Archive for October, 2011

Dr. Ray D. Ayshun & Eyeleen

Story by: Dan Barrett

 

That he was once a doctor of a stature which could be considered noble is arguable. If you were somehow fortunate enough to find a past colleague, they surely would deny the knowledge of acquaintanceship now. For the (perhaps we can say) ‘good’ doctor shall only be known for his madness and perseverance in the arcane. He was testing something in the evenings, when he was alone beyond the watchful eye of peers, and the thing backfired on him. Some kind of radiation attached itself to his skin and melted it from the inside out. Unfortunately the dear doctor was not lucky enough to expire during the ordeal, but instead was forced to watch himself become rather mutated and corrupted by the amorphous foulness seeping onto his flesh. After the incident he came unhinged, or perhaps simply exhibited the full breadth of an inherent lunacy. Loathing himself, he retreated to a crumbling estate on the edge of the world where he feverishly stalks the countryside.

 

 

Eyeleen

 

So disgusted was she by the foulness that had overtaken her brother, she could no longer bear to look at his abhorrent, charred countenance. But the vision was of so hideous a degree it had become absolutely etched into the very retina which bore her sight; the only lasting solution was to destroy them completely. The act achieved, covered in molten blood and filth, she fell deep into an abyss of pain and torment. The grotesque objects of disdain had been removed, but the grave reward was to be trapped in a boundless void of formless horror. She clutches at the detested eyeballs, trying to find a way to rend them from this plane and erase all the horrors they have seen.

 

Matthew 5:29 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

 

 

Inspiration List: Twisted Porcelain Dolls by Jessica Harrison, St. Lucy (Christian martyrdom makes Hostel look like The Little Mermaid), Bill’s desire to shoot with Michael since “he’d make an awesome psycho”, the “Lyme Disease House of Walpack” and nonmedical use of antique wheelchairs.

 

The REAL Tortured Souls of New Jersey.

 

… The house is free, but the ghosts are extra.

 

The mood is that of antique-tinged insanity as fashion and violence march hand-in-hand by the way of bandages steeped in crimson fluid, colorways cast in bloody tones and truly eye-popping accessories.

 

 

• Much like a supremely elegant funeral, the #49-237 Blacklist Ruffle Dress Shirt and the #38-532 Duchess de Sade II Danse Macabre Victorian Mourning Skirt, both seen here in the blood colorway, bestow somber overtones upon the wearer, creating tension and discomfort while remaining well within the parameters of propriety.
• Disembodied eyeballs and soiled gauze up the ante on creepy.
• A heart cameo corset bridges the gap between structured and insane.

 

 

• Playing doctor is no fun in a coat that isn’t generously punctuated by sanguine splatter.
• In this “rivet rendition of Phantom of the Opera”, the most instantly recognizable standby of industrial culture sits perched upon the putrefied physician’s shoulders. Faithfully shielding his disfigured features from prying eyes (though they sure as hell won’t be his sister’s). And yes, ladies he IS single.
• Dr. Ray D. Ayshun’s makeup was applied using the technique previously seen in Blood Harvest and Springtime Sacrifice.

 

Note: Christian martyrs make some of the goriest Halloween costumes. Just sayin’.

 

Special thanks to: LA Mike (seen here in the role of Dr. Ray D. Ayshun) for laying on the most disgusting mattress known to man and falling through a couch.

 

Credits

Photographer: Bill Tracy Photography

Models

Dr. Ray D.Ayshun: LA Mike

Eyeleen:Vanity Kills

Location:Walpack, NJ

<3

Vanity Kills

Phew! I don’t know about you, but October has been a crazy month for me. I’ve travelled across New Zealand and back – twice, slept for four days in a Viking tent, interviewing metal bands, running Metal Guitar Week on my blog, being interviewed on Rock n Roll bride, planned my Halloween costume, ran a photo shoot and worked on the launch for my new heavy metal webcomic – Corpsepaintkitty.com!

With all this going on, the only thing keeping me sane is the constant pounding of heavy metal in my ears. Here are some of the albums that are making me happy right now.

 

The Physicists – Observation

This unusual Finnish outfit combine death metal, lyrics about mad scientists and mathematics gone awry, and electronic bleeps and bloops to create a crazy sound described only as “Mathdeathboogie”. Observation is catchy as hell and one of the most original metal albums released this year.

The Universe Divide – Dust Settles on the Odontophobes

Instrumental albums are always a bitch to pull off – they either end up drawn-out and boring, or overblown exercises in guitar virtuosity. Dust Settles on the Odontophobes is neither – it’s a piece of poetic, progressive mastery that draws you in right from the first note.

Oak Pantheon – The Void (EP)

A killer debut EP from one of the most sophisticated melodic black metal bands I’ve heard in a long time. Oak Pantheon use keyboard and acoustic guitar sections to create a masterpiece of atmospheric BM. Fans of Agalloch will dig this album.

Opeth – Heritage

If you fell in love with Opeth’s beautiful, haunting progressive death metal and lead singer Mikael Akerfeldt’s mix of clean vocals and growls, Heritage may come as a bit of a surprise. On this album Opeth have done away with the harsh vocals and much of the death metal and created a purely progressive rock odyssey. Fans of porcupine tree and Jethro Tull will find much to enjoy here.

