I turn to her and say: Don't switch the blade on the guy in shades

[We are now resuming our regularly scheduled programming. We offer our apologies, but Kat's brain was overloaded with an overdose of the religious sort and thus required a rewiring of the system]

So, I've been on a bit of a geek trip lately. I don't know why this seems significant to me, considering I'm a geek most of the time (not the D&D playing, LARP-ing, comic book fanatic type, more of the Invader Zim-loving, Time Warp dancing, zydrate addict type), but lately my obsessions have been making their prescence known in my wardrobe...

I rarely shop online, but lately I've been considering blowing some of my hard-earned paycheck on a few choice geek chic items...

- I don't know when my obsession with Fight Club started, but give me a movie with Edward Norton, Brad Pitt and Helena Bonham Carter as a total psycho ( not to mention Meat Loaf) and I'll likely say "More please"... That's why I'm in need of this shirt (http://www.bustedtees.com/imbreakingthefirstruleoffightclub) from Busted Tees, because everyone knows that the first rule of fight club is so important, it has to be said twice...

- Now I'm not a total Twilight hater, but I'm also of the generation that remembers when vampires burst into flame upon exposure to sunlight (younger readers take note: Vampires are highly flammable. Push them into direct sunlight and they will go up like a gasoline-soaked match. Also, they have nice little pointy things called fangs... and for the love of God, they do not sparkle!), so this shirt (http://www.jinx.com/women/shirts/geek/buffy_staked_edward_womens.html?cs=6&csd=1494) from J!NX tees demonstrates quite nicely how Twilight would've ended if it had been written by Joss Whedon, say around 1998 [Sidebar: I'm also considering making my own tee but substituting the Brothers Winchester for Buffy... an equally good solution to the sparkly vampire problem in Forks, Washington]

- For a child raised on Star Wars and classic Brothers Grimm (none of this namby-pamby Disneyfication for me), any movie that combines elements of the future with elements of the grotesque will usually appeal to me. Thus, Repo! the Genetic Opera is definitely my kind of movie (disregarding Paris Hilton of course) and since the Graverobber is my favorite character (throw goth make-up on a passibly attractive guy and suddenly... hello tall, dark and salty), I contemplating this shirt (http://www.cafepress.ca/repoopera.362858625) from the official Repo! site, to warn others of the dangers of Graverobbing... before its too late

- And finally, capping off Kat's list of geeky things she needs this year, we have Gir flats (we still don't know what the G stands for) and a Watchmen lunch box (Like the Incredibles, but waaay darker and written by Alan Moore, he of the god-like insanity... um, hells yes). Both are at Hot Topic, which means I might be having to maneuver around this pesky I-am-Canadian thing (they'll ship to Alaska, but not Canada... okaayy) or trolling my local comic book shops for something similar.

So now that you know about my geek loves (or at least have scratched the surface of them), what are yours? Does Batman send your little heart into a tailspin or perhaps you dream of finding the perfect Mr. Spock tee one day?

No candy in your till, No cutie left to thrill, You're alone on a Tuesday

So... we begin again with part deux of Kat's (Impromptu) Rules of Fashion. I can't promise how far I'll get today, because I'm very tired at the moment and feeling wholly uninspired (as evidenced by my wardrobe - black rose tee, dress jeans, navy cardigan. Working in an office is stifling my creative self)

So, rule #4 - Don't buy cheap. Now I'm not a person with a whole lot of spare cash rolling around, so when I say, don't buy cheap, I don't mean go out and plop down a few grand on a LV bag when all you need is a backpack. Instead, I think one should consider ones purchases and make sure they are going to last for a fair while. This is one of my cardinal crimes of fashion and one that I am trying to break my habit of - instead of spending say twenty dollars on one nice shirt, I'll use the same twenty to buy two shirts of lesser quality, which will inevitably be faded/falling apart within six months time. Bad choice and the reason why I have a full drawer of t-shirts at home that I barely ever wear. Even if its not that expensive, paying a little more for something usually guarantees better quality (unless we're talking about H&M... my issues with them to be disclosed later). I have two pairs of skinny jeans that I bought for sixty dollars each and despite almost daily wear, two years later they still look good. So listen to darling Kat when she says: Pay that little extra more and you'll almost always be guaranteed better quality.

Rule #5: Don't be afraid to accessorize - This is one of the other things that I used to do that I've been missing lately. When I was younger (okay, up until about a year and a half ago) I used to wear stacks of rubber-band bracelets (some of you might remember them as 'sex' bracelets) almost up to my right elbow in the brightest neon shades and often paired them with my thin silver bangles from Paris. I usually accompanied these with several big rings, including my Celtic ring from a charity bazaar on my right index finger, pentagram ring on my thumb and massive claw ring (handmade and from Paris) on the opposite hand. Even if I was just wearing jeans and a sweater, I always felt that my crazy jewelry dressed it up a little. Unfortunately since then the jewelry has dwindled down to eight rubber-band bracelets (I've been wearing them since grade seven, so they're virtually impossible to get off) and then two bracelets from my residence (one handmade, in the res' colors (red, yellow and green) and one rubber bracelet (like the Livestrong bracelets) with the res logo and name). I never wear earrings except for the hoops in my industrial piercing and although I have several gorgeous necklaces, they only get pulled out for special occasions. So, rule #5 is a modification of Coco Chanel's classic fashion order 'Before you leave, look in the mirror and remove one item' but instead mine is to look in the mirror and add one item, be it a necklace, a bracelet or another accessory.

