Steff Metal

First of all – here is what I wore:

Ew, my stockings are falling down a bit. I need to get some garters.

• Black lace dress with lace tail. (Smoove, on sale for 50%)
• Black leather bustier (21st birthday present from a big group of friends. One day I will tell the amusing story of how we found this corset.) It’s beautiful and very unique – I think it’s been handmade. It’s lots of little scrappy squares of leather sewn together into the bustier. There’s no boning so I won’t call it a “corset” but the stiffness of the leather gives it a nice shape.
• Red ribbed thigh-high socks, from Sock Dreams (present from wonderful Mum and Dad Metal.) They’re so lovely and warm
• Steel-cap NZ-Safety boots
• Orange scarf, gift from Mum Metal, from Australia (not many of you would know this, but orange is actually my favorite colour. Or would be, if I could see colours.)

I have a tail!

Orange Scarf

I’ve seen Amanda Palmer before, when she came with the Dresdon Dolls in 2006, I think it was. They were most excellent then, but now, she’s incredible. Ten minutes before Hera, the opening act, was to start, she came out into the bar to give out hugs and sign stuff. I got me a hug, and one of my postcards signed. She’s tiny, and lovely. I went by my lonesome, but met up with my friend Levi and some of his friends, Max from the good ole Hawke’s Bay, sporting some fine steampunkey threads, Vince and Louisa (hi guys!) who were all very lovely. I squeezed my way to the front for the show.

Everyone’s jostling to get the three inches closer to the front of the stage, the lights dim, and nothing happens. Suddenly, everyone turns around. Amanda’s on top of the bar, dressed in a corset and star-spangled stockings, singing “he’s making whoopie” and strumming her Ukelele. She saunters up to the stage, sits down at the keyboard and hits a dramatic first note. Nothing happens. Que soundman – who manages to make the keyboard work. She opens with two songs from her solo project, Who Killed Amanda Palmer? – “Ampersand” and “Astronaut”.

Amanda Palmer

If you go to an Amanda Palmer show, you can’t expect to just stand there, arms folded, and watch. It’s an entire performance experience. You, as the audience, collectively create the experience. She encourages this. One of the first thing she said when she saw two of the girls in front of me trying to take photos of the setlist (why? I don’t know) was “Don’t worry about that. I don’t use it anyway. I normally just ask what you guys want to hear. I want you to tell me “.

Next, we had “Ask Amanda” where we all wrote questions down on scraps of paper and passed them onto the stage. The first one she pulled out wanted her to tell us about the first song she ever wrote. We asked her to play it: Herein follows the delightful video evidence (poor Amanda.)

She then performed an Exorcism on the first Twilight book.

Twilight Exorcism

What did we have next? More song requests: “Oasis”, “Half Jack”, “Coin-Operated Boy”, a brilliant cover of Michael Jackson’s “Billy Jean” (it has to be good for me to say this because I’ve never liked Michael Jackson songs. Don’t shoot me – it’s just not my thing). Then she played the song she wrote in Wellington, NZ, backstage during her last tour. I have a video of that, too.

10 Reasons Why Amanda Palmer is awesome

1. She’s a testament the power you have to touch people’s lives with music, especially when you reach out to fans over and above simply writing and releasing songs.
2. She’s a shining example of how an effective use of blogging and social media can grow your business and totally change your career
3. When she performs, she gives it everything she’s got. I’ve seen bands who “go through the motions” but when she plays, you feel as though you’re hearing this song as she writes it, with all the emotion dripping from her voice
4. She is clueless about pop culture
5. She’s beautiful, inside and out
6. She writes crazy, wild music about life in all it’s glory, beauty and folly
7. She loves Black Sabbath
8. She’s brutally honest and completely open
9. She creates am incredible live atmosphere because of her devotion to creating the show YOU want to see. Her shows are more a conversation between herself and the audience. I believe they call it “breaching the wall”. I wish more bands would embrace this – I’ve only seen one metal band do this, and that was Opeth.
10. She’s engaged to Neil Gaimen, which shows us all she has impeccable taste.

So yeah, I had a good night. How did you spend St. Patrick’s Day?

