No, the title didn’t say "blood lust," and we’re not talking about that kind of lust. We're talking about the coveting of fabulous clothing and footwear.

I’ve been bringing my costumes out more often, and came up with this idea of adding a series to my blog called “Tales from the Tickle Trunk,” tickle trunk being a word for a bin filled with costumes and fun things to wear.

Unfortunately, much of the clothing sold on runways and bargain racks is all “meh” to me. It actually depresses me—I’ve spent more than one occasion eating up hours of time looking for clothes that feel good and look good, with nothing to show for my searching.

What I love the most about fashion is there’s something for everyone, and it’s an incredible way to express yourself. The way you dress can alter the way you feel. As Stasia Savasuk explains in her TED Talk, “Dressing for Confidence and Joy,” when you wear clothes that are congruent with who you are on the inside, it can change the way you approach life.

Stasia Savasuk TED Talk — Dressing for Confidence and Joy

In this video, Stasia invites us to ask, “Who am I, and how do I want to show up in the world?”

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You do you.

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^^ I’m big on those three words.

If I could dress for a music festival or Renaissance Faire every day, that would make me fabulously happy.

Why not do it?

Really, why not? There are, of course, the days I don’t want to get out of pajamas. That’s one of the perks of being a stay-at-home mom, so yay! But that can get depressing if done too much, so I bring out my tickle trunk. And though it’s nice to dress up for yourself, it’s way more fun to show it off!

Here I am in my new corset, a see-thru shirt I got at a clothing swap, a gorgeous purple skirt I purchased from a clothing-designer friend (check out her work at Arwen’s Apparel), and a belly dance hip-skirt thing that makes music when I shake my booty. ;)

The outfit is Toby-cat approved.

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Corsets and Boots: Two of my Favourite Things.

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I’ve always loved boots, but after falling down a rabbit hole that started as research for a manuscript, I have a renewed interest in corsets. Yeah, corsets.

I was actually searching for historical evidence of how uncomfortable corsets must’ve been, and ended up reading an FAQ on a website that said no, corsets can actually be quite comfortable, help you have better posture, and train your waist. Then I found photos of corsets for sale, and suddenly I was shopping. Sucked right in.

I see the point about waist training and better posture when I wear a corset. It’s not like I’m going to magically get my belly to look like it did before I had kids—sadly, that’s never gonna happen. What does happen, is my abdominal muscles remember to work like they’re supposed to in order to hold my torso in an upright, non-slouched position, and when I take the corset off, they look more toned. This goes away, of course, but I can see the benefits of wearing them.

And, surprisingly, when I have one on and it’s not laced up too tight, I don’t want to take it off. Nor do I want to stop looking at myself in the mirror. ;)

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Dreaming of Gipsy Dharma boots.

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Moving on to one of my other fashion passions: BOOTS!

I’ve been lusting after Gipsy Dharma's handmade, lace-up leather boots for years now. They’re out of my current price range, but that doesn’t stop me from checking the website every other week or so, waiting for the day I can rock these sexy-earthy boots.

Being leather, I'm thinking these conform to the shape of your body and start to feel like home after wearing them a while. One day I will have a pair, but until then I’ll stay subscribed to their mailing list (where I get tantalizing deals like buy-one-pair, get-one-free, or $100 off), and keep dreaming of getting some of my own.

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^{Video and photo credit: www.gipsydharma.com}

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I want the thigh-high ones, and several other pair. Badly. I can imagine myself singing through the forest in these, dancing at a music festival, or prancing around my living room if I can’t get my kids out of the house. ;)

Want more eye candy? Check out the full line of handmade leather boots and clothing at www.gipsydharma.com. Window shopping on this site is delicious!

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What say you?

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By now you’ve figured out that my fashion taste is fun, feminine, a little flashy, earthy and ethereal like a fairy. What about you, what’s your style?

Would you enjoy reading more “Tales from the Tickle Trunk?” Please let me know if you want me to model more costumes, write about them, and share my favourite designers.

Thanks for visiting my blog. Hope it made you smile. ;)

Whatever happens, keep singing your song!

Peace. @katrina-ariel

Photos mine unless otherwise credited.

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Author bio: Katrina Ariel is an old-soul rebel, musician, tree-hugging yogini, and mama bear to twins. Author of Yoga for Dragon Riders (non-fiction) and Wild Horse Heart (romance), she's another free-spirit swimming in the ocean of Steem.

dragon art: Liiga Smilshkalne

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