That's all for today, folks as my brain is throwing out error messages when I attempt to process anymore thoughts. But I'm open to suggestions as to what you dear imaginary readers think should be included in my impromptu fashion rules (which would effectively ruin the impromptu nature of these posts, but who really cares?)

One of these kids is not like the other, one of these kids is dead!

(Ten points and a cookie to whoever can guess where the title comes from)

Starting a little experiment today. I'm making up my own fashion rules and my goal is to have worked them all into my life and fashion sense by the end of the summer.

So, presenting to you:

Kat's (impromptu) rules of Fashion:

1) Be original - This one is kinda cliche, but also kinda tough. However, since I am the owner of one of the most basic wardrobes ever to come into existence, I feel as if this applies wholly to me. It's tough, because there are only so many things you can do to be different, before you're prancing down the street in a Barbie tiara, tutu and wings (if you've ever done this, you are officially my new hero) - and this is not an extreme I could ever go to (being a member of a slightly outrageous faculty, but fairly conservative school). So I need to find ways to differentiate myself from the crowd, but in ways that feel right to me (case in point: My school's T-Fox run last year... everyone else was in some form of athletic wear, while my friend and I completed the 5 k walk in skinny jeans and Converses. JnC for life!)

2) Be daring- Again applying to what we now refer to as the world's most drab wardrobe (aka twmdw). Looking back on pictures of myself from grade 7 to grade 9, when I had hair ranging in colors from purple to black to blonde to crayola red and happily wore vintage suit bottoms with my dad's old sweatshirts and platform sparkly red Sketchers, I have to wonder what happened. When did I ditch my peasent skirts and funky boots for sneakers and hoodies? So this rule is about breaking fashion rules. If people say long cardigans, I will wear cropped ones. If fashion dictates neutrals for fall, I will continue to wear my turqoise pants, etc etc. I also want to play with styles and cuts... this stemming from my general hatred of my own skin and refusal to wear anything lower than the highest of scoop-neck shirts. So many pretty v-neck shirts, so much denial for Kat.

3) Don't dress schlubby or you'll feel schlubby - So I'm breaking one of my previous cardinal rules of fashion here. I normally cannot stand people who wear leggings as pants - not with tunic tops, not with sweaters and especially not with normal t-shirts. Yet I am inexplicably drawn to them. I don't know why, but I am (especially these: http://www.americanapparel.com/rsac306.html?c=Boa%20Silver in Lame Black). I've made the rule for myself though that should I buy a pair of leggings, I am not allowed to wear them outside of my house/residence without putting on a skirt or shorts or something overtop, because otherwise I know I will feel like a slob for the whole day. I just feel like if I get dressed in my lounging clothes (pajamas, sweatpants, leggings, etc) and try to do anything outside in them, I feel like I'm only half-dressed. No idea why, just do. And this always impacts whatever I'm doing to the point where I feel so lethargic that I just can't do anything anymore. So no more rolling out of bed and rushing out the door for me. Outfits must be planned out and fully put together - and involve at least one cute accessory.

This is all for today, cheries, but look for part deux tommorow (I think... this impromptu stuff doesn't come easily, you know?)

Ta ta for now,
Kat

Didn't hear your wicked words every day

So, not a fashion post, but bear with me...

When I was younger, I never used to believe in the idea of karma. For those of you who need a refresher, karma "is the concept of "action" or "deed" in Indian religions understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect (i.e., the cycle called saṃsāra) originating in ancient India and treated in Hindu, Jain, Sikh and Buddhist philosophies" (Wikipedia). But today, I got news of one of the biggest karmic bitchslaps to happen to someone I know and I think its renewed my faith in causality.

As a lot of stories start, there's a guy. I won't call him a friend, because even though I know him pretty well, I don't like him... I have no idea why, but I don't, so let's just put him in the realm of things that Kat inexplicably doesn't like, alongside tomatoes and rollercoasters. Anyways, this guy is one of those people who's kinda like bubblegum. Fun, sugary and bubbly when you first meet him, but eventually he leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Maybe its his penchant for gossip and spreading rumors, maybe its because he can never do anything for himself, but for whatever reason, when you get to know him really well, you stop liking him so much.

Anywhoo, said guy decided to run for president of my residence last year. Now as some of you might have guessed, I didn't vote for him... not because I didn't like him (I know, I know insert massive eyeroll here) but rather because a friend of mine was also running and I wanted to support him. Still, due to his personable nature, said guy won. I wasn't pleased but I was determined not to be bitter about it. Still, I couldn't help feeling that this wasn't going to end well.