Steff

Italian growler Cadaveria

It’s a long-held belief among self-righteous metalheads that girls can’t do extreme metal. Extreme Metal is probably the most aggressive, angry, violent form of music there is, and every study ascertains its audience as overwhelmingly male. There’s a kind of “lost boys club” surrounding extreme metal, a sort of grymm forest treehouse with a badly handwritten sign on the door: NO GIRLS ALLOWED.

But is this assumption true? Can girls growl, scream, grunt, rasp and shriek as well as you blokes?

It’s a good question, and one I attempt to answer in my post No Clean Chicks Singing, which is up at No Clean Singing, if you care to have a read.

I’ve been investigating underground female-fronted extreme metal for the last couple of weeks, and I’ve found some wicked new bands. You can hear a few over at No Clean Singing, or wait for the upcoming Metal Mistape.

Goats Cheese and Satan’s Knees \m/
Steff

Move along weary adventurer, nothing to read here. You’ll be travelling through the ether to find today’s post.

If you’ve been curious on my thoughts on post-apocalyptic fashion, pop over to Wicked-Whimsy where I talk to the always awesome Michelle (she of the wicked hair) about Apocalypse Ladies: Dressing for the End of the World.

Valentine’s Day looms on the horizon, like a dark, looming thing.

It seems horribly clich’ed, but I’m not a Valentine’s Day fan. It seems like such a fake, commercial “holiday”. There’s no real “holiday” aspect to it. You don’t relax on the beach, or curl up on the couch with a good book, or hang out with friends. You buy some tacky teddy bear with a heart balloon and hope you’re gonna get laid.

The origins of Valentines Day are lost in the ages. No one even knows if it’s related to Valentine. It’s likely our modern traditions derive from the Roman fertility festival of Lupercalia. When the Romans were Christianised, they transformed all their pagan holidays into church-sanctioned parties. In 496 AD the Pope declared Lupercalia the feast of St. Valentine, who had performed secret marriage services during their reign of Claudius II and was executed for this <>. Claudius ruled during a great period of strife and believed marriage made his soldiers weak.

In medieval France and England (thanks Chaucer) St. Valentines Day came to be associated with romance. The church tried to bring the holiday back to sacred pursuits, but it’s popularity as a day for courtship and romance grew. In the Middle Ages, handmade cards and gifts were exchanged between lovers, and this practise moved with the expansion of the empire until it reached the Americas, where the first commercial Valentines cards were printed in the 1840s.

I think, as always, the church takes these things far too seriously, and Valentines Day, if you choose to celebrate it, should be a day of fun and frivolity. But there’s so much pressure now: “how many Valentines did you get?” “What did YOUR husband do?”, “Don’t worry, I’m sure SOMEONE will give you a Valentine” that Valentines Day just isn’t any fun. And more and more people boycott this holiday, including us.

CDH said once “I’m not participating in a gift grab designed to make insecure women feel special. My job is to make you feel special every day of the year.” And it’s true, and I agree with him, and he does.

I tried to find a picture of a metal valentine, but these guys kept coming up instead. Aren't they ... well sculpted?

But not everyone agrees with me and I don’t see the harm in a retail-mandated excuse to indulge your beloved. As a lady easily swayed by romantic notions (although my idea of romance differs considerably from that of the “average” female) I offer some tips to my male readers on romantic gestures for your metalhead missus, for Valentines Day, or any day.

1. Instead of buying her sexy lingerie, find her a limited-edition Pestilence vinyl.

2. Instead of saying “I love you,” throw her the goat. (bonus points if it’s a real goat).

3. Forgo sappy flowers. She’d much prefer a deadly nightshade plant.

4. Instead of a heart-shaped necklace, present her with a Thor’s Hammer on a leather thong.

5. Instead of buying her heart-shaped chocolates, cook her steak, eggs and chips.

6. Instead of taking her out to dinner and a movie, rent a bunch of cheesy b-grade horror films and pop a giant tub of popcorn.

7. Instead of serenading her at her window, let her choose the songs in the car stereo.

8. Instead of scattering rose petals around the house, paint the walls with inverted crosses and pentegrams.

9. Instead of ringing the local radio station to dedicate a cheesy ballad to her, dedicate a song to her at your next gig. Bonus points if it’s Manowar’s “Pleasure Slave”.