Pain – You Only Live Twice

Germany’s answer to nu-metal bands like Disturbed, this project of Hypocricy’s Peter Tägtgren kicks out another album of punchy riffs and hard rock groove mixed with 80s electronica and techno.

Van Canto – Break the Silence

Van Canto started off as a metal covers band with a difference – they sing acapella (unaccompanied by instruments). That means every riff, every solo, every bass line is done for the five vocalists. What started off as a bit of a joke has now turned into four studio albums and headlining shows across Europe. Van Canto’s forth album, Break the Silence, is a great mix of covers (Sabaton, Manowar, Running Wild) and originals from the fun German band.

What are you listening to right now?

Who am I? I’m Steff. Born in New Zealand, raised on a steady diet of metal and out-of-print archaeology books, I’m now a freelance writer, accessible formats producer, and full-time iron maiden.

You can keep up to date with all the metal madness at my Steff Metal blog. I update 4 times a week with reviews, articles, advice and silliness about living the metal lifestyle. And, for alternative biz owners, I run a creative business community for the dark side at Grymm & Epic.

Keep it brutal \m/

Steff

Would you like to win a $150 Lip Service Gift Certificate? Yep, thought you might. Want to be in a Lip Service promotional campaign, too?

 

It’s easier than you think. You just have to rock your Lippy for Halloween.

 

We’re having a new Lip Service photo contest! Just use a Lippy style from the 2011 collection as the featured piece of your costume, take a badass photo (or three), and send it to us with a little info. That’s it!

 

We’ll select two finalists and a winner. The winner will receive a Lip Service Gift Certificate for $150, as well as have their photo used in a Lip service promotional ad campaign. Finalists will be posted here in the webzine, as well as in an album on our Facebook page (and maybe more … ).

 

Finalist photos will be posted by @LipServiceCult on Twitter November 4th, each with a distinct hashtag. The hashtag with the most unique retweets will be named the Fan Favorite and receive a $50 Lip Service Gift Certificate.

 

Here are the details:

• Costume must prominently include a 2011 Lip Service style to be eligible.  Details re: eligible groups/styles are below.
• Photos must be at least 500 pixels or no more than 1500 pixels on the largest side (No high resolution images, please!)
• Only one entry per person please. Up to three photos may be submitted per entry. Each photo may only be submitted once, so no duplicate entries, please.
• Entries must be sent to webzine@lip-service.com between October 26, 2011 and November 2, 2011 to be eligible.
• All entries must include the following:

1. Entrant’s name
2. entrant’s email address
3. entrant’s location (city + state/country)
4. 2011 style featured
5. one to three photos (which adhere to size requirements listed above)

• Two Finalists plus a Winner (chosen by Lip Service) will receive
• Winner will receive a $150 Lip Service Gift Certificate to be used for purchases on lip-service.com
• Finalists’ photos will be posted on Twitter by Lip Service, with a distinct hashtag given to each photo/finalist. The finalist whose hashtag is retweeted the most during the Fan Favorite voting period (starting Nov 4, 2011) will be named Fan Favorite and receive a $50 Lip Service Gift Certificate. Please note: the winner selected by Lip Service is not eligible to receive the Fan Favorite prize.
• Finalists and winner will selected based on costume originality and execution as well as photo quality and execution.

 

Happy Halloween, Fashion Freaks! We can’t wait to see you rocking your Lippy costumes!

 

Eligible Lippy Groups and Styles:

All groups included in the 2011 Spring, Summer, and Fall collections are eligible. Classic Lip Service groups (such as Step In Time, Patent Vinyl or Looks That Kill) will include only styles offered in the seasons listed. Should you have any questions regarding eligibility of a particular group or style, please email the webzine.

Last month, I was in Tokyo for a few TV jobs — which gave me a chance to report on Japanese Gothic parties and boutiques. The scene’s as vibrant and elegant as ever.

I was filmed for an episode of NHK Kawaii TV. The  30 min segment is about La Carmina’s world: the spooky places and people that inspire me.

I took the TV crew to Abilletage, a recently-opened Gothic vintage and handmade corset shop in Shinjuku. The NHK cameraman filmed me meeting my spooky friends, exploring the boutique and getting fitted into a corset by designer Bambi.

Abilletage is lushly decorated with thick red curtains, chandeliers and antiques. There’s also a coffee and tea section, popular with Tokyo’s Gothic ladies and gentlemen. (Order the ice chai, you won’t regret it.)

If you’re in Shinjuku, you must stop by the boutique. Address and more photos are on La Carmina blog.

After, I took NHK Kawaii TV to Baby Doll in Harajuku. I was keen to feature this Goth Fetish boutique in the program, since it’s been independently run for over 10 years. Baby Doll’s original clothing includes form-fitting outfits worn by Lady Gaga. You can pick up everything from tutus to play-torture equipment here.

Support indie stores! A Harajuku shopping trip should include Babydoll, located here. For more Gothic Lolita Punk store recommendations, check out my Tokyo shopping guide and map.

Finally, the TV crew filmed me partying all night at Midnight Mess, the longest-running Goth/Industrial/EBM event in Tokyo. The absinthe poured freely…

On stage with Yukiro, Maya and Selia. The all-night party featured Baroque Opera singing and an S&M bondage show. The Kawaii TV episode will air in January, and I’ll put up clips so you can see the Japan Goth party in action.

Where else to go for Gothic /alternative partying? Torture Garden Japan, which happens about once a year. There’s always a fashionable turnout, and tons of kink performances.

