Where I grew up, St.Thomas U.S.V.I, we celebrate not just the New Year but the Old Year as well! Every person you see on December 31st you greet or say your goodbyes by cheerfully saying, “Happy Old Year!”. In this way, we not only celebrate the year ahead of us, but we also celebrate the year we are leaving behind.
So! Without further ado, I would love to celebrate some of the amazing witchy outfits I came across (or wore) “out in the wild” in 2023!
(Okay so I may have cheated) Me - Halloween 2022!
This was an antique velvet dress I thrifted online and had arrived in the mail Halloween day! I topped it off with my own Fall’s Bounty Witches hat that an ex of mine and I created! She did the sewing of the base and I did the decorating and designing :)
My Lovely Mama - Halloween 2023
Fun fact, my Mama is the one who inspired me to start creating my own witches hats! She took a cheap base from Michaels and added a bowa, jewels, and a faux-crow familiar! (PS if you’re looking to buy an AMAZING custom witches hat, I cannot recommend Sabbaths very own Raven!).
Two lovely witches! - Halloween 2023
These two lovely witches stopped in to Kalypso’s Gifts to ask if we needed any candy reinforcements for the Trick or Treaters! Of course I had to snap a photo ;)
Olivia and I - October 2023
I believe Olivia is officially one of my oldest witchy friends (still standing hehe). Our friendship truly is one full of so much psychic connection and picking-up-as-if-no-time-has-passed. I was visiting her at the Witches Market where she was selling her handmade crystal Jewelry! You can find her on Instagram @gaias_crystal_kingdom. P.S. I made the dress and Fox-And-Moon corset belt (with a little help).
Quarter of a Century Birthday Outfit - October 2023
EEEEP! I turned A Quarter of a Century this year ( a far more fitting way of saying 25)! The vest I inherited from my Great-Grandfather, the dress I made ( with a little help), and topped the outfit off with my Fall’s Bounty Witches Hat and Victorian Granny Boots my dad gifted me for my 23rd birthday.
Beloved Kim & Lizzy at BlueNightt’s wedding! October 2023
I cried so hard at this wedding — after arriving just in the knick-of-time to be no help at all in setting up, and then burning the Chocolate Strawberries… SORRY RAVEN!!!
Uncle Bexar AKA Captain Kill Devil - October 2023
Who knew pirates crashed weddings!? Place your bets on what’s in his mouth.
Absolute BEAUTY who frequents Kalypso’s Gifts - October 2023
Classic 90’s The Craft Meets Charmed - October 2023
I don’t think I’ve ever seen this girl wearing an outfit that doesn’t absolutely KILL. First picture I call “Jack Skellington meets Biker-Chic. Second picture I call “Classic 90’s ‘The Craft’ meets ‘Charmed’”.
PNW Bone Witch - October 2023
This humans acting skills are as good as their fashion skills! Featuring a Copper Wrapped Bone & Labradorite pendant their friend made!
Piper CJ at Hierophant Meadery - September 2023
Maybe it’s the fact that this incredible ‘human’ exudes magic through every pore, she’s also quite the outfit shape-shifter, but everything Piper wears is somehow pure magic. A white frilly dress and oversized sweater dress, topped off with brown-leather boots and matching bag, all that’s left to top off the outfit is a Ouiji Board Planchet ring and Antler necklace. PS Piper writes LGBTQIA+ inclusive fantasy books!
Thrifted Freedom - September 2023
My mother took this shot of me. It came about 1 month after a really traumatic breakup. My mumma took me to my favorite pumpkin patch and reminded me that the free-fall leads to freedom. This was the first time in a long time that I was able to put together an outfit that felt it had no heart-strings attached. This was my first step towards finding myself again. Most of this outfit was thrifted or hand-me-downs. I find the dichotomy humorous.