10. Instead of a romantic picnic beside a babbling steam, go see a Deicide concert. 

Do you have any more ideas for metal alternatives to valentines traditions?

Steff

In the second of my heavy metal fashion reports, I talk about the grymmest of the grymm, the kreigest cats of all: Black Metal Fashion.

Born in the early 90s of a disgust at the emerging death metal scene in Europe, and a general disgust at middle-class, conservative Christian Norway, black metal emerged as a rasp of defiance. The first wave bands like Bathory and Celtic Frost cemented the music style, while the second wave – the infamous Black Circle bands like Mayhem, Burzum and Dark Funeral – created the black metal mythos. Crimes were committed, churches were burnt, band members were murdered and their brains turned into milkshakes. Misanthropic music was written, and it all sort of died down a bit after Varg Vikernes was ushered off to jail.

Black Metal exists today as the most underground and difficult-to-get-into sub-genre of metal. The screeching vocals, demoniac blast beats and lo-budget, static-infused production make it probably the most difficult music in the world to appreciate – it’s almost anti-music, a black fuzz of angst and anger, hatred and loathing. Most black metal albums are senseless noise, but sometimes, it’s magic. Dark magic, evil magic, but beautiful nonetheless.

And black metal, like every sub-genre of metal, has it’s own fashion. At any festival, you can pick the black metallers out by their surly expressions and t-shirts featuring unreadable names of bands you’ve never heard of. They’re the dudes with runic tattoos poring through the $2 vinyl boxes, looking for those obscure records of misanthropic gold. They’re the last of the Great Hunt, the demons of the night, the metalheads of your nightmares.

Clothing

The kreigest black metallers know that, like the music they so love, tr00 black metal attire must come from Scandenavia. So when you shop for black metal attire, you should look first to the underground boutiques of Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland. However, when buying from these sources, be wary, the kvlt kreig tr00 scandenavian look does not come cheap!

The first fashion item for any discerning black metaller is a pair of tight jeans in the darkest, grymmest hue of black. Acne, Cheap Monday and Anti-Sweden jeans make black jeans specifically tailored for the black metaller’s waifish, undernourished physique. And they’re all from Norway or Sweden, for additional scene points.

Next, you’ll probably want a t-shirt. Like most metalheads, the best black metal t-shirts are band t-shirts, the more unpronouncable the name and more unreadable the logo, the better.

If you can’t find a band tee suitably indecipherable, your next best buy is a standard satan shirt. You can find these at Infidel Concepts (warning, Australian company, NOT Norwegian), Satan Shop or Turbowolf. I wrote a post last year about shopping for satanic shirts, which also has some great shops to try.

Also, tees with runic designs and pagan symbols work well, too. Steer away from cheery, pot-bellied Vikings, however.

Remember, black metal is not a fashion that accepts color. There is black clothing with white designs, and white clothing with black designs. That is final.

To prevent wrinkling, wash your clothing in virgin’s blood.

Accessories

To dress up your brootal outfit for a night on the town, you should start with a belt or twenty. Spiked and bullet belts make great accessories, the spikier the better. Wear them around your waist or cross them over your chest.

Spiked or rune-adorned gauntlets encircle your wrists, and a chain. Upside-down crosses, pentegrams, runes and other pagan symbols adorn the neck. A black metaller is never without his or her trusty Thor’s Hammer or pentegram necklace. My favorites come from Wulflund in the Czech Republic. These are replicas of archaeological finds. You can slo find Thors Hammers and other pagan / satanic pendants at Little Devil Designs, WodansWolf and Vermorlian Magick Shoppe.

To carry around your church-burning kit, Broake and Thumb designs offer Thor’s Hammer messanger bags.

fur and feathers give a naturalistic, Dark Ages feel to any black metal outfit. Ravens were the messengers of Odin, and the carrian harbringers of doom, so black raven feathers obviously the kreigest of them all. Pluck them from a live raven for maximum kreig factor, and string on a low necklace or sew around the edge of a black skirt.

For even krieger outfits, carry a weapon, like a sword or axe or mace. Add spikes to it. The more spikes, the more black metal scene points you earn.

Makeup

No article about black metal fashion would be complete without a discussion about Corpsepaint. To perfect a corpsepaint look, paint your whole face white and add black (or VERY OCCASIONALLY red) details, around your eyes and mouths. The style mimics the face paintings of the Norse Oskorei.