There’s also Walpurgis Night at Shinjuku Jam. The regular Goth event features live bands and music.

I love the 80s Gothic and synth tunes that Taizo spins. Lots of Siouxsie makeup to be found here.

And there’s always Decadance Bar, open almost every night and located above Christon Cafe Shinjuku. Drag queens and cyber kids congregate here to drink absinthe and dance.

For full addresses, reports and maps, please view my Tokyo alternative club guide.

What to wear on a night out in Tokyo? Believe it or not, Lip Service is popular here too! I wore a LS sailor costume during the filming of a Fuel/Discovery/National Geographic TV show.

Only a few days until Halloween… got a costume and party plans yet? I’ve got epic ones: flying to Mazatlan, Mexico for Halloween and Day of the Dead, courtesy of the tourism board. I’m hosting and arranging a travel  video for them, about the Gothic/spooky/art/culture of Mazatlan! (More info about my evil plans here.)

That means in the next column, you can look forward to firsthand Dia de los Muertos coverage. Now, off to catch my flight!

XXX LA CARMINA XXX

http://www.lacarmina.com/

Hey Lippy freaks! This is the webmistress, hijacking Chad’s creepy corner of the ‘zine because he’s busy in his evil lair, cooking up the next The Last Vegas video (starring the Queen of the Action Flicks and all-around badass chick, Sybil Danning!). You’ll see it here in the LS ‘zine on November 2nd … so kick your post-Halloween freakiness into bloody gear with Sybil and TLV (and lots of bloodshed and mayhem, along with some rock n roll that’ll kick your ass)!

I asked Chad about the video, and here’s what he had to say for himself.

“The run down of The Otherside vid is … Basically this deviant rock band is acting up in a sweet lady’s house with bad intentions … Long story short, the tables turn and she massacres TLV. Looks like our sweet lady is a brutal killer … Who knew? Hehehe!”

Checking out these stills the guys sent over, “acting up” and “massacre” are kind of an understatement. You can judge for yourself. Here’s a sneak peek at TLV’s Otherside video.

See all you ghouls and freaks November 2 …

We know lots of you Lippy Addicts are bummed as hell because you can’t make it out to the sale this weekend. So, we put together a little something special so you can still save on new Lip Service gear!

Just shop in the Lip Service webstore Saturday and Sunday and use the promo/discount code at checkout to save 15% on your order. When you get to the checkout screen, you’ll see a box marked “Promo Code”. Just type in the phrase:
HALLOWEEN2011

That’s it! You just saved 15%! Pretty f’n cool, huh?

Oh, and *psst* you might find it worth your while to pick up some 2011 styles for your Halloween costume … just sayin’ …

Here’s the fine-print:
Discount code is only effective between 12:01AM Satuday, October 22 and 11:59 Sunday, October 23 (Pacific). Code must be entered into the checkout screen at the time of order and cannot be applied retroactively.

The discount Promo code can be combined with a Lip Service gift certificate or webstore credit. Just enter the credit code into the appropriate box and add the discount code into the Promo Code box to purchase your discount order with credit.

NOW GO SHOPPING!
Happy saving!

This year, Lip Service has created even more great, affordable Halloween costumes, all ready to wear, in one easy package! Whether you choose the sultry Velvet Vamp or playful Show Stopper … go futuristic with Galaxy Girl or hearken to the never-past as a Steampunk Sweetie … they’re all good for gearing up for Halloween in über-sexy form!

Now, the guys can get in on the action, too, with their own kickass costumes by Lippy! We have gear for vampires, zombies, and horror creeps as well as dashing and debonair steampunks and pirates.

We even have some great his/hers options if you’d like to dress as a couple! Go as a pair of inmates with a his and hers straight-jacketed look. Yu can be pirates, zombies, steampunk dandies, even a bloody doctor and nurse pair!

You can get all the killer Lip Service Halloween 2011 costumes for men and women on the main Lip Service site. Enjoy!

Right about now, you might be asking yourself, “But where can I get my hands on one of these killer Lip Service Halloween Costumes in my neck of the woods?” We’ve got you covered there, too. Below is a comprehensive list of authorized Lip Service costume retailers, USA first (by state) and then International (by nation then city). At the end, we have a list of web-based shops, too.

Happy, spooky, Lippy Halloween, Fashion Freaks!

