Ten Things: Get Spooked
Friday, October 23, 2009 at 10:07AM Subscribers - please click through for best viewing!
It's that time of year when every doorway seems draped in gauzy cotton, dangling spiders, and a paper skeleton. I swear, I should do a book of the cute doorways people do - why don't they do the same at other times of the year? But I digress. I'm a big fan of all things spooky. Not horror, mind you, I can only take so much of that, but hauntings, ghosts, and spookiness are really fascinating to me. Something about another time and place meshing with our actual reality - the inexplicable things of the soul and matter. So fantastic! So, this ten things is devoted to creating that feeling.
;){kind=logo}
Celebrity Ghost Stories
I have been watching Celebrity Ghost Stories on the Bio channel. Granted, most of the stories are about how famous people had a friend or family member pass away who then came back to "visit", but some of the stories are true spine-tinglers. Take for instance Gina Gershon's story about the crazy pink house she lived in when she was at NYU... I'll let you watch it to get the full experience.
Celebrity Ghost Stories on Bio
;)
Skull Candle
There's something about this candle that I love. It conjures up visions of creepy late-night ceremonies and VooDoo altars and all that, but at the same time it's just a candle meant to be styled in a chic way. The glossy black color makes it perfect for this time of year, or any time of year as just a gothic-inspired accoutrement in the room. Style on a shelf or on a stack of books for a quirky touch of Victorian darkness.
Skull Candle - $19 at Wisteria
;)
Top Hat
I can think of nothing more stylishly versatile than a classic top hat. The satin ones recall visions of Jack the Ripper and Fred Astaire, while the felt ones can be everything from Slash to the Mad Hatter. Add a few yards of ribbon and tulle and you can create your own Victorian riding hat a la Dita Von Teese. The possibilities are endless! It's glamorous, vampirish, vintage, punk, and always in style.
Scala Mad Hatter - $67.50 at Delmonico Hatter
;)
King Tut at DeYoung Museum
How about a real mummy for getting spooked? This fabulous exhibit (which I've seen twice) won't send you screaming through the hallways like Scooby and Shaggy, but it will hold you enraptured nonetheless. Amazing artifacts from the tomb of Tutankhamun including furniture, jewelry, accessories, and a range of gold caskets will amaze and inspire. Beautifully lit and displayed, the series of rooms create anticipation through to the final chamber where you get to see some of the pieces that Tut wore himself.
King Tut Exhibit - $20 for adults, through March 2010
;)
Skull Ring
And while we're on the subject of incredible artifacts, why not treat yourself to a new piece of jewelry from my friend Wendy Brandes? A longtime-lover of all Egyptian tales and legends, Wendy has an incredible collection inspired by the queens and pharoahs of Egypt. (Check out her amazing new Mummy Pendant too!) Personally, I love her opulent Skull Ring in gold, onyx, tsavorites, and diamonds - a true work of art worthy of a museum!
Wendy Brandes Skull Ring - Contact for Information
;)
Absinthe Candle
"Absinthe is the aphrodesiac of the self. The green fairy who lives in absinthe lives in your soul." That Dracula, he gets me every time. But instead of losing your mind with the effects of wormwood, why not celebrate the fée verte in another way with DL & Co's Absinthe Candle? Offered in their signature fluted glass bowl, this candle will transport you to the lost cafes of Montmartre and the poetry of Rimbaud...without the hangover.
DL & Co Absinthe Candle - $80 at DL & Co.
;)
Get Gothic
Why not go back to the classics? Those gothic novels from the 19th Century usually do the trick for me, you know, creepy old house in the middle of nowhere, dysfunctional romances, smart but waifish heroine, dark and brooding leading man? Yeah. It's a winning combination. Try Jane Eyre, The House of the Seven Gables, or Wuthering Heights to get a quick fix. H.P. Lovecraft's The Thing on the Doorstep should do it, or, if you're more poetic, go for Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven on a dark and stormy night...
Search Amazon.com to build your library.
;)
Ouija Board
I've never ever even touched a Ouija Board - they freak me out so much! And all of those ghost stories on A Haunting on TLC - yeah, you can bet a Ouija Board was involved in all the bad mojo that goes on. But I did see this vintage board on Etsy and thought it was pretty cool. Just the design of it looks really old and fun - maybe even just to hang on the wall and admire, unless of course you have some spirits you want to invite to the party.
Vintage Ouija Board - $20 on Etsy
;)
Death Wish Mirror
Choe & Tomlinson are known for their witty mirror designs that feature little design details in the glass that will alter your reflection. Sometimes it's a strand of pearls, other times it's full pirate garb. The Death Wish Mirror brings a Victorian gothic element to your home, with black glass, ravens, and a detailed silhouette. The two X-marks where your eyes go are just the finishing touch!
Choe & Tomlinson Death Wish Mirror - $75 on Design Public
;)
Ghostly Encounters
A friend of mine once told me that she went on a ghost tour of New Orleans and afterward couldn't sleep for over a week. This is why I don't go on ghost tours. Of course, this is a big time of year for those tours, and almost every major city in the US offers them - do a search under "ghost tour" and see what comes up. In the meantime, you could check out the book Ghostly Encounters, highlighting well-known haunted inns and hotels. Maybe you could even reserve a room to share...with someone you can't see?
Reader Comments (1)