Most black metal musicians have a specific corpsepaint “look”, which seldom changes. With a little experimenting you can perfect your own black metal “look”.

See this tutorial on how to apply corpsepaint.

It will take a bit of experimenting to find the perfect white paint. Black Metal legends Behemoth recoomend Kryolan Supracolour Cream Makeup, which is professional theatre makeup. Others suggest using ordinary acrylic paints instead of makeup. Just make sure it’s non-toxic, first!

For some great examples of corpse paint, see rate my corpsepaint, which is my new favorite makes me giggle website.

Style Icons

Resources:

Black Metal Fashion Show

Ann-Sophie Back – Swedish avant-garde designer and lover of black metal.

Anti-Sweden Jeans: Made in Oslo, Norway. The tr00est, kvltest black metal jeans you ever could find. Exchange an old pair of jeans made in Sweden and get your Anti-Sweden jeans for NOK$666. Brootal.

Cheap Monkey: Swedish purveyors of fine black metal jeans.

Rakk and Ruin: jewellery and accessories for the black metal babe.

Wulflund – swords, jewelry, clothing, helmets and misc. from my fave Czech Republic historical shop. For all your Thor’s hammer and guantlet needs.

This was actually one of the most fun articles to write so far. Please let me know what you think, and if you know of any great black metal designers, shops and accessories.

Stay Grymm \m/
Steff

Power metal defies many of the stereotypes associated with heavy metal – it’s upbeat, happy, melodic and popular. Every word of the clean, melodic vocals can be understood. Subject matter references medieval legends, fantasy books, role-playing games and battles with dragons. Every power-metal album contains at least two ballads – and a “call to arms” for metal warriors across the land to unite and slay the naysayers.

And far from looking menacing and dangerous, the bands prefer to prance around the stage dressed as bards, minstrels and courtly princes. Power metal’s themes more closely resemble courtly love and chivalric poetry than any crude odes to the battle gods.

Rhapsody of Fire wearing their renaissance-inspired finery

Power metal fans and musicians are geeks at heart – lovers of Sci Fi/Fantasy novels, computer games, and progressive, technically brilliant music. Of all the metal genres, power metal is the one most likely to be adopted by the mainstream, for the simple reason that the music, the bands and the fashion is accessible and inoffensive, unless you’re particularly offended by dragons. Look at the popularity of Dragonforce – do you see my point?

Dressing power metal means taking inspiration from the land of geekdom. The power metal fashion could also be called “Lord of the Rings” fashion. Natural materials like leather and cotton embrace the pseudo-medievalism of the music, and amulets and alchemic symbolism add to the “magical” aspects. While maiming and murdering the enemy do not feature prominently in power metal lyrics, musicians often carry a sword on their hip.

Power Metal Fashion

The central mainstay of power metal fashion (for guys and gals) is a pair of tight leather pants, in either black or brown. Leather is very medieval, and it shows off your manly (or womanly) curves.

rouched leather leggings from Behrle Leather NYC

Leather panel leggings from Blackmarket Baby

A pair of decent, form-fitting leather pants will set you back hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. If you’re a metalhead on a budget, you could look for faux-leather leggings and trousers for a fraction of the price. You’re also not endorsing the animal-clothing industry, if you happen to care about that.

Fortunately, because people we’ve never heard of (like Rhianna) have been wearing leather leggings recently, these babies are back in style, and you should be able to pick up a flattering pair off the high street.

If you’re more of a skirt kind of girl, you want to find longish, flowing, medieval-style skirts in dark colours – black, brown, red, purple or blue. I’m especially fond of wearing below-the-knee bias cut skirts with a pair of sexy boots. Take inspiration from medieval / renaissance styles rather than dressing like you’ve arrived on horseback from a LARPing event.

handkerchief skirt, comes in many colours, from Sisters of the Moon

medieval-style skirt, from Metal Star

Over your leather pants you need a flattering, puffy-sleeved shirt, preferably without buttons. Buttons are post-medieval, and therefore not kreig. You can find these skirts at any medieval-re-enactment shop. Avoid polyester and satin – they just look ick.

