Goth China and Dishes December 30, 2007 Working on decorating your home to make it more gothy? Now that the goth population is aging, many of us no longer have to shop at Ikea or Ross for cheap homewares. Goths still shop at Target, since it's full of chic sparkly designery affordable goodness. There's always the possibility of using your Halloween party-store dishes year-round. But now that you're employed, or a corpgoth, nicer things are within reach. Suddenly it may be possible to make the goth home of your dreams. What does the well-appointed goth table look like? What china could you use to serve up dinner to your best fiends? If you have enough spending money and storage room, you might even have multiple sets of china. One for casual entertaining, one for formal, one for goth tea parties, one for holiday/seasonal purposes? Remember, however, that just because a dish may be black, that doesn't make it goth. (This Ralph Lauren black and white set doesn't feel goth to me). The design must have the right feel to it, evoking the imagery you want to present. The food you serve, the menu you choose, the surrounding decor in your home, and the way you present everything can turn a regular place setting into a goth fantasy. BLACK AND WHITE I love polkadots, and these Kate Spade plates would be a nice playful way to dress your table up in a perkigoth fashion. I also like her Union Street set, though it's a bit more elegant and subdued. A more casual option is her St. Kitts set. Here's another version of her black and white St. Kitt's. I absolutely adore these scalloped-edge dishes. So unusual! And surprisingly affordable, for Neiman Marcus. Here's a black and white set that's not very goth, but might be best for people who have to entertain a lot of family members who don't appreciate goth sensibilities. I like the Burtonesque scrollwork on these Mikasa plates. RUBY RED Blood red Casablanca dinnerware sets an over the top, elegant table. It's what I picture Anne Rice using on her table, when I imagine her former New Orleans home. Here's a whimsical red set of dishes. The shape is intriguing, but the color won't work well with all foods. Salad, yes. Spaghetti with red sauce, eww. I love this decadent ruby red crystal decanter. The matching wine glass is just as stunning. I also like these horrifically expensive Waterford crimson flutes. BASIC BLACK Is this rivethead or what? It's a beaded charger that looks like leather. Along the same lines, here is a studded coaster set. Black crystal wine goblets - modern elegance. They also have black crystal martini glasses. Here's a nice basic black casual set from Calvin Klein. Or you might prefer the still-casual, glossier set of Sasaki. It might be nice to have basic black stemless wineglasses on hand. SKULLS Doesn't every goth bartender need skull swizzle sticks? There are also skull plates and serving trays by the same designer. Dress up your cocktail with a beaded skull coaster. Or you might prefer the plainer skull and bones coaster set. Don't miss the skull wine charms. There's also a skull flask and skull shaker set. The Skull and Bones dishes are porcelain and are dishwasher safe. Here's a Skellington poison decanter for your wine. ----> page 2 Dark Side of the Net(sm) is Copyrighted © 2007 Carrie Carolin