Gothic Shoes Interview with Nurse Deisel

Welcome to the 5th issue of Goth Style Tips Newsletter. It profiles gothic model, Nurse Deisel (in PVC nurse costume) who shares her insight on becoming a gothic model and her passion for gothic shoes and boots. We'll also have backcombing tips for unusual big gothic hairstyles such as mohawks, faux-hawks, liberty spikes and horns.

Nurse Deisel - http://www.myspace.com/nursedeisel

1) How did you come up with your gothic name, Nurse Deisel?

Nurse Deisel (left) and Lord Typhon (right)

Nurse Deisel came about by someone at work teasing me. I have always been a little flamboyant with my gothic hair color and my choices of clothing at work; luckily I work in an industry that allows such flamboyancy! At the time, I had fuchsia hair, pig tails, little bangs and 11 piercings on my head. I had a penchant for army wear, especially purple camouflage, army pants and work boots. And I always wore my cat's eyes purple velvet sunglasses. I was going to study to become a nurse, but ended up a first aid attendant instead. So Nurse Deisel stuck! That was almost 10 years ago.

2) How did you get started as a model and what types of modeling have you done?

I got started as a model when I was 19. I always stood out and I liked to wear top hats and theatrical outfits to the clubs. I just like to dress up! I was noticed by a local agent while walking across Robson and Burrard, Vancouver. It just went from there. I did a lot of the local runway shows over the next few years and some print work. But I quit when they told me to lose more weight. And I was 108 lbs and 5'8"! Over the years, I continued hair modeling, gothic modeling, body part doubling, and doing artistic work with friends. That is the fun work, when you can work with people you know and appreciate to create something funky and outside the norm. If I could be a foot/shoe model and make a living, that is all I would do.

3) What advice can you offer to someone who wants to break into gothic modeling?

I would say to just be yourself. Don't listen to anyone who wants you to do something you don't want to, especially if it requires you to be more mainstream and that is not who you are inside. I tried that for a couple of years and almost lost myself. My creativity and self-expression suffered immensely. It felt like a piece of my soul was missing.

4) I hear you love platform shoes. When did you first start wearing platform shoes?

I have always collected them and I have worn gothic platform shoes and boots on and off since the 80's. I had way too many to count! Then I dated someone who was not as statuesque and did not appreciate my shoes nor my flamboyancy. Needless to say, that relationship did not last! Whew! From that experience I learned that a girl has got to have her shoes and her self-expression too! I look at gothic shoes and boots as a work of art. There is a lot of love and attention put into these creations. Plus, I love puttering around the house in big gothic shoes. ;-)

5) What is your favorite pair of platform shoes and where did you get them?

I have to choose one pair? OK. Right now, my newest favorite pair of shoes is my 7 inch black patent Pleaser flame shoes. I bought them at Deadly Dichotomy Designs (www.deadlyfetish.com) in Gastown, Vancouver. They were the last pair and they happen to be my size!  Thanks Jenny! She has the best collection of shoe catalogues I have ever laid eyes upon. Tied with the flame shoes are my Kenzie Marathon black and blue velvet shoes. They are another work of art and look like a vintage pair of shoes with a skinny wooden wedge heel. They make a girl feel pretty.

Nurse Deisel's 7 inch Pleaser flame gothic shoes

Electra flame boots

Gothic shoes and boots are often platform footwear with thick soles, often made of cork, plastic, rubber, or wood as part of the style and for added height. Vivienne Westwood, the UK fashion designer, re-introduced the high heeled platform shoe into high-fashion in the early 1990s.

Backcombing for big gothic hairstyles

For a special night out, backcombing creates volume. Here are a couple tips to create a big gothic hairstyle with teasing:

1. Hold the ends of a section straight up and out from the scalp with one hand. Backcomb your strands in the opposite direction from its natural growth pattern.

2. Run the comb down the length of the hair from the end towards the base of the scalp in short, sharp and uniform strokes. Repeat until desired volume and height.

For this event, Nurse Deisel back combed Lady Eureka's naturally straight hair, starting from the crown in sections and adding extra hold hair spray at the roots for support. She continued backcombing and spritzing the roots of each section until the top and sides were sticking out like branches on a tree. Once the hair was teased, she used a hot hair dryer to add even more height and to hold the volume. Finally, she smoothed and shaped the hair to the desired gothic hairstyle to complement the vampire costume.

Lady Eureka with big gothic hair

For more information about gothic shoes, gothic hairstyles and goth, read “Step-by-Step Essential Guide to that Elusive Gothic Look & Style”.

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