Ladies, don’t layer a pheasant shirt over your long skirt – as a general rule, an item of loose clothing needs to be balanced with a form-fitting garment, or else your figure swims away in an ocean of black fabric. Find a corset or bustier top to complement your skirt, and you’re on your way to being a power-metal goddess.

Accessories

Your accessories should be understand (for metal, which means not understated at all) and carry an auro of “magic”. Look for medieval-inspired pieces, especially those covered with esoteric symbols, or look like something worn by a character in Lord of the Rings.

Leaf-patterned belt from Buckleman

Belts should be leather with large metal buckles. Studded belts look great, but spikes are out – you don’t want to look like a dungeon-master. The chick from Battlelore wears several thin strings of metal chain around her waist – they look kick ass!

Jewellery should always be large and made of metal and leather, because dammit, this IS heavy metal. Crucifixes (not upside down), alchemic and magikal symbols, dragons, swords and daggers make excellent necklaces, earrings, amulets and charms. Diadems, circlets and headpieces are not out-of-place.

medallian and chain maille, from Chrissy Gemmel

Inspiration

Liv Kristine, Leaves Eyes

Simone Simons, Epica

Sharon den Adel, Within Temptation

Within Temptation

Blind Guardian

Shopping

• Blackmarket Baby
• Sisters of the Moon
• Behrle Leather NYC
• Buckleman

If power metal isn’t your genre of choice, never fear! I’ll be covering all the different metal genres in upcoming articles. See you again soon!

Super Snuggles and Shoggoth kisses
Steff

Wrist-accessories can make or break a metal outfit. Too much metal bling, and you look like a runaway Avril Lavigne backup dancer. Too little, and you look … well … normal. And who wants that?

Metal music does not favor the subtle, and the same rule applies to our dress sense. No thin silver bracelets or delicate beaded strands here – no one’s going to notice them as you thrash around the mosh pit.

Dragon cuff by Batwings and Battleaxes, $25

Thick leather straps studded, spiked, laced, cuffed and emblazoned with skulls and danggers and all manner of terrible things … metal wristwear aims to shock and intimidate, and often mimics armour styles from the medieval and viking period. Even the terms – cuffs and gauntlets – evoke imagery of rogues and warriors.

So how do you turn these arcane accessories from displaced Viking garb to metal fashion statements? I have a theory – hear me out, it’s all a little bit expositional at this stage.

Leather corset cuff in black / red, $65, Sewlutions by ANO

In warlike cultures, the best warriors had the best armour, because they’ve fought for many seasons, taken many prizes from many enemies, and bedded many rich men’s wives. Not only is their armour the best and most ornate, it’s also the most worn. Dents in the breastplate, chinks in the gorget, dirt encrusted vambraces and wonky pauldrons. The old warrior like this worn look – they’ve earned their beautiful armour, dents and all.

If a new git turns up the first day of training with an expensive suit just off the smithy’s forge, well, he’s going to look like a bit of a plonker. And the other warriors are going to mock him mercilessly and throw mashed potato at him over the mess hall. He hasn’t earnt the right to wear that armour.

The metal scene works in much the same way. The more you “contribute” to metal, the more crazy you can dress without looking like a try-hard. It’s warrior-culture for the 21st Century.

If you’re in a well-known band, for instance, you can wear corpsepaint and 12 inch nails embedded in your wrist and you somehow seem … right. You’re kreig. Wear that same getup to a party when no one knows you from their dorky younger brother, and you’ve just earned yourself negative fifty scene points.

Cuffs with worn edges, knife scratches along the leather, tattered laces and faded designs denote an aged and wise metaller – a grand magus of knowledge and experience.

Younger Metalheads shouldn’t over-accessorize unless they’re dressing up for stage / band photos. Don’t stack cuffs up your arm or you’ll look like a delusional punk. One SMALL cuff will suffice. Find a unique one online or make one yourself.

Because of the damage they cause in the mosh pit, 2 inch spikes are being phased out in favour of domes, rivets and other, less gouging, adornments.

Here's a cute idea - wear your cuffs on your biceps. Now that's kreig!

Ladies can get away with much more metal bling, because we’re rare commodities, much desired by the menfolk. We earn scene points just by existing. I love to mix thin leather bands with metal jewelry to create the effect of striped cuffs. I make most of my jewelry myself – CDH cuts the leather for me and I punch it, and I buy chains and charms from local craft shops or Etsy.