United States

Alaska:
Castle Megastore
Anchorage, AK

Castle Megastore
Fairbanks, AK

Castle Megastore
Wasilla, AK

Arizona:
Castle Megastore
Central Phoenix, AZ

Castle Megastore
Deer Valley, AZ

Castle Megastore
Mesa, AZ

Kidney Puncher
Mesa, AZ

Castle Megastore
Metro Center, AZ

Castle Megastore
Phoenix, AZ

Easley’s Fun Shop
Phoenix, AZ

Triangles
Scottsdale, AZ

Castle Megastore
Tempe, AZ

California:
A Touch of Romance
Brea, CA

A Touch of Romance
Cerritos, CA

Condom Revolution
Costa Mesa, CA

A Touch of Romance
Culver City, CA

Rainbow Network
Culver City, CA

A Pin Ups Closet
Cypress, CA

Crypto Technology
El Cajon, CA

Stella
Fresno, CA

Valentino’s
Fresno, CA

Forplay
Hollywood, CA

Halloween Gear
La Quinta, CA

Bizzy B
Los Angeles, CA

Grand Events
Modesto, CA

Lovers
Huntington Beach, CA

Condom Revolution
Long Beach, CA

A Touch of Romance
Orange, CA

Treat 4 You
Palm Springs, CA

A Touch of Romance
Riverside, CA

Evangeline’s
Sacramento, CA

Prevues
Sacramento, CA

Condom Revolution
San Clemente, CA

Buffalo Breath
San Diego, CA

Distractions
San Francisco, CA

In Jeanious
San Francisco, CA

Camouflage
Santa Cruz, CA

Cognito
Santa Cruz, CA

Nuclear Waste
San Ysidro, CA

A Touch of Romance
Tarzana, CA

Incognito
Ukiah, CA

A Touch of Romance
Westminster, CA

Colorado:
Theatrical Costumes
Boulder, CO

The Ritz
Boulder, CO

More Stuff
Ft. Lupton, CO

Florida:
White Horse
Brooksville, FL

Masquerade Costumes
Lauderhill, FL

Miami’s Vice
Miami, FL

Retail Mania
Miami, FL

Miami’s Vice 2
Miami Beach, FL

Fetish Factory
Oakland, FL

Simply Unforgettable Party
Ocala, FL

Fairvilla
Orlando, FL

Georgia:

Junkman’s Daughter
Atlanta, GA

Hawaii:
Sensually Yours
Honolulu, HI

Illinois:
Lover’s Lane
Arlington Heights, IL

Lover’s Lane
Bartlett, IL

Lover’s Lane
Carol Stream, IL

Lover’s Lane
Carpentersville, IL

Lover’s Lane
Chicago, IL

Taboo Tabou
Chicago, IL

Lover’s Lane
Downers Grove, IL

Lover’s Lane
Grayslake, IL

Lover’s Lane
Hobart, IL

Lover’s Lane
Lake Zurich, IL

Lover’s Lane
Lincolnwood, IL

Lover’s Lane
Lombard, IL

Lover’s Lane
Merritville, IL

Lover’s Lane
Naperville, IL

Lover’s Lane
North Aurora, IL

Lover’s Lane
Oak Lawn, IL

Lover’s Lane
Oak Park, IL

Lover’s Lane
Orland Park, IL

Bandy’s Festivities
Salem, IL

Lover’s Lane
Schaumburg, IL

Lover’s Lane
Shorewood, IL

Indiana:

Lover’s Lane
Carmel, IN

Lover’s Lane
Greenwood, IN

Kansas:

Party America
Topeka, KS

Louisiana:
Wicked Orleans
New Orleans, LA

Massachusetts:
Newbury Comics
Brighton, MA

Hubba Hubba
Cambridge, MA

Fools Mansion
Lynn, MA

Michigan:
Lover’s Lane
Birmingham, MI

Showtime Clothing
Detroit, MI

Lover’s Lane
Flint, MI

Lover’s Lane
Saginaw, MI

Lover’s Lane
Southfield, MI

Lover’s Lane
Sterling Heights, MI

Lover’s Lane
Taylor, MI

Lover’s Lane
Troy, MI

Fantasy Attic Costumes
Ypsilanti, MI

Lover’s Lane
Ypsilanti, MI

Lover’s Lane
Plymouth, MI

Noir Leather
Royal Oak, MI

Lover’s Lane
Westland, MI

Missouri:
Cheap Trx
St. Louis, MO

Johnnie Brock’s
St. Louis, MO

Montana:
Fantasy
Missoula, MT (Brooks Street)

Fantasy
Missoula, MT (Downtown)

Nebraska:
Party America
Lincoln, NE

Nevada:
Halloween Mart
Las Vegas, NV

Print Factory
Las Vegas, NV

Chocolate Walrus
Reno, NV

Melting Pot
Reno, NV

New Mexico:
Castle Megastore
Albuquerque, NM

Free Radicals
Albuquerque, NM

New York:
Phase ID
Amherst, NY

Halloween Adventure
New York, NY

Trash and Vaudeville
New York, NY

Vampire Freaks
New York, NY

North Carolina:
Dead Ed’s
Salisbury, NC

Oregon:
Fantasy
Beaverton, OR

Fantasy
Clackamas, OR

Special Occasions
Corvallis, OR

Castle Megastore
Medford, OR

Babygirl Inc.
Portland, OR

Castle Megastore
Portland, OR

Dysfuctional Doll
Portland, OR

Fantasy
Portland, OR (Downtown)

Fantasy
Portland, OR (Hollywood District)

