:49:00 +0000

A goth-rockabilly-emo-punk store that carries about thirty brands’ worth of flamboyant clothing: Criminal Damage, Raven, Jist, Hell Bunny, Disturbia, Poizen Industries, Loungefly, Sourpuss, Gothic Lolita Punk, Iron Fist, Spiral, Phaze, Queen of Darkness, and more, with all the accessory necessaries and kitschy jewelry to match. Screaming color provided by Stargazer, Medusa, Directions, and Manic Panic.

The Alley Chicago

lilah wild — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:45:00 +0000

A Midwest subcultural shop that has been around since 1971, updating their punk and metal stock with the more recent waves of retro and emo. Clothing from Switchblade Stiletto, Lucky Kat and Evil Kitty, leather jackets, a little latex fashion, Marche Noir jewelry, Demonia boots, Special Effects hair dye, themed chalices, biker pins, an utter avalanche of accessories, and to top it all off, sensual playthings.

Lena Quist

lilah wild — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 10:54:00 +0000

A sparkle-studded, Iron Maiden-fonted dip into 80’s pop metal fash in all its fabulous Aqua Net glory. Cutaway pants, supertight minidresses, glam rock lightning bolts streaking down the cleavage and ‘tocks, corset-laced catsuits, spandex stockings, lots of metallic fabrics, and an unabashed embrace of hot pink leggings. Jewelry is on the way.