Summer’s Self Expression- September 2023
Summer’s Jewlery - 2023
As I was walking out of The Braeburn in Langley, I saw this captivating human sitting on a bench. I doubled back and bashfully told them that their outfit was truly unique and I’d love to put them on my blog. They were kind, if a little taken-aback. We had fun coming up with a good pose for them ;) I pray to the Gods that I remembered their name (Summer) correctly…
Olivia’s Romantic Room With a View - September 2023
My dearest Soul Sister Olivia, she was visiting me on Whidbey when she fell in love with this dress from Kalypso’s she needed for a wedding she had later that week. She told me she I never felt beautiful. I told her she was breath taking — and then she gifted me with enough trust to have a mini impromptu photoshoot on the pier— where they shot Practical Magic!!! *Insert fan-girl screaming. That movie helped me survive the pandemic*
Maria Papademetriou Circa ??? —2023
My Dearest Maria, word cannot express my love for this woman. Our meeting was fated and our connection instant. Even writing this now I have endlessly waves of chills. We carry her incredible jewelry and sculptures at Kalypso’s. I saw this photo of her on the side of her refrigerator while at her home in Orcas Island (It’s like something out of a Miyazaki movie). I stopped dead in my tracks and exclaimed “MARIA!! IS THIS YOU?!” While pulling out my camera. This was a photoshoot she did with a friend of her back in the day. As long as I live, I will forever strive to embody and exude this kind of ancient power, beauty, and captivation within me.
Mirror Mirror - June 2023
On the beaches of Orcas Island. This skirt is my favorite article of clothing I own, and therefore, naturally, it is my mothers ;) I get stopped in the streets from people asking me where I got my skirt. I am sorry to say — It is from the 90’s and I don’t believe the company exists anymore. Nevertheless, this day I was covered in magick.
Layers of Gold Rae - June 2023
Immediately upon arriving in Orcas Island for my families 54th Annual Family (Pilgrimage of sorts), I went to my favorite witchy-owned business in town, “ Far Away’s Boutique” and had the most amazing conversation with the owner where we shared stories of our Romani Gypsy and/or Traveler roots. I wore this set for 2 weeks straight. Before leaving for Orcas, as a form of therapy after a traumatic car accident that nearly killed my best friend and I, I took paint and drew all over myself. Symbols of protection, healing, power… I then let the designs slowly fade. I highly recommend this method for anyone looking to keep their sigils close to their hearts without getting a tattoo (which is also great).
Twinkle Toes - June 2023
We often forget our feet and ankle when putting on our jewelry. I fell in love with toe rings at the age of 11. It has beautiful associations originating in India I believe. A toe ring was traditionally gifted to a bride by her husband, but has since also spread to be accepted as a form of beautification and adornment. For myself, I use it as a reminder that I am deeply connected to the earth beneath my feet.
The bells on the anklet protect me from negative energies and also just make me feel like a magickal fae with their beautiful jingles as I walk, dance, leap…
“Hi, my name is Bijan” - Summer 2023
This photo was taken by a beautiful group of deaf and hard-of-hearing people in Camlann— a working Medieval village! They stopped me as I was walking around and told me I was beautiful. They asked if they could take a picture of me. I was so close to tears when this photo was taken. I spoke with them through the assistance of their interpreter, but I managed to sign to them “Hi, my name is Bijan” and “thank you, thank you, thank you!”. I truly wish that ASL was a language offered in HS. I am so glad that there is growing advocacy for this community, but there is still a long way to go.
Layers Are Pure Magick — February 2023
If moving to Whidbey has taught me anything, it is the importance, convenience, and magick of layering! Fleece-lined-leggings, have saved me on numerous occasions! This was for a small photoshoot for new dusters we got in at Kalypso’s!
The Care and Keeping of Your Familiar - Sometime in 2023
I was sitting on a balcony eating lunch in a full restaurant when I spied this woman walking her dog down below. I stood up SO FAST to try and capture a photo of her that I nearly knocked the table over. It was so loud that the whole restaurant looked at me, as well as the woman below who heard the commotion. I stammered an apologetic explanation of, “I’m sorry you just look incredible and I had to get a picture — is that okay?!” She laughed and said, “As long as you get my good side!”.
Just to add a little *more* chaos to this timeline, let’s wrap it up with our Winter Solstice celebration outfits!
Holly King, Santa Lucia, Yule Witch - December 2023
Round of applause for my boyfriend who got dressed up and walked in the Holly Jolly Parade just to make me happy and keep my disabled @$$ safe.
Type to enter textThese are just some of the incredible outfits I saw in 2023. My goal for 2024 is to stop and get as many photos of as many outfits as possible! I hope these inspired you, and that some of the stories brought a small smile to your face.
From my Cauldron to yours,
HAPPY OLD YEAR!!!
~ Bijan