Trekkie Girl

I saw Star Trek Into Darkness last week and it reminded me of a post I was meaning to make on here about another of my little fantasies and cosplay ideas.

Last year at a sci-fi convention I was in a quandry about what to wear on costume night. At the time I was kind of annoyed that everyone thought I would be dressing in drag which, plus my indecision, meant I didn't wear any kind of costume that night. For some reason though my regular clothes ended up looking a bit like Buffy season one Xander Harris but that's by the by. I ended up talking to a friend who was dressed in a gold Star Trek mini-dress with tights and boots (I think it's a Captain's look right?). This really caught my eye and through our conversation I ended up suggesting rather jokingly that we might swap clothes. Now this is where the TG story and real life would branch in separate directions as she said no.

Ever since then I've been thinking about dressing up like that although I'm not likely to have an occasion many time soon. Now, I'm not really a big fan of Trek. I don't dislike it but it's just something I never got into although I have seen a handful of episodes and the movies however it's this idea that also intrigues me. As readers know, I love personality changes and what could be better than getting jacked in to a new fandom. I remember I roleplayed this idea briefly a few years back. As a result of this idea I created the below caption.

Trekkie Girl (2012) for Kara Elle

After this I also set an offer up on the Haven to make me a Trekkie girl while the Star Trek London convention was on and being attended by many of my friends. I suppose an idea like this also goes into personality changes, not just looking like someone else but becoming someone else and a fan of something you're not is a fun idea whether it's a sci-fi geek, reality TV addict etc. I remember once hearing two girls at a reception desk talking about a convention in a hotel I was attending at the time saying that they don't understand fans. At the time I wondered what they must be a fan of. Sure, not everyone dresses up and goes to conventions for various shows but there must be something you really like. I might add that these two had been clothes shopping and were laden down with bags. So what's their poison? What soap or TV programme can they not live without? What movie do they come back to? Is there a certain designer or brand that floats their boat? I refuse to believe that they have nothing at all like that in their lives and if they haven't then there must be something wrong. Everyone is passionate about something, in different levels of course. You can still watch EastEnders religiously but it doesn't mean you want to dress up like Pat Butcher and hang around in a hotel with other fans.

Mmm but that mini dress though. I was having much the same thoughts when I saw Alice Eve in that blue dress in the new movie. Perhaps I'll get the chance one day of course I better watch a few more episodes first to try and appear knowledgeable and truly get into the role.

Couple Clothes Swap

I've just come across this wonderful website. As you know, clothes swapping is a hot idea for me and this Canadian photographer, Hana Pesut, has taken a series of photographs of couples for a project named Switcheroo. One before and one after, the after shot has them with switched clothes in the same location and with the same pose.

Hana Pesut - Clothes Swapping Couples

Hana Pesut's Blog

Here's an example:

Nice moustache, dear

Fashionista #5

Ok so, I totally didn't plan on doing another one of these quite so soon and I know that y'all must be wanting to hear a bit more about some of my experiences but I just wanted to put something up about how cute Clara was looking in tonight's Doctor Who wearing her red dress.

Clara undertakes the Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS

It reminds me a bit of a red Chinese style dress my sister wore back when they were in fashion in the late 1990s but this is just so cute. I love the pattern and the black colour. The 1940s tea dress look is coming back in and I could also compare it to the sweet Lolita look. Clara's style is very different to Amy's and is very modern. Mmm I would love to wear something like that.

Would you fancy wearing a doily pinched from your mum's table or the side of the sofa? Well it seems that doily, or crocheted, dresses are becoming quite popular now. 

I'm sorry Mum, I'll give it back after my date

Again, this looks like something from 1940s/1950s and with the recession still on it's part of the whole make do and mend attitude we have these days. Charity shops are flourishing and we are being encouraged to use them and recycle our old clothes. They don't have to be white either, coloured doily dresses and skirts are coming in. 

Along with fur hats, washer woman style headscarves are also making a return.

Can I do you now, sir?

These also fit a more vintage look and it's not just this style with 1950s style scarves which tie around the hair and drape over the shoulder and bigger scarves which cover the head. Another touch of the hippie 1970s look.

Ciao for now!

Fashionista #4

Ok, so when I write these try and imagine a Posh Spice kind of vibe with me wearing a tight black dress, large sunglasses and big black handbag.

I blame The Killing. Sarah Lund has made chunky knitwear fashionable again for the first time since the 1980s. Not just as a fashion item too but that kind of design has been used for labels and t-shirts .