Castle Megastore
Springfield, OR

Fantasy
Tigard, OR

Pennsylvania:
Passional
Philadelphia, PA

Zombie Buddies
Coraopolis, PA

South Carolina:
Exchange Factor
Charleston, SC

Texas:
Lucy In Disguise With Diamonds
Austin, TX

Rose Costumes
Denton, TX

Erotic Cabaret
Houston, TX

Let’s Party
Killeen, TX

The Gallery
McAllen, TX

Dallas Vintage Shop
Plano, TX

My Pink and Black Straps
San Antonio, TX

International Fun Shop
Seabrook, TX

Eros 1207
South Houston, TX

Vermont:
Old Gold
Burlington, VT

Virginia:
The Underground Asylum
Portsmouth, VA

52 Weeks of Romance
Roanoke, VA

Washington:
Lovers
Auburn, WA

Lovers
Bellingham, WA

Lovers
Burlington, WA

Lovers
Everett, WA

Lovers
Federal Way, WA

Lovers
Issaquah, CA

Castle Megastore
Kennewick, WA

Let’s Party
Kennewick, WA

Lovers
Kent, WA

Lovers
Kirkland, WA

Lovers
Lynwood, WA

Lovers
Olympia, WA

Lovers
Puyallup, WA

Lovers
Redmond, WA

Lovers
Renton, WA

Castle Megastore
Seattle, WA

Lovers
Seattle, WA

The Metro
Seattle, WA

Lovers
Shoreline, WA

Castle Megastore
Silverdale, WA

Lovers
Silverdale, WA

Castle Megastore
Spokane, WA

Lovers
Spokane, WA

Castle Megastore
Tacoma, WA

Lovers
Tacoma, WA

Lovers
Tukwila, WA

International

Trash Monkey
Brisbane, Australia

Human Wreckage
Eschol Park, NSW, Australia

Beserk Clothing
Fortitude Valley, Queensland, Australia

Into Camelot
Fremantle, West Australia

Furr Hair Fashion
Newtown, NSW, Australia

Run Riot
Mount Barker, South Australia

Mame Clothing
Perth, Australia

Fans
Antwerpen, Belgium

Jack D Clothing
Courtenay, BC, Canada

Millenium
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Nightshade Corsets Inc.
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Redemption Boutique Inc.
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Rowena
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Out Of The Past
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Extreme Style
Kingston, Ontario, Canada

DNA Screening INC.
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

Cruella
Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Trivium
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Madame Yes
Regina, SK, Canada

Karries Kostumes
St. Albert, Alberta, Canada

Party Supply Depot
Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

Amazing Party & Costume
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Borderline Plus
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Dusk
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Hell’s Belles
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

He and She Gallery
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Original
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Reflections
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Archetype
Vancouver, BC, Canada

Millenium #2
Vancouver, BC, Canada

New World Designs
Vancouver, BC, Canada

Venus and Mars
Vancouver, BC, Canada

Hungover Empire
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Black No.1
Copenhagen, Denmark

Dark Side
London, England

So High Soho
London, England

Violent Delights
Mayland, Essex, England

Rock’N’Roll Alley
Berlin, Germany

Paranox
Bonn, Germany

Cyberloxx
Duisburg, Germany

Monsterville
Kavala, Greece

Black Pirate
Rimini, Italy

Velvet SNC
Vicenza, Italy

Nude Vamp
Fukui, Japan

Epicurean Garden
Kitaku Nagoyashi Aichi, Japan

Dark-4-Leafs
Middelburg, The Netherlands

Calico Jacks Boutique LTD.
Wellington, New Zealand

Manillusion
Oslo, Norway

Ragnarakk
Trondheim, Norway

Teatrocentro
San Juan, Puerto Rico

Black Pony
Cape Town, South Africa

Rock Me
Vanersborg, Sweden

Maniak Black Market
Geneva, Switzerland

Walhalla
Olten, Switzerland

Web

www.7thavenuecotumes.com

www.buycostumes.com

www.castlemegastore.com

www.costumealibi.com

www.fantasyattic.com

www.halloweencostumes.com

www.halloweenmart.com

www.hottycostumes.com

www.infectiousthreads.com

www.lingeriediva.com

www.loverslane.com

www.mr.costume.com

www.partycity.com (or a Party City location near you)

www.skatesonhaight.com

www.spencergifts.com (Costumes also available in stores)

www.spirithalloween.com

http://stores.ebay.com/deadgothgirl

www.theundergroundasylum.com

It’s time, once again for the Lip Service Kick-ass Warehouse and Sample Sale!

We’ll have the usual killer deals on one-of-a-kind samples, current styles, and drastic reductions on closeouts … maybe a few extra surprises up our sleeves …

Don’t forget to gear up in your Halloween costume, because we’ll have a contest Saturday night at 8PM and you know we love to reward the hottest looks. Even if you decide to go low-key, we’ll have lots of great Lippy swag for the taking, plus killer music to keep things lively.

Here are the details:

Where: Lippy HQ – 130 South Anderson Street – Los Angeles
View Google Map

When: Saturday, October 22nd 12PM – 10PM + Sunday, October 23rd 11AM – 5PM

Payment: Cash + Visa + Mastercard

See you there, Fashion Freaks!

There are few holidays as fabulously drenched in sinfulness as Halloween. Most of the Seven Deadlies are out there to be enjoyed and taken to excess. What about when the Halloween goes too far? Here are a few H’ween maladies and mistakes to avoid this year.

 

How’s that working out for you?: Skirting the fine line between clever and stupid

 

We’ve all done it. Those of us with any passing familiarity of bongs of either sort have come up with what we think is The Best Fucking Costume, Ever!™. Sadly, it rarely is. Instead of being the toast of the party, fielding compliments on your clever, clever costume, you wind up parading around all night in the physical manifestation of a bad pun (the lowest form of comedy – considering ventriloquism, that’s pretty low). Just say no, kids.

 

Seriously, do you want to be the douchecanoe wearing the “Party in My Pants”? Yeah, I didn’t think so.