Black Vertebrae cuff from Project TransAction, $45

Plunder

A few shops selling bogan-beautiful wrist accessories, cuffs and gauntlets:

Sewlutions by Amo: high quality corset and steampunk-inspired leather cuffs. Many contain secret pockets. Also sell utilitarian wrist purses made of amazing leather materials.
Batwings and Battleaxes: heavy metal leather cuffs, some plain, some studded, some inspired by medieval designs.
Heavy Metal Laundry: an astounding range of glam-metal style patterned cuffs.
Project TransAction: a leatherworking a screenprinting company producing some unique cuffs.

Till next time!
Super Snuggles and Shoggoth Kisses
Steff

Ah, winter. The Gymm, frostbitten season of epicness. We’re deep in the bowels of Scandinavia at the moment, and boy howdy is it chilly. Not that we mind. As we’re previously discussed, metal is NOT a summer fashion – all that black leather, boots, jeans and fishnet does not a cheery beach babe make.

For this very reason, many metalheads hail the onslaught of winter. And what’s not to like? Hot chocolate, open fires, rain pattering on your roof, snowboarding, and having fun with winter fashion.

So how DO you look kreig and stay warm at the same time?

For girls, layering is key. I always struggle choosing outfits when we go out to winter gigs because even though the club will be warm, the walk TO the club will be a frozen hell. Sure, you could bring your floor-length woollen jacket, but sometimes you just don’t want to lug that thing around all night (there be no coat check’s at NZ metal bar, FYI).

When you’re skinny and easily affected by the cold like me, you’re night will swiftly turn to shite if you’re freezing. Layering close-fitting clothes traps warm air close to your body, which helps keep you warm. Several thin layers will keep you warm than one or two baggy sweatshirts.

Successful layering means taking advantage of differing lengths, colours (or shades of black) and fabrics. When you wear four or five layers of cotton, the fabric sticks together and you end up looking quite lumpy. Mix some silk, satin, cashmere, wool … or something in there – you’ll notice a difference immediately. Choose items with different cuts, lengths and sleeves – if all your layers end right above your waist, for instance, you’ll look thicker there, and they tend to clump together and roll up.

The skinny-legged pants and leggings trends continue this season, and for that, metal girls should be eternally grateful. You know all your hot little miniskirts? Wear them over your skinny pants or leggings – warmth AND hot little mini shirt. I love this look with big stomping boots or legwarmers and wedge heels.

Alternatively, long swishy, slightly hippiesh style skirts go great with metal tees, and you could wear a pair of leggings underneath and NO ONE WOULD KNOW (It’ll be our little secret).

NO winter wardrobe would be complete without a coat. Your coat of choice will depend on the weather in your abode (a Scandinavian winter being vastly different to an Australian winter, for example), the amount of money you have to spend, the type of clothes you’re wearing with it, and the colour and fabric you choose.

Guys, as usual, have it easy. Now’s the time to dig out your long-sleeved metal shirts. I’m advise ditching those icky hoodies for leather jackets and investing in a nice leather jacket and pullover jersey, as well as a long-sleeved thermal skivvy to wear under your clothes. Pants come in requisite black, as do boots. Belt buckles come in varying degrees of kreig (mine has a skull and crossbones). Chain wallets and white sneakers are OUT.

Those floor-length priest coats are also OUT, just FYI. They look REALLY cool in the shop but tend to make you look like a goit in the company of other people. My new favorite item is strait-jackets, in all their zippered, strapped glory.

In many places, the winter metalhead may not venture out without a scarf, hat and gloves. Scarves and hats are my favorite winter accessories – so useful and yet so much fun! Don’t limit yourself to monochrome colours. A scarf can be your opportunity to inject a little colour into your kreig black wardrobe! In winter I wear orange and red scarves, as well as my basic black number covered in white knitted skull and crossbones.

Around 80% of your body heat escapes through your head, so adding a hat to your outfit can really keep you toasty. Most metalheads wear beanies, but I like to live a little! My hats include an 18th century english cavalry beret and a felt top hat.