Sarah Lund celebrating The Killing's success

Stripes are in at the moment especially stripey leggings. One girl on a Gok Wan show called them her "Beetlejuice Pants" which is a very fitting title.

Doing it Zebra style

Striped T-shirts are also fashionable now. It appears it's in to look like a French stereotype. 

'Allo 'Allo there

Back to trousers and disco pants are coming back in. I started seeing these stretchy black leggings a month or so ago and they seem to be popular. At least they definitely keep out the cold weather. 

A different (and more reserved) disco diva

Staying with black, pleated leather mini skirts are becoming popular too. Very nice. 

Leather minis FTW

Back up to the head now and if we're short of money it seems we just want to look rich with lots of faux fur coats and hast about plus the fur hat ring.Leaving the top of the head exposed seems like an odd idea but it must be warm as there are plenty about. 

Warm your head with a furry hat ring

Also, if we're not trying to look rich then we go right out into the woods and look as if we've killed our own hats as having a wolf on your noggin is getting to be popular. 

Gorgeous like the wolf

Doctor Who started up again recently and I'm loving new girl Clara's look already. I especially love the publicity picture below of actress Jenna Louise Coleman. Such a cute dress with lovely bows! 

Jenna-Louise Coleman in a rare visit to Earth, 2013.

And finally, two current fashion items (well perhaps more last year) that I really dislike: The Onesie

Onesie is enough

I get why people like this but I think the overgrown toddler look. 

The second item is these boots: 

Das knee high boots

Now, I have nothing against knee high boots, I used to dream about having to wear a pair when I was in my late teens but I think it's just the scoop at the top which turns me off them. 

That's all for now! 

Ciao!

Evie

Some of you may have noticed but the TG Backburner has been taken down recently and Evie's profile has vanished. I've known her for about 3 years since I first joined Rachel's Haven and we have been frequent capping partners. I know she's had black moods before but usually she just stops capping for a bit. This seems too extreme so I hope she's OK.

We've capped each other so many times and I love her work. She has a vast back catalogue. Being two Brits we also traded Chav caps which was always fun and she also gave me my favourite caption to date : Wear Down.

Babe, if you want to talk I'm here. Hope to hear from you again soon and I hope you're doing well.  

Pink Library #2: Developing An Addiction

There's still a lot I want to talk about but I can never seem to find the time or I just fear I'll be repeating the same old rants about my lack of a love life and general social skills so here's another Pink Library story and one that I've been enjoying recently.

Developing an Addiction by Trish

I've mentioned before the idea of being turned into a smoker and this continues that as a young man gets addicted to smoking but not just that - it's a very feminine brand which is smoked by the older lady. Now I've always loved a kind of specific transformation, turning into a specific person rather than a type. Say for example being turned by a bimbo girl called Staci into someone jut like her with her mannerisms, language and such rather than A.N. Other Bimbo. Not that I'm against that, you understand. It's all good. I remember when I frequented a chat room years I used to love going back out and coming back in as someone's twin. Dressed just like them and being asked to be 'trained' to be like them.

In this tale, the young man is being taught by Betty to be just like her. The phrase "lamb dressed as mutton" is wonderfully applied here. The mention of Arkwright's store also conjures up a particular image. I'm not sure I like the idea of him becoming Jean's 'wife' but overall this is a wonderful and well written story.

Back From Con

Hey everyone

I spent the past weekend at a convention and to be honest I'm a little down about it for reasons that I won't really go into here. I did dress as Amy Pond once more but it didn't seem to go down as well as the last time although at least I had the correct hoodie and a new wig albeit one that was browner than expected. I was a bit nervous although I did receive some encouragement from friends.

I guess I was expecting a bit more attention than I got. One guy thought, because I had a black shirt underneath, that it was a Star Trek uniform (that's actually a whole other blog) and I was expecting at least one wag to tell me I was in the wrong toilets whenever I heeded a call of nature. I tried out an Amy scowl in a few photos though. Some really impressive cosplay on as always. I guess one thing that irked me was talking to a friend of mine who saw it as more of a drag act than a crossplay even though I don't wear falsies and make-up. He's also someone who's seen me do this sort of thing many times and again it bothers me that people always expect me to dress in female clothes when dressing up. I don't know if I'll ever wear this costume again although I would like to especially since I've got it right now. Still, plenty more looks I can try out although the next con I attend may (I haven't signed up yet) be one attended by Karen Gillan herself.