 

Tops in the bottom of the barrel of bad taste and appalling lack of cleverness has got to be the shitty costumes (it works on a lot of levels) by Fantasy Toyland. I’m not kidding. They are costumes of shit … wow, just wow. Here are “Holy Shit”, “Tough Shit”, and “Hot Shit”. There is also “Bullshit” and “No Shit”. I’ll just let the folks who decided these were a good idea tell you all about them … take it away, cashing-in-on-you-not-being-as-clever-as-you-think-you-are costume makers …

 

“These Adult Shit Costumes ensure a stinky evening to be had for all! Never has something so gross been so utterly appealing [or ... ummm ... not], as a group costume idea and as a solo outfit. Each Shit Costume is designed with your clever sense of humor [or, more likely, lack thereof] in mind.  …  Seriously, what could get more hysterical and ingenious than one of these shit costumes [would you like an itemized list of virtually everything else in existence or can we simply stipulate?]?

 

For adults who are mature [yep, that's the very first word I'd pick *snort*] enough to handle these offensive costumes (or immature enough to appreciate them), each poop costume is bound to be a huge, stinkin’ hit! [You keep saying this word "stinking". I don't think it means what you think it means.] Your friends and family might have seen pun costumes before [One might pre-suppose on whom, mightn't one?] , but have they seen poop costumes as clever as these? [Are there even less clever poop costumes out there? Dear Pesci, that's a disturbing fact to be sloshing around the ol' brain pan!] Now’s the time to enlighten [Once again, the very first word I'd pick ... are you guys psychic? *gyah*] everyone you know with one of our shit costumes, each of which comes with appropriate props to complete the message. [Holy crap! There's a "message" lurking within the shit costumes? How fabulously meta. Are they non-ironically ironic, too?] And if you forget to pick one of these Poop Costumes? Tough shit, man! [Oh, I see what you did there! Haha! Man, that cleverness never runs out, does it? *facepalm*]

 

In fairness, the fine people at Fantasy Toyland do have one costume which could actually be considered within the boundaries of cleverness. Feast your eyes on the Mike Hunt’s Diving School costume, with  shirt saying, “Mike Hunt’s Diving School – ‘Experience Counts when Going Down.” Okay, even cynical ol’ me got a chuckle out of that one. Unfortunately, whoever was responsible for every other shitty costume (and, most likely, shit costume) had to poke their grubby fingers in and add “Muff Diver” to the tank. Damn. We knew they couldn’t help but drag the one bright light of clever into the crappy muck of the obvious. *feh* You kids today and your shitty literalist humor … sigh.

 

When “Sexy” Goes Horribly Awry

Yes, it is a sacred tradition of Halloween; even the most normally straight-laced ladies have leave to … well … not be so lady-like. Of course, being a part of the Lippy family for some time, I am no stranger to the fun of strutting about in a slinky, short costume. I’ve also had a lifetime of observing the familiar pattern of “_____ + sexy = Best Fucking Costume, Ever!™”, even done my own versions of “Sexy ____”. I have boobs, right? I’m pretty sure there’s a law of some sort along those lines.

 

Anyway, after season upon season of Sexy Cop, Sexy Cat, Sexy Bunny, Sexy Maid, blah blah blah … instead of innovating the classic, a few costume makers have decided to get, shall we say, adventurous with the “Sexy + ___” equation. But, I must say, aren’t there some things which are just not meant to be “sexy” … ever? Maybe we need to set some ground rules to prevent the disturbing moment of coming across “Sexy Oscar the Grouch” or “Sexy Tin Man (as a … wtf … hot chick in a micro-mini)” or *ewwwwww* “Sexy Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle”. Seriously people, do we really need sexed-up versions of icons of our childhood? Sexy Flower the Skunk? Really? It must end before it results in the appalling possibility of “Sexy SpongeBob” … ahhhh fuck.

 

 

One other thing … when did serial killing make the roster of “sexy”? Sexy Leatherface costume? (Yes, there is one.) Apparently, a new equation has been written to declare weapons and death as part of the sexy by the costume providers of Amazon. I, on the other hand, call shenanigans (and lock the door).

 

 

While these various examples of sexy gone awry are somewhat disturbing in their own special way, one must admit they’re inherently harmless. So what if a not-normally-wild girl decides it would be fun to rock her curves as a Sexy Cowardly Lioness or Sexy Seed of Chucky (real costumes, by the way)? Slightly silly, yes, but no harm, no foul.

 

This last costume, on the converse, is not only in bad taste, but potentially harmful. Every wrongheaded asshat who decided this costume was a good idea and drew it up, created patterns, greenlit the product, or displayed it for sale should be deeply ashamed of themselves. Further, it doesn’t seem excessive to round them up to chase through the streets with villagers brandishing torches and pitchforks (well, at least metaphorically).

 

Ladies, gentlemen, and degenerates, I give you the “Anna Rexia” costume (hopefully to the sound of booing and the pitching of rotten fruit).

 

Can I get a communal *eewww*?

 

Bonus Round 1: Costumes to Get Your Son Beat Up on the Playground

Parents, I beg of you, when you’re tempted to get any of these sorts of “adorable” and “clever” costumes, just say no. Your son will thank you later, when he’s not permanently tagged with a bullying bullseye for countless wedgies, swirlies, and whatever tortures of the damned those crazy kids are up to these days. And think of the future therapy bills you’ll save!

