Strange Days jewelry’s dramatic appeal

by Rachel Pugh
Weekender General Manager
Times Leader Vice President of Marketing

The Weekender got the opportunity to interview local punk and Gothic fashionista Marissa Phillips. A 25-
year-old jewelry designer from Kingston, Phillips talks about her inspiration and what can be expected from
her edgy creations.
WEEKENDER: Who is Marissa Phillips?
PHILLIPS: I’m an alternative fashion fanatic — it’s all I talk about, so I pity my friends who constantly have
to listen. While I have my own projects, I just love encouraging and supporting everyone else who is doing
what it is they want to do, whether or not it garners mainstream recognition. And I’m always keeping busy,
always juggling a few projects at once. While I’ve been writing and making jewelry for years, I’ve recently
begun to more actively pursue fashion journalism, and I’ve also been dabbling in modeling and makeup
artistry.
WEEKENDER: How would you describe your jewelry?
PHILLIPS: I have an obsession with Gothic and punk fashion, but I also have a major soft spot for the
Victorian era, so somehow I try to combine all of those aspects. One day I’ll create a piece that’s dripping
with keys and layers of chain, while another day I’ll combine delicate glass pearls with fabric roses. It’s too
hard to settle on one style to focus on 100 percent, so I just take all the things I love and try to make them
meet halfway.
WEEKENDER: What inspires you?
PHILLIPS: I’m huge into Japanese street fashion. The Japanese Gothic Lolita subculture specificially,
which manages to be both sinister and delicate, is a huge inspiration for me. I also have my walls
plastered with my personal fashion icons/muses, which include Neo-Victorian musician Emilie Autumn,
burlesque queen Veronica Varlow and punk rock vixen Siouxsie Sioux.
WEEKENDER: Where do you get the materials for your designs?
PHILLIPS: Besides the obvious craft-supply stores, I scour a lot of thrift stores and flea markets for
interesting charms and other components that make a lot of my pieces one-of-a-kind. Also, a lot of people
like to give me pieces of old, broken jewelry that they’ve been holding onto for years, hoping I can breathe
new life into it.
WEEKENDER: Where can people buy your jewelry?
PHILLIPS: You can purchase my jewelry online and in person. You can find what I guess I’d consider
some of my more subtle or conventional pieces at the Arts Seen Gallery in downtown Wilkes-Barre. For
my pieces that are more dramatic, I have an online shop, Strange Days at www.ourstrangedays.etsy.com.
There is also a Strange Days facebook page (facebook.com/ourstrangedays) where anyone can message
me and discuss a custom order.
WEEKENDER: You’re also a writer. Who do you write for?
PHILLIPS: I recently became a staff writer for Gothic Beauty Magazine, which is a print magazine that
focuses on the culture and fashion within the gothic subculture. I also have my own alternative fashion
blog, Fashion Vandals (fashionvandals.tumblr.com), where I highlight new designers and feature a new
alternative model every week.
WEEKENDER: Who are some of your favorite alternative designers?
PHILLIPS: Oh wow, there are so many. While the Japanese designer, Naoto Hirooka, will forever hold the
No. 1 spot on my list of top designers, the two brands I’ve really had my eye on lately are Toxic Vision and
Jeantrix. Toxic Vision’s latest line included studded lace cloaks and spiked leather hot-pants, while
Jeantrix caught my attention with their sparkled designer eyepatches. My personal style preferences are a
bit over the top.
WEEKENDER: How can people check out more of your designs?
PHILLIPS: While people can always check out my shop on Etsy, I’d say a good way to stay up to date on
my creations is to check out my blog. I create a lot of things that don’t always necessarily make it into the
store or the art gallery. For instance, I’ve been working on some random projects lately, such as
homemade lip glosses and spiked bras. Something like that I don’t put up for direct sale, but I post about it
on my blog, and as always, if anyone’s interested all they have to do is let me know.
WEEKENDER: What plans do you have for your jewelry in the future?
PHILLIPS: I have a number of things on the way in the near future. There’s not all that much on my online
shop right now, but that’s because in just a few weeks I’ll be premiering a whole new line of jewelry.
Expect huge, shoulder-length chain earrings and a wide variety of connector rings. Basically, expect
drama ... and lots of chain. Also, in a few weeks, I’m going to make some major changes to my blog. I
have some fun things in store for anyone who follows my work or my designs.