What are you wearing this winter, or, if it’s summer where you reside, what do you WISH you were wearing? Lets hear your favorite tricks for winter warmth?

Super Snuggles and Shoggoth Kisses
Steff

Ah, the ole’ metal t-shirt – every metalhead’s staple wardrobe item. I confess to owning two-and-a-half drawers full of the suckers, and my husband isn’t much better.

One problem with being a female metalhead – t-shirt designers forget you exist. Sure, some bigger bands like Iron Maiden, Metallica and Slayer carry girl’s shirts in their concert merchandise, but the designs are never as epic as the guys ones, and they never have back patches, which I love. In contrast, men’s metal shirt are rugged, robust, totally krieg, and never, ever in my size.

What’s an Iron Maiden to do?

Well, ladies, we don’t have to bemoan the lack of ill-fitting t-shirts. Help is at hand!

Make your t-shirts more flattering with a little alteration. Simply unpicking the side seams (if they have side seams) and re-sewing can drastically altar the fit of a t-shirt.My other favorite technique is to find old, fitted tees at second-hand shops, cut out the designs on your metal tees, and sew them on.

You can use scrap fabrics, lace, ribbons, bows and patches to totally personalize your new shirt.Several Threadbanger episodes feature clever projects from oversized t-shirts. With a name as kreig as Threadbanger, you know they’ve got good stuff.’99 Ways to Cut, Sew, Trim and Tie Your T-shirt into Something Special‘ is a spiral-bound instruction booklet by four crafty chicks. It will be your saviour if you want to start altering t-shirts. Most of the projects require a sewing machine or a LOT of patience with a needle and thread.For even more out-there designs, transcending the <> of the t-shirt, read ‘Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-shirt‘ by Megan Nicolay.The Livejournal group t-shirt surgary offers some excellent inspiration pics and tutorials.For a quick-fix, scrunch and fold a section of t-shirt on your back or your hip, and fasten in place with a pin. You’ve instantly made your t-shirt a more flattering shape. Cover the surgary with a black cardigan or – with the right folding – wear your pin out as a rad accessory!For a winter t-shirt look, wear close-fitting long sleeved shirts or jumpers underneath. I love wearing a fitted red shirt with the collar turned out. It instantly adds a detail to the neck and makes the t-shirt look ‘nicer’.


Megadeth shirt clipped at the back with a broach

Wear waist-cincher belts and corsets over large men’s tees. Tres sexy!

Sometimes, a short overall dress and ballet flats can look adorable paired with the right band shirt. Think school girl charm meets bad ass babe.



I'm wearing CDH's Iron Maiden 'Matter of Life and Death' tour shirt, cheap supre sparkle belt, blue leggings from Farmers, and skull wrist cuff from a friend



Iron Maiden shirt with belt. I love this look!

Wear a sheer blouse over your t-shirt with most of the buttons undone. Add a cute vest or braces to really dress up a shirt. I’m a big fan of vests because they allow most of the design to show through while giving you that gorgeous shape only a vest can provide.



A snazzy vest over a blind guardian shirt (pinstripe vest from Shanton)

Skinny jeans and a cropped jacket give a hipster look – what about capri pants for a summer look? When wearing t-shirts with tight bottoms, use t-shirts that end on the lower half of your hip. Trust me on this. Team with clean makeup, a nice hairstyle, a pretty necklace, nice heels and a belt slung around your waist, and

Leggings are a big look this season. I adore the ladies on Stockholm Style and Hel Looks wearing their t-shirts in multi layers over a mini-skirt or short shorts and leggings. I love how the skirt or shorts takes the pressure off having visible panty lines or a wobbly bottom. A kick-ass pair of boots completes this scandinavian hottie look.

Add two rows of vertical holes down the back of a shirt and punch eyelets into these holes. Thread a ribbon through and pull tight. Voila – instant t-shirt corset!

I’m digging t-shirts tucked into high-waisted pencil skirts, made of denim or other vintage materials. I especially love skirts with big bras buttons or zip detailing on the front. Team with a pair of vintage heels, a pin up hair-style and some bangles and you’re every bogan boy’s wet dream.

For some cool altered t-shirt ideas, check out these Etsy shops:
ToxicVision
MeowKiki

Super Snuggles and Shoggoth Kisses
Steff