 

 

 

Bonus Round 2: Costumes to Hasten Your Daughter’s Trip to the Pole

Are strippers born or made? The very existence of this group of costumes begs an answer to that question; can the clothes make the girl or, rather, instill a desire to remove them in public? Don’t get me wrong, as an erotic photographer, I adore strippers and naked people of all sorts. This is not the question at hand. The question you should be asking yourself, ideally before picking up that costume for little Amber or Tyffani, is how you feel about potentially providing your little girl with what could be the first step on the journey to the pole.

 

It takes a special person to be the proud parent of a stripper. First, there’s the creative use of language in naming conventions and *erm* lots of other stuff, I suppose. Right up there is selecting a costume for your little darling which is nothing more than a shrunken-down version of the “Sexy ___”. Of course, being part of Lip Service as well as a company which proudly includes “Smut” right there in its name, I think sexy is a very good thing – unless, of course, you’re talking about “sexy” on a 3rd grader.

 

Mind you, there’s disagreement about the age when it starts to be appropriate for the word “sexy” to apply without the *eeewww* creepy uncle factor being involved, but I think we can all agree that the 6-12 year old group is where it definitely does not (or at least shouldn’t). Every last one of these costumes were marked for either children or tweens. You can judge for yourself whether pre-pubescent girls have any business wandering around in the dark in these on a night all about getting candy from strangers.

 

 

I must offer a special “Dishonorable Mention” to whoever produced the range of Monster High costumes for the most consistently inappropriate gear for little girls since Bratz (or, as I like to refer to them, Whorz). Are there really parents out there who don’t find it disturbing to put 8-12 year old girls in miniature versions of sexy clubwear?

 

I suppose I should be happy to not have found a companion girl’s “Ho” costume to go along with the boys’ “Pimp” costume (yes, there is one).

 

Well, that wraps up the pre-game Don’ts for this Halloween season. Enjoy your candy of all sorts *wink*! Lip SerVICES will be back with more sin and debauchery next month.

About Mich

Mich Masoch is a Co-Ringleader of the Circus Hooker Smut Regime, taker of naughty photos, lifelong sinner, and occasional writer of filthy prose. She is a member of the seedy underbelly of the Los Angeles creative underground and unofficial camp Mom of the Naked People Industry™. Her work can be seen around the interwebs on CHSRegime sites, including Vampryrotic and the upcoming EroticaStock, as well as on various alt and fetish sites and models’ portfolios.

October’s featured denizen of the Dark is none other than Scott Milton! He’s the mind and the voice behind LA band, The Present Moment. Scott exemplifies the pursuit of balance that lies at the heart of Libra.

 

Scott admits to a certain idealism and a romantic perspective on life, as those of his sign are wont to have. But, the Libran reputation for narcissism is something that Scott owns only inasmuch as he is “a musician, after all.”

 

“At a very young age,” Scott recounts, “my best friend and I started our own band … a New Wave project. We played on old casios and banged on tupperware and sang songs about crashing parties and we were still in 6th grade. That’s where it all started and I’ve been chasing it since like a bad drug!”

 

These days, Scott continues to chase that dragon. He has recorded three albums with The Present Moment in just the last two years. The most recent of them, entitled Loyal to a Fault, was released on September 20th by Desire/Mannequin Records. The ultra-noire music video created by P. G. Johnson for the track “Intrigue,” is soon to follow. A teaser is already live, on Vimeo (You may recognize a certain someone, therein.)

Intrigue – teaser from P. G. Johnson on Vimeo.

 

Scott describes The Present Moment as “An open concept driven project consisting of myself and other partners in crime, coldwave, new wave, ever changing and ever present. My ambition is to create and change as much as possible, keep it fresh and open musically so we can evolve from album to album in any format we choose. That is why I chose the name The Present Moment.”

 

Happy birthday, Scott and happy birthday, Libras! Keep making things of beauty and helping us to constantly redefine what beauty is.

 

And now, your ‘Scopes.

Aries

Dynamic tension characterizes much of your October. It’s easy to forget that resistance and opposition are not just intended to be a pain in your ass; they are absolutely necessary for building any strength, whatsoever. Your mighty muscle will rapidly become flaccid and flabby if there’s nothing to push against. The best way to utilize your strengths, this month is through authentic expression and standing for something greater than yourself. Around the 26th, you’ll get a very clear picture of how your goals are far more supported by the people who make things difficult than by the ones who tell you everything’s fine.

Taurus

In your pursuit of peace and pleasantries it will be all too tempting, this month, to ignore the facts. Keep checking your perspective against those of the people you trust. When your rational mind seems clouded, they can provide the clarity of objective perceptions. Be particularly cautious about how you interpret reality around October 7th. The choices you make, then, will bear fruit at Halloween. Try hooking into the infallible wisdom of the deep, intuitive mind by getting your yoga on, or maybe doing some guided meditation. That information source is far less vulnerable to the distortions that can impair the logical mind.

Gemini

If you followed my advice, last month and took full advantage of that golden opportunity for prosperity, you’re probably spending much of October at the negotiating table. People want what you’ve got and they’re willing to compensate you handsomely for it. Don’t be in a hurry to sign on the dotted line. Saturn’s meet-up on the 6th with your ruler, Mercury is a signal to slow down and read the fine print. You’ve come too far to blow it all on a moment of impatience. Also, in the midst of all the excitement, keep an eye on your closest ties. If you neglect your friends and love ones, who’s going to be around to celebrate your success?
　

