(We will be showcasing bloggers, from time-to-time, who we think are leading the way in honest, inclusive & intelligent fashion & style blogging. We ask them Proustian questions and hope you enjoy their answers & their blogs as much as we do.)
All photos © His Black Dress.
“Men’s fashion freedom isn’t just about men, it’s about everyone. It’s about empowering people to be themselves. Once we strip away the gender stereotypes and labels on clothing, what are we left with? A dress on its own is neither male nor female, it’s just fabric. When someone says, “Dresses are for girls,” they are really only projecting their opinion onto that garment.” – Michael Spookshow, from this blog post.
Blog: His Black Dress
Name: Michael Spookshow
Age: 27
Location: Apopka, Florida
How would you describe your personal style? Well, above all my look is freestyle fashion. That’s men rocking skirts, dresses, & heels as everyday attire. I’ve always had an attraction to the darker side of things, and while I’m not quite the goth I used to be, I still try to incorporate that edge into my style. I like to think my style is bold, edgy, and unique.
Where would you like to live? The Star Wars universe! Okay, so I’m a bit of a geek. As for the planet Earth, though, I’m actually pretty happy with Florida. I don’t really like dressing to summer weather, but I don’t think I’d enjoy serious cold all that much either. I’m thinking somewhere that is 70 degrees year round would be perfect. Or Naboo.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? For me, the most miserable experience would be the inability to be myself. I read an article once that said one of the most common regrets people express before death is that they didn’t truly be themselves in life. Growing up, my parents always told me to never be afraid to be myself, and that’s something I’ve tried to take to heart. It certainly isn’t always easy to be real in this world, and it’s true that haters gonna hate, but I would be utterly miserable if I spent my life trying to conform to other people’s views.
What is your idea of earthly happiness? Expanding on my answer to the last question, my idea of earthly happiness is definitely being oneself, unashamedly. Knowing who you are and what you want is key, it’s then just a matter of taking it. On a more physical level, though, I do find a worrying amount of joy in buying new shoes! I’m willing to bet a lot of readers can agree on that one, ha!
To what faults do you feel most indulgent? Patience is definitely not my virtue. I don’t like to wait for things, but more to the point, I’m a bit of a shop-a-holic, especially when it comes to clothes. I love shopping for new outfits. I think that makes gluttony my sin of choice.
Who are your favorite heroes of fiction? It seems I almost always root for the bad guys. If we are talking actual heroes, though, I’ve recently become a huge fan of Green Lantern. For the less nerdy, Green Lantern’s powers are based on willpower and belief in oneself. That’s definitely something I can get behind. In most other instances, however, you can find me on the side of the villains. Sorry, heroes!
Who are your favorite characters in history? This has always been a hard question for me, as I’ve never been much for history (I tend to spent too much time looking forward rather than back). In the broadest terms, my favorite historical figures would be the ones who stood up to social injustices and fought for equality for all people.
Who are your favorite heroines in real life? I’ve always had a thing for Amelia Earhart. I like people that break societal molds and pursue their dreams.
Who are your favorite heroines of fiction? Easy, my favorite is definitely Wonder Woman! Buffy the vampire slayer is a close second. I love strong, determined women that can kick #@$!
Your favorite artist? Historically speaking, I’ve always liked Goya, particularly his darker works. As for modern artists, I really love Mike Mignola’s work on Hellboy. I really enjoy dark art that speaks about the human condition.
Your favorite musician? This one was really tough for me, as music is a very important part of my life. I’ll always love Lemmy Kilmister from Motorhead for his unwavering dedication to rock and roll, but my favorite musical artist nod has to go to Devin Townsend. There are so many different facets to his musical work, each album sounds different yet familiar, and I love all of it!
Your favorite virtue? Acceptance of others. I think it’s really important to understand that everyone is unique, and that’s okay!
Who would you have liked to be? A superhero! Or a monster! Probably a monster, actually. A scary purple one!
What are you currently obsessed with? I’m currently obsessed with the massive multiplayer online roleplaying game, Star Wars: The Old Republic, and just Star Wars in general, really. My core obsession changes quite often (with the seasons, even, it seems), but right now I’m all about the Sith, baby!
Where are your favorite places to shop? I do 99% of my shopping online. I find a lot of my clothes at ASOS Curve, Forever21+, and Ashley Stewart. I also fully recommend UKTights.com for quality tights. I particularly love Kunert, Levante, and Charnos brand tights! I do a lot of shoe shopping on Endless.com as well.
What do you hope to accomplish with your blog? I just want to show people that it’s okay to be yourself and do your own thing! Above all, that is the message I hope to communicate. As a secondary goal, I like to use my blog and my Flickr account (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mspookshow/) to get fashion advice from women. As a man who wears clothes from the other side, I find any advice helps as I don’t really have the fashion knowledge that many girls receive while growing up. There’s been a lot of experimentation and trial and error with my style, and that’s been a lot of fun!
Michael Spookshow blogs about fashion freedom and personal style at his blog, His Black Dress. You can also find him on Flickr, Twitter & YouTube.
