Rainy Days.

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It seems we have officially entered Winter, it's chilly and the nights are getting darker. But it's not all doom and gloom! I'm determined to look half decent this year, seeing as last year I lived in jeans and I've even hunted down some cute rain appropriate accessories. All you need to do is empty your bag of summer accessories and add some winter ones in, forget sunglasses and hand held fans because now it's time to pop in a umbrella and gloves.

Wellies, they're no longer for farmers and festivals! Damp feet seriously annoy me because my shoes never dry by the next day and the rain can damage them, put your favourites in your bag and change at your destination. Patterned wellies are the perfect pick me up for cloudy days and keep your feet much more dry than most shoes, thanks to the material the rain doesn't seep through. You can find some on the high street but mostly they're either the original green or girly, here are some links to some good websites and thankfully not all of them are skull print:

• Lace Wellingtons from the Victorian Trading Co, perfect for the perky Goth!
• Skull and roses print from Amazon.
• Studded black pair from Amazon.Skull Print from Asda, a cheap pair at only 12.50 pounds.

Umbrellas, there are so many beautiful designs and shapes these days but I personally darent buy any too good in case I leave them somewhere. Just remember to keep the cover and always carry a plastic bag around to protect your bag. You could use a parasol but you must check that is actually waterproof first but sadly I doubt most parasols would be up to Winter wind. You can prevent rust by leaving your umbrella open, you don't really believe that old superstition do you?

• Kate's Clothing, I love this Victorian lace one, it's on my wishlist.
• Alexander McQueen skull print umbrella, okay it's not gonna happen but look at the glitter detail and tell me you wouldn't buy it if you won the lottery.

Socks, please never wear your favourite socks in damp weather! The dampness causes friction to be so much more harsher damage, you'll get holes much quicker. Instead put an extra pair in your bag along with fold up flats if your shoes are also damp, while your socks and boots are drying you can still cover your toes. Insoles are also your new best friend, they're not just for blisters and too big shoes! Boot liners are fantastic for keeping your feet much warmer and dry, the extra cushioning helps aching feet. Make sure your boots are tall enough to protect your tootsies from the rain, you don't want any boots with a particularly open top either.


Never wear anything too special on a rainy day either, the water that may be splashed from cars is seriously dirty and may even have oil in it. Sadly some items are not only easily stained, dry clean only and nowhere near water proof so always check the label, for example some velvets can't withstand rain particularly silk velvet. It will become water spotted which is seriously difficult to remove, however (and I credit Gothic Charm School for this tip) it's easier to turn it into crushed velvet than faff about with techniques. Scrunch, spray with water, steam wrinkles in. Also some prints will run and bleed so test it first by gently blotting an area on the inside of the fabric, sometimes washing or dabbing an item first will remove most of the extra dye but sadly some items are doomed to run.

Can your bag keep out rain? I love my tote bags because of their printed designs but they're terrible at keeping out rain, due to the cotton they practically absorb the moisture. Just in case wrap your items in plastic bags you easily pick it up from shops, for the future start looking at sturdy handbags in waterproof materials such as leather. You'll never struggle to find a leather bag I promise you.


What metals are in your jewellery? Some metals will stain your clothes or get rusty, if it's not proper silver/gold/etc then don't take the risk unless it's going to be covered eg you're wearing a necklace and a scarf.

Guide to your Winter coat.

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It's that time of year when shops are bringing in winter coats and I'm thinking about saving money for my new one. Come every September I worry over my lack of Winter preparation and you'll typically find me  slyly kicking my old Winter coat under the bed, quietly tucked away and forgotten about for the sake of shopping. Searching for Goth coats can be a lot more difficult than for the usual folk, if you're Victorian or Lolita inspired they need to have a high waist and flared out to prevent petticoat squashing but if you're more of the Deathrock kind it's difficult to find leather in your budget.


When to buy?
Lolita brands start coming out late Summer to early autumn, some require pre-ordering.
High street shops tend to bring them late September to October.
Many online shops that design their own have them all year round.
Online label shops start stocking around late September to October.
You can buy fairly cheap ones during Summer sales.


What's the cost?
They can get fairly expensive depending on where you're buying from, you need to define your own budget and find your limit. My grandmother always told me to think ahead and more wear means less money spent. You'll be wearing this coat for the whole Winter so work out what you would be paying if you wore it everyday and you may realise the price is more than fair, it's also the reflection of the quality which you need to get through a whole season wearing it. If you know you'll only be wearing this for one season and probably get rid come April then feel free to spend cheaply, even cheap coats should last at least one season. However if you're looking for a permanent coat you hope to see for years then consider what's worth spending,


Where to buy?
You can easily find a suitable coat a high street shop but be aware it may take some DIYing if you prefer it unique or if it's not immediately appropriate for Goth. If you can't be bothered DIYing and want a ready coat look elsewhere, it can take some looking around.


You're better off trying items on in person and reading reviews online but please don't purely trust the website reviews, many websites simply don't show the neutral to bad ones (Schuh is particularly disgusting for this, refusing even neutral reviews from me). I suggest reading elsewhere and looking at photos that aren't stock photoshoots. They always make it look better and lets face it you're not going to be wearing the model's clothing.

What style?
The coat should be a more basic version of your style so it's versatile and while it doesn't need to match every outfit (after all it is meant to cover it) red on green isn't a great combo. But not so basic you're bored of it after a week of wearing it, if you're that kind of person then consider a coat you could easily change eg add different buttons to or apply patches. I wouldn't suggest starting a new style whilst buying your Winter coat, go for a more basic Mac type if you're prone to experimenting. It's a basic piece and shouldn't require more shopping in order for it to fit your wardrobe.

Cloaks aren't as easily co-orded specially when it comes to bags, they blew open in the wind leaving you cold. Avoid long coats, for example anything longer than your knees isn't great. It'll blow open in the wind unless the zip goes unflatteringly low, probably get caught in doors and people will sit on it, it's a whole load of problems you could do without. Check the measurements on a website with your height, if it's custom made then ask for a different in inches or alter your hem yourself.


Corset backed items allow for adjustment which is great for wearing extra layers or showing off your figure, who said you have to look dumpy in your coat? Consider the accessories that come with a coat, are you bothered about a hood or extra pockets? If you're a fan of poof skirts consider a high waisted coat that flares out, allowing room for your frills. Take notice of the zipper, where does it finish? The zipper on my old Necessary Evil coat stopped at my tummy button which was great for poof but rubbish for trouser days. Avoid bell sleeves or any wide ones, I know it looks nice but the wind will sweep up them quite easily and chill your arms.


Materials.
Like I mentioned earlier, if you need to consider what you're wearing underneath. Petticoats are easily crushed but it needs something heavy enough to stop allowing the wind blowing it up as much. Checking out the weight of a material is a good way to test it and obviously the material itself. Wool is particularly good for keeping out the cold while cotton is more suited to Autumn or Spring weather, velvet is just a silly idea for the cold unless it's teamed with other fabrics. Take note if your lusted after coat is lined, this will get seriously sticky if you get too hot but great for keeping your skin dry in the Winter. If you're unsure of the material then contact the website, don't be shy!


Sizing.
Most winter coats are made with the assumption you'll be wearing extra layers underneath, I suggest measuring with what you would typically wear during Winter then check. Look closely at the sleeves, would they be too tight over extra layers?