Cancer

Your focus, this month, is on the distinction between “We” and “I.” No matter how enlightened you think you are, even the Dalai Lama can’t see his own face without a mirror. Let your interpersonal dealings show you a thing or two about yourself and don‘t avert your eyes when you come across the ugly stuff. Just let it teach you. What’s the common theme among the people with whom you spend your time? How is today’s theme different from the one from five years ago? Introspection by proxy, if you will. If you work that angle effectively, you’ll notice a steady increase of genuine support from your truest allies. You may also notice fewer inane text messages from those people you secretly dislike.

Leo

With Mars transiting your sign, throughout the entire month, you’ll find that your customary position in the spotlight is a bit less comfortable than usual. In fact, it’s an increasingly prickly place to be for any length of time. You just can’t seem to get a break. There’s a ceaseless impulse to be in motion, to go, to do, to act. Structure and discipline can be surprisingly helpful toward the latter half of October, providing lots of steady motivation to keep you running. But, I doesn’t provide many soft places to land. Friction with friends emerges around the 26th through the 28th. Stay honest with yourself and with them, or the only person to show up to your Halloween party will be you.

Virgo

It’s a really good month to think big. I mean life, the Universe and everything kind of big. With your superfine attention to detail, it may not be the easiest task for you but, just give it a shot. Truth is, you’re far more likely to see things clearly and accurately if you step way back from them. Imagine an impressionist painting. Now you get the idea. Distance and objectivity are your best friends, this month. In fact, why don’t you ask a couple of your friends for their take on a situation that has you stymied? Sure, you’re usually the one who plays advisor to everyone else but, a truly wise person knows when to get a second opinion. Shut up and listen, Smartypants.

Libra

Happy Birthday, lovely Libra. Your hair is perfect, your clothes are divine and every last accessory is impeccably placed. Now that I’ve buttered you up a bit, I’ll tell you the ugly truth about October: only drunk, masochistic submissives will be having a good time. Well okay, the spiritually enlightened, ascetic monks could be doing alright, too if you want to spin it that way. In either case, it will not feel good, nor will it be terribly productive to engage in the everyday, business-as-usual routine. Everything that appears to be logical and rational turns out to be inexplicably wrong. Don’t fight it. Simply defer to the wacky and the deranged, for now. After Halloween, things will tidy up, again. I promise.

Scorpio

You’ll be reveling in the intensity of deep, heartfelt conversations between intimate friends, lovers and conspirators throughout the month. Secrets and lies interwoven with intrigue, ooh! It’s just so sexy. That is, until the action starts to render real-world consequences. The sparks that fly on October 16th are more than likely to ignite permanent transformation. Change is good but, it’s important to treat that kind of firepower with respect, lest it go off in your face. When the sun enters your sign on the 23rd, ideas begin to take shape and breathe with a life of their own. Plan ahead. The seeds you plant, this month will bear fruit at the winter solstice. Try to temper all those naughty tricks with one or two nice treats.

Sagittarius

Your vision of the future has a dose of indisputable reality imposed upon it, this month. But, it’s not at all a bad thing. Some old, nagging money issues will finally get resolved around the 13th , setting you up for a whole new set of possibilities. On the 28th, you’ll be well served by your inherent, cheerful optimism as you ride out the external drama in peaceful stillness. Let other people freak out, if they want to. It’s not your problem. Sure, things are changing and rather dramatically, at that. But, in the end it’s all an improvement. When the winter solstice rolls around in December, a lot of people will wish they were you. Yes, even more than more than there are, now. Jeez, Egomaniac!

Capricorn

You saw this coming. Everything has changing but, it’s nothing you weren’t expecting. Look at it this way: the space that was created by last month’s nuclear blast in your life can actually prove to be a blank canvas of infinite possibility. You can create anything. Now, figure out what you want to create. On the 13th, your closest friends and loved ones come in to galvanize your efforts in the reconstruction of your personal infrastructure. On the 16th, new ideas and information flood in to keep up the momentum. On the 28th, some seriously spooky divine intervention swoops in to remind you that you’re on the right track. Don’t give up yet, Sea Goat. We got your back.
　

Aquarius

You certainly are the object of people’s attention, this month. On October 13th, don’t be surprised if you get a personal phone call from the president. Okay, Oprah. Whatever. Pick your public figure and you get what I’m saying. You will be in the spotlight – like it or not – with a chance to stand up for something greater than yourself. Having had plenty of practice being the weirdo, outcast outsider you are exactly the right candidate for telling the world what things really look like from an outside perspective. If you rise to that occasion, there’s an opportunity to follow it up with actions on the 26th. No pressure but … don’t screw this up, ‘kay?
　

Pisces

You’ve got friends in high places, acquaintances in low ones and apparently an army of minions secretly doing your bidding, this month! You won’t see much of it out in the open but, there really is a tremendous amount of support extended to you from behind the scenes. Be receptive to generosity on the 7th. It really does come from the heart. Communications on the 12th result in greater depth of understanding. On the 21st, the Force is strong with you. Take the Universe up on its offer to elevate your overall life condition. It’s ulterior motive is to position you correctly for the superheroics it will demand of you, this coming winter.

About Forest

Forest is a generational witch living in Los Angeles. She is available by appointment for personal astrology and tarot readings by calling the Psychic Eye at 818-906-8263 for an appointment, or visiting her website: NuiCobalt.com