OK - I ASSUME we are going to the VAMPIRE BALL; part of the Romantic Times Romance Writer's Convention. Vampires and all. With the Cover Models dressed as dungeon keepers..... OR so they tell me.
The thought boggles the mind. I've been cooped up in Fremont too long!
So my elder son decided to help me get ready. He had a few leather stores in mind. Checked them out ahead of time. I had no idea....
If I don't make the party - I will have to pose anyway. (Actually, I've already had a few requests.)
This past week-end, to get me ready (since September will creep up on
me really, really quickly and I haven't even made my Regency dress yet,
or finished my taxes), my older son took me to San Francisco and a Leather
shop for Doms and Subs - "Stormy
Leather". [Don't click if you are not 18 years old! They will check.]
This store requires that you be eighteen just to enter - and here I had my seventeen-year-old son with us. We paused to check - yep, an adult is present. His Mom. My younger one rolls his eyes. We caution him, he is about to get an education. A whole new side of life. And he is far, far more observant than I am (I know this from comments he made all the way home....)
This store's stock is in sharp contrast to the flowing things I wear to work (softens my image - ha! ha!) and the flowery Regency gown in layers of pink with white flowers scattered over the skirts. Let's just say this ain't your local Sears.
Of course, there were several looks when we announced my boys had brought me in to dress me for the vampire party...as a dungeon master no less. Let's just say, the entire store knew why we were there. Of course, the store is not all that big. Just a boutique really.
My older son had a good idea of what to put me in. He had given this some thought. He picked out the following after a quick perusal of the store's offering.
- Black leather short skirt - zippers right open.. A few more pounds and I would have picked up the long black leather skirt. I'll hold that thought. I like long black skirts with deep slits. I have several. Just none in leather.... The short skirt will require that I either do not sit down or come up with some very thin hot pants to go under it. I should have some leftover from my Trekkie days - those uniforms were shorter than this!
- Black leather top - I don't know what to call it - wait - they call this a corset - except mine has elastic in the back instead of lace-ups - I like that better. I can breathe. It is tight, bra cups, zips up front, short spaghetti-like straps. You do not need anything under this.
I had another corset thing on - off the shoulder - laces everywhere - produced a real hourglass look - fabulous - Actually, the sales girl had to help me into that wild corset with the laces. And out of it. And I couldn't breathe - looked outrageous though. (Off the shoulder. $400. Maybe if I loose a few more pounds....I'll go back.) Although they tried to tell me the bigger the better. I'm just not that ready for the claustrophobic feeling. I like to move. This wouldn't let me raise my arms. (I'm not into restraints. Let's not go there.) But it was spectacular.
- PVC black big shirt - could be worn to work - outrageous. Love it. Looks like a real shirt. But it is a different feel. And a different attitude. Hmmm.
- RED satin long gloves! Reasonable price. Got them in black and a pearl gray pair as well. Sexy. Saves me shopping later.... But oh those bright, bright red ones. They are such a contrast to the black leather. And perfect for vampire wear.
- A black "slapper" - large riding crop whip - oh yeah. All that black leather and the whip and then the red, red gloves. Wild. Actually, they say I tend to speak and move as if I was carrying one anyway. In my more aggressive days. I really do try not to have them. I like to think I am softer now. But I couldn't resist this.
- Collar - a thin one - not too much - and I already have a pendant to hang from it - the BIG silver-amethyst thing I got at the Del Mar Fair. Oh yeah! I was going for one with a bow but my older son said no. Not too much. Just a thin leather necklace to highlight the Amethyst pendant - since I will be showing a lot of skin.....
- Black fishnet hose. Must have.
I just have to get very high black heels - they did not have anything that fit me in stock. I am not sure that my feet will this. I tried on heels but my feet were not in the mood. Maybe 5" heels are too much at my age. I will hunt around.
My older son is getting me "C___S___ Red" lipstick - there is actually lipstick with that censored name. Not a nice name. And he knew about it. He's been in San Francisco too long.
My younger son is to do the photographs. Think this is too much for Synopsys? (Yes, I think so too.) But a VP I used to work with wants pictures. He's the only one who could ask and get away with it. Because he's out of town.
The salesclerk throughout this adventure just about died - thought it was cool a boy had brought his Mom shopping. Did I get stared at. By men and women. Because, of course, I had to leave the dressing room.
I made sure my kids stayed near me. My younger son did, while checking out everything in the store. On the racks and off. He's young.
I heard the salesgirl talking to my kids while I was changing. She was getting a kick out of this. She was having way too much fun. So were my kids. My older son especially. His friends are jealous.
I skipped a hat. My eldest said that I had the perfect hair - Donna Reed gone dominatrix. Of course he had picked out a red, red shirt with a black print for himself and is hinting he wants PVC jeans to go with it for later. He goes to raves and dances. He's making his own techno music CD. His own music.
I have creative children. And then some.
We all agree - I am the Dungeon Master - well, they said the cover boys would be in black and be dungeon keepers.........
I'll never have to worry about Halloween again! (Actually, I wore this for Halloween a year later - and with the shirt over it - and Synopsys sent me home! I was not the most scantily dressed person on site! But I was working with a fanatic. I put jeans on instead.)