Now, I'm what they call a 'soph' at my school... a weird name for what basically amounts to a student volunteer who lives in residence with the first years and helps them make the change from high school to university (this might sound like a Don or an RA, but believe it or not, we have those too). One of my best friends was supposed to be on the soph team for this year with me, but unfortunately due to a less than well-thought-out incident this year, she didn't make it on. Her fault yes, but I still wasn't happy about it. A few months later, the team is at our bonding-weekend-camp out thingy and said guy (Mr. President) begins spreading some nasty rumors about my friend through a discussion on good and bad soph behviour. Apparently, according to another older friend, these rumors weren't exactly new either. He'd been telling people for months, that my friend was a dealer and a pothead who got busted selling to her frosh... something she would never ever do.

So, karma time... Mr. President didn't make our soph team. In fact, Mr. Pres isn't even returning to school. See, he had this little thing where he hated the faculty he was in, but instead of telling his parents this, he just chose to flunk out of his classes. Normally this would've meant he couldn't make the team last year, but our head soph basically begged for him to be allowed on and so he was. Sadly (okay not), the rules couldn't be bent for Mr. Pres this year and so things have gotten so bad that he's not even allowed to come back to school, let alone live in residence.
Just goes to show that sometimes, maybe karma does work.

(Now to put the soap box away and return to our regularly scheduled programming)

We passed upon the stairs, we spoke of was and when

So I'm in love... if falling in love with the perfect accessory is possible.
While helping sort out the thrift shop last week, I found the most darling vintage powder compact - it's square and gold, with an inlaid mother of pearl mosaic lid and a secret cache that used to store face powder. Although it's a little dinged up in places and the powder is long gone, I love to flip open the little lid and smell the sweet but dusty scent that remains (like dried roses) and imagine the places this little compact went.
I don't know why small things like this intrigue me so much - I've held a similar fascination with an evening bag that's still for sale at the store; black and embroidered, not much bigger than a wallet, but with the sweetest little silver lighter attached on a chain - but I love my little vintage pieces and their secret stories...

Five long years I thought you were my man, But I found out I'm just a link in your chain

Chain Gang necklace - Fred Flare

So non sequitur story here...
Two years ago, I got a job working at Ontario Place, which for those of you not in the know, is one of the worlds lamest kids theme parks. I had the amazing position of 'Ride Photo Operator' which basically meant I stood around all day and sold pictures of people on the log ride, as well as the thrilling task of monitoring the pictures for any non-OP appropriate behavior (you'd be amazed at how many 25+ women thought it was funny to flash the camera). One of the biggest sellers in my booth were these little plastic keychains in neon shades of glitter that hung from miniature ball-chain loops. Being the cheap establishment that OP is, the staff in the booth had to assemble the keychains themselves, which meant we always had huge bags of ball-chains lying around, which I liked to play with whenever I got bored...

If I'd only known that I could slap a 26 dollar price tag on those crude necklaces that I fashioned and sell them at well-known stores like Fred Flare, I would've quit OP the second week I was there.

Rain and fire crossed that ocean, another mad man done struck again

I've had this incredible desire to be a gangster lately... and no, I'm not talking baggy pants, bling chains, six-pack 50 Cent type of gangster, but a real honest to goodness, roarin' twenties mobster.
I'm blaming this on the fact I went to see Public Enemies, starring my second favorite older man crush Johnny Depp (my one true love will always and forever be Tony Head... he might be old enough to be my dad, but with a voice like that, what girl could say no?). The gorgeous outfits in the film reawakened my love of all things 20's which was originally sparked on a trip across the States in grade ten, with a stop in Chicago for a "mobster" tour of the city...
It might look costumey, but I kind of want put finger waves in my hair, slick on some red lipstick and belt a trench coat over a drop-waist flapper dress... or at least procur the perfect fedora and baggy suit (I'm an equal opportunity dresser and have no issues with borrowing from guys fashions)
Is there a particular decade that inspires you, darlings? Perhaps you might adore patchwork skirts and peasant blouses (thank you Woodstock) or maybe mod dresses and white eyeshadow send that little thrill down your spine?

The Summer Sends Its Love

(or it would, if Canadian weather wasn't like that bitchy girl who was friends with you in high school... you know the type, cheery and warm one minute and then frigid and bitter the next)

Finally have some money in the bank and since I'm spending my days surrounded by clothes (benefits of being a part-time stand-in in the programs thrift shop), I fighting the urge not to go out and blow it all on clothes. The temptation is strong, but I've resisted so far save for a pair of faux gladiator sandals that I bought on the weekend (I say faux because they have rubber/stretchy band straps instead of leather ones... perfect for me, seeing as how my wide feet seem to rebel against any sandal that isn't a flip-flop). Also bought a new backpack... but I'll call it fashion since its ultra-sleek and a bright red plaid. Major upgrade from my battered old Roots backpack that I've owned for at least three years, which is ripped and dirty in lovely shades of black and dull gray.

Suitcase fashion is beginning to take a toll on me, but I'm feeling creative (and in love with neon colors at the moment... too much exposure to iCiNG by Gala Darling pour moi) so I'll be rocking my neon turquoise skinny pants with my heart surgery tee while I'm out on the town, viewing a shadowcast of the amazing Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode, 'Once More with Feeling'

Cheers darlings,
Kat